Friday 31 May 2013

EP REVIEW: We Know Not What We Do - Shooting Stansfield

Edinburgh-based 4-piece Shooting Stansfield have been busy recently and are about to hit the scene in a big way with their new EP 'We Know Not What We Do'. 

The 5-track player showcases the band's unique talent for creating melodic, meaningful songs. Drawing on influences from fellow Scottish talent such as Frightened Rabbit and Admiral Fallow, they've managed to create something that'll surely be a hit amongst indie folk fans and industry insiders alike. 

Infectious guitars, strong lyrics and rich layers are littered throughout this EP. The 5 tracks each demand, and stand up to, replay and will no doubt be summer sing-along tunes. The rich melodic sounds show a great talent for making music that will please your audience and stay with them. The stories of the end of the youth make the EP incredibly relatable to their target audience and their talent at putting these stories together through meaningful lyrics, and rich, layered melodies puts them on the very brink of making it big, following those bands who they've drawn their influences from. 

The EP is strong from start to finish, with each track shining as you listen through. However a particular highlight is the first single, 'Greater or Lesser', which showcases the band's ability to masterfully layer all the elements of a strong indie folk track, and has some of the best lyrics on EP. It is rousing, big track with a big early impact on the player and will definitely make a brilliant standalone single for the EP. And it is followed by 'Sign of the Times' which is a folk hit in the making, that means those same bands who have influenced Shooting Stansfield had better watch their backs because they have all it takes to go big.  

'We Know Not What We Do' will be released on June 7th via download and physical CD. It can be purchased via Bandcamp.

The band will be launching the EP at Sneaky Pete's in Edinburgh on the same day as the release. It all starts at 7pm, with support from Titus Pullo and Waterday. All details can be found here.

Thursday 30 May 2013

ALBUM REVIEW: Quickbeam - Quickbeam

Glasgow’s Quickbeam are already making waves on the alt-folk scene in Scotland and their debut album marks their arrival into the popular folk enchelons with aplomb.

The 12-track self-titled player is beautifully layered, with soaring and affecting music that will touch even those with the blackest of hearts. Their lyrical genius is clear throughout and the beautifully heartfelt lyrics coupled with the layers of soaring orchestral music makes for an especially strong debut.

Each track is painted like a collage, where lots of elements come together as one to tell a story for the listener. For such a young band to accomplish such delicate layering and mastering is a sight to behold and the sky really isn’t the limit for what they can achieve from here.

The album has many highlights, but Home is a particularly strong and perfectly placed track at the mid-point with a massive build. Singles Immersed and Seven Hundred Birds make an early impact, and the latter half of the album is the most deeply affecting, leaving the listener with a poignant finish.


Few bands can make such a strong impact with their debut, but Quickbeam have achieved that and then some. The future is looking very, very bright for them.

Quickbeam is released on June 3rd via Comets and Cartwheels.

Originally published on Glasgow Podcart

Tuesday 28 May 2013

FEATURE ON A FEATURE: Linn Loves


My blogging comrade The Pop Cop recently covered Linn Records and their Studio Masters, now I bring you Linn Loves - a new series to highlight the best up and coming and unsigned talent.


Linn Loves will be a fully encompassing series, featuring live reviews, articles, interviews and of course, for the first time Studio Masters from these artists. This series will allow industry professionals and music lovers alike to discover new artists, and learn more about championed unsigned talent.



What makes Linn Loves different is that it will be a full series on the artists, not just your usual 'Get to Know' article. With everything from live reviews, question and answers with the artists and their music to share, you'll be able to fully discover new talent and those behind it. It is going to offer a look into what it takes to create something unique, how to survive the tough music industry and just exactly what your favourite unsigned artists do to unwind.    



Linn Loves will debut soon at Linn Records



And if you think you've got something they might love, or know a local artist that deserves recognition then demos are still being accepted to linnloves@linnrecords.co.uk. So, by all means, get yourselves involved in a great project that will bring the best in new talent the exposure they deserve.

Monday 27 May 2013

Win The Lumineers Tickets with E.ON

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of E.ON Energy. All opinions are 100% mine.
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Following the success of their ad using the popular song 'Ho Hey', E.ON Energy customers can win tickets to see The Lumineers in Barcelona at the Razzmatazz with four nights accomodation or, if you prefer, £400 worth of Ticketmaster gift cards with signed The Lumineers merchandise (Terms and Conditions apply).
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Friday 24 May 2013

GIG REVIEW: Vigo Thieves at Broadcast 22/05/2013

Once again Broadcast played home to a launch night. On this cool Wednesday evening, a specially invited audience of family, friends and music types was there to witness Vigo Thieves  in an intimate showcase for the new 'Believe' single.

The proceedings were opened by The Calm Fiasco, whose rock pop punk got the crowd going early. Putting together a few medleys of covers and their own tracks, it's a short but sweet set. Their new song 'Sugar' is the highlight of the set, and shows they've got a chance to go bigger and better.

But this is night is all about Vigo Thieves and everyone knows it. From the get-go, they are welcomed loudly and with massive sing-alongs. They prove to be an accomplished live outfit, and put on quite the show. We are also treated to the special inclusion of a live saxophone on two songs, including on Ghosts, and this makes for a definite highlight. The single we're all there to celebrate 'Believe' is a big tune and goes down just as wonderfully as the rest of their set. The band have Broadcast literally bouncing for the majority of their show, and having brought two Canadian friends with me I definitely enjoyed being able to show them what a true Scottish get down at a gig is like. The crowd, not satisfied with the main set, use all their energy and power to bring the band back onto stage for a well deserved  and unplanned encore, and then make a point of stealing the show right at the end. 

This was Vigo Thieves' night though, and no matter how rowdy and excited the crowd were, it was the band who shone in the end, as it should be. Broadcast has been home to some brilliant launches this year, and this was definitely one of them.


Tuesday 21 May 2013

NEWS/PREVIEW - Doune the Rabbit Hole guest stage lineups


This year's Doune the Rabbit Hole festival, which takes place for the first time at Cardross Estate, has two stages curated by guest promoters: On Friday August 23rd music platform Ten Tracks supply the bands and on Saturday August 24th poetry and music night Neu! Reekie! have invited the guests.

Ten Tracks – http://www.tentracks.co.uk - the “360 degree platform for the marketing and retail of music” with a focus on emerging artists from Scotland’s central belt – will bring their stage to life on Friday August 23 with  a collaboration between Lipsync for a Lullaby, Tokamak and Asthmatic Astronaut, as well as sets from Lady North, Numbers Are Futile, Buriers, acclaimed poet Ryan Van Winkle who will be backed by films from Reel Festivals and more.

Saturday 24th sees Neu! Reekie! - http://neureekie.tumblr.com/ -  the Edinburgh-based poetry, music and animation night, take over the guest stage with music from acts including Teen Canteen, The Sexual Objects, Nevada Base and Jesus, Baby! and a Spoken Word Saloon from Neu! Reekie! ringmasters Michael Pedersen and Kevin Williamson.

Full Guest Stage Line Up
Friday 23rd August
Asthmatic Astronaut
Lady North
Numbers are Futile
Collaboration hosted by The Woven Tents
Plastick Fork
Small Feet Little Toes
Ryan Van Winkle & Reel Festivals
Royal Edinburgh Music
Buriers

Saturday 24th August
Nevada Base
The Sexual Objects
TeenCanteen
The Machine Room
Birdhead
Craig Lithgow/Emelle
Craig Finnie/Sons of Nothing
Hailey Beavis  & Band
Jesus, Baby!
Neu! Reekie! Spoken Word Saloon: Michael Pedersen and Kevin Williamson

You can buy tickets for Doune The Rabbit Hole now and save £10 on the full price before August  1st via http://dounetherabbithole.co.uk/


Monday 13 May 2013

GIG REVIEW: Cherri Fosphate EP Launch at Broadcast, Glasgow 11.05.2013

The cosy confines of Broadcast was home to yet another EP launch this weekend as Cherri Fosphate celebrated the release of 'Burning Youth'. And what a celebration it was.

The night was opened by This Silent Forest, who were a last minute fill-in for VsVs due to their demise. TSF's power indie could easily have filled Broadcast three times over, if not more. The band's performance is huge, with infectious guitar riffs and lyrical genius. In fact, the room would have been forgiven for believing they watching were a headliner. I certainly thought I was. With the release of their debut album due this Autumn, it is sure to be a big year for these guys and if Saturday's performance is anything to go by then they are going to make their mark in a huge way. 

Already on a uphill battle following that performance, The Monty Hall Problem took the stage next. A much younger band than TSF, it's clear there's still a lot to learn for them. I caught myself a few times when watching their set saying to myself that I'd heard a lot of their riffs before and my immediate reaction was to think of the scene in Treme where Annie T performs her first song to Steve Earle's Harley and he tells her how it is, "You changed the progressions...at least you're stealing big." And that, my friends, is why the world is full of players. The band only have 5 songs to play, and this bodes well because one would hope they can find their own sound early on, rather than building on riffs out of other people's playbooks that they have already. 

With the room now fully packed out, it was time for our headliners, Cherri Fosphate to take the stage. Their live reputation proceeds them and they do not disappoint. Their songs take on a whole new life in the live setting, big riffs become even bigger and more infectious than on record. As they are celebrating the release of their 'Burning Youth' EP, all 4 songs on the EP make an outing and 'Wool' is a definite live highlight. We are also treated to an as-yet unnamed new song that bodes incredibly well for their future beyond this EP, it has the elements of all their previous efforts but shows definite advancement too and the crowd is thoroughly impressed. Their set comes to an end all too soon but the crowd is not done with them yet, chanting and cheering to bring them back for a well-deserved encore. The band tell us they don't think they are big enough encores yet but the reaction on Saturday night proved otherwise, and even though they spent more time in rehearsal talking about whether they'd get an encore rather than rehearsing 'Heart Without Strings' that they'd play for us, it still goes down brilliantly and ends the night on a high. This band are definitely going places.

There are lots of options in Glasgow on a Saturday night but I'm glad that this was mine. A brilliant celebration for an equally brilliant EP.


Friday 10 May 2013

EP REVIEW: Burning Youth - Cherri Fosphate

Ready to make their mark on the Glasgow music scene, Cherri Fosphate release their 'Burning Youth' EP on May 11th via CTN Records.

The 4-track player is a good insight into what the indie-rock band can do. There's danceable tunes aplenty and anthems for the contemporary youth. The EP has the catchy hooks and infectious guitars that will grip listeners from the get-go, and is the key to successful indie-rock. The band have clearly drawn from a lot of influences but manage to make their own unique sound. 

The standout track is 'Wool', which whilst being the shortest of all the tracks on the EP makes the biggest impression and suggests that this band have a bright future ahead of them. It's a toe-tapping and danceable 2 and a half minutes and you can get it free via Soundcloud.

Cherri Fosphate launch 'Burning Youth' on May 11th at Broadcast in Glasgow. Details can be found via the Facebook event.