NEW MUSIC: Romance - Mast.

Summer may be almost over, but not before another killer song with catchy hooks makes an appearance. And this time it's in the shape of brand new one-man DIY pop band, Mast..

Mast. is the new project from Liam Rutherford, previously of The Darien Venture, whose demise this year saddened me greatly. It is most wonderful to see the members of the band beginning to take new routes in music and produce such quality anthems as this.

The track debuted on The Pop Cop's Music Alliance Pact for August, where you can still download it for free. As an opening salvo for a band, Mast. have started with a track that has incredible replayability, along with a brilliant video to go with it and a stunningly catchy tune that has all the elements of a summer hit.

It's been a brilliant summer, and year, for Scottish music and this yet another show of strength from Glasgow's music scene. I, for one, certainly cannot wait to hear more where this came from. Don't keep us waiting too long, Liam!

You can listen to Romance and watch the video below:

R.I.P The Darien Venture - My Retrospective

"All good things must come to an end". It's a saying you hear a lot and there are times in your life when you must deal with great losses. As a music fan, you have to always be prepared to lose great bands as nothing lasts forever and music is an ever-changing thing. However there are times when you get a real shock and must deal with an unexpected end to one of your favourite bands. That happened for me this week. 

The Darien Venture have been one of my favourites since I stumbled on their music in late 2008, and first saw them live in early 2009. I still remember the day I found their Myspace (through friends and fellow Ayr band Trapped in Kansas) and was immediately taken by them as they had a song about my favourite movie, Back to the Future. '1.21 Gigawatts' is to this day a go-to song for me when I need to cheer up and has always been a live highlight, it features the catchy hooks that TDV do best. It is also my current ringtone. The song is that good, and I discovered it and the band through good old Myspace. Remember those days?

I could name a good few performances of Darien's that rate highly on top gigs lists, from that first time I saw in Captain's Rest in March 2009 right through to the recent EP launch, with Glasgow Podcart's 2009 Christmas party and Rocktoberfest 2010 right in the middle. Their live shows were always energetic and you could count on the crowd to be right damn rowdy by the time their set would come a close. They never quite had the on-stage banter of other bands but there's definitely memorable moments there too, who else talks about falafel on stage?

Scottish bands have been remarkably kind to me over the years and that includes the TDV boys. Only the second time I saw the band I already received a free t-shirt, just for putting a few videos on YouTube. I still have that t-shirt and you can still watch those videos. They'd always thank me for coming and tease me about the future, as well as just have a good laugh. It's always brilliant when you learn that a band you love are just as brilliant human beings as they are musicians. Liam, Kyle, Jonny and Dave are lovely fellas, as well as very talented. 

This band have been one of Glasgow's best hidden gems throughout my entire time knowing them, I've always believed they deserved bigger and better and their recent EP release 'A Kite, A Key and A Storm' (which was my first review on this blog) could definitely have offered them that. I certainly believe that EP was the best thing they've produced and I was eagerly excited for what was to follow it. Unfortunately this is no longer to be, the band is no more. I will always have their music to go back to, as well as countless memories from their shows over the years. The end has completely caught me by surprise, and it wasn't really an end you'd like for some of your favourites but these guys are tough and they are talented and I definitely believe they'll have something else for me to get my teeth into soon. But The Darien Venture will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Thanks for the memories and the music.

REVIEW: A Kite, A Key and A Storm - The Darien Venture

Almost 2 years since the release of the 'Indications' EP, The Darien Venture are back and stronger than before.

'A Kite, A Key and A Storm' is a 7-track player which showcases the catchy hooks and lyrical talent that this band have to offer. It's an EP from a maturing band and contains some of their best work to date.

Opener 'Bones' is anthemic, with the infectious guitars that The Darien Venture are known for as well as the masterful balancing of the vocal melodies from Dave Martin, Kyle Shields and Liam Rutherford.

'Ho! Criminal Face' is one more to add to the pile of tracks The Darien Venture have produced with massively catchy hooks and big guitars.

The EP strongest from the middle onwards where we get the best master and mix of the hit single '1.21 Gigawatts', with the perfect balance of the guitars and catchy lyrics. This is song is math-rock at its best and the mix on 'A Kite, A Key and A Storm' is the best that it has sounded.

'Catapult' is a song for anyone in their 20s, it builds from an opening showcasing Dave Martin's strong vocal and lyrics to a big chorus where the vocal melodies of his bandmates are once again utilised and Jonny Beveridge's drumming holds the entire track together.

'Thinks/Thoks' is another one full of catchy hooks and has some more standout drumming from Beveridge.

'Tonight Matthew' is the lyrically strong track on the EP and its coupled with infectious guitars and a perfect marrying of vocals. The final third of the song is an epic build bringing together everything that makes this band great - the strong bassline, big guitars and drums with the catchy lyrical hooks.

'Clock' is the darkest Darien Venture track to date and proves the lyrical talent of this band better than anything else. The big guitars take a backdrop which allows the vocals and lyrics to shine through stronger than on any other track on the EP, and in the band's previous work.

The Darien Venture have grown over the recent years but they are still a band who can provide catchy math-rock songs, they've always had the lyrical talent but it is on show more on 'A Kite, A Key and A Storm' than previous efforts. I believe this band are not only one of Glasgow and Scotland's best but one of the best bands in Britain right now and they deserve to be much bigger than they are.

'A Kite, A Key and A Storm' was released March 9th via Overlook Records and can be purchased via Bandcamp.