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.

EP REVIEW: Half Jacks - Half Jacks

Released near-on 2 years ago, the Half Jack's self-titled debut EP is probably the oldest release I've reviewed for this blog. They are currently recording new material, but this EP is a good starting point.

Punk cabaret may be a niche genre, but in a city with as wide music offerings as Glasgow, there's definitely got to be a crowd for this. I must admit that my interest was piqued by punk cabaret immediately.

The 5-track EP draws from wide influences, but has its own unique sound. The third track 'Reasons for The Unexplained' is a particular highlight, with the layering of strong lyrics, guitars and keys. Finding the right balance in these layers can be difficult but for a young band Half Jacks do this particularly well. 

Running just over 16 minutes this EP has definite replay-ability, featuring infectious guitars and great vocal work. It is definitely worth checking out.

You can listen to the EP via soundcloud and buy it for £3 on bandcamp.

REVIEW: Sick, Sad World - Polar Bears in Purgatory

Having spent a few years in an indie bubble, I've been open to so much more in the past year that has allowed me to discover such things as Scottish pop-punk! Yes, you read that right. 

My teenage years were full of pop-punk and ska but I haven't touched the genres properly since those days, but thanks to Ayr's Polar Bears in Purgatory I can be sure that I will be going out in search of more of what's on offer.

The Polar Bears debut album is 17 tracks, featuring a lot of short and sweet tracks but they still do a great job making an impact and there's enough catchy hooks in there to keep you coming back for more. Surprisingly though, it's the longer tracks such as 'Supernova', 'Titanium Heart' and 'Square Peg/Round Hole' that are the stronger material on the release.

If there was ever an album for beer and friends and the summer (if we get one), then this might just be it. Certainly an album you can drink to, with all the pop-punk glory of your teens when you couldn't actually do that (or maybe I just missed that part). 

You can buy Sick, Sad World for a mere £5 on bandcamp and if you get the chance, check these guys out gigging near you as it's a damn good show.

EP REVIEW: Bring Us Together - Mono Six

One of the many great bands on the A Quiet Night In - mini festival takeover that proved such a success earlier this month, Mono Six opened proceedings at the ABC2 and closed the after-party at Flat 0/1. Unfortunately I missed both performances but have since gotten hold of their debut EP, which is well worth a mention.

Based out of Falkirk, Mono Six are a loud and proud indie rock band who I suspect you will be hearing more of in the not too distant future. Their debut EP 'Bring Us Together' is a 6-track player with which the band make their mark. 

The EP features catchy hooks (particularly in 'We Were Electric' and 'God in Exile'), big guitars and a distinct style, that whilst it has clear influences from rock contemporaries, makes the band stand out in a crowded field. There's an energetic opener in 'Waiting to Fall' that makes an immediate impact on the listener and the two-part finale 'Records and Stories' is a slow builder in Part I displaying a different side of the band, whilst part II picks the pace right back up and closes the EP strongly.

This EP seems to have dropped fairly quietly in the latter part of last year and it's available via iTunes for under a fiver. I highly doubt this band's next release will be so under the radar, definitely ones to watch.

GIG REVIEW - Where We Lay Our Heads single launch, Brave Young Red & Shambles Miller at Broadcast 02/04/2013

The dark yet cosy confines of Broadcast was host to another launch night on Tuesday evening when the stage was graced by Where We Lay Our Heads to release new single 'Keanu Leaves' in style. 

The bar was set in the banter, and music, stakes as the night opened with Shambles Miller, who quickly got the crowd on side with his witty remarks and folk-pop tunes. It's hard to dislike a guy who carries only one t-shirt to sell at his gigs and has song entitled 'Chris Brown is a cunt (and Mike has some issues)'. Even when he messed up during his single 'Confessions', he saved it and the crowd went along with him. Few Glasgow acts can offer such witty reparte along with their live show and, for this reason, I'll certainly be attending more Shambles shows in the future.

Taking up the task of following Shambles and warming up the crowd for the headliners were Ayr's Brave Young Red. Fresh off their own EP release within the last month the majority of their setlist is made up of songs from 'Roots', the highlight of the set being when they slow things down for 'Footprints', which made this blogger thankful that they were sans an acoustic guitar for the set allowing them to dip into this track. The banter may not quite have reached Shambles' levels but there is certainly promise in this band, and I'd be fine if the acoustic guitar missed a few more gigs if we got performances like that of 'Footprints'.

The room has filled up and the crowd are settled in as our headliners take the stage just before half ten. Playing a balanced set of new and old, Where We Lay Our Heads bring in spring (finally!) with their folk-pop infused songs and keep Broadcast bopping through the full set. New single and the reason we were all there, 'Keanu Leaves' anchors the set and is the definitie highlight, whilst the new tracks played prove that there is much more to come from this band.  They may not be as good at the talking thing in between songs as their support acts but they can certainly claim to be an accomplished live act whose talent and promise is going to take them places.

REVIEW: Keanu Leaves - Where We Lay Our Heads

Glasgow's Where We Lay Our Heads return with a new single this week. 

'Keanu Leaves' is a rousing folk-rock tune that will have your toe-tapping for its entire four minute and forty seven second running time. 

The track is beautifully layered, with a perfect balance of sounds making it one of the better produced songs to be released this year. 

The single showcases all this band have to offer and leaves you wanting more so we can only hope that they've got more coming soon.

The band launch the single at Broadcast in Glasgow this Tuesday (2nd April), with support from Shambles Miller and Brave Young Red for a mere £5, and advance tickets get a free download of the single. Details can be found at the Facebook event.

'Keanu Leaves' will be released 1st April through Common Records.