Almost Scottish Fiction Volume 5

Another month and another six tracks to indulge in courtesy of Scottish Fiction and our good pals Almost Predictable, Almost.  This month we've got the highest of high fashion as evidenced by our brilliant cover art - again provided by Findlay from burnhouse industries.  So dive in and strut your stuff with tracks from Earths, Poor Frisco, The Maybes, Gus Harrower, YuTaNi and Nothing Universe.

Once again the EP is curated by myself on behalf of Scottish Fiction, and David McElroy from Almost Predictable, Almost and features tracks from our favourite artists over the past four weeks.  To grab your copy head along to the Scottish Fiction Bandcamp, or the Almost Predictable, Almost Bandcamp and download for free.



Earths - Kangerlussuaq

Kangerlussuaq  demonstrates a new, previously unseen, side to Earths.  Stripped away from the fuzz and lo-fi elements, we see uplifting guitars, crisp percussion and haunting vocals.

Poor Frisco - What's Left of It

Taken from their forthcoming debut album, What's Left of It  showcases Poor Frisco at their best.  With shades of The Shins and Pixies at play, What's Left of It  is a great track from the East Kilbride five piece.

The Maybes - What You Can Remember

The Maybes are a Glasgow based duo whose recent EP Contra Todos  features this track, What You Can Remember,  which displays their melodic indie pop at its best.

Gus Harrower - Mystery

Mystery  is the lead and title track from the debut EP by Edinburgh's Gus Harrower.  At only 17, Gus is already a talented singer/songwriter who brings to mind the likes of Bon Iver.

YuTaNi - Mt. Minakami

YuTaNi is the solo project of Machines In Heaven's Connor Reid.   His album, At The End Of Day,  is a superb mix of downtempo and ambient elctronica.  Mt Minakami  is the album's centrepiece - a beautiful slice of electropop influenced electronica and one of this year's outstanding tracks.

Nothing Universe - Pyre

With a track taken from the band's live EP recorded at King Tut's, this track showcases the direction that Nothing Universe, previously known as Phases, have been taking with their music.  Layered, dense, and intriguing Pyre  builds things up only to tear it all down in an climatic frenzy.

Almost Scottish Fiction EP Volume 4

Continuing our EP series, Almost Scottish Fiction, this month we've pushed the musical genres featured out a little bit.  There's some noisy, garage alt-rock courtesy of Wendell Borton, a rather expansive instrumental track from Ubre Blanca, left-field experimental music from Bunny & The Invalid Singers, plus a heartwarming acoustic number from Dec '91, and two great electronica based songs from Aquafaux and Shona Brown rounding out the collection.  A special thanks to the ever dedicated Findlay for another excellent artwork to go along with the EP.  It represents the whole thing quite well I think - swirling, a little disorientating, but ultimately aesthetically - or audibly - pleasing!

As always the EP is curated by myself on behalf of Scottish Fiction, and David McElroy from Almost Predictable, Almost and features tracks from our favourite artists.  A regular snapshot of Scottish music each month.  To grab your copy head along to the Scottish Fiction Bandcamp, or the Almost Predictable, Almost Bandcamp and download for free.



Aquafaux - See The Rain

Edinburgh's Aquafaux produce driving synthpop and See The Rain, from their recent Spellbound EP  is a prime example of that.  Combining the band's trademark electronics with a Garbage-like chorus, See The Rain  is a wonderful example of electropop.

Ubre Blanca - Taxed

Every now and again there comes along music that your brain can't quite immediately process.  Ubre Blanca are a band like that - with experimental electronica verging on out-of-this world prog.  Taxed  is a track from their 2013 release Polygon Mountain, and is a excellent introduction to the band.

Shona Brown - All I Have

Shona Brown's ambitious '10in10' project which has seen her release a single a month since November 2014 has been one of the most interesting and enjoyable events in Scottish music this year.  All I Have  perfectly demonstrates all her skills with looped electronics and flute combining to quite wonderful effect.

Bunny & The Invalid Singers - Ask The Man Inside Your Head

Edinburgh based musician/artist Bunny has just released his second album The Invalid Singers  and this track is one of the standout tracks on what is a superb album.

Dec '91 - When You Come

Playing under the pseudonym of Dec '91, Craig Ferrie uses the simplest of ingredients - a guitar and his voice - to craft encapsulating stories of meloncholia.  He's an artist who has been on our radar for a while, with a series of home releases and more recently hooking up with Gold Mold Records for the album Quebec.  The track featured here is a brand new one.

Wendell Borton - Adjusting

Naming your band after an obscure character from The Simpsons is always a winner in my book. Luckily Aberdeen's Wendell Borton have the music to back it up.  Raw, loud and slightly slacker alt-rock.   What's not to love?

Almost Scottish Fiction EP Volume 3

It's the not-quite-the-first Monday of June, however a week late is better than never!  Myself and David are absolutely thrilled to unveil Volume 3 of the Almost Scottish Fiction EP  series.  Again there's six tracks to wrap your lugs around, and my oh my what a collection they are!  I know I have to say that, but really I'm smiling ear to ear about how good this little EP is.

As before the EP is curated by myself on behalf of Scottish Fiction, and David McElroy from Almost Predictable, Almost and features tracks from our favourite artists.  To grab your download head along to the Scottish Fiction Bandcamp, or the Almost Predictable, Almost Bandcamp and download.



Machines In Heaven - Taxpayers Compass

Machines In Heaven have provided us this exclusive track for this release.  Combining the power of the Aphex Twin and Radiohead circa Kid A, this is a masterclass in electronic pop music which still retains the band's experimental edge.

Mt. Doubt - Leap

Taken from Mt. Doubt's stunning debut album My Past Is A Quiet Beast,  this track is a driving number with shimmering guitars creating a War On Drugs style feel. Leo Bargary's vocals complete the package with a baritone quality reminiscent of Matt Berninger.

Shards - Just To Get Something Started

Shards debut release Just To Get Something Started  perfectly shows off the band's brand of melancholic eletronica which the band have christened melancholitronica.  It's part ambient, part experimental and really rather fantastic.

WASHED - One To Five

WASHED is the new electronic project by David previously of Fiction Faction.  This track One To Five  offers a tasty insight into what has been going on in the studio, with reverb vocals draped over rising and see-sawing synths.

in:tides - Yours Is The Earth

Yours Is The Earth  is the closing and title track from Glasgow post-rockers in:tides' latest EP.   If you like your music layered, building and with arena filling atmosphere, then this will be right up your street.  The band are playing at Xpo-North this week so don't forget to check them out!

Analog Angel - Your Breath

Your Breath  is Analog Angel's most recent single, released ahead of their rather exciting support slot with former Kraftwerk man Wolfgang Flur in Norwich on 20th June.   The track is a much poppier affair than the band's previous releases, though no less powerful.

Almost Scottish Fiction EP Volume 2

It's the first Monday of May, and as promised Volume 2 of the Almost Scottish Fiction EP  series is out now.  We've extended the EP to six tracks this month, meaning there's more bang for your buck.  Although techincally as the EP is free, there's no buck at all, so really just 50% more bang!

As before the EP is collated by myself on behalf of Scottish Fiction, and David McElroy from Almost Predictable, Almost and features tracks from our favourite artists.  To grab your download head along to the Scottish Fiction Bandcamp, or the Almost Predictable, Almost Bandcamp and download.



Apache Darling - More Than Me

Apache Darling are a synthpop duo from Glagsow who produce some of the finest pop music the city has produced in ages.  More Than Me  was the first track they released and it rightly gained a lot of attention.  Apache Darling are a genuinely thrilling prospect and More Than Me  captures all that is great about this band

very very small inclusions - Rain Rain

With a band name taken from the grading scale used to judge the clarity of diamonds, you'd expect crystaline clear music from very very small inclusions.  What you get is a dispersion of influences and ideas, with themes of introspection.  This track, Rain Rain,  features heavy tom-toms, with pure and acoustic sounds, and airy vocals.  The track is taken from the bands album Dispersions.

Tongues - Anymore

Tongues is Tim Kwant from Kill The Waves' solo project and Anymore  was his first release.  The song was a smash on Soundcloud and the buzz it created spread far and wide.  A slice of laid back electro pop with a huge chorus, Anymore  will grab you straight away and never let you go.

BEAM - Hex

BEAM is the glorious sounds of singer and songwriter Amy MacDougall, who has been in the past better known for contributing to other people's music; for example King Creosote.  However Hex is the sound of her own music, mysterious vocal loops, cello, piano and an overall dreamy feel.

The Insomniac Project - Breakaway

The Insomniac Project have kindly allowed us to use a brand new track, Breakaway,  and it is a cracker.  Disco fused with LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip, Breakaway  is destined to get anyone grooving.

Seas, Starry - Newark

Coming from the Aberdeen four piece's album Tyto Alba,  Newark  is a perfect illustration of the effects laden ambient music that Seas, Starry produce so well.  Taking influence from the likes of My Bloody Valentine and Errors, the band drag the listeners ear to the furthest edges of electronic instrumental music.

Almost Scottish Fiction EP - Volume 1

Scottish Fiction and Almost Predictable, Almost are delighted to present the Almost Scottish Fiction EP's,  which will be a monthly series of free EP's featuring tracks from our respective blogs favourite artists.  Ultimately we want to provide a monthly snapshot of creativity in Scotland, full of bands we love and want to share.  Each month artwork will be provided by Findlay of DIY punk clothing Burnhouse Industries. The EP's will be available to download for free  and will be uploaded on the first Monday of each month.

Volume 1 of the Almost Scottish Fiction EP series is out now and features four tracks from our favourite artists.  To grab your download head along to the Scottish Fiction Bandcamp, or the Almost Predictable, Almost Bandcamp and download.



Exit-Omni feat. Dear Lara - Wandering on a Night Without Stars

This track brings together two artists from different musical places; dreamy electronica producer and introspective acoustic singer-songwriter, to woozy laid back effect.   Exit-Omni; producer Ross Woodhead; and Dear Lara; the stagename of David Lan; weave together well in a track that wouldn't sound too out of place in Air's back catalogue.

Malmo - The Bridge

Malmo are a Scottish based three piece who produce epic scale, cinematic, electronic influenced pop. The Bridge  shows the band at their best with the track combining John Barry-esque instrumentation with the melancholic feel of Pet Shop Boys in their Behaviour  phase.

Wozniak - Five Star

Wozniak are swiftly becoming one of the finest shoe-gaze band's in Scotland.  Hailing from Edinburgh, the four piece are working on their debut album, and Five Star  is an insight into their world.  It's a fascinating track with deep complexities.

Twissted - Machines

Twissted are Vicki Milne and Zoe Burnett, a duo based in Glasgow.  Their electronic pop is a joy to behold and Machines  is a standout track.   Presented here in its extended edit, Machines  mixes Kraftwerk like synthetic precision with an irresistible pop hook and it is a track that you can't fail to love.