Single Review - C Duncan - Here To There

Here To There is the latest offering on Fatcat Records from Glasgow songwriter C Duncan which blends his now signature scene scape of transcendental and ethereal folk music.  His classical background forms the foundation on which he layers vocal harmonies and melodies which have both a folk root, and suggest an operatic undercurrent.

There is undoubtedly a travelling theme to some of his recent creations and he himself has admitted, “The sea comes up a lot” in his compositions.  However, with the chopping, reverberating guitar and the syncopated drum rhythm, the suggestion is more towards a train journey; soothing and rhythmically meditative - “Take the train from here to there” - onward in a straight line.

C Duncan has a unique skill, his songs are born of melodies and harmonies, and he paints his narrative from a visual artist's perspective.  His songs are uniquely fresh and inhabit a slot in the Glasgow music scene which is much the richer for his presence.  This is a rather perfect song and the line “Something tells me we’ve been here before, it’s so familiar” although descriptive and relevant to the journey we are on, is, however, unreflective of the composition.  Go seek it out.

- Bobby Motherwell

C Duncan - Here To There is out on April 27th via Fatcat Records and is available to pre-order on digital download here.

EP Review - The New Fabian Society - Naltrexone

You are hit loud, fast and outrageously hard by The New Fabian Society as their way of a hello in the opening moments of the Glaswegian trio's debut EP, Naltrexone.  The sound permeates violently as you're hit unassumingly but TNFC do so in such a deliciously endearing way, you just want more.

In Love With A Killer  delivers an upbeat, fast tempo and exhilarating opening track.  It's a sign of things to come from these guys.  The brutality of the guitar matches perfectly with the heavy drums and frequency of cymbals, which culminates in an infectious match made in music heaven.  Imagine such a thing?  Muffled vocals follow the catchy chorus and I'm instantly taken aback 15 years and I'm in my dad's '96 Rover listening to the pearls of the 80's from the best of his cassette collection.  The haziness, the distorted vocals, the mixture of it all is so much more than I ever expect from a band now.

Aching guitar slides you slowly into Haemorrhage.  Instantly the listener is taken to a place of uncertainty as the guitar turns to a shade of sinister beauty.  Coupled with Michael's vocals taking a step down to remove the luscious 80's slick but enough to maintain the edge of his voice.  An explicit overhaul of trickling guitar lines, beautifully thrashing cymbals and hauntingly smooth and inconspicuous vocals amount to unverified anthemic glory.

Blaring, rowdy and atypical punk guitar welcomes you into Bind  as vocals take a turn for the bleariest yet.  Me, I love the bleary eyed confusion seeping from this track, I relish the opportunity to put all focus on the instruments and away from the somewhat over importance of words, but you may not be able to fully appreciate this and instead, find the distortion a matter of irritation.  You decide.

Geneva  transforms you into a torpedo of sound.  A rupture of full mental awareness.  The music feels it's hurling you round and you’re lost to the mesmeric essence of it all.  Relish it, enjoy it, maybe even spin a bit.  It feels great.  This music might not be destined to take you on an emotional journey of self discovery, but it will make you feel something.  Something of hypnotic and exciting proportions.

- Melanie McKinley

The New Fabian Society - Naltrexone  is out now via Electric Company and available as a 'name-your-price' download here.

Single Review - Tijuana Bibles - Sun Chaser

Western-style twanging guitar is the cool sound that greets your ears as Sun Chaser opens, creating a loaded atmosphere.  You can almost smell the gun smoke.  Slick rock ‘n’ roll outfit Tijuana Bibles’ new single is a fighting song – you can tell they mean business.  The steady beat and bass accompanied by assured vocals create a swaggering, stellar sound.

There is a definite sense of welcome battle – the catchy guitar riffs communicate a penchant for danger, a kind of reckless menace.  For lovers of this Kasabian-esque breed of stylish rock, this is your next craze – a completely infectious fresh tune.

- Maura Keane

Tijuana Bibles - Sun Chaser is out now via and is available on digital download via iTunes.  You can catch them at Broadcast in Glasgow on March 20th or at Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh on March 21st.

 

EP Review - Hector Bizerk - The Bell That Never Rang

Continuing on the series of EP's named after the miracles of St Mungo, The Bell That Never Rang  is the latest offering from Hector Bizerk.  The 'Glasgow EP' series has seen the band push the boundaries of their sound, and The Bell That Never Rang  is no different, a very different beast to previous work.

Opener Skin and Bone  starts slowly and controlled; afro-beat drums with Louie's calm vocals atop.  As if an unbeaten rap battle record wasn't enough, Louie further stakes his claim as Scotland's best MC with intelligent and witty lines such as; "I'll be the public enemy when the crisis hits / Chuck Deodrant into flames" and "While UKIP in your bed with feeble friends".  A delicious climbing bass line shepherds in the chorus; which is closer to Arctic Monkey's Crying Lightning  style than hip-hop demonstrating the band's reluctance to conform to genre descriptions.  "Still nobody seen nothing yet" warns Louie, casually assuring us that despite the plaudits thus far the best is still to come.  Ending with a psychedelia-soaked synth frenzy and the type of drumming Audrey Tait has come to be renowned for Skin and Bone  might just be the finest track Hector Bizerk have produced to date.

Festival Boy  begins with the hungover thoughts all too familiar with festival goers.  One of Louie's skills as an MC is his ability to craft characters through his lyrics.   Festival Boy  is another of those close to the bone creations, Louie's drawled half sung chorus giving rise to the bucket hat adorned staggering image in our heads.  Musically the track dabbles in funk and blues with delightful drum fills punctuating the verses.

TV series True Detective lends the name of lead character Rust Cohle  to the next track.  Like the TV series, the track is dark and foreboding; largely in part to the ominous guitar riff at play.  This track is an opportunity to take exception to many social injustices across the world, and again Louie's wordplay shines through particularly with reference to the Middle East and an ex-footballer's woes.

Closing track Best Man Speech  tells the dilemma of a best man who is all too aware of his mate's wife-to-be affairs.  The track again draws in influences from jazz, funk and afro-beat to craft a charming sound which paces along perfectly with Louie's rhymes.  The vocal only last verse is a fantastic production touch, demonstrating the clearing of mind one might expect when such a moral dilemma is dealt with. 

The Bell That Never Rang  represents another fine body of work under their belt.  Marching from strength to strength the band head over to SXSW surely assured and confident that ain't nobody seen nothing yet.

- Neil Wilson

Hector Bizerk - The Bell That Never Rang  is out now on limited edition CD and can be purchased here.

Single Review - Lilac Pin - Come Inside

Come Inside  is the second offering from Glasgow based duo, Lilac Pin, following on from their summer release Easy.  As we await the band's promising debut album, vocalist April May has been quoted as saying that the inspiration behind their current track was Aphrodite, the goddess of love. This is certainly apparent, as the song sounds beautifully sensual from start to finish.

The soft electronic introduction is enticingly seductive.   However, when on the chorus May’s voice purrs to the listener to "come inside" you may feel yourself searching for the door to take her up on this offer.  She is telling you not to fight it, and why would you?  The beauty of this song is not something one should turn down in a hurry.

After this first chorus the song builds even more.  More passion.  More fire.  More vocal dexterity.  This duo are showing off in a fantastic way, showcasing the shared talent between them.  The combination of the intense, electro-pop instrumentation and sweepingly erogenous vocals make this track something truly exciting.   If this is what Lilac Pin have to offer, then I for one will be eagerly anticipating the album.

- Gillian Parfery

Lilac Pin - Come Inside  is available to stream now on Soundcloud.

EP Review - Tetra - Tetra

Alt-rock foursome Tetra have been rocking their way around the Glasgow music scene of late, and their debut self-titled EP is a confident showcase of their bold sound.  Opener Arrival,  is aptly placed and named.  The catchy build up layers electronic future sounds with reassuringly tight drums and solid guitar.  Then Kevin Caldwell's fearless and daring vocals let you know they have arrived - and with a strong sense of British rock.  Already these guys are making big  sounds.

Tetra let loose on the second track, Sweet Release,  where fast paced beats give way to a venom-fuelled track full of momentum and excitement.  This song begs for full-body-fling dancing as it is thoroughly crisp, sharp and satisfying in all aspects of its delivery.  Forget yoga, jump around to this for a bit and the stresses of the day will disappear.

A veritable buffet for a rock-lover follows with, Tommy Lee Jones,  an all-you-can-jam to song, where the band shows what they’re made of.  Sublime atmosphere is created with the sweet open, which then morphs into darker realms as jarring guitar and hyped up rhythm takes us into rockier territory.  The chaotic organisation of the track makes it fantastically wrought with emotion.

The final track on the EP, Inside Is A Maniac,  is infectiously off-beat and littered with quirky kinks.  The guys maintain their powerful sound to the last, this slick offering is another one bound to get you rocking out.

To pull off this kind of music you need to have some serious spirit, tenacious conviction.  With their debut EP Tetra are showing the makings of true rockers: they not only pull it off but do so with notable daring.

- Maura Keane

Tetra – Tetra  is out now and is available for download here.

Single Review - The Twilight Sad - I Could Give You All That You Don't Want

The Twilight Sad have just finished embarking on a record shop acoustic tour which tied in with the release of their latest single, released as a 7" picture disc featuring I Could Give You All That You Don't Want  and new track The Airport.

The former is, of course, the third track on their recent BAMS winning album Nobody Wants To Be Here And Nobody Wants To Leave.  The song is one of the standout tracks on what is a superb album; a driving, melodic number that turns from a track reminiscent of Joy Divison to one that explodes with power quite spectacularly.  The Airport  is a more relaxed number that shares the lead track's key production motifs of reverb filled vocals and intense guitar sounds and is a good enough track to have fitted on Nobody Wants To Be Here…  quite comfortably.

As you would expect from The Twilight Sad, this is a great release and, if you've somehow missed the album, this is as good an entry point as any.

- David McElroy

The Twilight Sad - I Could Give You All That You Don't Want  is out now on 7" picture disc via FatCat Records and is available from selected record shops including Vox Box, Edinburgh and Monorail, Glasgow.

Single Review - Baby Strange - VVV

Glasgow three piece Baby Strange are a staple for us at Scottish Fiction by now and a new release from the band always gets us excited.  New single VVV  is no different as the band create their rawest punk track yet.

The song is built on a chunky bassline which plods along aside the drums.  The guitar gets to go more manic, zipping into the mix to make screechy, distorted terror through-out.  Johnny Madden as always plays a cool and collected front man, stating that the subject of his song violates and abuses him.  The lyrics aren't unlike the heyday of New Romantic music, or even Marilyn Manson.

- Scott Hastie

Baby Strange - VVV  is out now on Ignition Records and you can also pick up limited edition vinyl here.  If you fail to get your copy before they sell out then you have another chance when the band support Dolomite Minor on tour.

Single Review - The Insomniac Project - Shake Those Demons

As the old saying goes, playing synthesizers will help you sleep.  The Insomniac Project clearly put this age old theory to the test and the result is recently released track Shake Those Demons.  Hailing from Glasgow, they are a sleep deprived sextet with at least half of them playing the synth.

Accurately described as 'combining live instruments with polished electronic production and pop sensibilities' Shake Your Demons  has a sleepy juxtaposition of male and female vocals, whispering about either being "your dream or your nightmare". The intertwining vocals reminisce The xx's debut.  Synth heavy but without the '80's cheese, it perfectly encapsulates everything good about '80's pop.  While of course giving the bad haircuts a miss.  Most sensible.

- Holly Callender

The Insomniac Project - Shake Your Demons  is out now and available to download for free here.  Catch them playing at The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow on 27th February.

EP Review - Le Thug - Place Is

Le Thug are a Glasgow based trio whose music is a mix of shoegaze effects, drone rock and experimental electronics mixed with dreamy vocals that, when all combined together, produces a intriguing package.

Opener Outer Hebridean  is a short burst of looped effects and treated guitars that immediately draws you into the EP.  It’s a bold opener as it's perhaps not the standout track on the EP, but it has something captivating about it especially in the way that Clio Alexandra MacLellan's vocals float beautifully over the music. 

Over all too quickly, Outer Hebridean  gives way to Pals,  a sparser track comprising simple clean beats, electronic effects and a lyric that speaks of revenge, “Maybe, baby, I’ll pack up all of my things/Take a trip away for a few days.  I’ll let you think I’ve left with no goodbye.”

Next up is Basketball Land  which has a harder sound than Pals  and is built around a distorted, Mogwai-esque guitar line that pulses and intertwines with beats that almost push towards a dancier feel, albeit a slowed down, more intense type of dance music, if that is even alone possible.  The longest track here, and the one that has been used to preview the EP, Basketball Land  is a fine example of the potential Le Thug have, and the standout on this release.

Paints  follows, moving away from the feel of the first three tracks by giving prominence to a pulsating electro bassline that brings to mind the more melodic parts of the likes of Nine Inch Nails' The Downward Spiral  or My Bloody Valentine's  Loveless before penultimate track Losing Song  returns to the script with another enjoyable mix of shoegazing and distortion.  The chorus is a treat too, bursting like a sunbeam through the fog of effects quite marvelously.

The EP concludes with FC,  a more ambient sounding piece with jagged guitar lines bringing to mind the experiments of Harmonia and other electronic Krautrock bands.  All said and done, Place Is  is a extraordinary EP, and one that demands repeated plays, revealing more and more subtleties with each listen.

- David McElroy

Le Thug - Place Is  is released on 16 February via Song, By Toad Records and is available on download or clear frosted 12" vinyl.  Pre-orders can be placed here.

Single Review - Django Django - First Light

After a couple of years’ absence, Django Django have returned with First Light,  a taster for their new album which is currently being finished off.  What strikes you immediately about First Light  is that it has a harder electronic sound than we're used to with Django Django, and that is no bad thing at all.

A pulsating electro bassline kicks the song off and it’s soon joined by superb, crisp synth sounds and an in-your-face drum machine that propels the song along wonderfully.  The band's trademark vocals and harmonies soon arrive on the scene too, retaining their notable sound whilst adding an almost psychedelic feel, reminiscent of Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd.

As a point to how the band’s new album may sound, First Light  is very encouraging and very exciting indeed.

- David McElroy

Django Django - First Light  is out now via Becase Music and is available on 12" white label from local independent record shops or via download from all good online music retailers.  The band are about to embark on a short tour, playing small shows at The Wardrobe in Leeds on 14 February and The Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh on 15 February.

EP Review - Atom Tree - Clouds

Music can be thought of in terms of spectrography, the visual representation of the spectrum of frequencies in a sound, with colour and substance being directly proportional.  At one end of the continuum are dream-pop-heavy de nos jours who band together as part of an increasingly amplified contemporary post-rock subculture.  They attempt to distance themselves from the traditional musical palette by adding new ‘textures’ and ‘bright colours’ to create homogenised subterfuge.  The end result is more often than not an aimless swing from the wonted sublime to the breathlessly inane ridiculous.  Sitting uncomfortably at the top of the spectral waterfall, they look faded and discoloured.

Atom Tree are wavelengths apart in this sense.  The accession of the Glasgow three-piece, led by producer Shaun Canning, has been duly noted by the BBC and fashion brands alike.  They have been sharing stages with a string of established artists in recent times and have been labelled as ‘ones for the future’.

Clouds is their second offering and heralds a more vocal sound in comparison to their debut EP, Tide of Thorns.  The cover features the group’s logo atop a monochromatic negative of a cumuliform cloud.  Canning opens with Sinner and a tape-effect inspired introduction.  This leads onto a bright piano driven-melody, accompanied in verse by Julie Knox.  The track is fresh and complimented by an intelligent pause half way through.  The subsequent crescendo is memorable and the final chorus is augmented by a heavy two-step beat and breathy synth.

Hearts follows.  The track begins abruptly and Canning employs a mix of arpeggiated piano and cut-up vocals from Knox.  Similar to the opening track, the listener is treated to a further piano breakdown and heavy bass-driven final chorus.  The vocals of Knox are worth a mention as they feature heavily in this track and throughout the rest of the EP.  Never over-bearing, her voice lends a human touch to the otherwise synthetic production.

Hold On is probably the most obvious track on this extended play and immediately shouts Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Sohn.  Echoing vocals, a squelchy synth and a high pitched arpeggiated reso-lead act as the catalyst for a further reverberated build-up, crash cymbal fanfare and double-backed chip tune melody – this is simple but ultimately effective.

The title track is the highlight. Measuring over six minutes, Canning leads in with a slow cymbal rush and inverted ethnic-style rhythm before adding a tripping hi-hat loop.  The piano melody is intricate and bright and only gets better as the track progresses.  A muffled looping vocal acts as a gentle reminder of Canning’s apparent shift in emphasis.  The distorted tape-driven outro brings the EP to a pleasant conclusion.

Clouds is vocal electronica done well and unlike many of their contemporaries, Atom Tree stay true to their primary colours.  In a world of pale spectrograms, they are well located at the foot of the spectral waterfall, where colours are intense and vivid.

- Andrew Kidd

Atom Tree - Clouds is out now via Hot Gem Records and is available on digital download from Boomkat and iTunes. Hearts is free to download from the band's Soundcloud page for a limited time. Get it below.

Single Review - Turtle - Lavender

In a style quite befitting of his title, Glasgow-based producer Turtle (aka Jon Cooper) has surfed into 2015 atop a wave of growing interest.

Last year's Who Knows  EP, a curiously compelling marriage of ambient electronica and oddball chamber-pop, whilst turning the collective head in his direction asked more questions than it gave answers.  If anything, current release Lavender  serves to bolster this mercurial stock.  By the end of the opening minute Cooper has reasserted his adeptness in the art of subtle misdirection, as grandiose organ-based bellowing is gradually undercut by shuffling percussion and a soft but serpentine bass groove.  The introduction, with equal guile, of a cyclical vocal refrain means that by its conclusion Lavender  has flirted with the anthemic, without losing any grip of an enigmatic restraint which by now appears to be a Turtle trademark.

Amidst a parochial preference for the overwrought and the earnest it is perhaps unsurprising that Cooper cites influences from far and wide – Iceland's Olof Arnolds and Mum among them.  For those less familiar with esoteric Scandinavian electronica this reviewer is inclined to reference the more ethereal elements harnessed by early day Moby's blending of traditional and digital instrumentation.  Whilst it is of course only right to apologise to Mr Cooper if such a comparison is deemed unflattering, it is also salient to remind him that Moby is  doing really rather well for himself.

- Jack Wilson

Turtle - Lavender  is out now via Beatnik Creative and can be purchased here or via all good online music retailers.

EP Review - Mogwai - Music Industry 3, Fitness Industry 1

There is no doubt that the most recent album by Mogwai, 2014's Rave Tapes,  was a success on a lot of different levels.  It was an interesting turn from a band who continue to make constantly great records.  It also continued a great run of releases by the band, from their 2012 album Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will,  the Earth Division  EP, and the Les Revenants  OST.  Completing a year that will rank as one of the band's most important, they releasing this six track EP, Music Industry 3, Fitness Industry 1, at the tail end of 2014..

The immediate issue with this however, being a companion to Rave Tapes, is that it's split directly down the middle - six tracks, three brand new, three remixes.  This causes a thematic issue - whilst the three all new tracks are certainly worth the time of any casual fan, the remixes are primarily for fans of the band that take apart each vocoder and bass line to find meaning.

Your mileage will vary depending on which group of fan you fall into.  The Blanck Mass remix of Remurdered,  titled Re-Remurdered,  is pulsing, bassy and certainly different, but it hollows out the dramatic tension that the original track manages to conjure, and in doing undoes the denouement that occurs later in the far superior Mogwai original.  It throws almost all that is recognisable out and barrels in bleeps and ravaging basslines that makes for a strong track on the face of it but it's hard for it to reach above that of the perfect original.

The Pye Corner Audio remix of No Medicine for Regret  however is pretty wonderful - and the best remix on the EP.  The ethereal vibes and the time stretched production turns the original into an all new composition, reborn as what starts as a droney ambient journey, with a pulsing Field-esque sawbass coming in at the 3 minute mark, giving way to the shimmery guitar of the original track.  And lastly the Nils Frahm remix of The Lord is Out of Control  strips the entire song back to Frahm's signature piano lament and whilst it's pretty and fragile, like the best of Frahm's work, it sadly doesn't really make any statement.

The strength in the EP comes from the three all-new tracks.  Lead single Teenage Exorcists  is the kind of exciting thing that Mogwai don't do very often - vocals and a 'normal' structure.  It's short, sweet, pointed, and rushes around being as loud as it ends right from the start, and you can see why it was left off Rave Tapes.  It is worth the price of admission alone.  I'd like to hear more Mogwai like this, but perhaps an album of it might wear me out.  History Day  however sounds like Mogwai doing their recent Mogwai thing, appearing more like a Hardcore...  composition rather than Rave Tapes.

HMP Shaun William Ryder,  which continues the tradition of instant classic Mogwai track titles, is another strong cut from the band, rising into the fuzz of distortion that was actually missing from the majority of Rave Tapes.  It actually calls back to early Mogwai too, with it's quiet-loud dynamic, with the final stretch of the track sounding like a condensed version of Mogwai Fear Satan,  which is absolutely no bad thing.

As a standalone release Music Industry 3, Fitness Industry 1  is uneven to say the least.  Front heavy with two great and one good Mogwai track, with one interesting remix and two slightly curious but ultimately unnecessary ones. 

- Mark Shields

Mogwai - Music Industry 3, Fitness Industry 1  is out now via Rock Action Records and is available here.

EP Review - Tuff Love - Dross

Tuff Love's debut EP Junk,  released back in May last year, was a riotous blast of guitar pop that was simply fantastic.  Now, rather splendidly, the band have followed that up with a new EP which goes one step further.  Dross  is released via Lost Map Records on 9th February and the title is happily no pointer at all to how the EP sounds.

Kicking off with Slammer,  as good a guitar pop song as I’ve heard in years, which mixes wonderful 'butter-wouldn't-melt' harmonies with guitars lines that remain tense and almost threatening during the verses before exploding into life in the chorus.  Slammer  combines the best parts of Nirvana and Pixies before signing off with a Peter Buck-esque guitar line reminiscent of R.E.M. at their Document  era peak.   It’s a tremendous track that is impossible not to fall in love with.

That's Right  follows and shows an intriguing, spikier, almost post-punk side to the band that has a more sinister edge than Slammer  but one that still retains the band's innate ear for a ridiculously catchy melody.  Sebastian  and Doberman  follow, both slices of Throwing Muses or Belly like loveliness, the former containing some beautifully ethereal harmonies that are a highlight of the EP.  Cum  rounds proceedings off, swaying along in a beautiful way, underpinned by lyrics speaking of regret and loss.

It perhaps seems unfair to previous EP Junk,  but Dross is a significant step forward for Tuff Love as it showcases the full range of their talents perfectly.  What is most impressive is the stupendously catchy opener Slammer  and if that song points the way forward for Tuff Love, there are exciting times ahead.

Tuff Love – Dross  is released on Monday 9th February via Lost Map Records on download and 10" pink vinyl available here.  Pre-orders give you automatic membership of the Tuff Love Friend Club.  The band are also hosting a release party on Friday 6th February at Nice 'N' Sleazy's, Glasgow.

EP Review - A Hopeless Cause - So Far From Fine

Originally from the east coast of Scotland, the emo rock band, A Hopeless Cause prove that there is strength in unity and that, despite their title, not all causes are hopeless.  Indeed, in this, for now, two-member collective, all songs are written by Tommy Smith who is also in charge of the vocals, guitar and bass, while Chris James Marr, the engineer mix master, plays the drums and some additional instruments.

So Far From Fine, the first punk indie rock EP of the band, is both a narrative and heartfelt cry.  The band use a continuous wistful tone, even when they sing about something positive to bring a touching frailty to this EP.  Goodbye, Old Town is a doom and gloom start with a calm guitar melody at the beginning and an intense rumble of drums at the end.  You Will Never Be My Emergency Contact is a rhythmic letter with a simple drum beat, a sweet guitar riff, a backing vocalist and both clear and accurate lyrics.  Lonely Alone is painfully true and unsettling.  Spring Forward, Fall Back is a musical trip with the passing season.  You Wear My Heart On Your Sleeve and Without You I'm Nothing, With You I'm Something are wisps of hope and announce, perhaps, a step into recovery.

A Hopeless Cause put all of their cards on the table, and have found the simple, yet effective, way to make both genuine and engaging music.

- Alexandra Andréoli

A Hopeless Cause – So Far From Fine is out now and is available to download for free via Bandcamp.

The band will be playing their first show at the Cerberus Bar in Dundee on Thursday 12th February.

EP Review - Deathcats/New Swears - Split EP

Glasgow's favourite punk outfit Deathcats, married Ottawa's 'ultimate party boys' New Swears with a blessing from Fuzzkill Records.  Their union has resulted in the fuzziest of EPs following on from Deathcats' debut album release in June and New Swears' second record last August.  Like in that Simpson's episode where Ned Flanders meets his Canadian doppelganger, New Swears are basically Deathcats’ Canadian equivalent.  Which is no bad thing of course. 

The EP is a jaunty DIY punk party.  Opener Liquid Gold  is a whirlwind of distortion and energetic longing, while EP closer End Game  follows the same suit with a teasingly slow start but euphoric choruses.

What goes up, must come down, and after Liquid Gold  comes the slow and heartfelt riff coupled with a few "ooh-oohs" which makes Sprint  the EP’s best track.  Throw in a melancholy line like, "I used to be faster/but now I can’t get past the couch", and you’ve got yourself a winner.

For New Swears side of the split EP, Satan Loves You  is simply a cheery reminder for when you’re feeling down while Scru Bar’s House  has the punk’s holy trinity of simple lyrics, shambolic riff and distortion.  Renegade Babes  is reminiscent of Wavves with a bass heavy solo, and closer Sloppy Blackout  is home to the catchiest chorus on the EP.

Following the release of this EP, and some final 'goodbye' shows, Deathcats’ went on hiatus in January.  "Always leave them wanting more" goes the wise saying.  This EP is the perfect parting gift.  And at least, we’ve still got New Swears holding the fort.

- Holly Callender

Deathcats / New Swears - Split EP  is available on Fuzzkill Records now as a cassette and digital download here.

Single Review - Mt. Doubt - Feathers

Mt. Doubt whispers into our lives on a hint of dark synth but does not waste much time before exploding into a grand sound.  Feathers  is the debut single from the solo artist, who only goes by Mt. Doubt thus far.  It sounds like it has enough layers however to be a full band, so kudos to the Edinburgh artist for nailing a full sound on his first attempt.

Feathers  is a dark pop song which does what the best dark pop does, it’s uplifting.  The driving guitar riff and crushing drums remind me of White Lies however the voice accompanying is entirely unique and encapsulating.  He has a subtle likeness to David Byrne but this is something altogether new.  The chorus line, “baby you and I” is one of the most beautiful and infectious pop moments of the year so far.  Although coming in at four minutes long, it’s a song which you want more and more of.  Here’s hoping we get more of Mt. Doubt as soon as possible, he definitely has a bright future.

- Scott Hastie

Mt. Doubt - Feathers is out now and available for free download here.

Single Review - Jonnie Common - Shark

The best thing about Shark  by Glaswegian artist Jonnie Common is that it is so full of sly joy and humour it is hard to not crack into a grin when listening to it for the first time.  Lifted from the album Trapped in Amber,  released on Song, by Toad Records, the single starts with an Over The Wall-esque rumble of drums, chopped vocals and electronic waves, before sharply turning into a softly spoken pop song with crisp lyrics.

The melodic hook is one of the most wonderful I've heard in a very long time, and the lyrics are so quotable I am reminded of a younger Aidan Moffat in full flow.  The playful nature of the arrangement and the clever lyrics are married in such a way that they don't feel random, despite the sources of the music being far ranging.  I'm reminded too of the inventiveness of Max Tundra on Parallax Error Beheads You  (with a little less aggressive randomness) or maybe even Scotland's own art collective Found and their masterpiece Factorycraft.

Picking the line "sex on holiday gives me the impression that I'm never going to die / because the air is so full of oxygen" as a stand out was easy as it is a fabulously clever line, and the female backed shout of "It's a secret!" on the later half of the record fulfills the track's early promise of being a true stand out single of the year, and is the perfect track to make me investigate the rest of the album.

Which I have done, and it's great, so there is that too. [check out Scottish Fiction's review of Trapped in Amber  here.]

- Mark Shields

Jonnie Common - Shark  is available as a free download via Song, by Toad Records here or via the embed below.

Single Review - IndianRedLopez - Commit

I used to live in Aberdeen, you know.  I came across IndianRedLopez when I used to write for another website years ago, supporting someone that I can't remember.  They made such an immediate impression on me that I bought their debut album the moment it was released.

Commit is the latest single from the group's second album and is the title track from the record, which was released via Cease:Stop in 2014.  The album sees the band hone their electronic influences even further than their debut Empty Your Lungs and Breathe and the single is an anthemic track with ethereal keys and guitar bounce over a four to the floor beat.

The lament, "Some people say never look back... But I always look back," is as melancholic a line as you'll find, but the track adds layers as it moves on, before bursting into a rallying call in the later section.  It is a good manifesto for the band who deserve more exposure, as you won't find anyone else on the Scottish music scene that sounds quite like them, and Commit serves as a strong end to the album.

- Mark Shields

IndianRedLopez - Commit is out now via Cease:Stop and is available to download from iTunes.