Scottish Fiction favourite Mt Doubt has a brand new video for their rousing anthem Asunder. The video, created with the help of Moon Unit Productions, sees frontman Leo Bargery set amidst rollings clouds and crashing waterfalls helping to emphasize the isolation and power the song conveys.
Asunder itself, taken from the album My Past Is A Quiet Beast, holds everything I love about Mt. Doubt's music. The brooding Matt Berninger-esque vocals, the powerful Wars on Drugs tinged melody, and splatterings of M83 style synths and guitars. If you didn't bag the track first time round, then go get your download just now from Mt. Doubt's Soundcloud page.
Last weekend saw over 100 artists, 80,000 people, and our good
selves descent upon Strathallan Castle for Scotland's biggest music
festival; T in the Park!
Once again we recruited some of the finest talent playing across the T Break stage over the weekend to keep a T in the Park Diary for Scottish
Fiction.
Sporting perhaps the most unique name of the weekend, not to mention the closest name to Thundercats character, Schnarff Schnarff topped the bill on the T Break stage on Friday night. Myles Bonner from the Inverness quintet kept track of the weekend for Scottish Fiction.
Thursday 9th July
Tin the Park started a little early for Schnarff Schnarff when Thunder, Turtle and I had to head out to the campsite on the Thursday evening. We waited in two hours of traffic, picked up our passes at West Gate and headed onto the shuttle bus which took us round twice and dropped us off at the West Gate. We proceeded to walk for 30 minutes until we eventually found a free spot to set up camp for the band and all our pals. We weren't going to staff camp when so many of our folk had bought tickets so we trekked until we found the sublime BLUE 1 section which ended up being class. It was close enough to the atmosphere without having a paralytic person flatten your tent… like many sections. We set up and then made our way back to Glasgow (half panicking that someone would nick our seven tents and gazebo!)
Friday 10th July
Full of excitement and some serious fear, I started the van as we set up
on a convoy to Strathallan… Not before getting a team picture obviously.
We arrived after facing a few hours traffic but we were so buzzing that we couldn't care less. Upon arrival at the staff car park at West Gate we found our crew member, Jamie Fleming, pissed-as-a-newt, sprawled out on a fold out chair and half a crate of ciders (he had arrived a few hours earlier than we planned).
With everyone meeting up and getting their performer wristbands, we made our way across the mud to the heights of Blue 1 where everyone soon realised how important it was that we had set up camp the night before… It was rammed!
We sat down in the gazebo and watched our family and friends get cracked
into the festival drink supplies while we watched as tee-totallers in
anticipation for our biggest gig to date. We don't drink before gigs
usually so we weren't going to start now, even though I will admit, it
was a very trying atmosphere to stay sober! Class weather, everyone
together, we counted down the minutes until we would headline the famous
T Break stage!
We went to see Hozier, among other bands, while we counted down the time to stage time and then eventually separated from the TeamSchnarff to the band wagon so we could get our amps, guitars and drum breakables to T Break.
This wasn't an ideal situation as we moved the equipment from the van,
trekked across the mud and then clambered onto a shuttle bus which
proceeded to take us round the campsite to T Break stage which was, we
found out, 200 yards from where we got on in the first place!
We sat our gear down in the tent, met with John-Paul Mason and Craig
Johnston from DF Concerts while downing free Highland Spring to calm the
nerves. The time flew backstage as we had interviews with Clyde 1 and
Tenement TV. We filled out our PRS forms, told the filters what tracks
we wanted recorded and then were summoned to set up out stage after a
great set from the lads from Dead Man Fall.
The stage was incredible was everything I wanted. Great equipment, lights and it was big enough to roam about - something I do because I enjoy it and it helps me engage the crowd more. I like to pick out the whites of people's eyes so I know they are listening! In a flash, we were on-stage and it was time.
We opened the set with our set Desk and the crowd who had decided to
choose us over David Guetta, Mark Ronson and Kasabian got into it
straight away. The tent was not rammed by any means but it was busier
than we can possibly have expected considering being relatively unheard
of but competing with the Friday big headliners!
It was incredible, we did ourselves proud. Only had a few niggles in our 30 minute set but we all left feeling like we earned some new fans who, less face it, were probably there just because of our random name! We hugged each other, got a photo with a few new faces who loved the set and then were ushered out of the tent with our gear, still high as kites from playing the amazing T in the Park!
That high that we had worked so hard for was quickly extinguished when some crossed wires led us to a bus stop which was no longer active because the roads are closed each night at 11pm (WE FINISHED OUR SET AT 10.50pm!)
We weren't allowed to store our amps so stood in the pissing rain with
£4,000 worth of equipment. With no help anywhere, we were blessed to
bump into our good pals Hector Bizerk who, along with the legends who work backstage at the BBC Introducing,
quickly ran over to help us save our stuff. Audrey from the Hector
Bizerk emptied the back seats of her van and quickly filled her Fiat
until everything was protected. We begged for access to the staff roads
and eventually managed to get to our Renault Traffic with our beloved
equipment intact! Audrey, you are a legend!
The feeling of being a T in the Park headliner had quickly dissolved
when we were left in the rain BUT the excitement soon grew again once we
had loaded our amps and gear, and sat, enjoying a cold beer as a
quintet! It finally sank in; we played FUCKING T IN THE PARK!
We met with the rest of the group, phoned our parents and loved ones and
got clean on it into the early hours of Saturday morning.
Saturday 11th July - Monday 13th July
We camped, we drank, we sung, we shouted and we saw the most incredible
bands smash T in the Park's first year at Strathallan. Everyone was so
up for it that the weekend was mashed into one big blur of bands,
hilarity and fun! It was just class.
With the stress of
setting up camp, playing such an important gig and then saving our
equipment, we could now relax and have a complete blow out. Wolf Alice, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Everything Everything and Annie Mac
were stand-outs for me. Here a picture of our bassist Thunder, our crew member Jamie, and myself enjoying the rest of our
muddy, camping, incredible weekend. It was that good that I am still
coughing!
I like having exclusive streams available on Scottish Fiction for you to check out. I like dreamy post-rock coated shoegaze. I like layers and layers and layers and layers and layers. I like sophisticated music. I like when bands return with improvements. I like noise.
Delighted to be able to bring you an EXCLUSIVE first listen at the new EP from Edinburgh's Wozniak. The EP is called Auster and is out on Monday via Morningside Young Team Records. It follows on from the band's last EP Pikes Peak, displaying more of the same with added oomph.
The EP takes its name from the Roman God of the south wind, and reflects the elemental forces at work on Auster’s four tracks. The four tracks were recorded at The Depot Studio in Edinburgh, under the guidance of Craig Ross of Broken Records.
You can get the EP from Monday via the band's Bandcamp, and on iTunes, Amazon and in independent record shops around the country.
Here at Scottish Fiction I've developed a bit of a band crush on the dream pop/electronica duo Very Very Small Inclusions. As well as giving them radio play on the Scottish Fiction radio show, our reviewer Andrew Kidd waxed lyrical about their album, and they popped up on the latest Almost Scottish Fiction EP.
So it's for all these reasons that I'm delighted to be able to share their brand new video with you via a Scottish Fiction exclusive. The track Winter Solstice comes from the band's album Dispersions, and is a song about not utilising one's full potential. It's a desperately sweet track, with a dark and cryptic edge.
The palindromic music video was shot and produced by Tim Pow, in parts at Rouken Glen park in Giffnock, and portrays a reflection of the suns travel on the shortest day of the year.
Check out Dispersions from Very Very Small Inclusions via the band's Bandcamp, and you can follow them on Twitter too.
Ahead of the release of their eight album, Everything Ever Written, Scottish Fiction favourites Idlewild have joined forces with Edinburgh based Barney’s Beer to release a brand new craft beer called... Scottish Fiction!
Some readers may recall Barney's Beer as the brewer behind the Beer vs Records Record Store Day release with Song, By Toad Records, so this is not the brewers first dabble into indie music. “When the band approached me to collaborate on a beer I invited them
down to the brewery to have a taste of some beers and throw around some
ideas" stated Barney, the man behind the brewery.
The beer will be available in Scotland as part of a limited edition batch; 1250 bottles sold at independent beer and wine shops, as well as available on cask for a limited time; to coincide with the launch.
To mark the launch, the band are having a party on Friday 6th Feb in Summerhall, Edinburgh where the beer will be available, plus an exclusive playback of Everything Ever Written followed by a DJ set from the band. Tickets are free and available here.
The bottles will also feature a QR code that will provide access to a free download of a special acoustic performance of one of the band’s earliest and best loved tracks A Film For The Future from their album Hope Is Important.
Without doubt Idlewild are one of my favourite ever Scottish bands, and clearly the blog/radio show/podcast owe a debt to the band for the name Scottish Fiction which is also one of my favourite songs. Keep an eye on the blog for a review of the band's new album popping up, and you can check out the band's lasted single below.
Ahead of the official announcement of the Scottish BAMS Award 2014 winner (full BAMS Award post here), I caught up with James Graham from The Twilight Sad in Mono, Glasgow to present the band's award and chat about the year the band have just had. Here is that interview in full.
Congratulations, Nobody Wants To Be Here, Nobody Wants To Leave is this years' winners of the Scottish BAMS award! How does it feel?
James – Really good. I think I found out last week, and I told my Dad right away. He was like, “well done son!”
No it’s great. I’ve said a few times that last year was a big year for us, and to have released the record that we’ve released and to have got the reception that it’s got has been a massive thing for us. I don’t want to be melodramatic and say it’s saved the band, but it kind of has in a way. When you release something you don’t really know [how it will be received]. You can like it as much as you want, but ultimately in the long run, people have got to like it to have any sort of success or be able to make another one. So to be voted number one for the BAMS is pretty mental for a miserable bunch of guys from Kilsyth. It’s great though. We really appreciate it, and things like this don’t happen to us all the time, so it’s really cool.
Previous winners of course include The National, The Phantom Band, Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat, and last year CHVRCHES. Good company to be amongst?
James – Aye I’m a fan of every single one of those bands and the records that won. Bill and Aidan’s record [Everything’s Getting Older] is one of my favourite albums of all time. I’ve actually heard the new one. It could be, I don’t want to say but, it might be as good if not better. He’s a dick. I text him when I was listening to it, and I was like, “it’s amazing, you’re a prick, I hate you, you’re a genius.”
It’s great though, those bands are bands we aspire to be like. And to be in that company is phenomenal. To be in the position where we are mentioned in the same breath as those artists; 16-year old James would have told you to fuck off! So aye it’s nice. It’s been a good year for once. Don’t worry we’re not going to write a happy album after it!
2014 seems to have been a pretty exciting year for the band, what's been your personal highlights of the year?
James – The first thing would be in January, we put out The Twilight Sad Live at Paisley Abbey with The Royal Scottish National Orchestra. We released that for free in January whilst we were recording, and it showed the band in a different light. I don’t think anyone ever expected to hear any of our songs with an 80-piece orchestra. The complaint that we got from that was that people didn’t have to pay for it! It would be really nice if we could release it [as a physical release] at some point, but as far as royalties go, if you are selling a record and having to pay 83 musicians, it is pretty impossible!
And then we re-issued our first record [Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters], and we toured that as well. Just because it wasn’t available on vinyl anymore, and we had the demos as well. We just wanted to make a package of that. I think it was a nice way to remind people about the band and that record, maybe reintroduce the band to people and introduce that record to people who had never heard it before. I think it’s still a pretty special record.
And then there was Primavera, which was probably one of the best weekend we’ve ever had as a band. We played two gigs. One at the festival as the sun was going down looking over the sea. And then one at the park in Barcalona the next day, which was maybe just as good if not better. It was a free gig and we played a stripped back set. And there were rainclouds above us, and it looked like it was going to rain, and there was no cover over the stage so we couldn’t have played if it rained. But it just held off and the park was full of people. That will be a thing we’ll never forget. It was a great moment for the band.
And T in the Park was really good for us this year.
And then it was the record release and touring America. Then the ABC show at the end of the year. That was a big highlight. Just seeing that many people in the one room that wanted to see us. I never expected those kind of things to happen for our band, so for it to happen, that’s twice now we’ve done it, I think it was a pretty overwhelming at points.
Oh aye and Hogmanay. That was a good way to end off the year, playing with fireworks going off in the background.
So it’s been busy. And if you are busy then things are going alright. We are a band that works, and as a band we want to work as long as we can. So they were the highlights, but there was loads of wee things that happened in between that were great as well. I think just getting to release our fourth record. I never thought we’d get to four records, so that is an accomplishment in itself.
When you'd finished recording the album, how did it match up to your expectations?
James - It’s just another stage, it’s who we were in our lives, that’s what it was. I’m enjoying playing them [the new songs] live. It’s now a case of what do we leave out, instead of in the past we’ve not got enough songs. Now we have to leave songs out and we want to play the full record, which shows you how much we like the record. I think we can all look back on it and say we did a good job.
Are you now looking at how you can re-interpret the new songs for live shows?
James – We perform the songs differently and there’s different ways of doing it. I mean you’ve got the live full band which is the main focus of what we do. And that will be like the album in some ways, but I think it’s a little more intense, and a bit noisier than it is on records. But that’s been the same with all of our albums to be honest.
As far as Andy, Mark and I, playing the acoustic, stripped back, three piece sets, we’ve adapted most of the songs on the record to be played like that as well. We had a Tour EP out last year which was only available on tour, and that’s songs from the new record, just stripped completely back. And I think for anyone who likes the record it’s a nice side release to see how the songs started out to going to what they are after that. And we are possibly looking to put that together in some sort of package with the record as well. We like to show different sides to the songs, but even though we are about to do an acoustic in-store tour, the main focus at this point is the five piece full band.
How important do you feel that the support of music blogs has been to the band?
James – I think it’s been, and I’m not just saying this, it’s probably been one of the most important things for our band. When we started out, it was blogs and things like that that helped spread the word about our music. And through every release we’ve had we’ve constantly had that support. We’re not a band that is on the front of magazines or in big features, and in some ways I like that. I mean if that comes along, then that comes along and that’s great. But the best thing about it, is that it’s the actual real genuine people who are writing about music because they give a fuck about it, that are actually writing about our band and spreading the word about our band. And I think that’s a pretty cool thing to have that kind of support.
And it’s something that I hope people see that we appreciate and don’t take for granted, because I’d like to keep that relationship going. If people keep liking our music, then we’d like to move forward with everyone and at the same time promote the blogs. And if we do that then maybe someone discovers a blog through our music. It’s a two way thing. If we promote the blogs, you get more readers who will then can discover another new band who you are promoting. And it’s all about getting people to listen to new music and music that’s good instead of the usual shite.
We are really appreciative that we have that support, because the main goal for us is to reach as many people as we can and without that support we wouldn’t have reached as many people as we have at this point.
And finally, what has been your favourite album of 2014?
James – I had quite a few actually. I’m obviously a massive Mogwai fan, so Rave Tapes was always going to be on that list. I really liked Perfume Genius’ album, Too Bright, I found that really interesting. Angel Olson, her record with the long song title [Burn Your Fire for No Witness], which is ironic because I can’t slag anyone for that as we have the longest going. I liked Alvvays. I only got into the Alvvays record at the end of the year. It was one of those ones where people had been talking about it, and I saw their name about, but I purposely avoided it, but then I listened to it and it was great.
The Phantom Band’s record [Strange Friend] was really good. Remember Remember’s record, Forgetting The Present, that was really good record. There was quite a lot last year. I saw a few people saying it wasn’t that great a year for music, but I probably listened to more than I had in a while. I listened to The War on Drugs [Lost In the Dream] that was great record. Sharon Van Etten, I like that.
As for the rest of the band, Andy doesn’t listen to new music at all! He’s going back the way. He’s listening to old ‘60’s bands and stuff like that. Which is pretty cool, it’s a good contrast. He still does listen out for the new stuff, but he is neither here nor there about it. Although Andy really liked the Shellac record [Dude Incredible]. He’s really likes going back the way and finding old songs. We meet in the middle and he always recommends stuff and I usually like what he likes. That’s how I got introduced to most of the bands I like. I went to school with Andy and he kept on giving me albums, and that’s how we’re pals and that’s how I am where I am. Thanks to that prick! He’s got much better taste in music than I have, I fully admit that.
Devine listens to Britpop I’m pretty sure all the time! If there was a quiz subject and Britpop came up, Devine would win it hands down. But Devine does have good taste in music as well. I actually don’t know what he listened to last year. Think we were too busy having our headphones on and not talking to each other!
Johnny,who plays bass, he’s into some of the same stuff as I’m into it. But then I can hear him in the van and it just sounds like it’s pure death metal that’s just coming through his headphones. He’s one of these guys who looks so chilled out, but it’s like ‘drrrrrrrrrrr’ double kicks going in his head, and he’s just staring out the window.
And Brendan, who plays keys, he’s kind of the same as me. He and I talk about new releases more than probably anyone in the band.
Growing in confidence and stature was the name of the game for Hector Bizerk during 2014 as more and more people are being switched on to their unique and thoroughly Glaswegian brand of hip-hop. For Audrey and Louie it's been coming a long time, but this year say them hit mainstream consciousness courtesy of a SAY Award shortlisted album, and gave them the space to experiment and expand their art with their latest EP's.
With 2015 peeking over the horizon, I caught up with Louie from the band to chat about the year that was 2014 for Hector Bizerk.
How has 2014 been for Hector Bizerk?
We've had a rare-tare to be honest Neil.
We were invited to headline some festivals in Scotland and Ireland, played some shows in US, played with some of our hero's Public Enemy, De La Soul and even played at The Barrowland with The Libertines too. We won a SAMA and were top ten nominated in SAY Award too! We also released The Fish That Never Swam EP to a sold out Art School in September, and collaborated with visual artist Pearl Kinnear and film makers Andrew Mackenzie on The Bird That Never Flew. Liz Lochhead also covered one of my songs Party at A&E which was unreal to hear The Makar doing some of my rhymes. To quote the immortal words of Muhatma Ghandi.. "Fuckin' yass!"
How have the band progressed and changed from this time last year?
I think our sound has evolved naturally with the addition of Davey Calder on percussion and synth. He came in to replace wee Jen and we've written a full album of material since he has been in the band. With him, Fraser and Audrey I genuinely believe the musicianship is outstanding and we are becoming a solid song writing unit. We've taken some risks with each of the EP releases and I think it's important to write dangerous music. I think our recordings and our live show have improved.
Louie, you and I chatted back in May about The SAY Awards. Is it still as much of 'pinch yourself' feeling to have Nobody Seen Nothing amidst the cream of Scottish music?
It definitely is something we are very proud of. I think Stewart Henderson and the guys at SMIA have done an incredible job in showcasing the very best music in Scotland and for us to be included in their was something special. I think that Young Fathers victory in the Mercury Prize also subsequently resulted in some great press for SAY Award too as most people think their debut album also won the SAY Award too. That was fortuitous for the awards profile and I'm pleased about that.
You
embarked this year on a series of four EP, with their titles taken from
the famous Glasgow motto. It's also been a massive year for Glasgow,
and Scotland as a whole, culturally and politically. The band are vocally
passionate about the city, so how do you think 2014 has been for
Glasgow?
I think our city has done itself proud hosting high profile music events like MTV EMA's, the sporting event that isn't quite the Olympics, and of course the fact our city never shat it in the referendum. We have such a vibrant music community here in this city and I'm proud to be able to watch world class music in my hometown any night of the week! That in itself is something special.
2014 has ended with the release of your EP The Bird That Never Flew, the second in your series of four, and arguably your most ambitious project to date. How does it feel to have the EP out?
Because we made it as a film, we're in a bit of a limbo with it as we need to protect it's exclusivity at the moment. We've show it once so far at the premiere event at The Poetry Club. It was absolutely sold out and everyone was quite overwhelmed by how beautiful it is. I'm very proud of it and acknowledge the contributions of our talented friends Ian Henderson, Andrew Mackenzie and Pearl Kinnear.
What's been your favourite Hector Bizerk gig this year?
It's really difficult to chose man. New York was amazing and our first festival appearance in Ireland was fucking nuts. People were going mental. I thought we'd never top that type of atmosphere then we headlined the Solus Tent at Wickerman the following night and it was even better! Hectember was insane too!
What have you been listening to this year?
I've been listening to a lot of Pronto Mama; their latest EP is flawless. I also really like Man of Moon from Edinburgh and of course lots of hip-hop. As well as that the Arctic Monkeys album was off the scale.
Audrey has been listening to lots of Ryan Adams, Alt J, and Galactic.
Fraser listens to lots of stuff we don't allow him to play en route to gigs such as Bon Jovi and Extreme.
What constitutes a Hector Bizerk Hogmanay?
Last year we played for Milk in Glasgow, and we actually missed the bells and got the count down wrong. That was a bit embarrassing. I ended up spraying champagne on a couple who were having an argument! This year we are in the Highlands with Detour, sharing a bill with Prides, Fatherson Miaoux Miaoux and Pronto Mama. That will be some carnage.
Lastly, thanks for chatting to us, enjoy New Year, and all the best for 2015. What can we expect from you next year?
We have a small Glasgow headliner in Friday 20th February in Broadcast to launch the 3rd EP The Bell That Never Rang. Then we will release the 4th and final EP in March, and a brand new album in September. We have some plans to play overseas again too so we have a really exciting year ahead!
From humble beginnings Ewan Grant's Algernon Doll moniker has grown into a fully flegded three piece band with full on noise, and a respected DIY punk ethos. Omphalic was nudged into second spot on our Top 20 Scottish Albums of 2014 only by the mighty Twilight Sad, and the band have spent the latter part of 2014 over in the States recording with Shellac guitarist Steve Albini.
With 2015 peeking over the horizon, I caught up with Ewan from the band to chat about the year that was 2014 for Algernon Doll.
Hey guys, thanks for joining us for an end of year chat. How has 2014 been for Algernon Doll?
It's been great fun. We've added our new best friend, OJ, on the drums and subsequently become a much better live band. We've gained a lot of support too.
How have the band progressed and changed from this time last year?
We're much more of a band now. Writing new songs with OJ and Wull has lead to better dynamics in songs and jams. We've changed what we do again and it's now more of a garage punk thing which I'm happy about.
Omphalic was one of Scottish Fiction's favourite albums of 2014. How do you feel about that body of work 6 months down the line?
To be honest, I'm bored to death of it! That doesn't mean I'm not appreciative of all the support it's gotten and continues to get. I think it's just because I wrote those songs a year or more ago. I look back on the whole process with fond memories though and see it as a good document of my music at that time.
2014 has ended with the band over in Chicago recording your fourth album with the legendary Steve Albini. How does it feel to be working with Steve?
It was pretty surreal for the first day or so but he's just a punk, albeit a very famous punk! He's actually a genius too. Watching him work is an experience I'll take a lot from and I think we've all grown as musicians from his honest 'get it right' approach. I'm very excited about this record.
What's been your favourite Algernon Doll gig this year?
The fundraiser at Broadcast in November meant a lot to me as it showed how much people cared about this band and how they wanted to help. It was also super fun with aw the crowd surfing!
What have you been listening to this year?
Recently I've been listening to a lot of old US punk bands like The Wipers, Didjits, Naked Raygun and a lot of Sleater Kinney as they are brilliant.
What constitutes an Algernon Doll Hogmanay?
For me, a night in with the dug and watching Only An Excuse!
Lastly, thanks for chatting to us, enjoy New Year, and all the best for 2015. What can we expect from you next year?
Thank you for all the support! Hopefully someone will put this record out in the US as well as at home. We have some more US plans and non-stop touring!
It's been a great year for Glasgow synth warriors Machines In Heaven, who have released an album and an EP, played some outstanding gigs, and perhaps best of all performed in session for Scottish Fiction back in November (living the dream!)
With 2015 peeking over the horizon, I caught up with Greg Hurst from the band to chat about the year that was 2014 for Machines In Heaven.
Hey guys, thanks for joining us for an end of year chat. How has 2014 been for Machines In Heaven?
Thank you for all your support this year and your excellent radio show! 2014 has been the best year yet we reckon. London gigs, Red Bull studio recordings,
our biggest and best shows yet, as well as releasing a total of 15 songs
across an LP and an EP. Mission accomplished!
How have the band progressed and changed from this time last year?
Well we're down to a three-piece after Graham left early in the year.
Initially it was a daunting task re-jigging the live show for three, but we
put a lot of work in meaning we're now tighter and more flexible (oo-er). And
logistics are a LOT easier with the three of us!
Musically we think we've come far. We've refined our basic ethos as well
as the way we work. We don't write together in the first instance, we
just bring ideas we like to the band, and give the others free reign to
do what they want with them. We think this approach creates a varied and
unpredictable sound, like on our last EP. We're also using less guitars
- all three of us play synths on a couple of songs - but the guitars are
definitely NOT going away. We're using more vocals too, but not
necessarily songs and lyrics; for example Edge of the Middle and Voodoo Mechanics
from the new EP use vocals as a texture or effect. bordersbreakdown was one of Scottish Fiction's favourite albums of
2014. How do you feel about that body of work 10 months down the line?
Thanks for all your kind words about it :)
As we've said before,
that was a very long time in the making and your relationship to it
changes when you've been intimate with it for three years (i.e. you get sick
of it!). Having said that, bordersbreakdown and The Eternal Now are
still our no-brainer set closers, and I still think Mumbo Jingo,
Parliament Is Made Of Rice Paper and Metropolis are some of the best work I've produced. So
we still love it, even if we don't listen to it so much any more. It's
also kind of the template for everything else: Edge of the Middle and Holy
Particles were written while we were still finishing the album, and are
similar in structure and feel. 2014 has ended with the release of
your new EP Hindu Milk, a noted shift in the sound of the band. How
much does Hindu Milk represent where your music is heading into 2015?
We've all got slightly
different ideas about that, but we'll definitely finish another LP in
the first half of next year. We've already written a lot of tracks for
it. We want to continue, but develop, our varied sound (desperately
trying to avoid that word 'eclectic'), so that we'll have two or three catchier songs on there but also some dark, experimental, longer tracks.
We basically want to make an incoherent LP that still makes sense. What's been your favourite Machines In Heaven gig this year?
We've actually been playing all our best gigs in the last few months: The Red Bull stage at Electric Fields, the Synth stage at Simple Things,
and supporting Daedelus in Edinburgh are probably our favourites so
far. What have you been listening to this year?
Caribou, Lorde
(still!), Liars, Juan Maclean, FKA Twigs, Rustie, Kiesza and of course
the inescapable Taylor Swift. Was also just introduced to The War On Drugs by
a friend actually, which I love too; just to get a guitar act in there! What constitutes a Machines In Heaven Hogmanay?
No idea! We've been too busy to think
about it. It'll be a last-minute two-day party, and we'll all probably
meet up at 9am on 1st January in a scuzzy West-end dive...
Lastly, thanks for chatting to us, enjoy New Year, and all the best for 2015. What can we expect from you next year?
Thanks, and the same to you! Definitely a new LP, almost certainly
some European gigs, a small tour of England, and hopefully some big
festivals. And the continuing rise of the Machines. BOW DOWN FEEBLE
HUMANS!
As I walk into Gorbals Sound to meet Vladimir, the four piece have just finished their weekend of recording laying down their next single In My Head, which will be due out in February/March of next year. The studio complex on Pollockshaw Road has seen the likes of Glasvegas, BMX Bandits, and CHVRCHES through it's door, and boasts one of Scotland's best mix of digital and analogue recording set ups. For Vladimir, it's been a weekend also spent in the company of former Soup Dragons and Teenage Fanclub drummer Paul Quinn.
"When we first walked in, I kind of went 'woah are we in the right place?'" laughs lead singer Ross Murray as I ask how the weekend's recording has been. "It's been amazing. We're kind of having to pinch ourselves and ask how have we ended up in here!"
Hailing from Dundee, the band have had an eventful 2014; touring with The Twilight Sad, playing with The Fall, and playing festivals such as T in the Park, Wickerman and Tramlines. Yet they've only released the one single Smoke Eyes, complete with B-side cover of the club anthem Born Slippy. That's something the band are looking to put right with the new single.
"It is a massive massive song", says Ross of new single In My Head. "We are really determined to put out a great single" explains bassist Josh Gray. "It'll be more poppy, more catchy and have more energy" he goes on. The band seem confident that their road earned energy and tightness will translate well onto record, with some of the credit for this going to producer Paul Quinn.
"We've learned a
lot" explains guitarist Peter Mackenzie. "We've always wrote songs thinking of them being played live, but
Paul's made us think about writing songs to go on record. He's been really hands
on with it." This bodes well for the band as they look to make 2015 the year that they'll record their debut album.
If 2015 is the year the band record their debut album, then 2014 has been the year they've took their brand of bleak rock on the road. The band played a headline tour of 8 dates across Scotland, which was a big step up for the band. I asked Ross how the band have progressed due to this. "We've been on the road loads, which we've never really done before, and you know staying overnights after gigs as well. The gigs started off small and have got bigger and bigger."
As well as their own tour the band have hit festivals across Scotland; playing the T-Break Stage at T in the Pack, also GoNorth and Wickerman. Again, as Ross explains, it was a learning experience. "Festivals taught us a lot as well, because you don't get your usual sound checks and you've just got to be on it" Outside of the Scottish festival circuit the band have also played Sheffield's Tramlines Festival and the Artrock New Blood Festival in London. How was the experience of playing these festivals I ask?
"For our bands it's not really been that much of an issue, because Dundee
has never really felt like a musical home town. So we've always kinda
felt wherever we are playing it's like going away" answers Peter. "We're actually quite familiar with Sheffield anyway" points out drummer Sam Taylor. Indeed the band have recorded down in Sheffield previously. "Going down south it's not really a lot different, you just do the same thing. Every time we've gigged we've took it in our stride."
Perhaps one of the biggest things to happen this year was the invitation to support The Twilight Sad on their run of gigs playing Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters, which saw the band play Leeds, London, Manchester and Bristol back in April/May. It was a big jump for the band, but they took it in their stride
"Those guys have been touring for years, so we learned a lot from them. Things like how they conduct themselves and the day to day managing of the band. They gave us tips, and it's improved us as a band as well." I asked the band how touring with The Twilight Sad was, expecting to hear some rock and roll tales of debauchery. It was the more practical things though that Ross and the rest of the band focused on. "They were great with us. I mean we knew them before the tour, but they were fantastic. Let us use their dressing room, told us if we needed anything just to ask. And we did go on nights out with them as well!"
Overall the year has seen the band progress a lot. They have garnered more attention and press, from national outlets such as NME, and have also developed personally too. "We've grew a bit as well, off stage stuff, and grew up a bit too" explains Ross. "It's because we've been in each others company doing this [playing and media stuff]" interjects Josh. "Touring also teaches you to know when people need their own space as well. We've matured a lot, you know we still go out to have fun but we're learned not to piss people off as much!"
With personal highlights for the band including The Sad tour, meeting Mark E Smith, and playing to a packed T-Break stage at T in the Park, you'd be forgiven for thinking that they are looking forward to winding down for Christmas. No such attitude just yet though as the band finished 2014 in style making their bow on the main stage of Glasgow's ABC venue, again in support of The Twilight Sad, on Friday 19th December.
Before we part ways into the crisp Glasgow night, I ask how they plan to celebrate after the gig. There's some smiles and laughs as they answer. "We'll probably have a wee party after the gig" answers Ross. I suspect the phrase 'wee' might just be underselling the celebrations a tad. It's been a fantastic year, but you get the feeling that this is only the beginning.
Christmas eh? Seems like at this time of year there's a clutter of artists doing covers of Christmas classics, or putting out their own festive tinged numbers (both of which we heartly endorse here at Scottish Fiction). In a kind-of Charlie Brown moment though, six Scottish artists have banded together with The Good Pack to remind us all what this time of year should be about.
My home city of Glasgow has a great music heritage, but sadly suffers from intense poverty in some areas, and the rise in foodbank use and numbers is a symptom of this. The Good Pack is an organisation that bundles up 'packs' of music and offers them out at a fair price with proceeds going to a chosen charity. The Glasgow Edition sees six artists make their albums/EPs available for a minimum of $6 (approximately £3.81) with 40% of proceeds going to Glasgow Northwest and Southeast Foodbanks to support Glasgow's hungry over Christmas.
If you don't own these collections already then you're in for some great
music with your donation. Even if you already own all or some of the
albums/EPs, hopefully worthy cause will prompt you to pick them up
again.
After some weeks of teasing and anticipation, octet Randolph's Leap unveiled the wonderful video for their stunning track Weatherman on Monday.
Featuring arguable the most famous weatherman of all time (Heather the Weather comes in at a close second), Weatherman features Michael Fish as the titular role, whilst the band bustle and hustle around getting ready for the broadcast.
Fish
was a weatherman with the BBC from 1971 to 2004, and was brought on
board for the project by video production company Wake Up Advice, who
produced the finished article.
The track, a morose swipe at an
ex-partner's new boyfriend; the line "he talks like a weatherman" being
the most insulting thing the jealous ex can think to say; is one of the
standout tracks from Randolph's Leap recently released debut album Clumsy Knot,
which is shaping up to be on many critics 'Best of 2014' lists. The
song is also a fan favourite and stand out in the band's live shows.
Check
out the video below, and don't forget to tune into Scottish Fiction on
Pulse 98.4 community radio from 5pm on Sunday 7th December as lead
singer Adam Ross is in session, playing three tracks and chatting about
all things Randolph's Leap. You can listen in on 98.4 FM in the East
Renfrewshire and Glasgow area, or online at www.pulseonair.co.uk, and if you miss the live show as always the show can be listened back to via the Scottish Fiction podcast.
Like it or not Christmas is just around the corner, with the festive cheer poised to pounce as soon as the supermarkets sell out of pumpkins; and in some places even before!
Don't get me wrong, Christmas is, as the old adage goes, the most wonderful time of the year. Yet there can seem amidst all the adverts and shopping a sickly feel of commercialism on cocaine. So it's good when things come along that you genuinely have no problem spending money on, such as Christmas party gigs from one of Scotland's finest post-rock foursomes Campfires In Winter.
On
Wednesday 17th
December
in the stunning surroundings of Glasgow's
Sloans GrandBallroom, Campfires In Winter will host the first
Campfires' Christmas Party
with help from a few
friends and some special guest collaborations. Support comes from alternative popsters
Friends In America and garage rock noise makers
Deathcats. And like all good Christmas parties the fun will continue into the evening with a heavy dose of drunken
dancing, the tunes for which will be spun by the The Twilight Sad.
To help make the Christmas party special each ticket comes with a hand signed Christmas card, and gig goers will be greeted with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie on arrival. And if that isn't enough how about a brass band playing Christmas songs, as well as a photo booth as well. Photo booths and mulled wine... I predict some messy photos!
For someone with his fingers in so many creative pies, Johnny Lynch; a.k.a
The Pictish Trail, a.k.a. head honcho at Lost Map Records; is one laid back man.
It's over a year since Lynch, along with the active members of the 'Fence Collective' splintered from the Fife based label of over 15 years, and struck
out on their own trail. It's for this reason that I'm chatting with
Lynch; him holed up in Stirling following a show at the Marcobert Arts Centre,
me in a cosy yet glitchy radio studio on Glasgow's Southside.
"It was really good yeah" opines Johnny as I ask him how the
previous night's antics had gone down. "The crowd was lovely and the
set went down really well. And it was a beautiful venue as
well" The gig was part of Stirling's Fringe and was a Lost Map
showcase, where The Pictish Trail and members of the label played stripped down acoustic sets. Was that
gig then designed specifically to mark one year of Lost Map as a label?
"No not really" answers Johnny. "It's strange because
we announced the new label at the Green Man Festival last year (August 14th
2013), and I found myself down there again this year, so that was kind of
fitting. We are planning however to mark the year with a new feature on
our website, as well as some new music and a video from our Howlin' Fling
festival." I'm also assured that Johnny, and fellow label organisers
Kate Canaveral and Malcolm Jack, are making plans for Lost Map's second year.
In some ways Lost Map is a continuation of what Fence Records was in its latter
years. Lost Map's roster includes Kid Canaveral, eagleowl, Monoganon,
Seamus Fogarty, Rozi Plain, and of course The Pictish Trail. The label
also continues the tradition of hosting its own secluded festivals and gigs, as
well as a love for unusual releases. Where Johnny has looked to
differentiate from Fence is the latter's perceived tendency to veer towards
singer-songwriters.
"I mean I've no problem with singer-songwriters, it's what I do
myself. But I felt that by signing Tuff Love, we were really staking a
claim that Lost Map isn't purely for bearded songwriters."
Tuff Love, the fuzzy three-piece championed by the likes of Ally McCrae and Jen
Long, were the first 'new' act to Lost Map, who hadn't been associated with
Fence before. Lost Map approached the band and offered to work with them,
essentially pushing the band and their music out to the wider public, a plan
which has seen debut EP Junk released earlier this year as well as
numerous gigs across the UK.
Other notable releases seen on Lost Map this year have been a re-release of
eagleowl's album This Silent Year, F A M I L Y by
Monoganon; which had been planned for release on Fence; and the debut album
from indie-folk prodigies Randolph's Leap. I ask how Lost Map came to
release Clumsy Knot, an album which has been eagerly awaited by
local music fans for some time now.
"Well I had been in talks with Randolph's Leap for a while about putting
out an album. We released Hermit on Fence, and I just think
that Adam [Ross - lead singer of RL] is a really special songwriter. It
just pours out of him and he's a really exciting guy to be involved with."
Another new act to be signed to the Lost Map roster are Insect Heroes, whose
album Apocalypso was released earlier this month. Having
known George Thomas, the man behind Insect Heroes, for a number of years.
Johnny felt that Lost Map could give Apocalypso the release it deserved.
"When I first heard the album [Apocalypso was self released in
2013] I thought 'Oh my God, this is amazing!' It's pop music that is
really fun, and George was doing it all himself, which I know can be really
daunting and exhausting. So when we signed the band to the label, I felt
that re-releasing the album on vinyl was a good introduction to their music. Plus it's kind of an endorsement to have your
music released on vinyl. I mean there's still an audience who want a
tangible product. As an artist having your album out on vinyl is a good
expression of your music. It pays the artist respect I think."
The label have also continued Fence's love of the physical product, with all
releases thus far being granted a vinyl release, plus a continuation of the
Postcard singles, as well as the elusive Lost Cat Cassettes.
"They are secret cassettes, which are not listed on our website"
enthuses Johnny. "We've done three Lost Cat's [with eagleowl &
Woodpigeon, Monoganon, and Monogan and WeGoda] and they are great because
there's a sense of discovery with them. We don't list them on the site
and they are only available in actual record shops, meaning they are harder to
get. There's maybe a sense of achievement if you find one, which I think
is important for the appreciation of music. Not that it's incredibly
difficult to find them mind you!" Each Lost Cat tape contains
exclusive tracks from Lost Map artists, and, highlighting Johnny's sense of fun
and word play, the artwork is a genuine lost cat poster.
"Yeah we just took some posters off the street to use as art work"
laughs Johnny. "Actually I've secretly been kidnapping cats, just so
their owners will put up posters which we can then steal! What happened
to the cats? Oh we used them as food at the Howlin' Fling. It's the
secret life of a record label boss; kidnapping and killing cats!
As we talk, and uncontrollably laugh, it's clear why Johnny Lynch is able to
run Lost Map as a close knit family rather than an ‘at distance’ label.
Johnny exudes confidence and warmth, laughing throughout our chat, and giving
out the sense that he genuinely loves the music and artists he's so closely
involved with. I ask him if that sense of community is an important ethos
to the label.
"One of the things I've tried to do is to be as involved with the music as
much as each artist wants me to be. I will make suggestions and changes,
but I've already got 100% belief in all the releases already." I ask
if Johnny had a sense of where he wanted the label to go when he started to
which he verbally shrugs his shoulders. "There were no set plans;
however I wanted to work with people that I like, and with music that I
like. I'm chuffed with how it's gone, and it's largely due to trusting my
gut."
That sense of community seeps beyond the label collective and into the fans as
well, with events such as Howlin' Fling on the label's spiritual home of the
Isle of Eigg developing a sense of togetherness and showcasing all the label's
wares at the same time. It's an ethos which Johnny is keen to pass onto
the bands, and has seen Randolph's Leap host their inaugural I Can't Dance ToThis Music event, while Kid Canaveral's Baubles now rolls into its fifth
year. Elsewhere eagleowl host a night branded Irregular Owl Movements,
further showcasing the lack of taking things too seriously at Lost Map.
"It brings fans together" states Johnny. "Ideally I'd like
all our artists to curate their own events and build things outside of just
their recorded music, whether that's live or online. Each act will express
themselves differently, but I feel it gives the artists a lot more
involvement"
Unwittingly that may have been an insight into why Fence fell apart, however
it's clear that with Lost Map, despite professing otherwise, there's a clear
plan ahead for Johnny and the team. Build each act up, encourage them to
take on board other duties, and in a way help them learn the way that Johnny
himself learned at Fence. It's certainly worked for him, as this year's
reissue of Secret Soundz Vol 1 & 2 on Moshi Moshi Records
shows. It's important to remember that whilst running a label, Lynch is
still a writing, performing and touring artist in his own right, and the
"seal of approval" from Moshi gave him a self-admitted confidence
boost.
"I was chuffed when they took the record on board, and it's also
interesting to see how they do things, which is completely different from Lost
Map." Is there another Pictish Trail album in the works I ask?
"I'm currently working on the next record. I've got lots of ideas, and
Moshi are very supportive.”
So what lies ahead for Lost Map? Well as you'll guess of course there's
things under wraps that can't yet be disclosed, but Johnny confirms there's a
few records lined up for 2015, and that the plan remains to work with the
artists on the roster already. More of the same seemingly, although don't
write out anything just yet.
"If an amazing record comes our way, then yeah we'll look at it. But
if not, we'll stick with what we have, getting our artists more involved and hopefully
a lot more aware of their surroundings too."
- Neil Wilson For more about Lost Map, and to buy any of their releases check out lostmap.com
Lost Map celebrated its first year anniversary on 14th August 2014, and has
released material from Randolph's Leap, Monoganon, eagleowl, Insect Heroes,
Tuff Love, Seamus Fogarty and Kid Canaveral. To celebrate the label have
unveiled Clumps, a new section on their website which promises a mix of
podcasts, photos, gossip and other stuff. Clumps kicks off with Lost Map
label sampler, and a short film; by The Forest Of Black; about the legendary
Howlin' Fling festival.
