Single Review - The Amazing Snakeheads - Can't Let You Go

Following the release of their debut album Amphetamine Ballads  in April this year, The Amazing Snakeheads return with a fresh line up with frontman Dale Barclay as the only remaining member from the original band.  However, the change in personnel doesn’t seem to have caused any lasting damage to this band, but perhaps enhanced the erratic phenomena that trickles from their music.

Teasing, jovial guitar strings waltz in unassumingly as we’re introduced to Can’t Let You Go.  The introduction of Dale Barclay’s vocals are met somewhat perfectly with the volatile thrashing of cymbals and rich guitar notes and with that, the invigorating strangeness of The Amazing Snakeheads has fully polluted your mind, wondering what you’ve let yourself in for.

The hysteria contained within Can’t Let You Go  builds steadily as the four piece produce lazy but merrily teasing tones before all erupts and you’re firmly in the depths of hazy, punk-garage eccentricity.  Barclay’s beautifully husky vocals contain howls of conviction, authenticity and plenty of I-couldn’t-give-a-fuck-attitude.

The exceedingly infectious and aggressive guitar and cymbals produce a storm of grunge ecstasy and unadulterated nonsense.

- Melanie McKinlay 

The Amazing Snakeheads - Can't Let You Go  is out now via Domino Records on 7" vinyl or download and can be purchased here.

Scottish Fiction Podcast - 20th October 2014

This week's session guest on Scottish Fiction was Chrissy Barnacle who mixes folk and punk, with narrative lyrics which explore love, loss, life, relationships and everything in between.  During the course of the show you can enjoy three beautiful live tracks, as well as an alarming amount of chat about cannibal rats.

Included also in this week's show is new music from The Son(s), Felix Champion, IndianRedLopez, an excellent '90's dance cover from Vladimir as our 'Cover Lover' track, a 'Vinyl Play' from Conquering Animal Sound and a truly classic Mogwai track.  It's all good baby baby!

Felix Champion - These Four Walls
The Sea Kings - Woke In The Devil's Arms
The Insomniac Project - Parallels
Chrissy Barnacle - Hazelnuts - Live in Pulse 98.4 Studio
We Were Promised Jetpacks - Safety In Numbers
COVER LOVER - Vladimir - Born Slippy
The Amazing Snakeheads - Can't Let You Go
Chrissy Barnacle - Charmed - Live in Pulse 98.4 Studio
Laura Stevenson - Barnacles
The Son(s) - Death, With Castanets
Esperi - Seasons
VINYL PLAY - Conquering Animal Sound - Giant
Book Group - Here Is Too Near
Behold, The Old Bear - Seven Maybe Eight
Shambles Miller - Deadpool
Chrissy Barnacle - Bag Of Bones - Live in Pulse 98.4 Studio
CLASSIC TRACK - Mogwai - Mogwai Fear Satan
Aquafaux - See The Rain
IndianRedLopez - Commit


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Scottish Fiction - 20th October 2014 by Scottish Fiction on Mixcloud

Album Review - The Amazing Snakeheads - Amphetamine Ballads

The Amazing Snakeheads, the Glaswegian trio who have become known for energetic and exhilarating live shows, have managed to channel that same raw energy into their debut album Amphetamine Ballads.  The band have successfully set out to create a sinisterly seductive view of Glasgow, seen from an inner circle of characters, backstreets and walls dripping with grease.  Imagine Irvine Welsh’s picture of Scotland channelled through the gritty late night tales of Tom Waits.

The pace of Amphetamine Ballads  doesn’t let up as the band rip through the first few songs.  The playing is infused with punk ideologies.  Intricate playing tracked to perfection while slaving over takes is not the direction of The Snakeheads, instead aiming to recreate their live sound.  The fluidity of the tempos on display captures the live feel effortlessly, whilst giving the band a real sense of irresistibly sleazy groove.  The songs have strength in build-up through dissonance, structure and almost euphoric sense of release rather than crafted melodies, subtleties and intricacies.

While Nighttime  and Here It Comes Again  are relentless in their energy, the latter half of the album lets up slightly.  The introduction of Every Guy Wants To Be Her Baby  evokes a perversely erotic Twin Peaks aura with sax counter melodies over loose and laid back bed of drums and eerie synths.  This, of course, lets rip into a full band outpouring overflowing with charisma and effortless swagger.

The real gem comes in the form of Memories.  An unrelenting build up which lets out to the lines “take it by both bands, and shake it if it needs it”.  The Snakeheads then proceed to shake the song to an oddly euphoric and erotic repeated saxophone line.  This melody, along with the accompanying guitar line disintegrates into a dissonant rush of energy bringing the song to a close.

The final two songs, Heading for Heartbreak  and Tiger By The Tail  epitomise the album’s title.  Ballads at heart that almost shed a layer of skin and tease you with the idea of something deeper, but never quite delivering.  The sheer effortlessness with which this is accomplished, without ever letting go of their sordid charm.  These closing twelve minutes leaves you high and dry, teased with a taste, craving more from the trio that sound like they couldn’t give a shit if you do or not, which of course makes you want it more.

- Ashley Leiper

The Amazing Snakeheads - Amphetamine Ballads  is out now via Domino Records and is available in all good record shops and online here.