Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #14

How 'bling' does that look?!!  Very 'Beyonce' if you ask me, which is strange given my complete indifference to R 'n' B, and lack of it on the EP, or any of my EPs for that matter.  So the cover art may not match the great mix of tracks on the EP but I'm sure you'll enjoy it nevertheless as once again five of the country's best up-and-coming bands have been kind enough to contribute a track.  You know the drill by now, but if not, click the cover art to get your free download.  Here's the five cracking bands on KEP#14... 

1.  Black International - Dead Languages (An exclusive unreleased track from the brilliant Edinburgh three-piece.)

"This is one of the first songs Black International ever rehearsed. The lyrics had popped into my head fully formed one night when I was in that weird dream zone between being awake and asleep, and luckily I kept a notepad beside my bed in case of any nocturnal revelations. It's intentionally 'dumb' musically, and the words are a tongue in cheek vignette about a couple forging a relationship in the midst of cultural decline, or something like that. We recorded this demo in 2008, and it was dropped from the set not long after, never to return. I still quite like the economy of it, the whole thing's done and dusted in under 2 minutes, almost child-like in its simplicity. A little piece of bubblegum pop." - Stewart Allan (Black International)

2.  Negotiations. - Tiger Heartbeat (Third time Mr. Healy has contributed, and it's another belter.  This time with a cracking cover of mitchell museum.)

"I normally play in Loch Awe, but here's something completely different. I played everything on this. Thanks to Mitchell Museum for letting me cover their incredible song, and to Oliver Roditi for his invaluable help with mixing." - Matthew Healy (Negotiations.)

3.  Aerials Up - I Am ('Tis my great pleasure to bring you this amazing live version of this unreleased track.)

"We didn't have a demo version of 'I Am' so we decided to get a live recording, pretty soon after it was written a few months ago.  It was our first proper attempt at writing a love song. We'd tried before, but it always came across as a bit cheesy or cliched. But this time we got started with a few good lyrics, a couple of nice riffs and it all came together from there." - Aerials Up

4.  Edinburgh School For The Deaf - Mantra (Yet another unreleased gem - a fragile demo from Edinburgh's finest noisters.)

"This was one of three we recorded off the cuff. We usually get a rough idea of a song then go about destroying it until we're happy. This one seemed a little too sentimental and fragile to put it to the guillotine as it may have killed it stone dead, so we left it as it is.   And as it is it didn't seem to fit anywhere on the album.   So there you have it." - Jamie (Edinburgh School For The Deaf)

5.  The Ramisco Maki Maki Rocking Horse - Or My Bones (My love and admiration for this strange, strange man have no bounds!  Another 90-seconds of perfect, acoustoblasting pop joy.)

"As a man of the hoof, I believe we all have cracks in our universes, some too small to see with the naked eye, some so big we can fit someone else's universe in it tenfold. A universe can present you with opportunity and cover you in awesome sauce or it can swallow you whole and leave you to clean up your own dribble while the shithawks peck at your eyes. This track is leaning towards the pecking of my eyes and that's why you may find me, or my bones, in the sea." - Ray (The Ramisco Maki Maki Rocking Horse)

Not too shabby if I don't say so myself!   As always, it's FREE, so head on over to my bandcamp page now to get your download.  Have a wee look at the other 13 while you're at it!

Next month there'll be more of the same, five great free tracks from Scotland's finest!  If any bands out there fancy making my life that wee bit easier by volunteering a track for one of these EPs, then send me a wee email too and see if it tickles my fancy.  Enjoy!

Kowalskiy Belated Review #8

Annie Stevenson - Annie Stevenson
So time for another trio of Kowalskiy-neglected releases.   We're talking months here people!  I'm ashamed of myself, I really am.  First up are Glasgow indie-rocking-quartet (and not some female soloist as their name suggests) Annie Stevenson.  Thinking back, they were probably one of the first bands ever to send me demos all those years ago.  Well now, they've brought out their debut, eponymous album, and you know what, it ain't half bad!
It did take me a while to appreciate this album.  There's a lot of differing styles going on, and the indie punk of the opening two tracks, reminiscent of The Enemy,  isn't one of my favourite genres!  It's not long though before these plucky young 'uns hit their stride with the (good era) Weezer-esque Someone Else and swaggering Britpop throwback TV Took Your Soul.  This promising debut peaks at the cracking Freedom Town which combines elements of both to great effect, creating a great rousing anthem.  I suppose, they do have the brass to pull it off!  As the album draws to a close, there's a few more styles and snippets of influences shining through.  All sound promising from a band trying to find their niche. A smidgeon of polish and a more definite style-of-their-own and we could be hearing an awfy lot more from Annie Stevenson!

Although the album is only available at gigs, the band are releasing a series of 4 downloadable EPs featuring the album tracks, each with a new song too!  The first of which, featuring Someone Else can be bought from iTunes here. 

Chasing Owls - We Began
The eponymy stops here!  Edinburgh folkies Chasing Owls are next up with their delightful debut EP We Began.  If their music's anything to go by, then they're a lovely bunch indeed!  As for the EP, it's absolutely stunning.  Especially opening track Wedding Song, which in my opinion, is one of the finest Scottish folk songs of the last few years' alt-folk revival.  Awash with gorgeous melodies, perfectly-placed handclaps and a timeless fiddle solo, it's fit to grace anyone's special day.   In no small part due to frontman Ben Sunderland's vocals, on Glory, comparisons with Mr. Mumford and his male offspring are inevitable.  This gorgeous, almost eerily-so, track builds up with the same quiet intensity their folky counterparts made their name with, and more than holds its own.  Bonus track, and by far, the most upbeat track on the EP, Lady of the Whiteness is a slight departure from that intensity, but a glorious track nonetheless, and definitely one to get the foot tapping away to.  Just you try and stop it!  Hopefully there's not too long to wait for the follow-up.

Black International - In Debt
From the artwork alone you know this couldn't be more different to the last one!  Different is still good though, every bit as good as the case may be.  Hailing from Edinburgh, Black International describe their what they do as "stripped down, economical, brutal music".  If that doesn't tempt you to check their debut album In Debt out, I dunno what will!  This stripped down brutality begins with A Millions Mouths, which sucks you in from the off, signalling its intent with regimented snare drums and their trademark, menacing guitars.   The full-on aural assault continues, reaching its peak at the devastating standout trio - Word Virus, Know You Exist and Monument.  Black International are taking no prisoners whatsoever with In Debt.  It's a strong, bold debut, and it's clear to see why they've struck a chord with bloggers and radio sorts alike.  This three-headed, guitar-wielding behemoth is gonna take some stopping!