Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #27

I know, I know... I'm late.  Anyhoo, feast your eyes above!  That was my view two weeks ago... isn't it pretty?  As usual though, the artwork has got absolutely nothing to do with the five artists on this month's free EP.   It's another great wee line-up featuring five firm favourites of mine.  Four lo-fi lovelies, and one 'new adventure' in hi-fi.  Here ya go! 

1.  King Post Kitsch - The Party's Over (demo) (A demo version of the title track of KPK's debut album... which isn't even on the album.  Confused?  Don't be.  Just enjoy this lo-fi gem!)

"This track was supposed the close my first album, then I recorded a track called 'Closing Time' which felt more appropriate. I kept the title for the album, but the song has no home. I'll still play it live though, starting with a gig in November, and maybe some new music. Details soon." - Charlie a.k.a. King Post Kitsch

2.  Bottle Of Steven - Just A Glance (A great new track from the bottled half of Bottle Of Evil.  Check out his own FREE EP here.)

"This is my attempt of a new live sound, cheers for the confusion that allowed this to fall out from my brain into binary form ;)" - Steven McGilvary a.k.a. Bottle Of Steven

3.  Be Like Pablo - Between The Lines (The closing track from their great, FREE, debut album The New Adventures.)

"Between the Lines is closing track from our debut album The New Adventures. We describe the song as doo-wop through a fuzz pedal with lyrics about essay writing. The New Adventures is available now as a FREE digital download via belikepablo.com" - Ross Watson (Be Like Pablo)

4.  Greyhound Out Of Mainline - I Can Only Disappoint U (A cracking, miserablist Mansun cover from a man with one of the best stage names going!)

"I Can Only Disappoint U is one of those songs which shouldn't ever have been so good. Mansun were a band falling apart at the time, with Paul about to discover a malignant tumour in his finger, and the resultant album (Little Kix) was mostly a complete mess. It's almost worth it for this track alone, though - the melody is sublime, and it's dripping with all sorts of beauty and sadness and self-loathing. I hope this (even more) miserablist cover does it some justice.  Oh, should have said - the little recording at the end of the Disappoint U cover is me drunk and staggering back up the stairs to my flat, whistling the genius that is 'Cinnamon' by Tripwires. As you do." - Ally Winford a.k.a. Greyhound Out Of Mainline

5.  tom - boy² (Self confessed "Scottish boy who writes music that nobody listens to".  That's gotta change!  This is the brilliant closer from tom's FREE Ohneiros album.)

"boy² follows the same theme of insomnia that is present throughout Ohneiros; the album from which it comes. It was written after the album was finished and after I had cut someone out of my life for good. It was the last song written and works thus as good closure/album closer. Ohneiros is free btw. Please take it musicbytom.bandcamp.com/album/ohneiros - thanks" - tom

So yeah, sorry again about the slight delay.  Hopefully you'll agree it's been well worth it!  Cheers to all of the above for contributing this month.   If you fancy your free copy, click the artwork above, or here for that matter.  Whichever floats your boat.  While you're there, there's another 26 for you to have a listen to and download for FREE.

I think I'm actually set for October's EP... just have to gently prod those bands who are on my list.  If they're all on board... WOW!  But, there's plenty more EPs, so if you fancy contributing a track to one of them, send me a wee email (kowalskiy2@gmail.com) and I'll see what we can do!  

Kowalskiy's Eleven for 2011

Happy New Year folks!  I said I wouldn't do this after my half-arsed attempt last year, but I suppose there's no harm in sharing my eleven tips for the year with you.  Besides, it gives me a chance to try out the playlist widget below!  There's a few familiar names in there that are no strangers to the Kowalskiy blog, and a few getting their first mention.  Either way, keep a look out for them in the year ahead.  In no particular order, they are...

Rachel Sermanni [MySpace][Twitter]
Indian Red Lopez [MySpace][Twitter]
Dear Mountaineer [MySpace][Twitter]
Trapped Mice [MySpace][Twitter]
Johnny Reb [MySpace][Soundcloud]

Rose Parade [MySpace][Twitter]
Weather Barn [MySpace][Twitter]
The Son(s) [Soundcloud][Twitter]
White Heath [MySpace][Twitter]
The Ramisco Maki Maki Rocking Horse [Website][Twitter]
King Post Kitsch [Website][Twitter]

K&A with King Post Kitsch

Back in February, the mysterious Charlie, a.k.a. King Post Kitsch released his debut, gem-of-an EP, which I proclaimed "an absolute treat". Five months on, he's back! And he's brought his brand, spanking new EP "Monomaniac" with him. Before we hear from the man himself, and before I start raving on about how good it is, have a listen to the lead track "Walking On Eggshells".

It really doesn't get much better than that! Bear in mind, that's just the first track. Have a listen to the other two songs and it'll be hard not to agree that this is a pretty amazing EP. If his debut didn't already mark King Post Kitsch out as one-to-watch, then "Monomaniac" most definitely will. Outstanding stuff!

Here's what the Charlie had to say when I asked him a few kowestions...

Kowalskiy: How would you describe your music?
Charlie: I'm not really sure, I guess others can describe it better. I've always thought it was like folk music without the folk arrangements. I like a bit of noise, I like a bit of pop and I like to occasionally rub people up the wrong way.

Kowalskiy: Who/what/where are your main influences?
Charlie: I think my main influences are probably movies, books and wherever I happen to be living at the time I'm recording. I tend to think more in themes so i guess John Fante, Knut Hamsun, John Cassavetes and Alfred Hitchcock might be influences. Musically some favourites of mine are Tom Waits, Neil Young, Beefheart, Bert Jansch and newer bands like The New Pornographers, St Vincent, Yeasayer, Neutral Milk... I'm not sure I sound like any of these folks though!

Kowalskiy: You recently released your second EP, "Monomaniac" for free! What's the story behind the EP, and what's the idea behind giving it away for nowt?
Charlie: With the first EP I had no band to tour or promote the release, and I didn't pay any money to record it so I thought I'd put it out there for free and get some feedback. I got some kind support from bloggers like your good self and a lot more downloads than I anticipated so I thought I'd do the same again.

Kowalskiy: What can fans expect from a King Post Kitsch gig?
Charlie: Good clean fun.

Kowalskiy: And when can Scottish fans expect to see you up here for some gigs?
Charlie: I've had a few offers, so hopefully soon. I'm gonna try to put together a little tour for a few months time - a few shows in England and Scotland. So if anybody wants to put us on, get in touch.

Kowalskiy: What would your ideal gig be?
Charlie: A slot in the Last Waltz line-up would have been nice: Muddy Waters on form and Van the Man in a purple jumpsuit. Magic.

Kowalskiy: What else can we expect from King Post Kitsch in the future?
Charlie: Another release very soon hopefully. Maybe another EP, maybe an album...

Kowalskiy: What up-and-coming band would you advise people to look out for?
Charlie: There's a band called The Chimeras in Philadelphia I'm a big fan of. They make really concise, scratchy, noisy pop music. A bit of Nuggets, a bit of The Kinks, a bit of everything really, and great vocals. The two albums I've heard are pretty strong.

Cheers Charlie! Just to recap, "Monomaniac", along with the debut King Post Kitsch EP are both available for FREE over on his bandcamp page. If the first was well worth a download, the follow-up is essential download material! The sooner we have the album in our grubby mitts and a Scottish gig (or two) the better.

...King Post Kitsch!

For those of you out there not familiar with Peenko and his fantastic Friday Freebies, you're missing out on a lot of great FREE music! Last month he featured the cracking EP from London-based Glaswegian King Post Kitsch. He contacted me last week (I'll get around to sorting out my backlog soon!) so I finally got around to having a wee listen.

Before the verdict, here's a few facts about the mysterious King Post Kitsch:

• He doesn't quite have a band but is trying to put one together to perform some live shows.
• The name came about by randomly opening the dictionary at three pages and picking the word at the top. Incidentally my band would be Intense Ballet Manifest (doesn't quite have the same ring to it).
• If all goes to plan he hopes to have a new release out by the end of March. Fingers crossed if its anything like this one!

Here's the opening track "Alaska". Got to echo a bit of what's been said already about him and the Cold War Kids similarity, although here its more stripped back and with the "Whiter Shade of Pale" vibe it works an absolute treat! The EP as a whole is a wee gem. I'm sure we'll all be hearing a lot more of him in the future.

Alaska

Tracklisting

1. Alaska
2. Modern Times
3. Fante's Last Stand

The EP can be downloaded for free from King Post Kitsch's bandcamp page.