...Negotiations.!

Some artists should need no introduction on this blog, like Matthew Healy there.  But here's one anyway!  He's been on here a fair amount, either with his band Loch Awe, or as a central part of The Coat Hooks.  Well now you can add his solo incarnation Negotiations. to that impressive list.  Take it away Matthew...

Kowalskiy:  Who is Negotiations.?

Matthew:  Negotiations. is just me, Matthew Healy, also of Loch Awe, Andrew Lindsay & The Coathooks and formerly of We, the Plural. I like collaborating though, so most of my releases will have a few friends on them.  LA MORENA is the first of those friends. She's an artist and slam poet from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Weirdly, we've never actually met in person, but despite that obvious setback she was the first person to come to mind when I was looking for people to work with. She's great.

Kowalskiy:  How would you describe 'your sound'?

Matthew:  Hm. On "It's Dinner Time In Fucking America" (the collab EP with LA MORENA) I tried to make the music more about atmosphere than anything else, so I used a lot of repetition, drones, a wee bit of sub bass and a fuckload of reverb. I was very inspired by Boards of Canada and Burial (isn't every fucker who owns a keyboard, though?) and the like, which I think comes across.  However, in general, Negotiations. doesn't really have a set sound. I'm halfway through recording my first full-length, which is basically a pop album. You can hear early demos of the songs on my soundcloud.

Kowalskiy:  Plug away!!

Matthew:  Obviously I have to plug LA MORENA. She's got some stuff on Bandcamp which is really good. I can't wait to hear what she does next.  I'm very, very excited about the Adam Stafford album which comes out in August. He streamed it online last weekend and it's amazing.  I realised recently I've never ever mentioned Shambles Miller when plugging my friends. That was wrong of me. I caught him live for the first time recently, and as well as being a lovely guy he's absolutely hilarious. Plus his new songs are fucking great.

Kowalskiy:  What can we expect from you in the future?

Matthew:  Well the album, tentatively titled "Musique Noir" (because I like film noir, basically - I really wish I had a cooler reason), should hopefully be done by September. I've been talking to the aforementioned Mr Stafford about releasing it with Wise Blood Industries, which I'm obviously hugely excited about.  Other than that I recently recorded an EP with Andrew Lindsay and Jack from Loch Awe which should be out within the next few months (or as soon as we get time to mix it), and I've almost finished the writing for the second Loch Awe album. We're hoping that'll be out in early 2012, but it depends how long it takes us to save up to record it, really.

A lot to look forward to if you ask me!  Until then, you can get your hands on It's Dinner Time In Fucking America for free.  Here's Baal to whet your appetitie...
 

If that's not enough, Negotiations. also have some Preliminary Negotiations up for free download, We, the Plural have some too... as do Loch Awe.  Get downloading!

Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #10

This month, as far as the EPs go, we're into double figures!  As a thank you to all those out there who've been downloading these 5-tracked beauties over the last year, for EP #10, I've given you the chance to get involved.  A few weeks ago, I asked you to design the front cover in exchange for, well, not very much in return.  Personal pride maybe.  There's been a few cracking entries but the winner is... drumroll please... Ed 'Bear' Sellek for that brilliant piece above!  Take a bow Mr. Sellek.  One face in particular swung the decision in his favour.  Anyway, congratulations Ed, and to everyone else out there, you should all pay Ed a visit over here.

On to the music now.  Here's the five acts on EP #10 and what they had to say about their track...

1. Bottle Of Evil - I Can See Your Face (an exclusive new track from the Kowalskiy favourites!)

"It's the first completed track since we released our debut last summer, and will be on a new EP we're looking to put out in a couple of months. It's possibly a bit darker than most of the debut, with plenty of distorted bass, reverbed/delayed guitars, distorted xylophone, melodica and ambient screams. It also has our mate Dave playing some drums on it, moving away slightly from the sampled approach we've used before. A Glasgow based film-maker Benjamin Cottin from superB productions has also put together a video for the track which is available as an additional delight on this Bandcamp EP download." - Derek Bates (Bottle Of Evil)

That video is neatly packaged inside your Bandcamp download of the EP.  And it isn't half bad!  It's really good actually.  Prepare to be taken on a shoegazey tour of Glasgow...

2. The Last of Barrett's Privateers - Harbour Wall (a cracking demo from Edinburgh's folky four-piece.)

"Harbour Wall is a sea shanty telling the story of a man who is sent to work at sea, separated from his love back on shore. Although the song itself is a metaphor, the instruments and, especially, the vocals are played to reflect the physical imagery within the lyrics." - Toby Cooke (TLOBP)

3. Jump: Press A - Only The Brave Deserve The Fair (an 'angry pop' track from their debut EP.)

"Only The Brave is probably our most immediately accessible song as it is so overtly poppy. It's also our only really political song, but we've kept a healthy dose of Jump: Press A rage in there. 'Angry Pop!'   It is the opening track of our bedroom recorded 3-track EP 'In Case of Emergency.' It can be downloaded for free in full at www.jumppressa.com. We'll also be putting this one on our studio album that we will be recording towards the end of the year.   If you like it, catch up with us on Twitter and Facebook to find out about shows near you. We spend an unhealthy amount of time online between the 6 of us, so be sure to say Hello!" - Kelagh (Jump: Press A)

4. Loch Awe - Lips (a brand-spanking new demo recorded earlier this week!)

"A quick demo recording of a new song 'Lips'. Well, we say new, it's actually been around since before most of the songs on our mini-album, but still. Enjoy." - Matthew Healy (Loch Awe)

5. Pooch - Putsch (an electro 'beast' from Team Pooch)

"The idea of 'Putsch' basically grew from one single bassline that I had in my head to an almighty beast of an electro/techno track. It lasts over 6 minutes so perhaps a radio edit is needed as it doesn’t properly kick in until somewhere over the 4 minute threshold, but for those who stay until the end and like it dirty and filthy will be in for a treat. We had always wanted to use putsch as a song title (because of the obvious) and think the song represents the word quite well – at the end at least anyway!" - Team Pooch

The EP is now up for free download over on my bandcamp page, along with EPs #1-9 and a couple of extras.  Go, go, go!

Right, my mini-break continues now!  I'll be back soon though and in plenty of time for EP #11 on the 16^th of May.  In the meantime, get your cover art entries in again.  You've got a full month this time, so no excuses!  All you need to do is email me your masterpiece before noon on the 15^th of May.  Only requirements are that it's square, at least 350px wide, and better than the usual half-arsed attempts I've come up with in the past.  And as always, if any bands out there who fancy making my life that wee bit easier and want to volunteer a track for one of these EPs, then send me a wee email too.

...Andrew Lindsay & the Coat Hooks!

It's fair to say, Andrew Lindsay & the Coat Hooks are one of the hairiest bands in Scotland... certainly giving Biffy Clyro a run for their money anyway.  That's pretty much where the similarities end though.  After a few solo EPs, Andrew (second in from the right) has enlisted the help of some of his übertalented, musical friends for this latest release, The Whittling EP, which was released on Monday over here.  Over to the man himself to tell you a wee bit more...

Kowalskiy:  Who are Andrew Lindsay & the Coat Hooks?
Andrew:  Andrew Lindsay & the Coat Hooks is myself, alongside whoever is recording or performing with me at any given time. When I started writing what would become our debut EP, The Whittling, I knew that I wanted a full band to fill the songs with harmonious beef. One by one, I called upon my musical allies to join me in the studio and add their two cents.
The Coat Hooks that recorded The Whittling include: Loch Awe's Matthew Healy; pianist Lewis Buchan; producer and bassist David Anderson; my curly brother and frequent gigging companion Shambles Miller; pop chanteuse Reverieme; two members of my former band Guessing Game, Neil Campbell and Craig McKenzie; and my good friend David Hunter.
I guess the overall structure of the Coat Hooks treads a similar path to bands like Queens of the Stone Age and The Mars Volta, where, as long as I remain the constant, the rest of the band can become fluid around me.

(the pick of the bunch!)

Kowalskiy:  How would you describe 'your sound'?

Andrew:  I'd say we're a kind of brazen indie-rock-folk hybrid. What's been interesting lately is hearing how the revolving nature of the band has changed how the songs sound live. Our last couple of gigs have been performed as a three-piece, with Jamie Hewitt (bass) and Florence MacDonald (various instruments) joining the fray. Florence has added bodhrán, melodica and a ton of additional harmonies to the songs. It's like dressing them in different clothes!

Kowalskiy:  What can we expect from you in the future?  Plug away!

Andrew:  Our aforementioned EP, The Whittling, is out on March 21st, on a new Edinburgh-based label called After the Hush, and I'm sure we'll be playing about quite a bit.

I'd also like to record another Coat Hooks EP at some point later in the year, as I've got a stockpile of songs ready to go, and I get itchy feet.  I'm going to be recording a joint solo EP with my fellow Coat Hook and Loch Awe axe-man Matthew Healy during the summer, too. Judging from the material he's played me so far, it should be pretty solid.

The Whittling EP is out now over here, where you can also get your free download of one of the songs, the aptly-named Bearded Author.  It's a great EP.  Then again, what do you expect when some of Scotland's finest folkies all get together!  It "comes in a lovely digipack, with free badges, a wee note, and a download of the EP's acoustic pre-production demos".  So, if you ask me, it's well worth digging into the back pocket for.

Kowalskiy Belated Review #1

Let's face it, I'm a bit of a shoddy blogger. My blog posts are pretty sporadic with no proper routine whatsoever. But, when it comes to forgetting to pop up a review I've promised, or replying to an email a fortnight later, that's when I come into my own! So I've decided to do something about this scatterbrain image I've done so well to build up. I can't promise that my unique brand of musical neglect won't resurface, after all this blogging lark is on top of a regular 9-5. What I can do is eventually get around to putting some much deserved plugs in the Kowalskiy Belated Review.

Cancel The Astronauts - Funny For A Girl EP
The first band to feature are Kowalskiy favourites Cancel The Astronauts. In my defence, I've waited ages for this release after their outstanding debut I Am The President Of Your Fanclub..... so they can wait for this plug! Besides, those pesky Edinburgers recently admitted to ignoring us too. Such a rude bunch indeed, but by jings you gotta love them. Funny For A Girl has been well worth the wait. Each track backs up their credentials as thee most fun and exciting unsigned band in the country. The opening, title track is as perfect a pop song as you can get. From the ah-haha's and ee-hehe's to the sublime guitar riff, it is an absolute cracker. In frontman Matt Riley they might well have Scotland's answer to Jarvis Cocker... albeit with better eyesight and a much, much prettier voice. Shame about the tracksuits. There'll be no woo-ing Ms. Tweedy with those!

The Douglas Firs - Haunting Through EP
The next act to feature is Abbeyhill's Neil Insh a.k.a. the douglas firs, and this release couldn't be more different to the first if it tried. Saying that though, I really like this EP too. Opening track The Quickening might well take its name from the cult film The Highlander. Kicking off with the sound of crunching leaves, a distant marching drumbeat building up before giving in to stunning Celtic strings and Neil's gentle vocals. It's stunning! The applause and cheering halfway through a song has never been more thoroughly deserved. In many ways it reminds me a lot of Get Well Soon, although more stripped back, but no less beautiful. The other three tracks on this EP are every bit as rewarding to listen to. It's been the perfect accompaniment to a fortnight's break from blogging!

Loch Awe - Artificial Life From A Digital Sea
Last but not least are the lovely Edinburgh folktet Loch Awe with their 7-song FREE debut. It's no secret I love this kind of music. Standout tracks Resign and Lullaby From A Digital Sea are quite staggering, multi-layered folk gems that won't fail to bring a smile to you face. Apparently, the watery Loch Awe is affectionately known as the 'Jewel of Argyll'. Might not be long before this folky Loch Awe are bestowed a similar honour. Best get used to the name, we'll be hearing a lot more from them I'm sure!

If you fancy having a listen and downloading any of the releases, just click the cover art!