Coastal Skid Spy Wok v22.0

NOTCAST TIME!!  For those not in the know, I don't do podcasts.  I have as much interest in hunching over a microphone for an hour than you do listening to my monotone for that length of time.  So this is my non-vocal, SoundCloud alternative... hence, notcast.  It makes sense in my head!  Anyhoo, on to this week's selections which we'll kick off with this masterpiece from one of my most-anticipated albums of the year.

   Mona Lisa by Trapped Mice (courtesy of Armellodie Records)

That is of course the brilliant Trapped Mice.  Their debut album, Winter Sun, isn't out until the 5^th of November via Armellodie Records, but you can pre-order it over here.   Speaking of Armellodie... remember they did this for little ol' me??   As well as a wee, free taster from Trapped Mice, there's also one from Cuddly Shark, who as-luck-would-have-it also have a release coming out.  Have a listen to the lead track from their Body Mass Index EP.

   Body Mass Index by Cuddly Shark (courtesy of Armellodie Records)

This one's a wee belter too, and you don't have to wait too long to get your hands on it.  It's out on the 8^th of October but again, you can pre-order it here.  Both those Armellodie tracks are free so knock yourself out.  Right, let's move on to another of Scotland's great, indie labels now... Song, By Toad Records - home of the mighty Meursault.  Their third full-length offering Something For The Weakened is one of the year's finest, and Dull Spark is one of the many highlights.

   Dull Spark by Meursault (courtesy of Song, by Toad Records)

Dull Spark is the second single from the album and can be bought on vinyl here.  If you haven't already done so though, get your hands on the album itself direct from Mr. Toad.  Now it's time for a blast from the past... who remembers Esmé?  I'll be honest... I don't.  But given this track was re-recorded by founder member and Kowalskiy-favourite Wiredrawn, and they contained members of Won Mississippi, it was always going to pique my interest. 

   You Wanted An Indestructible Body? Well, We've Built One For You by Wiredrawn

That one's free too.  Wiredrawn is a lovely man!  We'll have two more then I'm done.  The penultimate track is the latest, and first in a while, from Arran Arctic.  It's the first single to be taken from Arran's new album Like Lovers which will be released later this year.  'Tis a very welcome return!

   Covers by Arran Arctic

And it's also FREE!  Last up, and now sporting a 'V' instead of the more-conventional 'U', this is the fantastic second track from the Scottish-music phenomenon that is CHVRCHES.  

   The Mother We Share by CHVRCHES

The Mother We Share can be bought on 10" vinyl over here.  Even if you don't have a record player, this how much it'll fetch on eBay in 5 years time! 

So that's me done for another week.  Before I go, I'd just like to remind you to remember, remember, the 5^th of November when the brilliant Trapped Mice debut hits the shelves. 

Coastal Skid Spy Wok v17.0

Time for the latest notcast now.  I'll level with you... I've not really paid much attention to the recent goings-on on SoundCloud this week.  So, instead of the usual, this weekend the notcast will have more of a Thistly twist.  This time next Saturday, down in Dunbar, Thistly Fest 2012 will be well under way with one of the finest line-ups there is going.  So here's my pick of the acts...

First up, the organisers also made good use of SoundCloud and ran a competition to pick the final two acts for the festivities.  In the end, the lovely Yaya Club and Cafe Disco (who are just as lovely) triumphed.  Both great choices if you ask me.  So here's Darren Vincent, a.k.a. Yaya Club to kick us off.

   Cold Night, Be Kind by Yaya Club

Darren's also put up this video to accompany the track.  Next up, is Glasgow's Cafe Disco with their brilliant Terra Nova.  If my snooping has served me right, they'll be playing the acoustic stage.  If you're planning on heading to the festival... best check for yourselves though.

   Terra Nova by Cafe Disco

As well as these two, there's a whole host of amazing Scottish bands on show.  None more amazing than the band of the hour, Meursault.  Their new album Something For The Weakened is their best yet.  Gone may be 'computer guy' and with him, their unique glitchy, electro (just don't call them electro-folk) side, but that's not stopped Mr. Pennycook from producing one of Scotland's finest albums in years!  Here's lead single Flittin' to prove my point.

   Flittin' by Meursault (courtesy of Song, by Toad)

Be sure to get a hold of the single and/or album over at Song, by Toad Records on CD or vinyl.  As well as Meursault, Edinburgh bands FOUND, Capitals and Woodenbox will also be gracing Belhaven Farm with their presence.  All of whom are firm favourites at Kowalskiy HQ, but I guess I don't seem to feature FOUND as much as the others... so here's one from them... Anti-Climb Paint from their album Factorycraft.

   Anti-Climb Paint by FOUND

...which you can buy here.  You should also head over here to find out more about #UNRAVEL... possibly one of the most intriguing gigs of the year!  Should probably mention though that Woodenbox have a superb new EP out called The Vanishing Act, and Capitals have new single All These Years out too. 

Last track now from the fantastic Kitty The Lion.  You can get hold of their recent single Duck! over on iTunes, and while you're there I'd recommend you get hold of the others too.  You'll be happier for it!

   Lion in the Bed by Kitty The Lion

So that's just a taste of what to expect if you're off to Thistly Fest.  All the info is over here including the full line-up.   Good food, good cider, and great music... what more could you ask for?!   You can still get tickets over here if it tickles your fancy!

Coastal Skid Spy Wok v15.0

No shite intro this week.  Instead, let's get straight into the first track from Dolfinz.  It's a free taster from Song, by Toad's recent split 12" with PAWS, Sex Hands and Waiters.  You can read more about it over here, and get your hands on it here.

   Kitsch Craft (Radge Version) by Dolfinz (courtesy of Song, by Toad)

 
What was that about guitar music being dead?!   If that's not enough, the wonderful Mr. Toad is also gearing up for the release on Meursault's third album Something For The Weakened.  First up though, is the 7" release of lead single Flittin' which can be bought here.  Probably their finest moment to date I hope you'll agree... until you hear the album that is.

   Flittin' by Meursault (courtesy of Song, by Toad)

The album will follow on the 16^th of July but you can pre-order it from Song, by Toad Records on CD or vinyl, or you can treat yourself to a limited edition boxset if you're feeling flash.  Right, that's enough music of an amphibious nature.  Here's a track from the brilliant Saint Max's EP.

   Die Annie Die by Saint Max (courtesy of Braw Power)

An EP which is frighteningly good!  Next up, here's something new from Kill The Waves that went up on SoundCloud a week or so ago.  They'll be releasing new single Oak Tree in July via Glasgow's Strange Fish Records.  Here's the B-side Friend.  I love this track!  Can't wait for the album!

   Friend (new single B-side) by Kill The Waves (courtesy of Strange Fish Records)

Call me lazy, but I think we'll just have 5 tracks this week.   What better way to round things up than with this beauty from Rachel Sermanni, someone I don't feature half as much as I should around here.   Her Black Currents EP (available here) is one of the must-buys of the year, and according to the email I got yesterday, her album Under Mountains, will be with us in October.   Enjoy!

   Breathe Easy by Rachel Sermanni

Coastal Skid Spy Wok v14.0

And I'm back! First of all, thanks to Boab from Campfires In Winter for taking over notcast duties last weekend. I hope you've all downloaded their new album demos over here. Geez they're a beardy bunch aren't they?!   Just four ill-fitting suits and broad-brimmed felt hats away from being sued by the Amish Andy Warhol Society for copyright infringement.  There goes my Ohio readers... oh wait... no computers.  Anyway, when it comes, the Campfires In Winter album is gonna be amazing.

Right, on to this weekend's tracks.  First up, a blatant plug for the latest free Kowalskiy EP which came out last Saturday.  Six great tracks from six brilliant bands, including the übertalented M A D I S O N who even went to the trouble of recording an alternative version of their single Armbands especially for it.  You can get said EP#24 here for FREE.  And here's the original version of Armbands to kick us off.

   Armbands by M A D I S O N

That is fairly amazing!  As is this.  It only dawned on me on Friday that I hadn't listened to, let alone bought, the French Wives album yet.  Suppose it has only been 2 months since it came out...

   Younger by French Wives

I've since at least had a listen and it's even better than I thought it would be.  And I did think it would be one of the best of the year.  So I guess, logically, that must mean that it is.  If you liked the sound of Younger, then you can hear the rest over here where you can also buy the album Dream Of The Inbetween.  Less of this inane babble now.  Let's move onto one of the best song names on SoundCloud courtesy of Edinburgh's DanDanDan, great song too.

   The Sexual Freedom of Cats by DanDanDan

Kowalskiy Fact #65:  The third most read interview on Kowalskiy is the one what I done with Futuristic Retro Champions.  Well, they're no more.  Carla and Sita though have swapped roles and formed Teen Canteen.  'Tis early days, but they're sounding every bit as good as FRC! You can read all about them over here on Everything Flows.

   How We Met (Cherry Pie) by Teen Canteen

It's about now that I receive an email from Stars with their latest single.  I love Stars.  I'm hoping this new single is a grower.  It's no Take Me To The Riot is all I'll say.  This is though, on account of it actually being Take Me To The Riot.

   Take Me To The Riot (Bedroom Demo) by Stars

Last up, time to "get in the Buff"... The Pictish Trail's words, not mine.  Read all about the upcoming trio of Fence Records 7" EPs over here, first of which is by Mr. Trail himself.  Given that Fence don't seem to release anything short of brilliant, you'll be in for a treat.  Besides, if you subscribe, you get to pocket this great Meursault remix.  That's all for this week.

   Of Course You Exist (Meursault remix) by The Pictish Trail

The Blog Sound of 2012

By now, you may have seen the BBC Sound of 2012 longlist which is described by the head of BBC Music as "a project now established as the definitive annual list of exciting new artists to watch out for".  What a load of complete and utter pish!  For the most part, it's represents a victory for the PR machine over actual, unsigned talent, which the country has in abundance, and serves only to further hype bands and musical genres tailor-made for, what I'd like to call, the 'Tulisa Generation' (I dislike her!).  Now, as a Scottish music blogger who tries to do his bit for unsigned bands up and down the country, I'm obviously a wee bit peeved at the lack of bands which fit that bill.  But am I surprised?

Am I buggery!  Let's look at their past form.  The Bravery triumphing over The Dears (did they listen to the rest of their debut album or base their decision purely on the one song that was around at the time??), Mika pipping the likes of Cold War Kids (seriously now...), and Ellie Goulding and Jessie J beating, well... anyone really!  And I've not even gotten to the shortlisting of Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong yet!  Is it anything other than latching on to the most (over)hyped and in most cases, trendy, artists and putting them on the fast-track to success (not so much with The Bravery, but then again, it would've taken a damn site more than that to make them household names)?  So the latest list comes as no surprise at all.

So with this in mind, a while back, some of the crème de la crème of UK bloggers got together to nominate some of our own picks for musical stardom in 2012.  The idea (devised by Andy from The VPME and a few others) behind The Blog Sound of 2012 is in part, an experiment to see how a list from music bloggers all over the UK would compare to that devised by the BBC's own team.  And I'm sure, in part, dismay at some of their previous choices.

It's maybe best to mention here that these expressed views are mine alone and not necessarily those of the other participants or The Blog Sound of 2012 as a whole... please invite me back next year!  

Anyway, here's our longlist, which I'm glad to say contains a few of my five nominations.  Can you tell which ones!?

Houdini Dax

Lianne Le Havas

Theme Park

French Wives

The Good Natured

Alt-J

The Jezabels

Lucy Rose

Bastille
Washington

Friends
(excuse the fact there's no link for that one, but come off it!  You'd be as well calling the band 'Pamela Anderson Sex Tape' given the chances of finding it on a Google search!)

Meursault

Daughter

Beth Jeans Houghton

Outfit

So that's that then.  Great to see French Wives and Meursault in there.  Only two bands have made both longlists.  I know which list I'm more likely to throw my weight behind.  Saying that though, I know which one I'd put my house on too... and they're not necessarily the same ones!  I'll let you draw your own conclusions...

2010's Top 10 Albums: #4 - Meursault

Narrowly missing out on a place in my top 3 is Edinburgh's Meursault with All Creatures Will Make Merry, the outstanding follow-up to their cult debut.  Back in May, I said a few brief words about the album and predicted it'd feature in many an end-of-year best-of list.  Well, last week it was awarded a deserved 3^rd place in the second ever Scottish Bloggers and Music Sites awards... told ye!  Here's two reasons why...

One Day This'll All Be Fields

New Ruin

So what does 2011 hold in store for the band?  Chris has left, the guys have added a new bass player and are on the lookout for a full-time drummer.   With that in mind, and from the new songs that crept into their live show towards the end of the year, 2011 could see a new side to Meursault.  Watch this space, and in the meantime, get your hands on the album here from Song, By Toad Records!

Meursault - BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury (25/06/10)

...just makes you wish you were there! Here's 4 songs from Meursault's performance on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury on Friday. Three from their outstanding new album "All Creatures Will Make Merry" and one newbie by the sounds of it!

Download: Meursault - Glastonbury (25/06/10)

Tracklisting
1. The Young Gentleman's Guide To Maintaining Standards*
2. Crank Resolutions
3. What You Don't Have
4. One Day This'll All Be Fields

*or it may be "The Spark Which Begat The Flame" according to the BBC

Meursault - All Creatures Will Make Merry

Time now for me to bang on about how brilliant Meursault's second album "All Creatures Will Make Merry" is. Their first offering "Pissing on Bonfires/Kissing with Tongues" was one of a number of reasons that inspired me to start this blog - more people had to know about them!

In the run up to the release, I'd not heard that much from the new album to be honest. "New Ruin", "Song For Martin Kippenberger" and "Crank Resolutions" had become live favourites over the last year. Other than that, there wasn't much to whet the appetite, other than a few acoustic radio sessions and sheer anticipation. At their Captain's Rest album launch gig a month ago though, the band played the new album in its entirety (give or take a song or two).... and it was staggering. No more so than the captivating, stripped back set-closer "One Day This'll All Be Fields".

Having now heard the album, it is every bit as good! It's worth noting that since their debut they've added two new members with Phil Quirie on guitar and Pete Harvey on cello. The end result is the album sounds a bit different from the debut. As Song, By Toad's Mr. Toad says:

"It’s denser in many ways, dirty and noisy, and yet as sad and
heartbreaking as you’d expect from the band."

The strings that have been added are nothing short of brilliant, especially on "Sleet" and the album's epic highlight "New Ruin".

Without a doubt, Meursault are one of the most enthralling band in Scotland at the moment. If all creatures will make merry, then this album certainly will too! Expect to see it in a lot of end of year Top 10s come December!

Here's two crackers from the album courtesy of the amazing Mr. Toad.

mp3: Crank Resolutions
mp3: Sleet

Upcoming Gigs
19th May - Mono, Glasgow
21st May - Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh
29th May - Knockengarroch Festival, Carsphaim
6th June - Old Queens Head, London (Album launch 'all-dayer')
24th Aug - Medina, Edinburgh (Neil solo)

For those of you out there wanting to hear more from Meursault, there's a few options for you.

1. Pop over to Peenko for a couple of recent radio sessions here and here featuring four tasters from the album.
2. Viennese videobloggers They Shoot Music Don't They recorded Neil playing a few songs at Inverleith Park in Edinburgh while they were over in Scotland.
   
3. Take a wee trip over to Off The Beaten Tracks for Episode #26 where Meursault performed a few tracks at Craigentinny and Portobello Beach in Edinburgh.

That should tide you over until you get your hands on a copy of the album. Before its general release on 24th May you might still be able to get a copy from Song, By Toad, or you can get a digital download from eMusic.

...Yusuf Azak!

Glasgow-based, Aberdeen-born Yusuf Azak is someone who's music has found itself slowly creep into my daily playlist over the last week or so. He has self-released two EPs: "Gazelle" and "Light Procession", both of which you can download below courtesy of yusufazak.co.uk.

Yusuf's breathy vocals, delicate guitar-work and knack for a cracking tune make these songs an acoustic, aural treat! The fact they're free should be yet more music to your ears!

Yusuf Azak - Gazelle

Yusuf will be supporting Meursault at their upcoming Glasgow gig for the release of the Edinburgh outfits eagerly anticipated new album "All Creatures Will Make Merry". All the more reason to go says I.

Upcoming Gigs
April 7 - Captains Rest, Glasgow (with Meursault)
April 21 - The Roxy Room, Edinburgh (with Dan Arborise)

Ten Tracks!

Hi guys and gals! A while ago I came across the amazing and Scottish, Ten Tracks website and it's great collection of exclusive tracks from up-and-coming bands, the majority of which are also Scottish! So it's about time you got your arses over there and bought a few of these rare gems for yourselves. For those sceptics out there here's a few rarities from Meursault and King Creosote for you to salivate over (not free I'm afraid but they'll only set you back a few pennies)


Meursault - For Gummo


King Creosote - Punchbag
This is a temperamental wee bugger (and quite a big mp3) so be patient! Or have a listen to the preview on Ten Tracks here!

Every month, new "ten track" bundles are released and you can download the whole lot for only £1 or 30p for a single track! There's exclusive remixes of the entire debut album from FOUND, some belters from Jesus H. Foxx and Mitchell Museum, and even a wee treat from Mr's Yorkston and Cowley!

Pop on over and have a wee look and get your pennies out!

Meursault - Westward, Ho .... and Album Launch

Hope you enjoy this wee rarity from the amazing Meursault. Also this week they announced that their as-of-yet untitled second album will be launched at Cabaret Voltaire on the 10th April 2010. Tickets went on sale yesterday.

mp3: Meursault - Westward, Ho (Moondog cover)

Meursault - New Ruin (Live at the Queen's Hall, 18/08/09)

Following on from the last post, here's a video of Meursault's "New Ruin" performed back in August. Enjoy!

Meursault - New Ruin (Live at the Queen's Hall) from Song, by Toad on Vimeo.

Gig Review... Meursault, Brother Louis Collective @ The 13th Note (10/11/09)

So last night marked my first gig at The 13th Note in Glasgow. First up were Olympic Swimmers, a pleasant enough indie band from Glasgow well worth having a wee listen to.

Next up were the brilliant Brother Louis Collective. That's the first I've seem them and gotta say, I love them! If you imagine a Glasgow version of Mumford & Sons, with a flute, fronted by a guy who is the spitting image of Murray from Flight of the Conchords with a Liam Frost-iness in his voice. All in all, pretty damn good! Not sure of their song names (yet!) but Song 3 in particular blew me away!

Then the main reason I was there, Meursault (pronounced Murr-So ....who knew!). I've been raving about this band for ages and they didn't disappoint.. other than not playing "The Furnace". Neil Pennycook's voice is even more striking live as they played a song or two from their amazing debut album "Pissing on Bonfires/Kissing With Tongues" and recent EP "Nothing Broke". Highlight though was new song "New Ruin" which showed a darker side to the Edinburgh band. The Stereo gig on the 29th is looking good!

And last but not least was Barn Owl.... who sadly I missed. Having had a wee listen to them on MySpace, I'm beginning to wish I'd stuck around!

All this for a fiver! Bargain!

Upcoming Meursault Gigs

Spotted this online courtesy of the good folk over at Song, By Toad and thought I'd share it. If it tickles your fancy then Meursault are playing a few gigs in Scotland over the next few days, starting with tomorrow's hometown gig in Edinburgh. The 13th Note one is tempting....

7 Nov - The Bowery's 1st Birthday Party, Edinburgh
9 Nov - The Tunnels, Aberdeen
10 Nov - 13th Note, Glasgow
29 Nov - Stereo, Glasgow

M is for .....My Latest Novel!

Without a shadow if a doubt it has to be My Latest Novel! I've been a fan since the release of their debut album "Wolves" back in 2006. This year saw the band follow that up with amazing second album "Deaths & Entrances" which, as I've said a few times now, is in a four-horse race with Broken Records, The Cinematics and The Twilight Sad for my album of the year!

Took me a while to get into the album, although that's down to me replaying opening song "All In All In All Is All" over and over and over again! It's one of many highlights from the album awash with gorgeous strings and layered vocal harmonies! Simply Stunning!

And they've just announced a show at King Tuts in Glasgow on the 28th December. Should be good!

Should probably also give Meursault a wee mention here too! The guys from the capital play ay the 1st birthday of The Bowery in Edinburgh on the 7th Nov with a few extra dates in Aberdeen and Glasgow. Full details on their MySpace.

mp3: My Latest Novel - All In All In All Is All

Oxjam and Other Gigs This Week!

It's shaping up to be another good week.. and a bit!


The main attraction is obviously the Oxjam Festival in Edinburgh (23rd) and Glasgow on next weekend (24th and 25th) which boasts performance from some of Scotland's top up-and-coming bands, such as Brother Louis Collective, Lions. Chase. Tigers., Zoey Van Goey, Be A Familiar, Ross Clark's new project, Three Blind Wolves and Kowalskiy favourites, Meursault, The Seventeenth Century and Odeon Beatclub.

The full Glasgow schedule can be found here thanks to Peenko!

And....

With their single launch gig at at King Tuts next Sunday (25th), Cassidy will be on a mini promotional tour of Scotland stopping at Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh (22nd), Moshulu, Aberdeen (24th). Full details of the tour can be found on the band's MySpace including information on single "Night In The Box" out next Monday through King Tuts Recordings.

Dundee rockers The Law hit the road to plug debut album "A Measure of Wealth" with gigs tonight at Mad Hatters, Inverness followed by performances at PJ Molloys, Dunfermline (22nd), King Tuts, Glasgow (23rd) and Doghouse, Dundee (24th). Pop along to 7digital to download a free non-album track. Link below!

At Oran Mor, Glasgow, local bands LightGuides and Pacific Theatre have signed up to play The Mill on Thursday (22nd). For free tickets head along to The Mill website.

The icing on the cake is at Cabaret Voltaire on Saturday (24th) where My Latest Novel will be bringing their orchestral-indie magic to Edinburgh! Second album "Deaths and Entrances" is up there with the best albums this year so get your arses along!

Download: Cassidy - Vic Galloway Session (from the cracking Peenko blog!)
mp3: My Latest Novel - I Declare A Ceasefire
mp3: Odeon Beatclub - Strike Me Down
mp3 (7digital): The Law - A Generation Found
video: Brother Louis Collective: Old Balloons (live @ The Mill)

Not too shabby a week, eh?!

...Meursault!

Recently a copy of Meursault's debut album "Pissing On Bonfires/Kissing With Tongues" found its way into my CD player and its stayed there ever since. Described by The Mill as a "low-fi Arcade Fire", this exciting band from Edinburgh combine folk and electronic influences to create something utterly and uniquely compelling. The album, available from Song, By Toad captures this sound but anyone with half a taste in music should see them live! For a taster, check out Song, By Toad for a free sample from the album and The Mill for free tickets to Thursday's Cabaret Voltaire gig!