Coastal Skid Spy Wok v10.0

So... who have I been listening to this week on SoundCloud?  Well, if you follow me on twitter, most of these will come as no surprise but here goes anyway.   Let's get my grovelling apology out of the way first of all.  There's been so many e-mails of late and despite my intentions to reply to them all, it's just not possible.  I do however, try my best to listen to everything I've been sent for fear of missing out on something special.  With Light of the North though, the debut album by Miaoux Miaoux, I already knew it would be.  It's fair to say that electronic(a) isn't my most-loved or most-listened-to genre, so I'd have no idea where to begin reviewing it.   Too often I find that kinda music very hit and miss, but Mr. Corrie very rarely falls into the latter category.  It's out on the 11^th June via Chemikal Underground, and here's my stand-out track.

Autopilot by Miaoux Miaoux (courtesy of Chemikal Underground)

Next up, is a band described as "At The Drive-In except more hardcore".  Intrigued by that comparison, I had a listen to a free track (available here) put out by Overlook Records to promote their latest band... Crusades.  Boy, they're shouty ones!  But bugger-me-sideways, is this track good or what!?!

Pseudo Andro by Crusades (courtesy of Overlook Records)

Slight change of direction now, but again, it's a band I've only discovered this week.  Well... they found me if truth be told.  Thank God they did though.  They're called Ravena.  They're a four-piece from Glasgow.  They've got their debut single out this week, for free no less, and they have excited this blogger no end!  Make sure you download the single from SoundCloud.  The piano-led B-side Do Try is below for your listening pleasure.

Do Try by Ravena

Let's follow that up with a double helping of mystery and intrigue.  Both these bands recently uploaded their first tracks.  Both sound very familiar...

November's Night by Do The Gods Speak Esperanto

Now for my best Rolf Harris impression... can you tell who it is yet??  I'll keep you guessing while you hear the second band...

Lies by CHURCHES

...and fuck it, I'll just keep you guessing.  So if you know who they are, answers on a postcard!  That latter one by CHURCHES you can download for free here.  I'm sure we'll be hearing more from them both in the future.  Right, I'm offski now.  I'll leave you with this, the new, re-recorded, full band version of A Life Worth Living from Saint Max.  Out.  Stand.  Ingggg!

   A Life Worth Living (Band) by Saint Max

Kowalskiy Singles Club #4

You know the score by now, it's time for me to play matchmaker once again with all the 'singles' out there.  Before we see how our singles got on last time round, lets have a look at the new batch of hopefuls.  If any of them hit the right notes with you, then click on the cover art and get better acquainted.  Happy downloading...

Talk Down by Homework

"Up-beat musicians seek willing, cynical listeners.

Cynical listeners, seek willing up-beat musicians? 

Beat seeks willing listeners up cynical musicians?!?

Willing listener seeks musicians – up-beat cynical.

Cynical musicians seek up-beat willing listeners.“ - Oliver Kass (Homework)

The single is out today.  If you're a willing cynic then this will be right up your street.  In fact, even if you're not it probably will be too.  It's only £1 and comes with remixes from Dunt and The Japanese War Effort.

Precious Time by The Last September

"Bouncy, bouncy, ooh such a good time. Jangly ditty about having too much coffee and getting in a spin seeks like-minded listener to whizz around with in the sun" - Pete Deane (The Last September)

Well, well!  This single promises a lot, and I do love coffee!  Thankfully it delivers too.  If that's not enough to wet your whistle, then the single is absolutely FREE!

Pacifying Hungry Ghosts/Rubella Rubata by Salute Mary

"Salute Mary are: torque, drone, brutalist architecture, pyrotechnics and volume.
Seek: rain-soaked, wind-lashed individuals with WD40 and high stress tolerance." - Calum Haggerty (Salute Mary)

I like this!  Hopefully you will too.  Get downloading people... It's FREE!  WD40 is optional.

Hey Sound! by Miaoux Miaoux

"Racy tropical loop with joyous hook seeks technicolour diamond girl to reminisce about the golden age of trance. Must enjoy dancing and have access to a yacht. BYOB." - Julian Corrie (Miaoux Miaoux)

Do you have access to a yacht?  Don't think bringing you own booze is a wee bit stingey?  Then get clicking on the cover art and relive the golden age of trance with Mr. Corrie.

Flash! Lights by Letters

"5 piece Edinburgh cello pop noiseniks seek Venders who deal in wooden commodities. Procurement of said items (preferably a Cajon) will be used solely for the purpose of smashing against the SEPTUM of every beard scratching, group chugging, back hand highfive slapping, band swapping SPLASH that keeps trying to nick our cellist for the production of contrived folk music" - Mikey Ferguson (Letters)

Ooft, why don't you just say what's on your mind Mikey!  Anyway, this is my new favourite band's second single!  And it's a belter.  It won't be out until 4th July so you've got a wee bit of a wait.  When it's out though, just download it.  It's as simple as that.

Last time I paired up Grant (21) from Musselburgh and Galleries from Glasgow. Here's what Grant had to say about their single Darkness Coming:

"It's a great, perfectly formed and very easy on the ear single.  We've hit it off BIG TIME.  Hopefully it won't be too long before I hear from them again."

Now I know the pride Cilla must've felt!  Anyway, if you've hooked up with any of these singles, or ones from past features, let me know how you're getting on.

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

Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #5 is out now. Yes, that one above that kinda looks like a goldfish! Once again, I owe a great deal of thanks to the five great Scottish bands who were kind enough to contribute one of their cracking tracks. They are....

1. The Winter Tradition - Firelight (their brilliant recent single!)

"Firelight' was the first track unleashed by newly named 'The Winter Tradition'. The track is to be featured on the bands debut album due to be released summer of 2011." - The Winter Tradition

2. Miaoux Miaoux - Ausable Chasm (track from the 'Rainbow Bubbles'-era)

"This track was made shortly after the release of my first record 'Rainbow Bubbles'. I've never been to Ausable Chasm (it's in America) but if I did, I imagine this is what it would sound like, big and deep. For more noises like this, come see me play live" - Julian Corrie (Miaoux Miaoux)

3. JJ Bull - Duck Soup (acoustic version of his album opener)

"The song is a simple one about not being able to get something you want, no matter what you do; which in this case was a particular girl. This song kind of kick-started the whole of 'Ou Sont Les Elephants' and I'm very fond of it. It also highlights why writing about personal things can lead to awkward conversations but if lyrics aren't honest and are about something I can't relate to then I don't really care" - Joseph 'JJ' Bull

4. Dead Boy Robotics - Symmetry Of The Elusive Wolves (demo) (unmastered track from their upcoming debut album)

"The song is from our as-yet-untitled 10 track album, which was recorded at Chamber Studios, Edinburgh, in September. It is currently being mixed at Tape Studio, Edinburgh by Stephen Watkins. We plan to release it in the 1st half of 2011..." - Gregor McMillan (Dead Boy Robotics)

5. The Last Battle - Song From The Last Battle (was going to be the hidden track on their debut album)

"A song that was meant to make it onto the album as a hidden track but never did. The boys in the band wanted it in there but the girls didn't so they won. No one outside the band has ever heard it. Its a nice wee 2 minute long thing. " - Scott Longmuir (The Last Battle)

Thanks a lot to everyone who contributed. If you like the sound of it, the EP is now up for free download over on my bandcamp page along with the first 4 EP's and the special Foxgang and Define Pop Festival EPs. Enjoy!

EP #6 will be out on 16^th December.  Consider it my early Christmas pressie to one and all.   That EP is already under way.  If there's any bands out there who fancy following in The Winter Tradition's footsteps and volunteer a track for one of these EPs, then send me a wee email.

Miaoux Miaoux - Knitted

"Maple Leaves announce new line-up"

Not quite! Although, that is bandmember Julian Corrie in his solo guise as Miaoux Miaoux. Back in March, Julian brought out his Blooms EP to widespread acclaim. Next week sees the release of his gorgeous follow-up single Knitted, complete with a remix by The Japanese War Effort and an exclusive live track. It'll be available from here on 1^st September. Here's a mini K&A with Julian with some more information:

Kowalskiy: What's the story behind the name Miaoux Miaoux?
Julian: I heard a little girl on a train singing it to herself, and thought it was cool, especially as her mum was getting annoyed. Also it's cat-related, and cats are awesome.

Kowalskiy: People may know you best from Maples Leaves. How does Miaoux Miaoux's sound differ?
Julian: It's much more electronic, and strictly a one-man operation. I guess since I started adding vocals it's become a bit more 'pop', but noise-pop rather than twee-pop.

Kowalskiy: You are about to release new single Knitted with a fair whack of the proceeds going to a great cause. Would you mind telling us more about the single?
Julian: Yes! It's a song I've been playing live for a while, mainly because I get to pull some New Order style guitar shapes. I wrote most of the instrumental sometime last year, then started singing the vocal melody to myself over breakfast one morning. That's how things tend to be written these days. It'll be released on CD and download, with these great knitted covers made by the ladies from Maggie's Cancer Care. So we're donating the proceeds to them, as well as to Cancer Research.

Kowalskiy: What else can we expect from you in the future?
Julian: I'm working on a new album that will be out at the beginning of the year. I say 'working' but I haven't written any of it yet. There are various ideas building and increasing pressure in my head, so when I'm ready I'll record them. I'm finishing up a few remixes for people - She's Hit, Zoey Van Goey, and Futuristic Retro Champions. I'm also playing quite a few shows in the next couple of months, including a small tour to support the Knitted single, and the Rock Chic charity bash in SWG3, which looks like it's going to be amazing, and for a great charity too.

Kowalskiy: Lastly, what ghastly (and presumably itchy) knitwear were you forced to wear as a child?
Julian: Actually I had some awesome knitwear as a kid. My favourite was a jumper with dinosaurs on it. I tried it on again recently and was kind of annoyed it didn't fit.

Shame! That would've been a great look for your live shows. Speaking of which...

Upcoming Gigs
31^st Aug - Captain's Rest, Glasgow
2^nd Sept - Club Fandango at The Monarch, London
6^th Sept - Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh

So folks, remember to get your knitted copy of Knitted next week. I'm not spinning you a yarn when I say it's a sublime slice of electronica, and it's for a thoroughly worthwhile cause.