Kowalskiy Singles Club #19

Nobody wants to be single at Christmas... unless you're a miserable, Scroogey cheapskate!  Kowalskiy doesn't care much for them though.  So with those singletons in mind, it's time for the final meeting of the Singles Club this year.  It's your last chance of 2012 to have your world well-and-truly rocked and who knows, maybe even a wee bit of aural... who knows where one click could lead!  Without much further ado, here's my latest batch of harpless romantics...

Human Behaviour by Safe Houses

"New Glasgow duo seek open minded electronic music loving people, must have a computer and speakers and own opinions' Check out our bandcamp and facebook...." - Safe HOUSES

A late entry into our final Singles meet of the year.  This is a belter from new Glasgow duo Safe Houses.  Get it while it's hot.   

I Don't Know, You Don't Know, We All Don't Know The Spook School by The Spook School

"Are you sitting at home alone? Have you ever found yourself longing for a partner? How about four partners? If conventional one-on-one relationships seem too easy why not try juggling four lovers at the same time! Ever get angry that your partner only has two hands? We have eight! Imagine closing your eyes and pretending to be love-wrestling an octopus! Please call us...we're not allowed in the aquarium any more..." - The Spook School

Strictly speaking, this isn't a single... but it's my blog, so my rules!  It's in fact a 5-track cassette EP which is out on Soft Power Records on the 17^th December.   You can listen to all the tracks by clicking the artwork above, and you can pre-order it to... in fact you can't.  It's sold out!  So yeah... good luck getting a copy!

Battleships by Michael Cassidy

"Young/old singer songwriter looking for appreciative audience for good time. Audience must be willing to clap and have money to spend on lavish presents for singer songwriter. Like a wedding list for presents the young singer songwriter has attached a list of acceptable presents or treats. Singer songwriters new single battleships must also be listened to and a full critique written about all the qualities that single possesses. Mainly though said singer songwriter looking for love/somebody to phone for good quality time/30 mins a week and dates must be low cost /free. Chat topics include George Osborne s latest budget but no x factor." - Michael Cassidy

Hard to believe it, but this is SINGER SONGWRITER (in case it's not clear from his ad) Michael Cassidy's debut release.  And Paisley's finest hasn't disappointed!  As always, click the artwork to go download it.   

(So THAT'S Where I Left My) Self Respect/No Way Home by Middleton Hall

"Older and slightly overweight male WLTM lovely lady of similar age and waist size for well earned romantic break beginning 26th Dec. Fondness for mince pies and whisky would be an advantage. Must be keen on animals, flying and facial hair. Ho Ho Ho!" - Gordon Helm (Middleton Hall)

How very festive from the man at the... Helm... of Middleton Hall.  This is the second single from the Dunfermline lads, and once again it's a FREEBIE!  Talk about an early Christmas present!

Crimson by M A D I S O N

"Lonely quartet of lads in search of love. Must be able to cook crystal meth to a high quality like in Breaking Bad and must enjoy Instagram. We're not looking for women who're going to pull and snap our heartstrings, we're looking for someone to play them delicately. Think you can be of assistance? Then please don't hesitate to contact. Be quick, we're on the verge and running low on meth." - Russell Ferguson (M A D I S O N)

M A D I S O N are responsible for one of the finest singles of the year... Armbands.  This follow up's been a while in coming but I'm assured there's much more to come soon!  If that's half as good as Crimson, then 2013 could be off to a red hot start.

New Year by GUMS!

"Imaginary 4 piece WLTM delusional taxi driver type for Hogmanay shenanigans Must enjoy long freezing walks, lengthy attempts at lighting cigarettes in the rain and cramped nightclubs where attempts to relive your glory years end in the 9am realisation that you’re the only person awake in an unfamiliar flat where the CD player's been skipping since 2006. You try to leave but the pile of jackets on the bed is the size of an ASDA...and they all look like yours. GSOH inessential." - Martin Smith (GUMS!)

From the men that brought you The Plimptons, comes GUMS!  This FREE festive-ish single is taken from their upcoming release Antipathy.  So if you enjoy smoking in the rain and like your musicians 'imaginary' then what are you waiting for?!!

Tides and Telegrams by The Winter Tradition

"Shortarse seeks a warm towel and a better Director. Get in touch if you like picking seaweed out of places it should never be. The people at the bottle bank fucking hate me." - Stuart Breadner (not of The Winter Tradition, but of Shootback Productions)

Fresh from whoooooping Scottish Fiction's beeehind in Round 10 of Battle Of The Bands, The Winter Tradition have released this new single from debut album Gradients.  They're a shy bunch though, so they've let the director of the video write their ad.  Speaking of the video... you can watch that here.

Windom Earle by Napoleon's Dogs

"Easily excitable band looking for male or female companion. Must like walks in the park, be accurate at throwing sticks and not mind having to pick up poo in little black bags. Expertise in Napoleonic tactics not necessary, but an advantage." - Chris (Napoleon's Dogs)

Picking up poo... these boys are spoiling you lot!!  If you're into that kinda thing, then this may be right up your street.  Windom Earle is out NOW... go fetch boy! You can catch the dogs in the 13^th Note on the 17^th December too.

Lovesick by The Prison Library

"Unlucky in love Newcastle five-piece seek breathy vocaled soulmate to make us feel high and world-safe. Is your love often rejected or unrequited? We're sure to fall in love and waste poison forever more." - Joe Frankland (The Prison Library)

Newcastle!!  I know... they're not Scottish!  Imposters the lot of them.  I'm willing to turn a blind eye when it comes to Mr. Frankland and The Prison Library though. This is a great single featuring the lovely Sarah Hall on backing vocals.  It's from their upcoming debut EP so keep an eye out for that!  Oh, and there's a video for it here too.

Lights Out by The 10:04's

"Four desperate, lonely egomaniacs (musicians) seek someone, ANYONE!!! Personality not required, looks not essential. Questionable morals a must!!!! Must be interested in naive career paths, enjoy being skint and pretending to be everyone's good friend on gig nights. LOVE YOU XXXXXXXXXX" - The 10:04's

OK, is it just me that seems to always look at my phone at 10:04?!  Well, it's always been a reminder to feature this bunch on the blog.   If you've got questionable morals and fancy some fun with the 'lights out', then you're well in here!  The single is out now for FREE along with previous single SOS.

Kowalskiy Singles Club #17

This... this will be the final post on Kowalskiy... until I return from my holiday in a fortnight's time.  I'll be jetting off to exotic foreign lands with my beloved.  Before that though, I've spared a thought for all those singletons out there, unlucky in love, who don't know where their next burst of aural pleasure is coming from.  It could be right here folks!  So, I've assembled more singles for you to check out.  Just read what they have to say, and if they tickle your fancy, click on the artwork and let the good times roll.  Right, no more cliche's or bad puns for at least a fortnight...

Streets Are Riots by The New Fabian Society

"Miserable nihilist seeks the companionship of another lonely soul looking to take part in some licentious and riotous activities. Must be obsessive to the point of self harm. Must be under 9 stone. Must be Asian. An enthusiasm for bass desirable but not essential. Cunts need not apply." - Nick Fabian (The New Fabian Society)

I thought we'd start off with this one from ol' romantics The New Fabian Society who are quite specific about what they're looking for.  If you fit the bill, or even if you don't - so long as you don't mind a bit of reciprocated love - then click the cover art!  This track features on their brilliant second EP Exhibition Of Hate.

First Bus Out Of Town by Middleton Hall

"Band, male, WLTM broadminded individual(s) for discreet fun. Age/looks/sexual proclivities not important. We'll tickle your eardrums and flick our musical tongues into ALL your most sensitive areas! FSH GCH BYOB. Pulse required." - Doug Shanley (Middleton Hall)

Everyone likes their sensitive areas tickled!   This is the lovely, debut single from Dunfermline's Middleton Hall.  It's a great summery track.  Kinda reminds me of The Radio Dept. at points which is always good in my book.  It'll be a FREE download as of the 27th of August.   

Applied Robotics by We Are The Physics

"Four twitching paranoid shells require technologically advanced human for long-winded discussions on posthumanism while eating crisps. GSOH not important, but programmable personality desired. Must be self aware." - We Are The Physics

This is the second appearance in a row for We Are The Physics who are following up Goran Ivanisevic with this fast-paced, mind-numbingly-great single taken from their upcoming second album.  Anyone remember what we did for music when this bunch were away recording?! 

Sweeten The Deal by The Deadline Shakes

"Four hungry young men WLTM Alfred Pennyworth type to make sandwiches and that. Preferred areas of expertise include dividing twenty eight pounds by four and shilling the rubes. Must be polite in moments of sonic and other durchfallen." - The Deadline Shakes

This one is a breath of fresh, bango-filled, air.  It's out on the 5th of November to download via Flowers In The Dustbin but you can have a wee listen by clicking the artwork. Just imagine The Spinto Band... with a banjo, and from Glasgow and you're pretty much there!  Oh and that would be seven pounds guys... if you're ever needing someone to take care of the books! 

Without Warning by Scott Thomson

"If you want to roll with me, know this, it's a high stakes game and aces are wild, but no, I mean no hitting faces, or so help me I'll haunt you with 6 year old songs..." - Scott Thomson

Six years old, but still sounding delightfully new!  This is a FREE track, plucked from the pre- New Town Triptych hard drive of their singer Scott Thomson.   Begs two questions - why has it taken so long to give this wee slice of brilliance an airing... and what else do you have on that hard drive Mr. Thomson?! 

Lemonade by Miniature Dinosaurs

"Bubbly personality seeking that special someone to clear away my clouds and put some fizz into my heart. Life has felt still for too long, as I canned up my emotions. Desiring someone sweet to spend my summer with. But once you're done with me, please don't leave me feeling empty and crushed." - Alban Dickson (Miniature Dinosaurs)

Milk, milk, lemonade, round the back... Miniature Dinosaurs are back, with another pun-laden singles ad from Alban!  This is the first release since signing to Integrity Records.  As always, it's a cracking track, with a great video to boot, which sheds some light on lemonade selling through the years... and wallpaper trends! 

Slow Down Sundial by The Maginot Band

"Band with well laid plans seek a bold personality to provide reassurance and deflect aggressors. Currently strong in many facets, but easy to get around if approached in the right way. Fortification may be needed to remedy past weaknesses. Not afraid to spend large amounts of cash on questionable plans. Enjoys country holidays in the east of France. Likes the cinema but dislikes war films." - The Maginot Band

Another cracking newbie this one taken from The Maginot Band's debut Peace And Quiet EP which is out in September.   It's a FREE download so get yourselves over to their SoundCloud and feast your... ears!  Just click the artwork.

Coastal Skid Spy Wok v20.0

Howdy folks!  Enjoy this, because it'll be my last notcast for a month or so.  I'll try and get someone special to put together a guest one next weekend, but after that, I'll be off on holiday.  So there'll be even less replies to emails... none in fact!   And the same goes for my twitter procrastinating... you'll just have to go elsewhere for that for a while!

So first up this week won't come as a surprise given I've already been quite vocal on twitter and Facebook about it.  We first heard from Niall Morris a.k.a. CUR$ES almost exactly a year ago.  Recently he's been giving away the odd track or two on SoundCloud, all great.  This one though is outstanding!

   Urge [dwnld in description] by CUR$ES

As the link above says, the dwnld link is in the description.  This has been a great week for releases thanks in no small part to Forres' finest, Be Like Pablo, who released their debut album... for FREE!  The New Adventures will appeal to fans of American indie bands like Oh No! Oh My! and The Little Ones, and to those of us who long for a return of the days when Weezer were good.  You can get the album by signing up over here.  In terms of the tracks on there, this is my favourite.  A sweeter set of boy/girl vocals you'll be hard pushed to find.

   The Post-it Song by Be Like Pablo

I did say it was a good week for releases... well, I include in that the news I've been waiting for for aaaaagggeeeesss... the debut album from the one, the only, Cancel The Astronauts.   It's called Animal Love Match.  It's out on the 17^th of September.  It's got chickens on the front cover, and it is clucking brilliant!  It'll be reviewed, yes you heard me correctly, reviewed in due course.  You can pre-order it over here and get your hands on a free download of Making Dynamite.  You can stream the whole album here, but below there's a stream of one of the many, many standouts, Intervention.

   Intervention by Cancel The Astronauts

I'm straying south of the border a bit now to bring you this beauty from Newcastle's Tessera Skies.  I'll admit to knowing absolutely nothing about them.  But when the musical genius that is Ajimal favourites something, it's always worth checking out. 

   Soliloquy of an Astronaut by Tessera Skies

I think we'll just be having the five tracks this week.  Five's a good number.  Speaking of 'five', the latest in a certain series of free five track Scottish EPs will be out on Thursday... just saying!  Besides, it's bloody warm and the longer I sit here, the wetter the backs of my knees are getting.  Not good!  So we shall end this week's notcast with this, the debut single from Dunfermline's Middleton Hall.  It's FREE to download, and I think you'll agree it's rather lovely! 

   First Bus Out of Town by Middleton Hall