Coastal Skid Spy Wok v3.0

Onto my third notcast now and I must say, I love putting them together. There's far too much great music on SoundCloud not to. So, if you enjoy listening/reading half as much as I have making it, then I'd be pretty chuffed! For anyone still wondering what this is all about... basically, I'm not a huge fan of podcasts. That's it in a nutshell really. So here's my minorly-tweaked alternative. Anyhoo, enough of this prattle, let's get cracking!

As always, I'll start off with the KAK... Kowalskiy's Apology Korner to me and you, where I get on my hands and knees and say sorry to a band I've shamefully neglected in recent weeks. This week, it's Glasgow D.I.Y.-pop-multiplets The Plimptons who are about to release their latest album ...Are Cynical And Bloated. "Is it any good?" you say. Why yes, yes it is. And to prove my point, here's the titular track which is rather unsurprisingly also called Cynical and Bloated.

   Cynical and Bloated by The Plimptons

And you can of course buy said latest album from here... when it comes out on the 31^st obviously. From one band with an album due soon to another (that's as smooth a link as you're likely to get around here). Well, there's demos being uploaded at various stages of readiness anyway. The band is the lovely Dirty Keys. There's something of a piano-pop revival going on these days which I have to say I'm loving! Sadly Keane, that doesn't mean you should hit the studios. This is more what I'm talking about...

The Exit (demo) by Dirty Keys

No doubt we'll be hearing a lot more from them later on in the year, just like those responsible for track three of this week's notcast... Behold, the Old Bear. Formed by Raindeer from the ashes of the sadly-defunct-now-not-sadly-returned mitchell museum, this is a new demo that surfaced a few weeks ago. If mm hadn't returned, BtOB would have certainly softened the blow and helped fill the odd-pop void. As it stands though, we now have both of them. This makes me happy. Very happy indeed!

Home Space V1 by Behold, the Old Bear

At the start of the year, I may have mentioned that one of my most anticipated releases this year is the debut album by Laurence & the Slab Boys. Well, I say "most anticipated"... I actually have the album, so I'm talking shite. What I guess I mean is, I can't wait for it to come out so you can all have a listen, and agree with me that it is really rather phenomenal! The album's called Lo-fi Disgrace. I've no idea when it'll be out, where, what format, or who by, but mark my words... it'll be worth the wait.

Space Dream #2 by Laurence & the Slab Boys

Two more to go then it's football time! It's been a wee while since I raved about Ayrshire's Rose Parade on here, so here we go. A week-or-so ago they uploaded a new track from their upcoming debut album. Should be great! Anyway, it's called The Sea Of Lights and here it be.

The Sea Of Lights by Rose Parade

OK, last one now. For it, I've even dared to venture south of the border. Albeit to hear from another Scot.  He's called Chris McConville  He's the drummer in a band down in London but he has a debut solo album due out later on in the year.  Until then he's leaked a few songs from it.  This is the pick of the bunch.  Hope you enjoy it.  See you next week!

   Now Summer's Gone by Chris McConville

Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #17

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for KEP#17!  I may be biased, but I think it's an amazing line-up this month, and I'm over the moon to feature each of these five artists.  So I'd like to say a huge 'thank you' to them all.  Just click on the artwork above for your free download.  Hope you enjoy it... 

Bloody better!  I've come out my sick bed to post this.  Anyway, before you get your free EP, here's what they each had to say about their tracks... 

1.  IndianRedLopez - Life Back In Me (demo) (Kicking things off this month with a brilliant new demo from one of my favourite bands of the year.  Short, but amazing!)

"It's just a demo that Darren and I did in a morning. He had this really nice arpeggiating keyboard line, and a few other lines that he wanted to work on. It happened quite naturally really. We're chiseling it out now, but I think the intent is there." - Mike Chang (IndianRedLopez)

2.  Rose Parade - Midnight Wine (...closely followed by another!  This'll whet your appetite until they release their debut album.)

"Midnight Wine is going to be the first song on our debut album! The song is about a relationship between two people that is falling apart, bad habits and the dark art of recovering from these situations. It was recorded and produced by Paul Gallagher in June 2011. For more tracks, gigs and updates check our Facebook page here as we will be coming to a basement near you very soon!" - Rose Parade x

3.  Graveyard Tapes - Bloodbridge (Ghosts version) (A stunning track from Edinburgh's Graveyard Tapes featuring a certain, übertalented, ex-Kays Lavelle frontman.)

"Graveyard Tapes is Euan McMeeken and Matthew Collings. The pair met when Matthew moved from Iceland to Edinburgh in 2010. Coming from very different musical backgrounds but sharing a love of many of the same artists the pair have been working together on recordings ever since. Approximately 16 tracks are currently in various states of disrepair with the duo working towards a 2012 release." - Euan McMeeken (Graveyard Tapes)

4.  Minor Delilah - All I Ever Wanted (an amazing track from their debut EP... available now from all good online download stockists.)

" 'All I Ever Wanted' is a song written in praise of the underdog and anyone who despite all the doubters looks at themselves in the eye and says fuck it I am going to do this" - Nick Scroggie (Minor Delilah)

5.  Jack James - Top Of The Hill (An exclusive track from Jack's upcoming third album Leaving Town.  On the back of this and his other free track, it's gonna be great!)

"Top of the Hill appears on my 3rd album which is coming out next month. The song, and also a large part of the new album, is about escapism. The track is also quite sparse, although there's pretty much a full band there of acoustic guitar, bass, banjo and drums. Like all my songs though, it starts out with a single guitar and vocal take that I then build around, only adding extra parts when necessary." - Jack James

Not bad eh??  Well, as always, the EP is free for you to download and do with what you will... presumably listen to.  So head on over to my bandcamp page now to get your download.  There's 16 more while you're at it.  Enjoy!

Next month, on the 16^th, there'll be more of the same.  Maybe even a Christmas song thrown in for good measure.  If you'd like to design the artwork, fire over your entry (at least 350px by 350px) to kowalskiy2@gmail.com by the 13^th December.  Best of luck!

Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #9

It's the 16^th of the month, so it's time for another five great tracks from five of Scotland's best up-and-coming bands.  Once again I'm pretty chuffed with the outcome.  So, I hope you enjoy Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #9 too.  A huge thanks to the five acts that have each contributed a song.  Here's what they had to say...

1. Night Noise Team - Broken Kingdom (an exclusive track from their upcoming, debut album)

"'Broken Kingdom' is the final track on NNT's forthcoming 'Slow Release' album, out on 9th May. Cinematic and reflective, an ambiguous ending to a diverse collection of songs. Probably not a single!.." - Sean Ormsby (Night Noise Team)

2. Rose Parade - Grace (live track taken from their Kitchen Session)

"Grace was recorded and filmed in our Kitchen as part of a new side project we started called "The Kitchen Sessions".  It's a laid back acoustic version of the track featuring guest vocals by Jamie Mcgeechan aka Little Fire and the lead singer of Ayr based folk band Trusty and the Foe. After the success of the Rose Parade Kitchen Sessions we decided to invite more bands to play in our kicthen and film them. You can view the sessions here: thekitchensessions.tumblr.com" - Ari Pournaras (Rose Parade)

3. Chasing Owls - Lady Of The Whiteness (cracking song from their EP sessions)

"Lady of Whiteness came out of the sessions that Chasing Owls recorded with Dave Lynch at Bat Box Studios in the beautiful Sussex town of Lewes over the New Year of 2011. The track does well to capture the fresh and original space their music creates whilst at the same time keeping the pace high and frequently nodding its head in heavy acknowledgement of an older time and way of musical life. All of which is representative of Chasing Owls' first record, the EP 'We Began' which is out now and available from the band's website at http://www.chasingowls.com." - Chasing Owls

4. Two Zebras - Almost Crimes (a cracking, lo-fi cover of Broken Social Scene.  He even made some cover art!)

"This song is called ‘Almost Crimes’ and it was originally done by Broken Social Scene – one of my favourite bands. I spent a year in Toronto through 2010 – it was so fresh and I partied really hard and saw some great shows. I recorded this cover track in my studio space over two days in the middle of a really hot summer. It was done with the cheapest mics and some cool vintage gear. It’s probably the most lo-fi thing I’ve done and I really hope you like it" - Daniel McGuire (Two Zebras)

5. The Mouse That Ate The Cat - Wet Rope (a demo from the Oliver-Dykeenies-Stays hybrid)

"They're poorly mixed and not exactly mastered up to a world class rate. In fact, if listened to side by side, the volume and EQ undoubtedly fluctuate to a degree than none of us wish to think about, such is my lack of mixing ability and poor concentration span" - TMTATC (about their 4 demos.  I happen to think that's a nice, if unintentional, touch.)

The EP is now up for free download over on my bandcamp page, along with those that have gone before it.  Enjoy!

We're into double figure next month with EP #10 which, as usual, comes out on the 16^th.   If there's 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.

Sneak @ Pivo Pivo

Gig-goers of Scotland.. the good folk at Pivo Pivo in Glasgow cordially invite you to Sneak, their new monthly night of live music with a wee bit of a twist.  Well, three twists actually, or as they say, a "trio of delectable musical treats".  In the run-up to the night, each of the three bands on the bill will pop into Pivo Pivo and record a stripped-back performance which will appear online to whet your appetite.  Then, at the gig, the venue will be redecorated to the headliners exacting demands... "props, projections, backdrops, The Chippendales, wharrrrrevaah!".  To cap things off, as well as that, each gig will be filmed, the headline act interviewed and a wee documentary will be made and given to the bands to do with however they see fit.  Oh, and photos and a live audio recording of their set too... I think that's covered it all.

It all kicks off at the end of the month with the first headline act Le Reno Amps.  For a 'sneak' preview keep an eye out over here!

Upcoming Gigs

24^th Feb - Le Reno Amps with support from Male Pattern Band and Rose Parade

31^st Mar - Pensioner

28^th Apr - Weather Barn

Kowalskiy Singles Club #1

You may have noticed that I've never really featured singles or one-off tracks on Kowalskiy... I guess I prefer to review and plug EPs and albums, though I barely find time to do that.  This year though, as a mini-resolution, I've decided to try and give the singles out there the love and attention they so desperately desire.  Already this year, and at the tail-end of 2010, there's been some cracking examples released that deserve a wee bit of your time.  Whatever your musical tastes, I think I've found a track just for you.  One you'll wanna take home with you.  So, without much further ado, welcome to the first gathering of the Kowalskiy Singles Club.  Here's the first batch of singles looking to win a place in your hearts (and mp3 players) this month.  If you like the look of them, and what they have to say for themselves, then click on the cover art and get "downloading"...

Radar by The Son(s)

"Film lover, GSOH, GCH, DG. Broad minded & compassionate, loyal & strong-willed Northern lass seeks partner in crime for lots of laughs. Responses to PO BOX Kowalskiy Singles Club." - A Son

Turns out someone in The Son(s) is up on his lonely hearts lingo!  Radar came out on Jan 17^th on Eli and Oz Records with their self-titled debut set for a March release through Olive Grove Records.

The Hare Versus The Bear by Dear Mountaineer

"Age: Two months
Occupation: Digital music track
Area: Glasgow
Looking for: Friends for a long-term relationship
In his/her own words: "Mixed gender indie pop with eight arms seeks like minded male and females for twee orgies in sweaty basement venues.“ - Jonathan McGourlay (Dear Mountaineer)

The single will be released this month over on their bandcamp. It's worth saying, that in Digital-music-track-years, two months is perfectly legal for twee orgies.

Apparitions by Fiction Faction

"Ghostly tale looking for indie/electronic loving listener" - Dave Richards (Fiction Faction)

Fiction Faction's debut single Apparitions, codename (17SEC25) is released on 17 Seconds Records on 31^th Jan with a Nevada Base remix of A Fair Escape as B-side. Until then, you can hear it over on their SoundCloud.

The Radio Plays For Me by Rose Parade

"I am very easy to pick up! Listen to me and spread the word... like I spread my STDs" - Rose Parade
Soooo, I guess you could say it's very catchy in a few senses of the word!  If that kinda thing appeals to you, and to be honest, a track this good should, then the single can be streamed over on SoundCloud and is the opening track to their Grace EP.  

The Whites Of Our Eyes by Braindead Collective feat. Rob St. John

"The Whites Of Our Eyes is an atmospheric, plain chant multi guitar drone hymnal recorded in the oldest church in Oxford on the coldest day of the year, with mics and amps strewn strategically throughout the pews. We've poured our love and our time into trying to make something worth hearing and every penny goes to homeless charity Shelter. Give it a listen, and if you like it throw a few digital coins in our software begging bowl." - Seb Reynolds (Braindead Collective)
Released on 13^th Dec, all proceeds from this great 7-minute collaboration go to a very worthy cause.  Can't recommend highly enough that you give this charitable wee soul a home.

All That I Can Do - Arran Arctic

"Lonely local discothèque moper seeks object to admire from afar.  Enjoys jangly guitar pop (The Smiths) and shimmering pop noisescapes (Asobi Seksu). For 5 minutes and 14 seconds of free aural pleasure, contact via www.arranarctic.com/music. Warning, hearts may be bruised." - Arran Southall (Arran Arctic)
Tugs at the heartstrings doesn't it?  This is the third free single from Arran's upcoming album In My Hands, set for release at the end of the month.
 

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]

...Rose Parade!

Meet Ari, Paul and Ed, or as they are collectively known, Rose Parade.  Hailing from Ayr, but now based in Glasgow, this folky threesome are starting to turn some heads, mine included.  With their recent single Grace picking up airplay, an EP due out in the near future and more and more tracks cropping up online, what better time to get to know them a wee bit better.  So....

Kowalskiy:  Who are Rose Parade?

Ari:  We are a 3 piece folk/indie band originaly form Ayr but based in Glasgow. We formed in 2009 and started jamming together and experimenting with different insruments and ideas.

Kowalskiy:  How would you describe 'your sound'?

Ari:  Our sound has recently been described as "country tinged indie" by Jim Gellatly and by other media as "whimsical pop". To be honest I dont really know what kind of music we play, we all have different influences and we tend to experiment with different instruments (glockenspiel, banjo, ukes, samples and guitars). I would say the EP we just recorded is heavily folk influenced but at the same time I dont think it would fit comfortably in the folk genre. Some people have mentioned that our sounds is quite summery..who knows, we just want to make real, honest music and not focus on what we want it to sound like, thats why our songs are all different.

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

Ari:  We've got quite a lot of gigs lined up including a gig at Pivo Pivo supporting The Boy Who Trapped The Sun on the 11th of December which will be hosted by Vic Galloway. We have just finished our EP Grace which contains 3 tracks and its a concept EP!  The EP is out on the 6th of December 2010 and it will also be available online on all major music networks iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and many more. We have already started recording our second EP which will be out next summer and we will be organizing a UK tour.  So yeh, we got quite a lot on our plate, we love what we do and its nice to see that some folk are interested in our sound.

   Grace by Rose Parade

Upcoming Gigs
11^th Dec - Pivo Pivo, Glasgow