Coastal Skid Spy Wok v1.0

Here at Kowalskiy, we don't do podcasts.  But we do love SoundCloud.   I say "we" like there's some sort of office full of musical geeks trawling the net for the best up-and-coming Scottish bands.  There's not.  It's just me, on my lonesome.  Anyhoo, this is my first not-podcast.  A 'notcast' is you like, which will mainly consist of me sharing with you some of my favourite tracks, maybe even some free ones, currently doing the SoundCloud rounds with some textual babble in between.  After all, you don't want to hear my dulcet, Glaswegian tones cutting off the bands mid-song... 

First up we have a band I owe an apology... The Machine Room.  Over a month now I've had their words-cannot-describe-how-brilliant-it-really-is Love From A Distance EP to review.  It's out tomorrow (available here), yet my review is still... not!  Soon though, soon.  Until then, here's the opener Cost Of Progress to kick us off.

   Cost Of Progress by The Machine Room

If you don't like that, please leave now!  Still here?  Good, let's move onto something every bit as brilliant.  Staying the other side of the M8, here's Edinburgh Uni medical student (and all-round impressive guy) Fran O'Hanlon and his exquisite alter-ego Ajimal.  His debut single Footnote To Love [Part One] is out on March 19^th but you can pre-order it here!

   Footnote to Love [Part One] by Ajimal

Now that's as polished a track as you're likely to hear all year!  This next one, not so much.  But I love it all the same.  The man we have to thank, Mr. Jamie Orr a.k.a. Descant Hawk, is in an as-of-yet-unnamed band.  Going on these "ideas" he's sharing with us, he should get his finger out and get this band recording, because most of these "ideas" are a wee bit special already!

   Black Teeth by Descant Hawk

I could keep this up for aggggges.  There's loads of tracks I've come across on SoundCloud that have tickled my fancy in recent weeks.  But I'll go for three more.  I reckon any more would be pushing it.  OK, so next up we have something for all you '80s kids out there.  This (again!) Edinburgh band are a bunch of 'mavericks' if truth be told...

   Tom Cruise: Action Hero/Sex Submissive? by Toy Machine

We all got big cheesy grins now?  The thought of spanking Tom is something I'm sure we've all thought of at one time or another so it was about time someone just came out and said it.  Thank goodness for Toy Machine.  Let me just reiterate what the guys said, if anyone knows Tom, just pass that on eh?!  They're busy putting together their follow-up to their Council Flat Sessions EP available here for free.

This next one is still a wee bit of a mystery to me.  I've featured Salute Mary a few times on ye ol' blog.  Well, they'd gone a wee bit quiet as of late until this cracker appeared online.  Is it some long-awaited new material?  Is 'The Fourth Wall' some kind of side-project?  No idea!  What I do know though, is that it's a great, slow-burning, brooding beast of a tune.  Feast your ears!

   Weight Of Centuries (The Fourth Wall) by Salute Mary

I did say six, didn't I?  So time I got to the last one.  I may do another of these.  I've rather enjoyed it even if it's just a copy-and-paste job with very little originality.  In fact, that's pretty much why I like it.  Gotta love minimal effort!  Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed these six tracks.  Be sure to check out the half-dozen bands and mind to click the download arrows!  One or two of these are FREE!  Right, last one from The Son(s).  I'll let all those comments, and the song itself, do the talking!

   Underneath The Arbor by The Son(s)

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.

...Salute Mary!

This week saw the debut release from Edinburgh alt-rockers Salute Mary. It's fair to say it doesn't fill me with excitement when a press release cites Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins as a bands main influences. I'd always found the latter a bit 'hit-and-miss', while Nirvana to me was something the outcast at school had scrawled onto his bag with Tipp-Ex^©.

I'm glad to say thought, that having had their Lonely Escapades EP for a while now, in that time it has really grown on me. Whether its the slow-burning, moody standout track Hanging From Trees or the scratchy, punk riff of Alibi, reminiscent of early Kings Of Leon, the EP is full to the brim with good ol' fashioned rock. Definitely one to be played loud!

Hanging from Trees by Salute Mary

Here's what they had to say for themselves...

Kowalskiy: Who are Salute Mary?
Salute Mary: Salute Mary are a four piece form Edinburgh that play hard hitting alternative rock music influenced by their appreciation for the pioneering musicians of the '80s and '90s. Singer/Guitarist Calum Haggerty started the band with friend Gavin Conn (guitar) at the end of 2008 and with the help of Gumtree added our rhythm section, Chris Sharples (Bass) and Steve Howorth (Drums). We played our first show in 2009 and spent the rest of that year gigging throughout Scotland. We started work on Lonely Escapades in 2010 and recorded it in June.

Kowalskiy: You have just released Lonely Escapades, your debut EP. What's the story behind it and what can we all expect from it?
Salute Mary: It was recorded almost completely live in analogue studio Green Door Studios CIC in Glasgow. No real story behind the EP. Probably best described in our press release:

"With an evolving approach and focused, streamlined sound, Lonely Escapades explores various styles from the darker, sombre realm of ‘Vivid Pale’ to the driving guitar work and unbridled emotion on display in ‘Alibi’. Lonely Escapades pounds with a weighty, dark alt-rock fervour that recalls Smashing Pumpkins’ heyday; at other times, the record buzzes with a frantic distortion and howling anger reminiscent of Nirvana.

Post-rock elements add depth to a broad and diverse direction for the band perhaps most evident on title track ‘Lonely Escapades’ which blends a burning bass groove, aching vocals and ambient guitar noise that intermittently, explodes from the speakers adopting a dynamic range and sense of urban noir indicative of post rock bands like Mogwai. With intertwining guitar work and streamlined dynamics courtesy of a haunting cello line; ‘Hanging from Trees’ is reminiscent of Sonic Youth's more reflective output which climaxes with an atmospheric yet furious bath of noise"

Kowalskiy: What does the future have in store for Salute Mary?
Salute Mary: Salute Mary will be starting a 10 day UK Tour in Nov/Dec playing London, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The band have booked studio time in January and February in 2011 to record their next EP which will be released in April 2011. We the plan to tour that new EP extensively throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK. 2011 will be a big live year for the band after spending most on 2010 writing.

Keep your eyes peeled for the info on these tour dates. The Lonely Escapades EP can be bought now over on iTunes.