Kowalskiy Singles Club #16

Who's ready for some more lonely-heart action?!  This time 'round I've sought out more singletons to try and woo you. If you like what they have to say for themselves, you know the drill by now... click on the artwork, have a listen, and get better acquainted. Here they are...

Carry On Suzie by SOS

"You boys can keep your virgins. Give me hot old women in high heels with asses that forgot to get old. Phoney bastards need not apply." - SOS

They know what they like these Glasgow boys.  I'll give 'em that!  This is the new FREE single from the artists formerly known as Strawberry Ocean Sea. It's the first to be taken from their new EP A Challenge To The Dark due out later in the year.

Choosing My Religion / How It Remains by Supermarionation

"Confirmed internet hobos WLTM equally lost souls for late night ear destruction hopefully leading to more meaningful encounters. No significant baggage but may occasionally hark back to a simpler time. GCH, DG, BALC and MEIK. GSOH essential but not required as in for the long haul. Percussive love-making a deal breaker, photos on request." - Steven Tonge (Supermarionation)

No idea what any of those mean, other than the GSOH one.  Still, if it's just some late night ear destruction you're after, then get clicking on the artwork and help yourself to this FREE download courtesy of the Supermarionation boys and Six Take No Records.   

I Am The Hottest Fire by The Mouse That Ate The Cat

"Pair of lonely, miserable sad-sacks seek comfort from sympathetic ears - you don't need to love us, you just need to listen." - TMTATC

Tugs at the heart strings doesn't it?!  Well, this is the latest from Glasgow's elesctro-indie-popsters The Mouse That Ate The Cat.  The single's not out until the 23^rd of July, but you can stream it over on their SoundCloud.  Once it's got 100 listens I'm assured they'll upload the 'explicit' version, the 200 listens gets you the B-side Ou Les Morts Est Sont Des Dieux which I'm also assured translates as something "borderline embarrassing".

Goran Ivanisevic by We Are The Physics

"Four visually impaired con-artists masquerading as musicians seek like-minded social lepers for shrine-building, tennis-watching and erratic leg movements. GSOH and an impeccable understanding of English broken must a. Willing to travel within radius of 11 parsecs. No Tim Henmans." - We Are The Physics

As a physicist, I've always been drawn to fellow Weegies We Are The Physics. This homage to the one-time Wimbledon champion is a taster from their second album due out later in the year.  Boy do these guys make one helluva racquet!  It is a belter though!  You can have a listen over here and click the artwork to go buy it!  There's also the brilliant video over here.  

Emmeline by The Dead Man's Waltz

"Corpses of four musicians, deceased early 20th century, seek spiritual/surgical shoulder to cry on over various past relationship catastrophes. Interests: historical novels, true crime, amateur chemistry. Necrophilia 'not off the table' ". - The Dead Man's Waltz

Hope they've cleaned that table!  This is Skye quartet The Dead Man's Waltz.  Intriguing to say the least.  Very much in the Beirut or early Decemberists mould if you ask me.  Sound just as good too.  This is a single from their eponymous album which you can buy here.   You can get Emmeline itself/herself here and the stunning video is over here for you to wonder at.  

Confessions by Shambles Miller

"Loquacious bearded idiot seeks good listener for long nights listening to stories about why he's actually a better beatboxer than everyone thinks and how Les Miserables isn't just an ordinary musical. Must appreciate really good David Bowie impressions and be willing to engage in in-depth conversations about time travel. An affinity for lyrical folky-pop and acoustic ballads with a GSOH: preferable but not essential. Must have own teeth." - Shambles Miller

Something of a Lothario these days is Mr. Miler, jdging my his recent dating exploits. This is his latest single which you can get your grubby hands on by clicking the artwork.

Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #16

'Tis that time of the month again!  Time to share another five great tracks from five of Scotland's finest up-and-coming bands.  Like the last time, there's a wee mix of styles and sounds on this months effort, from haunting Kate Bush-inspired pop, to something that wee bit darker and louder!   Something for everyone, or if you're like me, you'll lap it all up!  Click on the artwork above to get downloading.  Before you do though, here's a bit about each track from the five cracking bands on KEP#16... 

1.  If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home By Now - Sleeping Beauty (...the Haunting Kate Bushy one!  A brilliant track from their upcoming debut album.)

"Sleeping Beauty is a track from our forthcoming album 'a room dim at noon'. The song is inspired by autumn, old black and white films and a general feeling of unrest. ' If you lived here, you'd be home by now' like to experiment during live performances leading to a more theatrical feel. The album was recorded at the analogue Green Door Studio, Glasgow. Catch us at Nice n' Sleazys on the 29th October for our halloween album launch where we'll all be acting like the earl of hell......." - Clare Simpson (IYLHYBHBN)

2.  The Stormy Seas - Morbid Desires (If this is anything to go by, The Stormy Seas' debut album will be a belter!)

"Morbid Desires is one of the more upbeat numbers from our forthcoming album, Of Rust and Loss. It's upbeat and jaunty but don't let that fool you. A discerning ear will no doubt pick up on Michael's morally ambiguous lyrics cutting across the pop of cowbell and twang of banjo. Of Rust and Loss will be out on our own wee imprint; The Shipping Forecast on the 14th of November, with a launch party in the Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh ahead of that on the 12th. We'd love it if you could come along." - Graeme (The Stormy Seas)

3.  Supermarionation - The Ballad Of Little Beef Cramps (Be sure to check out Supermarionation's new FREE acoustic EP.  I love their new stripped back sound!)

"The Ballad of Little Beef Cramps is a cautionary tale of immortal cows from Supermarionation's recently released acoustic EP, Amongst the Northern Lochs. Based on an old Highland legend, it tells the story of a herd corrupted by their unending life and their spurned chance of redemption through the tiny calf Little Beef Cramps who then goes on to found a new undying herd of his own. The whole EP is available as a free download (much like this one) from Six Take No Records." - Steven Tonge (Supermarionation)

4.  Three Blind Wolves - In Here Somewhere (Demo) (an amazing demo from TBW, what else would you expect from them though!?!  Be sure to support their US tour fundraising!)

"This is a track taken from an early demoing sessions for the new album 'Sing Hallejulah for the Old Machine' set for release next year" - Jamie Webster (Instinctive Racoon)

An exclusive teaser from the new album.  You can hear the guys preview more tracks at their gigs in Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh on the 22^nd and 23^rd of October, and at Brel, Glasgow on the 25^th.  Pop along and help them raise funds for their upcoming US tour.

5.  Vladimir - Mellow (As Vladimir tracks go, this is mellow.  Still packs quite a punch though!  It's my favourite from their recent EP.)

"Mellow - We don't really like taking about our songs to be honest. We just like to let the listener decide what its all about but in this instance the lyrics are pretty explicit. This particular song is about unrequainted love and the fall out that this creates... feelings of uselessness, rage, apathy and ultimately, revenge.... its all there.  We'll be landing in Glasgow on Saturday 29th Oct to play a Halloween show for our pals at the BAAD. Man, its a huge space but we're pretty confident that we'll that we'll smash it, just like we do every other gig we play. And it's bring your own bottle so it should be pretty messy, especially as Glaswegians like a bevvy and a tear up. You should try and get along..... should be fun..." - Vladimir x

And that's it for another month!  Hope you enjoy October's EP.  As always, it's FREE, so head on over to my bandcamp page now to get your download.  Have a wee look and listen to the other 15 while you're at it!

So, until next month then.  If any bands out there fancy making my life that wee bit easier by volunteering a track for one of these EPs, then send me a wee email too and see if it tickles my fancy.

Kowalskiy (Belated) Belated Review #5

Verse Metrics - VM1
With all the recent festivities and my album of 2010 countdown, this Belated Review is pretty late even by my standards.  Originally released back in November, VM1 is the first release from Glasgow's post-rockers Verse Metrics.  One of the few bands the Scottish blogging community went weak at the knees for at the tail-end of 2010.  And quite rightly so, VM1 is an assured, impressive debut from a band who only started gigging 6 months ago.  Over the festive period, opening track Tired Lights has been the one song that's been stuck in my head, thanks to its dark, brooding chorus and repeated refrain.  Both beg to be sung back by scores of sweaty fans... something I think the band might just have to get used to in the future!  Each of the 5 songs on their debut mark Verse Metrics out as a band to keep an eye on this year, but it's closing track Sad Bones (live under beautiful bridges) which steals the show for me.  Sure, it might not be its chorus etched into my brain, but with its majestic opening alone, is it any wonder it stands out!   Mark my words... expect to hear a whole lot more from these guys!

Supermarionation - On The Fly EP
Was I the only one who heard the name Supermarionation and expected some geeky kid who'd locked himself in his bedroom, hooked his old SNES up to his laptop and set about recreating the Super Mario World soundtrack?  No, just me?  Well anyway, that couldn't be further from the truth here.  They're a 3-piece from Edinburgh who tow the fine line between pop-punk and hard-hitting, ballsy rock.  Their debut On The Fly EP is most certainly a grower.  At first, maybe because of my wrong preconception or my general indifference to the rock genre, I was a bit underwhelmed.  Now I've had a month or so to digest it, and taking 'belated' to new extremes in the process, I'm glad to say I appreciate it for what it is... a damn fine debut and I'd even go as far as to say, in places, its ter-riff-ic!  Those places are, more often than not, heard on the opening two tracks - the standout, rollicking opener Those Home Girls which (sticking with the computer game theme) could easily be a bonus stage on that heroic guitar-based game, and The Rising Tide.  With a combination of the great intro, pounding bassline, and the contrasting Nick Cave-esque vocals, the latter works a treat.  The punky The Ashes Of Love has its moments too and shows this trio have a few more strings to their bow.  A promising start from "Scotland's hottest up-and-coming new band" (The Metro).

Randolph's Leap - Battleships & Kettle Chips EP
Last but not least, quite the opposite in fact, it's the the mighty folk-pop ensemble Randolph's Leap with what is officially their debut EP.  Not just any ol' EP mind you... arguably the best EP of 2010.  I've been a fan of the band, led by unassuming frontman Adam Ross, for a while now thanks to his intelligent, quirky songwriting and their never-ending string of faultless, pop melodies.  There's 5 perfect examples on this EP.  From the slow-burning, shuffling folk epic Going Home, through the smart, verseless break-up tale Back To Square One, to the stupid-smile-inducing la-la-la's of Undergod, a what-if glimpse into Adam's self-deprecation and general (but accepted) weirdness.  The EP is the first release by Olive Grove Records.  You've sadly missed out on the Sooper Dooper CD Package, complete with hand-knitted sleeve and frisbee, but the EP can be downloaded over here.  Sticking my neck out now (not much though), but you will not be disappointed!