The Seventeenth Century - (Part I) EP

Typical!  The Seventeenth Century were one of the ten bands I tipped last year, and here we are, 10 days into 2011 and they finally go and release their debut, the aptly named (Part I) EP.  Not that I'm bothered in the slightest.  It's well worth the wait, and more than lives up to all the hype they've built up over the last twelve months.  It's a debut full of contrast - powerful in places, yet beautifully delicate in others, with a vocal style that simply shouldn't, but somehow does, compliment the majestic orchestral arrangements on offer - no more so than on the outstanding opening track Young Francis.

Two of the four songs on this mini masterpiece, namely Roses In The Park and of course Young Francis, slipped the clutches of the EP last year and found their way onto several blogs.  Because of that, and thanks to their stunning live show, (Part I) didn't really come as much of a surprise to me, with the exception being the exquisite 90-second-long instrumental cacophony of Amongst Other Things.  The fact that I was expecting it to be this good doesn't detract at all from this being an absolute belter of an EP.

The Seventeenth Century have gotten 2011 off to the best possible start.  Not only with (Part I), but with their great session on Ally McCrae's first BBC Introducing show in the early hours of this morning too.  Apparently we don't have long to wait for (Part II).   Which is just as well really, after hearing some of the tracks this morning, I for one can't wait!

The EP is now available over at the Electra French Records' shop on 10" vinyl with free download code, and if you're in Glasgow, you can no doubt pick one up tomorrow night too... 

Upcoming Gigs

11^th Jan - Captain's Rest, Glasgow (EP launch with Martin John Henry)

Aye Tunes vs. Peenko 3

Remember, remember, the 5^th of November....  for that's the day that fellow Scottish music bloggers Lloyd Peenko and Jim Aye Tunes will bring their trilogy of gigs to an end with the aptly-named Aye Tunes vs. Peenko 3.  On the bill, for what I'm sure will be another amazing night of music, are I Build Collapsible Mountains, Come On Gang! and headliners The Seventeenth Century.   So if you're looking for some real fireworks, pop on down to The Classic Grand in Glasgow this Friday where these three cracking bands will be putting on a sparkling display all of their own! 

Tickets are once again available from Peenko, Tickets Scotland, or TicketWeb, with a limited amount of 2-for-1 tickets available from The Seventeenth Century here.

Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #4

It's the 16th once again. How time flies! Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #4 is out now, so without much further ado, its over to the beautiful people who were kind enough to contribute one of their cracking tracks....

1. The Seventeenth Century - Mid October (demo) (given when this EP is being released, it really couldn't have been any other track!)

"Mid October was one of the first songs we wrote together as The Seventeenth Century. It is about dreams of love, and love itself, set in a decaying autumn scene. Mid October will appear on the band`s second EP, released March 2011. The debut EP, `The Seventeenth Century (Part I)` will be released December 2010 on Electra French Records." - Ryan Joseph Burns (The Seventeenth Century)

2. RM Hubbert - Go Slowly (demo) (demo track from his upcoming album)

"The piece forms the basis of a planned collaboration with Jenny Reeve and Kimberley Moore for my next record and as such doesn't really have much meaning to it yet. The title refers to a great wee cafe in Glasgow called Go Slow Cafe where I did a really memorable, intimate show with Alasdair Roberts and Howie Reeve a while back. It doesn't get much better than playing music for and with your friends in lovely surroundings." - RM 'Hubby' Hubbert

3. Randolph's Leap - Crisps (also available on http://randolphsleap.bandcamp.com with a selection of other goodies)

"Crisps has a video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1mc1DvxZUk. It's the number 2 result if you search Youtube for Randolph's Leap. (Dispicably, the number 1 is a clip of some nobhead jumping off a cliff AND it's only had about half the number of views. Bloody outrage.) The song is about crisps. And love. And lovely crisps. But never crispy love. We're releasing our first proper EP 'Battleships & Kettle Chips' on November 15th via Olive Grove Records and we're having a free launch gig on Nov 18th to celebrate" - Adam Ross (Randolph's Leap)

4. The Ray Summers - Heshka Rashka (their cracking, recent single)

"'Heshka Rashka' was digitally released in August 2010. This is the single version and is very different from the one that appears on the album. It's our effort to write a pure pop track. Nothing more, nothing less! it's probably the last time we'll write something so poppy. It's a track that always pops up in our live set and it's a great one to mess about on. It's never the same twice!" Andrew 'Dougie' Douglas (The Ray Summers)

5. Zoobizaretta - Ridiculous (pre-album mix. The final version appears on their debut Foam & Leachate)

"Ridiculous is a song about atheism. It's not about a dislike for religious types, merely an inability to understand the concept of faith. that God, eh? What a c**t." - Matt Clark (Zoobizaretta)

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 3 EP's and the special Foxgang Festival EP. Enjoy!

Now to get cracking on EP #5. Once again, any bands out there with a mouthwatering exclusive or rarity and fancy appearing on one of these EPs, then feel free to send me a wee email.

The Seventeenth Century Get Their Socks Off!

Thanks to the dreaded Winter lurgy, it's been a wee while since I put something up on here. Like most of my fellow fans of The Seventeenth Century, I'm sure you've been waiting for some news on the "Notes" EP which has been getting some rave reviews on other sites. The band have just blogged on their MySpace that there will not be any release until their debut album later on this year. Seems like some other sites have been hitting the .... wait for it ... wrong Notes!

It's good to be back!

Anyway, for those of you with an empty diary tomorrow night, The Seventeenth Century, Alan McKim, Julia And The Doogans and Haight-Ashbury will all be performing in Glasgow for Socks Off at The Admiral.

Be sure to sign up to Julia And The Doogans mailing list (on their MySpace) for your download of "Glasgow" and check out my new favourite song.... The Seventeenth Century's "Young Francis".

Ten for 2010... The Seventeenth Century!

With the leftover Christmas turkey all finished and New Year fast approaching, it's time for another band to look out for in 2010. Scotland's very own The Seventeenth Century are a band I've had my eye on ever since seeing them support the amazing Beerjacket at King Tuts earlier this year. I've been reliably informed that the guys will be in the studio in January recording some tracks so with any luck we'll be hearing a lot from them in 2010!

For anyone with a bit of cash left over you can catch them on the 30th December at King Tuts and for the cheapskates out there The Seventeenth Century will be playing The Mill in Glasgow on the 28th January with There Will Be Fireworks.

For the time being here's one of 2009's best singles, "Roses In The Park" to whet your appetite!


Roses In The Park

...The Seventeenth Century!

Without a doubt, one of the best unsigned bands in Scotland! Think of them as a non-banjo-listic Mumford & Sons.... with a violin, churning out song after song of orchestral indie magic and gorgeous harmonies to boot! They're due to release an EP in the near future, and if their new single "Roses In The Park" is anything to go by then the future is promising for The Seventeenth Century. Check out the The Skinny's single of the month (September 2009) for yourself.

"Roses in the Park (****, 14 Sep) is a swelling, gorgeous composition centred on a Fleet Foxes-like vocal tableau, embellished with strident horns and subtle glock. A worthy Single of the Month."

If that's whetted your appetite, be sure to buy the EP and try and catch them live!

24th October - Sloans, Glasgow (Oxjam Festival)
12th October - Oran Mor, Glasgow (w/ Trashcan Sinatras)
13th October - Tait Hall, Kelso (w/ Trashcan Sinatras)
14th October - Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh (w/ Trashcan Sinatras)
16th October - The Warehouse, Aberdeen (w/ Trashcan Sinatras)