The Son(s) - Leviathan EP

I'd like to think I know a thing or two about being an online, musical enigma.  But The Son(s) really do take the clandestine biscuit(s)... if there were such a thing.  With only the solitary besuited character on their releases and the mysterious initials 'K. P.' to go by, it's anyone's guess who we have to thank for not only one of the most impressive presences, but also one of the finest collections of tracks on SoundCloud.   If anything though, this anonymity only adds to their ever-growing appeal.    You'd be hard pushed to find another artist in the land with the same levels of prolificacy in their output, let alone one with the same deftness of touch when it comes to layering and building up their tracks, and a persistent knack for crafting sublime pieces of music.
 
Take their new Leviathan EP which has just surfaced today, as a prime example.   The title of the release itself (if you ignore the artwork for now), which conjures up images of the giant sea creature from folklore, seemingly mirrors the almost mythical existence of the artist...  that's as far as I can stretch that analogy to be honest.  For the sound here isn't as big as the name or the artwork suggests.  But it doesn't have to be, to be awe-inspiring, which this 6-track EP most certainly is.   For the most part, it's a gorgeous layering of instruments and harmonies with oh-so-smoooooooth vocals.  

Then there's If I Hear You Talk Apostrophe's Again, whose throbbing bass and electric guitar solos seems to be out-of-keeping with the rest of this dreamy EP, and harks back to Dogs, Boys And Men from their debut.  I stand by what I said donkeys ago, about its TV On The Radio likeness.  That's evident again here with If I Hear...'s bolder sound and the contrasting vocal styles in the harmonies.  Both of which go hand-in-hand to produce my favourite track on Leviathan.  Regardless of which facet of their sound it is though, it's absolutely faultless.

Leviathan is out now on limited edition cassette and digital download available from the 21^st May via Olive Grove Records.  Get yours here.  The only issue I have with the EP, and it is only minor, is that I gave my Walkman away to a charity shop back in 1999... and I do tend to hold onto things a bit longer than I should.

Coastal Skid Spy Wok v6.0

Shall we have another half-a-dozen tracks that have been tickling my fancy on SoundCloud over the last week?  Yes we shall.  I'll kick things off this week with a welcome return for Kowalskiy's Apology Korner.  So who have I completely forgotten about recently?  To be fair, there's a few but I'm getting better I think... maybe.  Try telling that to the lovely Coat Hooks though.   They've released their first EP with their shortened name and rejigged line-up, but have lost none of their charm and appeal as a result.  To The Waters And The Wild is out now over here, and it is a pure bargain!

    To the Staring Husks! by Coat Hooks

More apologies next week!  For now we move on.  Onto something and someone(s) quintessentially SoundCloudish.  Now, I know I've already featured one of their tracks, and I know we've even had K. P. Son do a special guest notcast for us, but...  Fuck it, I don't have to explain myself to anyone... especially YOU!

   Roaring Round The House by The Son(s)

How smooth does that sound!?!  Very, I think you'll find.  It's "track 1, side 1" of their Leviathan release on the 7^th May.  From the smooth to the sublime.  It's Chasing Owls.  If you remember, I loved their We Began EP (available from all good online stockists) all those months ago.  Well, be it a T Break 2012 entry, or part of some form of future release called Quell, or both... or all three,  this is a cracking song which will do little to 'quell' the need for more.  Ha, brilliant!

   Here Come The Gods by Chasing Owls

Who's next... I lose track.  We shall mix things up a bit with this one by Le Thug, who don't really do folk, more like shoegazey, synthy electro.  Which in my book is just as good.  There's a bunch of freebies up on their SoundCloud, so get over there.

   Third Lanark by Le Thug

Now, we'll end with a track which I have no shame in admitting I've been know to murder in the car on the drive home at night.  My dulcet tones are no match for Mr. Sutherland.   Yet another reason why I'll spare you having to listen to me podcast stylee.  I asked Joseph a.k.a. Foxhunting a few questions about his brilliant debut album Come On Sweetheart, Take My Hand (which you can buy here with a free copy of his earlier EP) a while back.   Here's the original, 'EP version' of one of my tracks of the year thus far, La Chasse. 

   La Chasse by Foxhunting

Stunning doesn't quite cut it.  Right, I'm offski now!

Pecans Dots Shots

Guest notcast by K. P. Son

6 songs from SoundCloud... But there are a lot of good songs up there to choose from. Too many. There are now so many songs now on SoundCloud that you can put their waveforms end to end and together they will stretch to Mars and back. I've no doubt I'll immediately get omission regret having only 6 choices or so from Mr Kowalskiy. I'll have to live with that for the rest of my life.

I don't know any of the people below.

GELOW FOSTER
I believe the capitalisation (though not capitalism) is compulsory. From the town of unknow(n) TX yet it sounds like the singer hails from 80's Sheffield. Weird huh?

   Problem by GELOW FOSTER

Jonny Bear vs. Atuin
Each of these guys is worth exploring individually (for example Mr Bear's Underwood Typewriter); this wee song has become a small but growing obsession here.

   Jonny Bear vs. Atuin - Little River by Atuin

Daniel Rossen
There are few finer songwriters in the world today; I have never liked Paul Simon.

   Dan Rossen (of Grizzly Bear) - "Graceland" (Paul Simon Cover) by TwentyFourBit.com

Tim Weary
Isn't this good? This is slow, drowsy, simple sounding. Delicious, woebegone.

   I am not now who i was by Tim Weary

No? You're crazy...
OK, then what about this?

   On Every Other Day by Tim Weary

This?

   When I Was a Girl by Tim Weary

NO?! Well get to buggeryfuck then. Man's a genius.

Tea Leigh
Tea records her songs using a machine assembled live on air during an episode of Blue Peter back in 1978 (designed of course by Margaret Parnell). It utilises toilet roll holders, pipe-cleaners, empty washing up bottles... Tea's machine now hisses along slightly with whatever she records. It is a charming hiss. This is a great cover of a beautiful Sufjan Steven's song.  (Kowalskiy:  Unfortunately, since Mr. Son made his choices, Ms. Leigh has removed this stream.  So here's another...)

   Wake you (with the home recordings) demo by Tea Leigh

John Holligum
I love this tune. This is from Jonny who does the Edinburgh Man podcast. From back in spring '76, just before he started his podcast. I think Tom Verlaine guests on guitar.

   What We're Thinking (Recorded Early 1976) by John Hollingum

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 #7

Time to do my bit for all the lovely singles out there.  It's a pretty diverse mix this time 'round, so hopefully you'll find one that's perfect for you.  If any of their pleas 'strike a chord with you', then click on the cover art and get downloading...

Slow & Easy by The Son(s)

"You are a brunette, 5'6", long legs, 25-30, intelligent, articulate and drop dead gorgeous. I, on the other hand, have eyes like Marty Feldman and an odour of foost. No returns and no refunds at box no. 1557 Man 52." - Karl Son(s)

First up is a welcome return for Mr. Son(s).  Still single I see?!?   It's a bit of a beefed-up re-release this one, complete with snazzy new video.  Check it out here. Oh, and yeah, the single is FREE and comes with two more tracks to download.  So snap it up, and have a wee swatch at the video while you're at it.

Nal by Scrap Brain

"Post-ironic female fronted noise-pop trio with a fondness for volume and distortion, and insatiable pan-sexuality seek victims for two and a half minutes of dirty, sweaty, sexual ecstasy and an analogue synth loop." - Myke Hall (Scrap Brain)

If you share their fondness for distortion and volume and don't mind an analogue synth loop or two, then Edinburgh's Scrap Brain should be right up your street.  Click on the covert art to get better acquainted.

Jekyll Island by Rollor

"Proto Industrial/no wave musicians seek to melt faces of bad-tempered, foul-mouthed and grossly overweight smokers/drinkers Must be toilet trained and have own teeth!!" - Matt Harris (Rollor)

Rollor are a wee bit of alright you know!  This belter is out on the 10th September, so you'll just need to be patient.  Until then though, there's three EPs over on their Bandcamp for FREE!  Sweeeeet!

Desperate Dan (She Told Me She Was Single) by John Wean

"Spunky young male seeks single female for good times and maybe more. Should be perennially unattached with a violent hatred for muscly men and Fiat Puntos. Full health check results would be considered an asset. Negative results preffered." - John Wean

Now, first thing to note, is that that is not the official cover art for this single.  It'll be updated in due course.  Until then, feast your eyes on the John Wean lads' comic strip for their new single.  You can have a proper look over here! The single is also out on the 10th, but you can have a wee preview courtesy of Mr. Gellatly here. 

Seven Vices by Cancel The Astronauts

"Wrinkled, balding singer with slight paunch seeks careful owner for midnight walks in the rain, illicit fondling and awkward conversation. Time wasters need not apply. Must reply by Sunday. (no pets please)." - Matt Riley (Cancel The Astronauts)

Matthew Riley... ooft!  If that's not got you hot under the collar, then wait 'til you hear the track.  As usual, Cancel The Astronauts have struck musical gold.  It's not out 'til the 12th, but you can pre-order the CD and get a download now! It comes with 2 brand, spanking new tracks too. They'll be launching the singe with gigs at The Captains Rest, Glasgow (9th) and Electric Circus, Edinburgh (11th).

A Modest Refusal/Tell The Girl by Chris Devotion & The Expectations

"Freakishly tall yet devilishly handsome hipster seeks listener for a short term passionate affair, with one eye on the possibility of a long term relationship fraught with anxiety, self loathing, class warfare and catchy tunes. Must like loud guitars. Will also accept a quick knee trembler." - Chris Devotion

Mr. Armellodie may be on sabbatical in The Orient, but his label is still churning out some great music.  The latest offering comes courtesy of the modest Chris Devotion.  By his own reckoning, a feast for the eyes, and by mine, a feast for the ears too.  Now, where are you for that knee trembler... 

K&A with The Son(s)

Time to hear from one of the eleven acts I tipped at the start of 2011.  Back in January, I put some probing questions to the mysterious, but quite brilliant, The Son(s).  With the eponymous debut album out today on Olive Grove Records, and with everyone hyping it up, it's probably about time that this K&A saw the light of day.  Here goes...

Kowalskiy:  Who are The Son(s), and what's the story behind the name?

The Son(s):  The name, well the plural is nominally optional, or at least not guaranteed. Sometimes one Son sometimes more Son. The names not a great one but it's a lot worse without the brackets.

Kowalskiy:  How would you describe 'your sound', and what influences it?

The Son(s):  I would say: Son(s) music fills your clothes with clear & clean renewing freshness. From the relaxing fragrance of a summers day, to the revitalising freshness of spring flowers, there are Son(s) sounds for every mood.  Influences, well it's surely easier for anyone but us to list those. We were good naturedly compared to Seal not long ago...

Kowalskiy:  You started coming to everyone's attention last year with the self-release of your Radar EP. What's your reaction to how well it was received?

The Son(s):  We expected most people to ignore it, some to dislike it. We didn't expect very many people to like it, let alone write anything about it. So we're delighted, still delighted.

Kowalskiy:  How would you sum up 2010 for The Son(s)?

The Son(s):  For The Son(s), it was a very good year, it was a very good year for small town girls and soft summer nights and one of those years for me personally. High ups and low downs.

Kowalskiy:  You decided not to go down the MySpace route of getting your music heard, and are something of a word-of-mouth success story. What was the thinking behind that?

The Son(s):  There was no thinking behind that. We put some music up on SoundCloud for largely sentimental reasons sometime early 2010. Within a few days of putting it up we had got such a positive reaction everything started rolling to here from there. We do have a MySpace but have never really understood it, and it just points back to SoundCloud.

Kowalskiy:  What's the story on the gig front? Anything lined up already for 2011?

The Son(s):  Nothing lined up. Yet.

Kowalskiy:  What would your ideal gig be?
The Son(s):  Jesus. I have no idea how to answer this question. Were the 70's any good? Take us back to 70's LA and get us some Nudie suits.

Kowalskiy:  The 17^th January saw your debut single Radar released on Eli and Oz Records. How would you describe it?  (Like I said, these questions were asked quite some time ago!)

The Son(s):  The song has a pinch of spook in it, it's a waltz of a kind. It has a lovely video with three beautiful women and an Oleander tree in it.

Kowalskiy:  At last count, you have already been included in 3 'Ones To Watch in 2011' lists, The Lists, Peenko's and mine.  Have I missed any out??  What can we all expect from The Son(s) in 2011?

The Son(s):  Radar Scotsman's, Vic Galloway had us in at 49 in his list of 50. We were in quite a few. Good intit!?  2011 eh?  Well we will have an album out in March (Today!  That's it on the right). We'd love to do something for record store day in April, if we can find someone to do it with. We're hoping to have a video ready for another song soon. We'll see what happens with the album and take it from there.... Write some more songs, put them up on SoundCloud....

Kowalskiy:  Not forgetting having a track on one of my free EPs!  Lastly, you're a pretty mysterious bunch still. Tell us something about you that no one else knows.

The Son(s):  I don't think there's anything that no one else knows, once you get to know us we're an open book.

Kowalskiy:  OK, one last one since I'm a curious chap.  Who's the guy on all your promo photos and all your cover art?

The Son(s):  It's me of course! 

Better late than never eh?!   The album can be bought over here and it is every bit as good as it's been hyped to be.  It really is a fantastic, cult-album-in-the-making.  We could well be looking at the BAMS Album of 2011...

Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #8

You know the deal by now... another month, another five great, rare-ish tracks from five of the best up-and-coming Scottish bands.   So, here's Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #8 and the five acts that have each contributed a song.  Take it away folks...

1. Wrongnote - Devil Give Misdirection (from their debut album Reach Out, Disconnect)

"The song has been around since we formed Wrongnote and it’s one that we always play live. I like the recording. The riff sounds filthy and menacing while the drums, bass and rhythm guitar bite away at it. Exactly the sort of cheap thrill we were looking for to be the second track on the album." - Callum Smith (Wrongnote)

2. The Son(s) - The Moon & The Stars In The Sky (a brilliant rare track from The Son)

"This is a song from long ago, it's was recorded a bit quick and dirtily onto an old 4 track tape recorder, the only thing I had to hand at the time. I think that tape sound is a large part of any charm it possesses." - The Son(s)

3. I See Horses - Amerika (a track from the Oslo-based bands new EP)

"Amerika is an imperialistic love song. The old weep and the youth dance; perhaps for a hopeless cause" - David Coyle (I See Horses)

4. Call To Mind  - Sometimes Up, Sometimes Down (a track recorded live during their EP sessions)

"It's a live track, taken from a session we did as part of demos for our EP in 2010. We're currently writing some new things for what will hopefully be our album debut out later this year." - Jamie Ross (Call To Mind)

5. Josef Llama - Loser On The Run (an unreleased track from Glasgow's 'dark troubadour'.)

"I wrote this song last Summer, probably in anger, with Cameron and Clegg getting into power, I think I was also expressing disgust and fury at the amount of lenient sentences, for knife crime offences, I daresay there were other things going on that were bugging me. I seem to remember a bottle of Jack Daniels, playing a part in the writing session." - Josef Llama

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

EP #9 which will be out on 16^th March.   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.

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]

...The Son(s)

I first became aware of The Son(s), like an increasing amount of bands these days, through Peenko's Friday Freebies. I downloaded their three-track "Radar EP" a while ago, listened to it, liked it, then in true Kowalskiy fashion, I was sidetracked. Now that normal service has resumed, just who are these guys?

Who better to ask than an unnamed acquaintance of theirs...

"The Son(s) were three men, in a band, in Edinburgh, and I knew them then.
One Son went to London and made his fortune in the movies.
Another Son went to Oxford and lives in a small commune there.
The last Son eventually went back to the North East of Scotland and wrote and recorded these songs.

So, the movie maker plays drums and the commune-ist the bass, but neither plays on or writes these songs. But you know, life is long, and one day the movie business will dry up and the commune will disperse, although not - I'd guess - soon. Still, I'm told there will be some new Son(s) songs released later this year, for download, on CD, perhaps even on vinyl."

Until then, you can get your hands on their "Radar EP" over on their bandcamp. Three songs, three good ones at that, for absolutely no pennies at all. Here's the pick of the bunch, "Dogs, Boys and Men". It's a cracking track. If you ask me, it's a lot like a Scottish indie TV On The Radio, what with its messy-in-a-good-way vocal harmonies, a lot of wooing (be it electric guitars or vocals), but with the great addition of some acoustic guitars. It's hard not to like. Get it downloaded!