Coastal Skid Spy Wok v22.0

NOTCAST TIME!!  For those not in the know, I don't do podcasts.  I have as much interest in hunching over a microphone for an hour than you do listening to my monotone for that length of time.  So this is my non-vocal, SoundCloud alternative... hence, notcast.  It makes sense in my head!  Anyhoo, on to this week's selections which we'll kick off with this masterpiece from one of my most-anticipated albums of the year.

   Mona Lisa by Trapped Mice (courtesy of Armellodie Records)

That is of course the brilliant Trapped Mice.  Their debut album, Winter Sun, isn't out until the 5^th of November via Armellodie Records, but you can pre-order it over here.   Speaking of Armellodie... remember they did this for little ol' me??   As well as a wee, free taster from Trapped Mice, there's also one from Cuddly Shark, who as-luck-would-have-it also have a release coming out.  Have a listen to the lead track from their Body Mass Index EP.

   Body Mass Index by Cuddly Shark (courtesy of Armellodie Records)

This one's a wee belter too, and you don't have to wait too long to get your hands on it.  It's out on the 8^th of October but again, you can pre-order it here.  Both those Armellodie tracks are free so knock yourself out.  Right, let's move on to another of Scotland's great, indie labels now... Song, By Toad Records - home of the mighty Meursault.  Their third full-length offering Something For The Weakened is one of the year's finest, and Dull Spark is one of the many highlights.

   Dull Spark by Meursault (courtesy of Song, by Toad Records)

Dull Spark is the second single from the album and can be bought on vinyl here.  If you haven't already done so though, get your hands on the album itself direct from Mr. Toad.  Now it's time for a blast from the past... who remembers Esmé?  I'll be honest... I don't.  But given this track was re-recorded by founder member and Kowalskiy-favourite Wiredrawn, and they contained members of Won Mississippi, it was always going to pique my interest. 

   You Wanted An Indestructible Body? Well, We've Built One For You by Wiredrawn

That one's free too.  Wiredrawn is a lovely man!  We'll have two more then I'm done.  The penultimate track is the latest, and first in a while, from Arran Arctic.  It's the first single to be taken from Arran's new album Like Lovers which will be released later this year.  'Tis a very welcome return!

   Covers by Arran Arctic

And it's also FREE!  Last up, and now sporting a 'V' instead of the more-conventional 'U', this is the fantastic second track from the Scottish-music phenomenon that is CHVRCHES.  

   The Mother We Share by CHVRCHES

The Mother We Share can be bought on 10" vinyl over here.  Even if you don't have a record player, this how much it'll fetch on eBay in 5 years time! 

So that's me done for another week.  Before I go, I'd just like to remind you to remember, remember, the 5^th of November when the brilliant Trapped Mice debut hits the shelves. 

Panda Crowds Writes

Hey, Patrick (a.k.a. Wiredrawn) here. Kowalskiy has tasked me with keeping you people entertained while he's away on his holidays.

So.......

Here's six of my favourite tracks from SoundCloud - they're not all recent, mind. Or Scottish..........

I love love love this track. It sounds a bit like Feeder if they hadn't disappeared up there own arses a decade ago and had instead decided to form a 'Husker Du in the style of Foo Fighters' tribute act. Pet Ghosts aren't Scottish. They're English, which is kind of on the same island as Scotland.

   Stalking Today by Pet Ghosts

I loves me some North Atlantic Oscillation. Their Drummer is proper brilliant. And they're Scottish!

   Savage With Barometer by North Atlantic Oscillation

Owen will probably hate me for saying this, but Anywhere But Here is probably the best summer-y acoustic pop song I've ever heard. Owen was in the band that was Won Mississippi before it was Won Mississippi and has got loads of great music on SoundCloud. You should go listen to it.  He's also originally from Berwick-Upon Tweed, which is as close to being Scottish as you can get without actually being Scottish (cue angry backlash).

   Anywhere But Here by Owen Thomas

I'm a sucker for bit of a chip tune hybrid and this one is a catchy little bugger.

   Oh No Robo Limbo by Solemn Camel Crew

I'd kill for Matthew Connor's voice. He could sing the phone book to me and i'd be happy.  This is off of his forthcoming album and perfectly showcases Matthew's talents both as an amazing songwriter and hardcore crooner (Is Croon-Core a genre? IT IS NOW!).  Matthew isn't Scottish either. He's American. Being American, there's small chance his great grandparents were Scottish. I'll ask him.

   How Is July Already Over? by Matthew Connor

Another Berwick (Almost Scottish!) flavoured one - Old Bones take their cues from Bronto Skylift et al. but they really set themselves apart by writing brilliant QOTSA-ish rawk songs like this one and by being a bit tasty live.

   Deluca by Old Bones

Hope these wee crackers keep you entertained til the big man returns. If you enjoyed these tracks then come share the love at www.soundcloud.com/wiredrawn.

Cheers!

Coastal Skid Spy Wok v4.0

Time for notcast numero four now. Next week I'll stop with the counting. In fact, I won't be here next week. You'll not be denied a notcast though, you'll just be in the very capable, probably moreso, hands of another of Scottish music's most mysterious chaps. Not that I'll be revealing who it is. Just have to come back here next week to find out. Anyhoo, onto the tracks which have been tickling my fancy on SoundCloud this week.

Starting off of course with a grovelling apology to a band I've been neglecting recently.  One of the most memorable albums I was sent last year was the undeniably creepy and downright brilliant debut by Young Hunting.   I said as much over here.  Well, this Edinburgh bunch released the follow-up some time ago.  It's much the same impressiveness-wise.  There's no streams online (not on their site anyway) but here's the sinister Forebode from their debut album Attachment In A Child And The Subsequent Condition.

   Forebode by Young Hunting

Nothing like starting off with a cheery one eh?!  Anyway their follow-up EP is called The Night of the Burning and you can get your hands on it over here.  Shall we have an upbeat one now?  Lets do that!  Remember Johnny Reb?  I do.  They released The Portugal Years, songs recorded in Portugal (funnily enough) by Morrissey guitarist Boz Boorer,  last year.  Yeah?  Well, they have sadly split!  However, out of the ashes of many a great band springs another.  So here's the phoenix-like Father Sculptor for you.

   Ember by Father Sculptor

Next up is a blast from the not-so-distant past.  Before Christmas, Wiredrawn released his fantastic Loose Lips Sink Ships EP which is still in my car.  So let's continue with the opening track from said EP which you can of course download for free over here.

This City On Fire by Wiredrawn

That guitar!  Ooft!  Like I said, it's pretty fantastic.   OK, moving on.  We'll just have 5 songs this week since the last is a weighty beast.  This weeks penultimate track comes courtesy of one of the finest singer/songwriters in the land... Will Hanson.   He released his latest album Moving A Body last year.  'Twas one of the years finest if you ask me!  Here's one of the many standout tracks from it.

   The View From Ebury Bridge by Will Hanson

Last one now and as I said before, it's a biggy!  White Heath have been incredibly quiet of late.  In fact, it's been bloody ages since their last single GG came out.   Well, somewhat out of the blue, they're back with their latest offering, In A Glasshouse.  It isn't just a single though.  They've teamed up with some of their artistic friends to bring you a brilliant, interactive website to accompany it.   Here it is.  Be sure to download it free here.

In A Glasshouse by whiteheathmusic

Remember, next week's notcast will be brought to you by a very special guest. See you then!

Kowalskiy's Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP #18

And so, we come to the final EP of 2011.  The Scrooge that I am, I've once again limited it to one festive track, but it's still free.  Geez, what more do you want!  And not only that, there's one or two extra goodies in there to tide you over 'til the New Year.

I didn't plan it this way, but there's a track from the band behind my #1 album of 2011, and another by an artist who's already set the benchmark pretty high for 2012.   Sandwiched between, are three crackers!  Hope you enjoy them all.  You can, as ever, get your download by clicking on the artwork above (this month paying homage to one of my favourite and most iconic albums of all time).  Before that though, here's the five artists involved and what they each had to say about their track...

1.  Now Wakes The Sea - You Are The Cold (Redwings guitarist gone solo!  This is the opening track off of next years 'Best of 2012' benchmark album that I mentioned above.)

"You Are the Cold is the opening track from the upcoming Now Wakes the Sea record, Fluoxetine Morning, due out at the beginning of 2012. The lyrics make reference to noise pollution and artificially induced sleep, and was written as I was flirting between consciousness and slumber. In terms of instrumentation, it's rather simplistic, but features a bitching synth solo. Bookended by two different versions of the same sound - a single, dry guitar pluck, and an analogue delay squeal - I think it gives a good representation of the record, mixing elements of drone and ambience with sparse and minimal folk." - Alan McCormack (Now Wakes The Sea)

2.  Wiredrawn - Christmas Wish No. 3571 (A reworking of the ex-Won Mississippi singer's early solo festive demo.  Wiredrawn's debut EP 'Loose Lips Sink Ships' is available here.)

"The track was written and recorded in the seemingly endless winter last year, when Scotland was at an almost constant stand-still. The news was full of stories of isolation and chaos as well as brilliant examples of the determination and resolve some people had shown when trying to battle through the elements to get to their loved ones. I fancied 'doing' a Christmas song without surrendering to whimsy too much - I might just have got away with it......" - Patrick Baird (Wiredrawn)

3.  Reverieme - Mama, Won't You Keep Them Castles in the Air and Burning? (I must admit, I was disappointed with the second Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! album, but this absolutely stunning cover makes up for it and then some!)

"It may be a controversial choice (in a world where controversy is defined as ‘not really liking pandas that much’ or ‘preferring peanut M&M's’) but I really love Some Loud Thunder, the sophomore album from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. In fact (and we may be nearing the ‘I have never enjoyed a Ryan Reynolds movie’ level of controversy here), I don’t think I could fault it! When I first heard ‘Mama, Won’t You Keep Them Castles in the Air and Burning?’, a song so lyrically ridiculous it could well have been co-written by Lou Reed and James Hetfield, I totally (and inexplicably) loved it. I’m hoping that this wee cover is either so good it sways the non-believers or so bad that it makes the original seem like a sweet aural haven (no giggling). Either way, you’ll have to listen to find out!" - Louise Connell

4.  The Strangers Almanac - Where The River Meets The Sea (Good Gord this guy's good!   He's got some a free album and EP on Bandcamp, but here's a brand spanking new song for you.)

"This is a new song that I've only played live a couple of times, and I recorded it with my friend Ross Middlemiss who plays in Pensioner. (If you're looking for someone to record your band, give him a shout, he's excellent). It was written about a friend of mine, and it's basically saying that if you come through troubles in your life and make it out alive, you should be proud of all you've achieved, no matter how meandering a path you took to get there. It may crop up on a future release, but for now it stands on its own!" - Gord Matheson (The Strangers Almanac)

5.  Happy Particles - Cold Calling (If you followed the clues above, you'll know it's Happy Particles who have taken the top spot in my Albums of 2011.  Here's a special non-album track and some info on how to get your hands on the amazing Under Sleeping Waves.)

"We are Happy Particles and our debut album 'Under Sleeping Waves' will be released on Christmas day. You can pre-order it here which will entitle you to two download tracks instantly and you also get a free video of us performing the full band version of 'Aerials' with the album.   We had a few tracks which didn't make it onto the record for one reason or another and this is a very early version of 'Cold Calling' which was originally going to be on the album but we ended up forgetting about it, so it was never developed or recorded.  We really like it though, so it will probably come out in a different form on a future e.p. or the next album." - Happy Particles

So that's your whack for the year!  Hope you've enjoyed all the EPs, and rest assured, there'll be much more of the same next year.  Until then, head on over to my bandcamp page now to get your download which comes with a hidden track courtesy of Lovers Turn To Monsters (and ties in with the artwork!) and a special, visual extra from a particularly happy bunch.  Enjoy!

...Wiredrawn!

Who here remembers Won Mississippi?  A while back, they released one of my favourite Scottish albums, Welcomes Careful Drivers, which was rightly voted by the good folk over at jockrock as one of the Top 10 Scottish Albums of the Noughties.

So why am I babbling on about all this then?  Well, Patrick Baird, their lead singer has been busying himself recently, ahead of the release of his debut EP under his solo guise Wiredrawn.  Loose Lips Sink Ships is released next Tuesday and can be bought over here.  I had a wee chat to Patrick to get the lowdown on his solo project but before we hear what he had to say for himself, here's a sneak preview of what you can expect...

 This City On Fire by Wiredrawn

...and judging by the comments, I'm not the only one who loves it! Over to Patrick now...

Kowalskiy: Who is Wiredrawn?

Patrick: Wiredrawn is the musical pseudonym of ex Won Mississippi frontman and all round musical gobshite Patrick Baird. I've been sonically procrastinating in a solo capacity for about a year now.

Kowalskiy:  How would you describe 'your sound'?

Patrick: I'm like a giant influence sponge - I try to listen to as much music as I can. I store it all up, jumble it around and try to spit it out again in interesting and different ways...... I've been described as sounding like a ' Scottish Death Cab' and some folks have cited similarities to bands like Slint, Guided By Voices and Reuben.

Kowalskiy: PLUG AWAY!!!

Patrick: I've got an EP coming out on the 29th of November entitled 'Loose Lips Sink Ships' - Grab it for free over at http://wiredrawn.bandcamp.com. I also update frequently and get involved on http://soundcloud.com/wiredrawn and the obligatory bookface page.

Kowalskiy: What else can we expect from Wiredrawn in the future?

Patrick: More collaborations, a single with a 'proper' video along the tantalising possibility of some live shows in the second half of the new year.  I can't wait..............

Nor can I!  Until then, I'll leave you with another belter from the EP.  Mind again, and get your free copy next week!

    The Silver Screen by Wiredrawn