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!

Young Hunting - Attachment In A Child And The Subsequent Condition

How do I even begin to review an album so far removed from anything I've ever mentioned on the blog before?  That's the dilemma that the mysterious Scots experimentalists Young Hunting have put me in with their debut release Attachment In A Child And The Subsequent Condition.  For those of you out there only interested in twee-pop and those middle-of-the-road indie bands... it's pretty obvious from the album title and the slightly-disturbing cover art, that this may not be for you.  Saying that though, I'm partial to both of those and I've been completely taken in by this album.  So read on....

Young Hunting have never gigged, their MySpace was only set up last month, and it's nigh-on-impossible to find any info about the band, other than there's someone called Marc in it.  All very mysterious indeed!  Their introductory email to me described the album as a "deliberate experiment in alchemy".   While that, strictly speaking, hits the nail on the head, I'd be tempted to expand on that with something along the lines of "...., the black arts and the arcane", such is the intensity and sinister nature of the music.  In fact, it's an incredibly sinister, atmospheric and ever-so-slightly creepy album.  Not one to listen to all alone in the dark if you're of a nervous disposition.  

Forebode is an absolutely stunning track.  Persistent eerie glitches like demented water droplets, the sinister synth drone, intensely building up with distant haunted murmurings all combine to send a chill up your spine.  Throw in what sounds like chiming bells and banging chains and a fair amount of deep, dark spoken word on Liminality and the metallic drumming and deep, demonic, breath-like sounds of Dirge and you start to see what they meant by alchemy.

   Forebode by Young Hunting

But after all the head scratching and grinding of teeth, it has to be said, I love this album.  It's so different to the norm, and in my opinion, an incredibly successful experiment.  Can't wait to hear what they dabble in next!

The album is out now on Amazon MP3, and physical copies can be pre-ordered here!