FRIENDS IN AMERICA - BE IN LOVE EP

Ahead of their second album Old Indifference, Friends In America have released a new e.p. called Be In Love.  I've been waiting for this for quite a while as I loved, and still love, their debut release What It Is To Be from 2013 and, pleasingly,  Be In Love is a wonderful release and something of a leap forward for the band. Lead track Bad Pint is as good a track as you'll hear this year. It brings to mind Frightened Rabbit mixed with Talking Heads which I admit sounds odd, but it really works. To my ears, there's a distinct sense of early R.E.M. too. Comparisons are a but pointless though as Bad Pint firmly stands on its own feet. Its mix of wonderous melodies with quite fantastic lyrics that speak of finally having to accept that one day we all become adults - I'm still not quite there yet. Have a look at the lyric video below for the song n its full glory

Bad Pint then leads into the equally superb Souvenir which, like the lead track is further evidence that Friends In America are onto something special. Like Bad Pint, it is nostalgic in tone, almost a downbeat continuation of that song's lyrical themes The third track, You Are is a dark sounding tale of love and loss, filled with noisy, clanging guitar lines and, once again, it's simply a great song.

The e.p. then concludes with two covers. Firstly, there is the band's take on Joanna Newsom's Peach Plum Pear which is really cool and, following that, a version of Grow Old With You from The Wedding Singer, with that song's lyrics a nice conclusion to them themes of the band's earlier self penned tracks.

Ultimately, Be In Love is an excellent bridge between What It Is To Be and Old Indifference and it certainly builds the anticipation for the band's forthcoming album. Definitely an e.p. to check out and you can do so at the band's Bandcamp page where it's available free or for whatever price you fancy paying

https://friendsinamericamusic.bandcamp.com/

Friends In America Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FriendsInAmerica/?fref=ts

NEW SCOTTISH SINGLES REVIEW - TUFF LOVE, CAMPFIRES IN WINTER, FRIENDS IN AMERICA AND PREHISTORIC FRIENDS

There has been a spate of great new singles released by a few excellent Scottish bands recently, so to help you navigate your way to them, I thought I'd do a Singles Review section rather than the usual thing focusing on one band only. So here we go.

TUFF LOVE - JUNK EP

Tuff Love are a Glasgow based three piece who make summery sounding almost lo fi in places guitar pop that instantly catches and burrows into your brain from where you'll struggle to remove it. Imagine if the Pixies had let Kim Deal sing more or if REM had managed to fuse the jangle of their Fables era to the amps they discovered they had around Monster time and you'll get part of the story here. All 5 songs on this e.p. are wroth your time. This is a hugely promising debut release and whats more it's available on a rather lovely 10" white vinyl from the marvellous Lost Map records.  

Tuff Love Faebook page https://www.facebook.com/ReallyTuffLove

Lost Map band page http://lostmap.com/tuff-love/

CAMPFIRES IN WINTER - WE'LL EXIST

Campfires In Winter are one of the most exciting bands around on the Glasgow, or more precisely Croy, scene at the moment. Their new single We'll Exist is an absolute cracker and, frankly, you're letting yourself down if you don't get it. I heard it live a few weeks ago at the Call To Mind album release show and loved it from the off. It is an example of the power and just general genius of Campfires In Winter and from May 12th you can own it. Here's the video in the meantime

Campfires In Winter webiste http://www.campfiresinwinter.com/

Campfires In Winter Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CampfiresInWinter?fref=ts

FRIENDS IN AMERICA - THE MORE I HAVE THE LESS I OWN THE MORE LEARN THE LESS I KNOW

It's lucky people don't copy songs onto tape anymore (ask your parents) as writing that on an inlay card would be a nightmare. Thankfully, that's the only quibble I have with this single which is another first class release from Friends In America. Carrying on from their impressive debut album What It Is To Be, the band again show why they are one to watch with another fantastic combination of guitar pop and thought provoking lyrics. The single release party is on 15 May at Nice N Sleazy's and you can get tickets and the single form the link below

Friends In America single party info https://friendsinamericamusic.bandcamp.com/merch/ticket-to-friends-in-america-the-more-i-single-launch-may-15th-with-free-single-download-a-week-early

Friends In American Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FriendsInAmerica?fref=ts

PREHISTORIC FRIENDS - BERMUDA TRIANGLE

Prehistoric Friends  first came to my attention at the Call To Mind album release show and I was impressed from the off. Their debut single Bermuda Triangle was one of the highlights of an excellent set and you can watch the video, which is currently streaming on The Skinny, below. The band are an intriguing mix of synth pop, lo fi and much more and you should really investigate them.

Prehistoric Friends Facebook https://www.facebook.com/prehistoricfriends?fref=ts

So there you are. Four Scottish bands, four new things for you to get. Do try and check them all out