SCOTTISH MUSIC IN 2016 - WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO

I wasn't going to do this as many others have already taken care of this topic, most notably Murray Easton's superb post on his Everything Flows blog where he lists 16 things to look out for this year. Have a read of that as there's loads of good stuff there. Anyway, I keep getting emails about new things and reading about bands and their forthcoming releases so, in no order particularly, these are a few things I'm keeping an eye out for this year:

1. New NightSchool records magic

In a recent interview I did with Michael Kasparis, he mentioned that 2016 will see new releases from Happy Meals, Apostille, Molly Nilsson and two as yet unnamed artists. It's also the label's 5th anniversary and it keeps going from strength to strength

2. A new Machines In Heaven album

Easily one of the intriguing electronic bands around, Machines In Heaven's second album promises to have a more experimental feel than their bordersbreakdown debut. It's going to be superb - that's guaranteed

3. Twissted

One of my favourite electronic bands and one who are definitely going to grab a lot of attention this year, Twissted will be releasing a new e.p. and touring this year. Not to be missed.

4. The Insomniac Project

You've read all about them here already (here and here) and you're going to read a lot more about them this year in many more places. There's a reason James Murphy got scared and brought LCD Soundsystem out of hiding you know...

5. Kill The Waves

The band are due to record their second album for the rather lovely Bloc Music label and, if it's anything like debut The One That Could Have Been it's going to be splendid. Read all about it and Bloc Music's forthcoming plans here http://blocmusic.org/news/happy-new-year/

6. King Tut's New Year's Revolution

This is basically the best of new Scottish music crammed into one legendary venue, spread over 16 nights. The gig on 13 January featuring Tongues and Machines In Heaven looks unmissable (http://www.kingtuts.co.uk/gig-info/?gig=6862) but there are so many wonderful bands to see over the length of the event (7 January to 23 January) that you'd be best advised to take residence in King Tut's an enjoy the whole lot. The Apache Darling headline set on 20 January (http://www.kingtuts.co.uk/artist-biog/?artist=6870) is also bound to be a belter. I've seen them play King Tut's before and they were magnificent.

7. Chvrches at the Hydro on 2nd April

This is obviously going to one of the gigs of the year. A hometown show, a Saturday night and The Twilight Sad on the bill. Ridiculous. 

8. The Twilight Sad

I missed the Barrowlands gig sadly but I'm making up for it a bit by seeing them at the Chvrches show and then in Berlin later on in the year supporting The Cure. The fact that Robert Smith handpicked them to support on a sold out worldwide arena tour is amazing, The Twilight Sad are going to make thousands of new fans this year.

9. Other blogs

I'm going to be immersed in an all consuming Depeche Mode project until the end of March meaning my writing about new Scottish bands will suffer. But, there are far better places to read about that anyway and blogs like Everything Flows, Gold Flake Paint, Podcart and of course one of my other homes and, frankly, one of the best music blogs there is full stop Scottish Fiction will more than take care of your needs. The job these blogs do in promoting new music can't be ignored - go and read them all. 

After you've read this obviously

10. HQFU

This blog's Best New Band of 2015 is going to have a huge year. A new ep, a tour and no doubt more majestic electronic wonderfulness awaits.

11. Call To Mind and The Son(s) at the Glad Cafe on 30 January

Two of the brilliant Olive Grove Records finest bands playing a gig in a great venue about 5 minutes from my house - how cool is that? Just needs a Martin Gore DJ support to top it off. Maybe you can call him Lloyd? Tickets here http://www.musicglue.com/the-glad-cafe/events/30-jan-16-independent-venue-week-call-to-mind--the-sons-the-glad-cafe/

There are 11 things for you to mull over. I could have gone on and mentioned the inevitable rise of Kloe, a new Friends In America album, Hot Gem continuing to put out some of the most inventive electronic music there is, the SAYS, the BAMS and more but I had to stop eventually. An in-depth analysis of the samples used on the Death Mix of Fly On The Windscreen won't write itself. 

All I would add is that, as far as I can recall, there has never been a better and more fertile music scene in Scotland than we have at the moment. Go and check all of it out, buy the records (at Love Music Glasgow and Monorail), see the bands, read the blogs and enjoy it. 2016 is going to be quite superb.

SKINNY DIPPER - MASKS EP

Skinny Dipper are the newest addition to the impressive Olive Grove Records roster and, on 8 September, their Mask e.p. is released on download and limited edition vinyl. The 9 piece "almost a girl group" (8 girls, 1 boy) are made up of members of Randolph's Leap, Blochestra, Quickbeam and many more and together they create a perfect late summer soundtrack filled to the brim with beautiful music, harmonies and melodies so memorable that, once you've heard them once, you won't get them out of your head

Landing is a spectacular opener to the e.p. and, for me, it's the standout track here. It's one of those songs that combines everything that is wonderful about pop music and it deserves to be heard by millions. If you try one song from the e.p. try this one. Hospital Bed (available to listen to on The Pop Cop here) comes next, continuing where Landing left off, immediately grabbing the attention with its' stunning harmonies and vocals redolent of The Sundays at their peak before The Kids Are Moving On slows the pace showing off the band's folkier side. Cellphones beams in briefly from another planet, taking you by surprise, before Son Of A Mitch closes the e.p, a beautiful end to what has been a mesmerising debut release.

Skinny Dipper are holding an e.p. launch at Stereo on 12 September with support from Chrissy Barnacle and blog favourites, Call To Mind. It'll be a great show which you should definitely try and get to. Firstly though, get Masks and get ready to fall in love with Skinny Dipper.

CALL TO MIND - THE WINTER IS WHITE

I first heard of Call To Mind when Neil at Scottish Fiction asked me to review their A Family Sketch single last year. I was instantly struck by the sheer beauty of the track which was one of the best things I heard last year and, given that 2013 was a Depeche Mode release year, that says a lot. Happily, their debut album The Winter Is White (Olive Grove Records) builds on the power of A Family Sketch, giving us of the most exciting debut albums of the year.

The album opens with A Family Sketch, meaning that you're instantly hooked. To my ears, the band's Highlands roots give this album its' atmospheric feel, much in the same way Sigur Ros' music puts you in mind of wandering around Iceland even if you haven't been there. January (You Are All I See) follows A Family Sketch and we continue on the almost ambient in parts, almost motorik in others path which is no bad thing at all. Energy//Blast,  the fantastic The Wound & The Gift and Passing Drumochter round off Side 1 (yes this is a vinyl review and yes there's that Highlands influence - see?). The Wound & The Gift is a beautiful song with a piano line that sits quite far back in the mix but grabs you before you're hit with some almost My Bloody Valentine like feedback guitar as the song ends. Clever stuff

Side two opens with the almost poppy Breathe which should be a smash hit single if there's any justice. The second half of the album is more conventional perhaps that the first half but that's absolutely fine. The band aren't frightened to mix experimental with more straightforward music and both styles compliment each other perfectly. Over The Machair follows Breathe and it's another song that takes you on a journey that you won't forget. Untitled, Sightlines and the marvellous Chemotherapy round off the album and straightaway you want to get back up, turn it over and start playing it again.

This is s special album and is another example of why the Scottish music scene is in its' most vibrant state for years. More and more bands are releasing great quality work and Call To Mind are right there at the forefront. You must hear this album.

Call To Mind website

Call To Mind Facebook

Call To Mind Twitter  

Olive Grove Records website

REVIEW - CALL TO MIND ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY, GLAD CAFE, GLASGOW 12 APRIL

Call To Mind recently released their exceptional debut album The Winter Is White on Olive Grove Records (review to follow) and to celebrate that, the band held a launch party at The Glad Cafe in Shawlands, Glasgow on 12 April. Support came from two bands, the first of which was Prehistoric Friends who were new to me. They play a brand of melodic pop music that is really interesting and I thought their set was great. Highlights were the fantastic Hallucinations and the forthcoming single Bermuda Triangle which comes out on 10 May. 

The next support came from one of my favourite local bands, Campfires In Winter. As well as material from the Picture of Health and White Lights ep's (available here) the band played their new single We'll Exist which will be available from 12 May. It sounded great and you must check it out. The highpoint of the set was the brilliant With A Ragged Diamond which is a song everyone must hear.

Great support acts then but the main reason we were there was to see Call To Mind and they didn't disappoint. Their music is beautifully atmospheric with, to my ears, influences ranging from Sigur Ros to Slint to Mogwai through Krautrock and beyond. As well as their at times stunning music the band were backed by films by Mark Lyken and Emma Dove which complimented the music perfectly. Opening with the outstanding A Family Sketch, the band quickly got into gear playing a set culled from the album and the Call To Mind ep. As with listening to their album, Call To Mind's music grabs you straightaway and is mesmerising in places and the gig swept along in no time at all with everyone in the audience immersed in the sound. As well as A Family Sketch, other highlights were Over The Machair, Running With Scissors and A9. If you get the chance, go and see Call To Mind.

Call To Mind, live at the Glad Cafe 12 April 2014

For more information on Call To Mind check out their website and Bandcamp page 

5 SCOTTISH BANDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2014

As I keep banging on about, the amount of good new music Scotland is producing at the moment is frankly terrifying. I don't recall a time like this. We seem to be entering some sort of golden age of Scottish music and I implore you to get involved in it by seeing the bands live, buying their records and supporting what is rapidly growing and hugely exciting scene. I'm no expert in this being something of a latecomer to it. I'll leave it to people like Neil Wilson at Scottish Fiction or the chaps at The Pop Cop to tell you more as their sites contain more about Scottish music than I could ever possibly tell you.  What I can give you though are five bands to look out for this year so here they are:

1. MACHINES IN HEAVEN ( @MachinesHeaven @hotgemtunes ) 

I've written about Machines before and rightly praised their excellent Glasgow Jihad ep. March 14 sees the release of the band's debut album BordersBreakdown on Hotgem and it promises to be a cracker. The band are having an album preview night at Stereo on Renfield Lane on 14 March and you'd be well advised to get down there. All the info you need is on their Facebook page. Get into Machines In Heaven now before everyone else does.

2. CASUAL SEX ( @CasualSexBand )

Casual Sex' Bastard Beat ep released at the tail end of last year was a brilliant mix of sleazy guitar, dirty bass and randy vocals and was frankly brilliant. The band are creating a real buzz and are shortly embarking on a UK tour and rather impressively playing at this year's SXSW . You must check out the Bastard Beat ep and do keep an eye on Casual Sex. Again, check their Facebook page for all info and go here to buy their music

3. CALL TO MIND ( @calltomind @OliveGroveRCRDS )

I first heard Call To Mind when I reviewed their majestic single A Family Sketch for Scottish Fiction last year (review). It's still available as a free download which you'd be mad not to get. The band are gearing up for the release of their new album The Winter Is White on 12 April with a show at The Glad Cafe. This band improve and improve with every release so their album is something to be very excited about. It's coming out on the excellent Olive Grove label and you can buy that label's back catalogue in The Glad Cafe too. Check out Call To Mind's Facebook page for all the info you need.

4. RANDOLPH'S LEAP ( @randolphs_leap @LostMap )

Is there a more prolific band than Randolph's Leap? They seem to release an e.p. every week and play live more than anyone else I know be it as a full band or an Adam solo show. Their first full length LP Clumsy Knot is coming out on the excellent Lost Map label on April 7th and the band will play a launch show at the Kinning Park Complex on 5th April. If any of their many previous releases are a guide to go by we're in for a real treat. The band's Facebook page will tell you everything you need to know

5. ATOM TREE ( @AtomTreeMusic @hotgemtunes )

It's usually only Depeche Mode related matters that I am repetitive (to be honest I've not even started on them yet!) however I have mentioned Atom Tree many times before and I'm going to keep doing it. To follow the exceptional Tide Of Thorns ep the band will be releasing new music this year which HotGem head honcho Clair has already heard and excitedly tweeted about. You really must keep an eye on Atom Tree as they are genuinely special. The buzz Tide of Thorns created was huge and not just locally - people ears all over the world pricked up. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for news because there is much to come.

So there you go - five to keep an eye on. There are so many more bands out there I could mention but I need to draw the line somewhere. Do check out all these bands and indeed the labels they are on as every one of them will brighten up your day.