2016'S BEST MUSIC THINGS

I'm not doing the usual top 20 best whatevers as I'm too busy really. There are a couple of Depeche Mode projects in the pipeline (ha ha etc) which are eating up my writing time and my actual day job continues to annoyingly get in my way. So instead, here's a round of of the Best Music Things that caught my eye/ear/attention this year. 

Before I start though, I just want to say thanks very much for reading all the nonsense I've posted this year and thanks for all your comments. It amazes me to think that people want to read what I write and I'll never quite get over that. Hope you all have a lovely festive season and I'll no doubt see some of at numerous Depeche gigs next year. Anyway, here we go:

BEST BIT OF 2016 #1 - HQFU

HQFU's debut album is one of the finest this year and her live shows are insanely good - it's music that would make the dead dance. The album launch show at Glasgow's Glad Cafe in April was very much one of this year's best bits. I even forced Helen Marnie and Stuart Braithwaite to have a picture taken with me. Not a very cool thing to do I know, but it was me, Ladytron and Mogwai - I wasn't going to miss that. Even admitting I did that is embarrassing, but let's move on.

HQFU live review http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/live-hqfu.html

Helen, Stuart, me and a chap in a hat

BEST BIT #2 - MT DOUBT

Mt Doubt makes music that never fails to inspire or move you. Hot on the heels of 2015's My Past Is A Quiet Beast, In Awe Of Nothing provided more evidence of Leo Bargery's unique talent, with tracks like Afterglow setting the bar high for new Scottish music this year. You really must see Mt Doubt live too to witness the songs taken to new, wonderful heights.

In Awe Of Nothing review http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/mt-doubt-in-awe-of-nothing.html

BEST BIT #3 - DEPECHE MODE ARE BACK

Ok, it probably won't be Violator part 2, but what I've heard about the new album is encouraging. There's a full tour too and I'm already signed up for the opening gig in Stockholm and the London Stadium gig in June with a few more to follow. Brace yourselves for a DM onslaught in 2017 on this site. 

DM Press conference review: http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/depeche-mode-announce-vacancy-for-new.html

BEST BIT #4 - THE INSOMNIAC PROJECT

I won't stop talking about them until you all listen. There's something smarter than the average bear about this band and 2017 is going to be the year many more people find out about them. You know where you read it first

Vacillation review: http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-insomniac-project-vacillation.html

BEST BIT #5 - HAPPY MEALS: FRUIT JUICE E.P.

Another band who can't stop getting better and better. All the parts you need are there - space disco synth perfection, the catchiest of tunes and remarkably beautiful record packaging courtesy of the ever wonderful Nightschool Records. Fruit Juice is one of 2016's must have releases. Your life is poorer for having it.

Fruit Juice review: http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/happy-meals-fruit-juice-ep.html

BEST BIT #6 - MACHINES IN HEAVEN - PHENOMENOLOGY

Every time Machines In Heaven release something new, they go into territory they've never gone into before and they master it effortlessly. I've come back to this album a lot this year and I never tire of listening to it.

Phenomenology review http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/machines-in-heaven-phenomenology.html

BEST BIT #7 - RODNEY CROMWELL FAX MESSAGE BREAKUP E.P.

Possibly one of the best releases this year, taking tracks from 2015's magical Age Of Anxiety and remixing them to perfection. I don't think Rodney or the Happy Robots label are capable of releasing anything that isn't just brilliant

Fax Message Breakup review http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/rodney-cromwell-fax-message-breakup-ep.html

BEST BIT #8 - LAST NIGHT FROM GLASGOW

In a city already besieged by incredible labels (festive hellos to Hotgem, Nightschool, Scottish Fiction and Olive Grove), Last Night From Glasgow came along and changed the game. A not for profit, crowdfunded label that focuses on the artists above all else with each release a uniquely beautiful thing. They've put out wonderful music by BooHooHoo ( a wristband usb ep), Stephen Solo (a credit card usb) and Mark W Georgsson (a 7" single of all things) among others and have hosted a series of live events, culminating in last Sunday's epic The Christmas Effect gig at Mono. Next year promises to be even bigger for the label and that's incredibly exciting. They are to be applauded for all their work - thanks Ian, Murray and the gang

Last Night From Glasgow http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/last-night-from-glasgow.html

BEST BIT #9 - TEEN CANTEEN - SAY IT ALL WITH A KISS

I strategically missed them out of Best Bit #8 as they deserve attention themselves. Their debut album, Say It All With A Kiss was one of Last Night From Glasgow and indeed this year's best releases. I defy anyone to do anything other than fall in love with the album. Teen Canteen also jointly presented The Christmas Effect with Last Night From Glasgow with lead singer Carla's side project Ette also featuring. As an aside, Ette's Homemade Lemonade album released on Olive Grove this year is another you have to check out

Teen Canteen review http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/teen-canteen-say-it-all-with-kiss.html

BEST BIT #10 - A MONTH LONG PERIOD OF REJOICING

It seems astoundingly big headed to pick one of my own things as a best bit, but in March I did a month long feature on Depeche's Black Celebration to celebrate its 30th birthday. I had a whole lot of wonderful contributors, I interviewed Gareth Jones and, for that period at least, I can say that I knew more about Black Celebration than Martin Gore probably did. It was fun and, along with all the otehr Best Bits, it's why I do this.

http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/let-have-black-celebration.html

I could go on and on but I'm stopping here. I missed out Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool, Nick Cave's staggering Skeleton Tree, The Pixies at the Barras, the big Erasure boxset, the fact I managed to get Kraftwerk tickets for next year, superb releases from Zyna Hel and Monkoora and much more. After 2016 started so horribly for music with David Bowie's death (that still looks wrong when you write it down), there was plenty in the music world to find joy in both globally and, happily for me, locally too. Next year will be equally if not more epic and, between Depeche Mode ramblings, I'll try to keep you as up to date as I can.

See you next year.

BOOHOOHOO - DEBUTHOOHOO

BooHooHoo are the newest artist on the impeccable Last Night From Glasgow label and their debut e.p., the rather niftily titled DebutHooHoo has just been released. It's available in all the usual digital places and on a very limited USB wristband which is a quite wonderful thing. That's the key thing about Last Night From Glasgow releases - they're unique and joyous beasts, each one as inventive as the last. The bands whose music fill the formats are happily of the same ilk.

DebutHooHoo is three songs long, each a full on riot of synthpop meets disco meets 80's style power pop. Lead track Mould Me is the star with its synth washes sweeping majestically through layers of pure pop wrapped in synth bassline that could easily be an offcut from A Broken Frame era Depeche Mode. That, as you all should know by now, is no bad thing. Think Leave In Silence's one finger bassline, realise how perfect that is, and that'll give you a clue. As all good songs should do, Mould Me is carried along by its impossible to ignore chorus. It's one of those choruses that you feel immediately familiar with even though you're hearing it for the first time. An impressive feat and an superb track.

There's an 80's style feel throughout here, though that's not to say that this is an overtly retro feeling release. Dreams Tonight features an dangerously amount high of funk bass, but it survives, moving quickly into Hot Chip territory, echoing that band's ability to make the even inanimate objects dance. Closing track Now Is The Season turns all the influences I've mentioned above up by a factor of about 100, building up to a frenzied blizzard of sampled vocals and yet another stupendous chorus. You're almost of breath by the time it ends. I think I can speak for everyone in Nice N Sleazy's at the e.p. launch gig on 30 November when I say the live version left me feeling like that.

DebutHooHoo is yet another marvellous example of just how fertile Glasgow's electronic scene is. One of my favourite bands at the moment are The Insomniac Project, a band I've covered many times on this blog, and BooHooHoo are following in their footsteps with this release, with a pop lead take on disco infused synthpop. These are exciting times with bands like these showing everyone how to make this music work and DebutHooHoo is a captivating release. I'd recommend you get this.

DebutHooHoo by BooHooHoo is available now on Last Night From Glasgow.

BooHooHoo Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boohoohooband/?fref=ts

TEEN CANTEEN - SAY IT ALL WITH A KISS

Teen Canteen's debut album Say It All With A Kiss is the third release on Glasgow's Last Night From Glasgow label and it's an album that simply doesn't fail to improve your day and brighten your mood every time you play it. The band marry exquisite harmonies with a mix of pure pop and post punk and, in doing so, they've produced one of this year's most exciting debuts.

The song above, How We Met (Cherry Pie), is as fine as example of Teen Canteen as you'll get. Irresistible melodies, a chorus that you can't resist and, simply put, a superb pop song. There are lots of clever touches and a lot of work has gone into creating the wall of sound like feel that surrounds the track and that's a wonderful thing. Sister is another track that pummels you into submission with its incredible catchiness and full on sound and Roses (My Love) follows suit, adding The Cairn String Quartet to give the song extra dynamics. Once you hear the closing "A-L-W-A-Y-S/It's always for you" refrain, you'll find it very difficult to stop yourself singing it for the rest of the day.

The band aren't all about full on powerful pop however. Friends starts off with a buzzing synthbass and sparse guitar, building up to a noisy, thrilling climax. The killer chorus us still there, but this time it's a song about breaking up rather than falling in love, darker but still wonderful. Candyfloss is another slower track, a show stopping end to the album that works perfectly.

The most refreshing thing about Teen Canteen is that there really isn't another band around that sound like this just now. There's a justified confidence to the songs, with a real feel of Phil Spector producing a post punk band throughout that you can only love. I haven't tired of this album since my copy arrived and I don't see myself ever tiring of it. Highly recommended in other words. Go and get it and put some Teen Canteen inspired sunshine into your life

Say It All With A Kiss is available now through Last Night From Glasgow and is available in all the usual digital places.

Teen Canteen Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TeenCanteen/

Last Night From Glasgow - http://www.lastnightfromglasgow.com/

LAST NIGHT FROM GLASGOW

Last Night From Glasgow is a brand new, not for profit, crowdfunded record label from Glasgow that is one of the most intriguing and, quite genuinely, uplifting projects I've heard of in a long, long time. The label is a not for profit label, run by volunteers and funded by members who, for an annual membership fee, receive a physical copy of each release, free access to label gigs and much more. Even though the project is only in its infancy, it has already caught many people's imaginations including my own and I was delighted, and I've got to say, proud to sign up as a member. The most important thing about Last Night From Glasgow is that it is a label that ensures the artists are properly paid for their work and properly promoted. There's nothing not to love about this project.

What of the releases then? Well, the first two are already out and they're as good a start to the label as you could hope. LNFG1 (you have to love the catalogue numbers - admit it) is a double A-side 7" by Mark W. Georgsson . Side A features the track The Ballad Of The Nearly Man, a sparse, quite wonderful track that's both haunting and uplifting. The b-side, and forgive the lack of proper Icelandic spelling here is Songur Hins Maedda Manns, an Icelandic language version of the A-side performed by Sigriour Thorlacius and Arnar Guojonsson that offers and even more delicate take on the track. Both versions are gorgeous and playing them on the 7" single that is LNFG1 makes the experience all the better. The single artwork is also notable too - see below

As well as the single, the label has also released a a strictly limited edition USB only album by Stephen Solo called Pii.  It's a combination of DIY electronica, poetry and video and it's exquisite. A unique release in a unique format and, surely, that's the essence of the Last Night From Glasgow label. I should say that the music on the album is superb - anything with teh DIY electronica label is going to find favour here and Pii is on heavy rotation at the moment.

The next scheduled release is LNFG2, I Don't Drink To Forget, a 7" single by Emme Woods and that's out on 29 July. I for one can't wait and, being lucky enough to have an idea of what's to come from the label, I can tell you that there is a lot more to get excited about.

If you haven't already, go and check out Last Night From Glasgow and I guarantee you'll be immediately convinced. If this is how the music industry is to be run, then I'm 100% behind it.

Last Night From Glasgow http://www.lastnightfromglasgow.com/

Last Night From Glasgow Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LastNightFromGlasgow/?fref=ts