Once in a while some new music comes along that transports you back to when you first heard a new release by a band that later becomes a true classic.
Such was the occurrence on first listening to the upcoming EP release by burgeoning Scottish Alt-Popsters Acrylic.
Listening to their All I AM EP transported me back to first listens to the likes of The Blue Nile and their near incomparable release Stay. The unique vocalisings of Edwyn Collins on Rip It Up with Orange Juice or the perfect pop-song and lush vocal that is First Picture Of You by Peter Coyle and The Lotus Eaters.
Lyrically, a current of anxiety runs through the Acrylic EP with opening track, Where I Lie, exploring fragile connections, the see-saw between feelings of uncertainty in relationships, and moments of clarity and assurance.
It invites us in tentatively before growing into a tender, yet potent, howl. In Here / Tonight is perhaps the most straightforward rock track on the album, but it is not without its novel features.
The sweet percussion is irregular and off-kilter at times, dragging us back from the apparently simpler moments and from a false sense of security.
The track is juxtaposed with the sensitive and sweet Overrun which takes full advantage of the math-rock guitar tendencies purveyed by Acrylic; the primary riff draws in the listener with its mesmerising qualities.
The eponymous final track closes the EP. A 7-minute epic that traces through all the ideas of the previous three tracks, tying them into a finale of solemn; yet epic, proportions. Seek it out on Scottish Fiction Records.
It's no surprise that Brian will be featuring tracks from the Acrylic EP on the Radio KC Indie Show and that kicks off April 8th with a spin of In Here / Tonight, so remember to tune in from 5-7pm.
Artbreak write and record their music, create their videos and draw up their artwork from their South London base in Brixton.
All their music is available on Spotify and free to download on Soundcloud.
The band, who don't believe in LPs or EPs, release a single every few weeks with five available so far and the latest being Polaroids In Paris.
Artbreak formed the day after Brexit was announced and view 2016 is a game of two halves - "when the chips are down socially then the stakes have to be raised artistically" - says vocalist Cole Salewicz. In line with his vision, the band's music is varied, concrete and always original.
Polaroids in Paris captures a lost weekend en Francais, a love story and an ode to jangly indie anthems that have shaped so many relationships and memories. Where better to capture the novelty of a new romance?
They excel at writing radio-friendly songs and in that vein Polaroids in Paris is an eminently listenable Alt Pop song in an Orange Juice meets Franz Ferdinand-esque fashion. Needless to say Ralph is giving it a spin soon on the Radio KC Indie Show.
Second of the Glasgow bands with new albums out featured by Ralph this week is Mildred's Dairy and their quirkily named offering The Helsinki Bus Station Theory. In keeping with the retro feel of the album's packaging (niftily designed by Alf Button) slightly 80's vibed tunes and faux record effect, it would be all the more impressive served up as a vinyl platter.
Mildred's Dairy have the feel of a grown-up Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and Deacon Blue throughout this release with well-crafted, well-written tracks immaculately played and produced. Then there's the relatively tongue-in-cheek nature of the sleeve notes and the band's ambiguously anonymous bio. Possibly self-explanatory when you think more about the album's title which is based on The Helsinki Bus Station Theory.
First outlined in a 2004 graduation speech by Finnish-American photographer Arno Mikkinen, the theory claims that the secret to a creatively fulfilling career lies in understanding the operations of Helsinki's main bus station. With that in mind this offering may be a Mildred's Dairy Last Train To Glasgow Central.
This album is infectious to listen to, with some extremely radio friendly tracks. Ralph's already played Evergreen on his Radio KC Indie Show and they've featured on Tom Robinson's Fresh On The Net program recently. They will also lend themselves very well to live performances.
It's on the cards that the band will be gigging with increasing frequency throughout 2016 and with tracks like Fools Rush In they'll quickly get the crowds on-side and grooving along.
