Beerjacket

Cord is the first track to be taken from Beerjacket's most ambitious musical project to date – an album and corresponding book Silver Cords. 

Accompanying the 12 songs on the album are a collection of 12 short
stories; intertwined with the music, intended for consumption alongside it. Of the project Peter Kelly says, 

“At some point in the writing of Silver Cords, I decided the record would live in a book and that each song would be
accompanied by a short story inspired 
by its lyrics.”









The tenderness of the music ebbs and flows, conveyed perfectly with lead single Cord. Refreshing in its
simplistic truth, the track is an elucidation of why Beerjacket has become the cult figure, despite his modesty,within Scottish music that he is.

The accompanying short story, Shoots of Life, focuses on that one connection
in your life that holds everything together. The cord that connects everything.

“I’ve always believed that as people, the threads that tie us together don't just connect us to each other, they
connect us to ourselves and define the ‘selves’ that we claim as ours. 




The decisions we make are seldom made alone and we are seldom alone, even on our own.” – Excerpt from Shoots of Life.

The combination of sound and print is something unique to Silver Cords. Having released five albums in the traditional manner, PeterKelly was keen to release something special. 

Instead he's produced something exceptional in my opinion,something constant that won't be cast adrift on a shelf in favour of a digital imprint. 





This pairing creates an ethereal tone which binds the stories with a dreamlike, magic realism quality, and certain recurring themes of isolation, now-ness,  association, loss and fear. Peter Kelly started writing the album in 2015 and its completion has taken 3 years, but it's well worth the wait, although the only thing missing for me is vinyl but that doesn't deter an all star 5 star award.. 

“Story by story the songs’  siblings entered the room. My imagination superimposing details on the real-life buildings that inspired settings and, the stories play out almost interminably now on three to five minute loops.”  Cord will be released digitally on 7th September 2018 via indie Scottish Fiction records.








The track is imbued with poignant Americana-esque Bonnie Prince Billie stylee vocal (no higher compliment can I pay) as Beerjacket draws the listener in with his subtle engaging tones.

Therefor Cord is as true a musical gem as I've drooled over after listening to recently and his back-catalogue is a must do to search for you and get the headphones on like I did. You will not be disappointed. Ican't wait to give it a spin soon on Brian's Radio KC Sunday Indie Show!

Just click the red link! How many hints do you need? Go!!!

Spring Break

Spring Break are a three-piece hip hop collective who invite us to join them on their journey of ambitious diversity whilst they explore a broad palette of influences that they've marinaded in a melting pot of multiple genres. The result is one of the best albums I've had on repeat so far this year.

They cleverly fuse those influences into the delicious Tropicaledonia album in a Ralph's Life favourites Stanley Odd stylee who they've previously toured with and it will provide the soundtrack of my summer.

Photography by Project 246

A nascent Spring Break evolved at Belladrum 2014 where the band were organically assembled to play on the Burke and Hair stage. A winter in Thelonious Rumpus' studio birthed the spring time release of 2015's Departure Lounge EP. 

A hectic summer of festival appearances, with national press coverage, radio and tv appearances and an advert for Bowers and Wilkins speakers. 

A busy year was jubilantly capped off with a SAMA award for Best Hip Hop act.

Tropicaledonia artwork buy Calum Carr www.facebook.com/CalumbaInk 

For the last year Spring Break have been working on their debut album Tropicaledonia; a fusion of many styles, drawing influence from a rich palette of folk, funk, blues and jazz whilst all the while steeped in the cut and paste traditions of hip hop. 

Spring Break hope the musical diversity of the record will appeal to a wide range of tastes as it draws from the varied backgrounds of all the band members and collaborators. 

Lyrically it's a highland reportage on the human condition; detailing daily stresses, mental health, drinking culture and addiction, small town mentality, lampooning back stabbers and the foibles of the industry and pointing a clown gloved finger at toxic masculinity.

Photography Project 246

Live dates for 2018 include; 13th April playing with Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 at The Loft in Forres, 14th April Album Launch Party in Inverness. 

1st June in Glasgow playing with the Twistettes in Machullis, 16th June at Wildwoodz festival, July 21st at Audiosoup festival, 3rd August at Belladrum festival and August 31st at Lindisfarne Festival and November 9th at The Ironworks in Inverness with Urban Voodoo Machine. 

More dates to be added as they come in.

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.

Acrylic

Mar 29th 2018 @ Sneaky Pete's

    Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Get Tickets

Acrylic

Mar 30th 2018 @ King Tuts

    Glasgow, United Kingdom

Get Tickets

Wojtek The Bear - Video Of The Week

Photo by Kris Boyle

Brian's favourite video this week is Made Out Of Maps by Wojtek The Bear.

Made Out Of Maps is the first single from the eagerly awaited debut album by Wojtek The Bear, A Talent For Being Unreasonable which is due for digital and vinyl release on Scottish Fiction records on May 25th.

Wojtek The Bear tucked themselves away to work with Chris McCrory to record A Talent For Being Unreasonable at Shady Lane Studios late 2017.

Made Out Of Maps is the first glimpse at an album full of slacker-pop and American Football tinged indie sounds. The track floats in with a bright, cheery disposition building into a full blown catchy pop song. 

This plays against the lyrical nature of the track which sees Tam Killean vocalising about the repetition and isolation of being in a dysfunctional relationship where you’re both saying to each other “this’ll get better” when you both know it won’t .

Brian is playing Made Out Of Maps on the Radio KC Indie Show of April 1st - tune in from 5 - 7pm.

Video filmed, edited and directed by Kris Boyle - www.krisboyle.co.uk

Brownbear

What is Home? is the debut album from Brownbear. Combining strong melodies and indie riffs that have come to be expected from the band with an added lyrical maturity, the album covers love, loss and life whilst questioning what exactly home is. The album is preceded by an addictive and accomplished single release by the band in the shape of Truth Without Consequence which is accompanied by an equally accomplished and stylish video.

Brownbear are a four-piece indie-rock outfit led by singer/songwriter Matt Hickman.

The group released their debut single Dead or Alive in May 2014 which subsequently gained them national radio exposure and high profile gigs which included supporting The Libertines at their comeback show at the iconic Barrowland’s Balllroom in Glasgow.

Brownbear then went on to join The Libertines again at their BST Summertime show at Hyde Park before playing at a number of festivals including T in The Park & Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival. An acoustic version of Dead or Alive recorded in the BBC Treehouse became the most viewed clip online for T in the Park 2014 ahead of the likes of Arctic Monkeys & Biffy Clyro. 

The bands first London headline show was a sell out and received a positive 7/10 review from the NME. Brownbear then embarked on a European tour before starting work on their debut album. Early in 2016 they supported The View on the Scottish dates of their UK tour before returning to the studio to finish recording the album, produced by Joe McAlinden. 



With What Is Home? now complete and set to be released Brownbear are gearing up for getting back out playing live this year starting with the album launch show at Stereo in Glasgow on Friday 20th April and that's one not to be missed!

April 20th – Stereo, Glasgow (Album Show) 
May 3rd – Clarks, Dundee 
May 4th – Mr C’s, Thurso 
May 5th – Bakers, Kilmarnock 
May 11th – The Drouthy Cobbler, Elgin 
May 12th – Gig in the Goil Festival 
May 13th – Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh 
May 26th – Ayr Town Hall w/ Tom Clarke 
June 23rd – Upside Doon Festival, Ayrshire 
June 30th – Kelburn Garden Party 
July 27th – Kendall Calling

Van Tastik

Van Tastik is an impassioned one-man-blues-band mixing American Blues and Folk with hypnotic rhythms; far-out instruments and raw vocals in a Nick Cave stylee.

Whether Van Tastik is delivering a visceral A Capella number, a heavy garage-rock, blues or a sweet, fluttering Appalachian and Bluegrass melody, he will capture and hold the attention of his audiences with his unique musical stylings.

The Van Tastic voice and looks will take you back and pull you south to the Delta where the blues began, but with his own modern twist on the old-fashioned.

After a hugely successful run of festival appearances at Kelburn Garden Party, Eden Festival, ButeFest BlueGrassmarket, Sofar Sounds Edinburgh and a live performance on the Janice Forsyth show for the BBC at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he won over fans throughout 2017.

He has released an excellent two-track single, Drag Me To Hell which Brian is playing on the Radio KC Indie Show on March 11th. Look out for Van Tastik live in the UK, Germany, France and Holland following a short tour of New Zealand plus the release of his first album later this year.

May 17th      Van Tastik    Thurs 19:30

Edinburgh Blues Club

Errant Boy

We Like You is the first Errant Boy single of 2018 and a preview of their forthcoming second album, due later this year. Boasting their signature melodic guitar manoeuvres and lyrical unease, it’s a worthy follow up to last autumn’s Means track which appeared on several best of 2017 lists.

Errant Boy has a sound that's pretty unique but if you were to twist my arm for a comparison they're a cross between Jonathan Richman and a perkier version of St Helens legendary band The Bordellos who are on a quest to annoy as much of the mainstream music industry as possible. 

This is Errant Boy at their off-beat best. The track is as like-able as it is addictive. Not so much lo-fi Doom Pop; more jangly-fi (yes I just made that up especially) Quirk Pop, and is the most fun I've had listening to music with my clothes on so far in 2018.

Brian will be playing the track on the Radio KC Indie Show this Sunday so tune in on rkc.noip.me Internet Radio 5-7pm.

Dean Owens - Video Of The Week

Brian's favourite video this week is Southern Wind by Dean Owens.

Hailed as "Scotland's most engaging and haunting singer-songwriter" by Irvine Welsh no less, Dean Owens has just released a gritty new video to accompany his latest single Southern Wind from the album of the same name; which is due for release on the 16th of February.

The album was recorded at Mr Lemons Studio in Nashville by Neilson Hubbard and will be available via At The Helm Records.

Now I'm not one for making comparisons; however, Dean Owens is Scotland's answer to Bonnie Prince Billy and the album should be a must have for any serious music listeners collection.

Available NOW as a download single via...

iTunes itunes.apple.com

Google play.google.com

Deezer deezer.com

Filmed and directed by Ruth Barrie and Dylan Matthew of Waltzer films waltzerfilms.com

Song by Dean Owens/Will Kimbrough

© Dean Owens 2018 deanowens.com

Wozniak - Video Of The Week

Brian's favourite video this week is Ghosting by Edinburgh band Wozniak which is taken from their critically acclaimed Colour Reels album released in April last year.

Wozniak purvey atmospheric shoe-gaze of the highest quality and that's evident in this latest offering from the album. Go seek it out.

The track also features on Hemispheres: Volume 2 which is a compilation album of current post-rock from around the world which was released last week on A Thousand Arms, an independent record label.

The Decrees

It's always nice to be able to feature a band from my paternal home in The Kingdom Of Fife; even if they do come from Dunfermline. On this occasion it's an introduction to a young band of scalawags called The Decrees.

The Decrees have announced they will release their new single Sons of Rage, comprised of two tracks, the other one being West Sierra The band are no-holds barred Rock 'n' Rollers possessing high-octane energy from the old school Fife punk realm; reminiscent of The Skids, The Rezillos or The Valves; all of whom are enjoying a renaissance.

Sons of Rage was recorded by Michael Brennan of The Substation (Mogwai, Snow Patrol, Super Furry Animals, Loop, Primal Scream) and mastered by Pete Maher (U2, The Pixies, Jack White, The Rolling Stones, Lana Del Rey) and Ralph is giving it a spin on the Radio KC Indie Show a week this Sunday (12.11.17).

The Decrees formed in early 2016and the line-up comprises; vocalist Lewis Akers, bassist Caitlin Petrie, guitarist Callum Bell and drummer Kieran Bell. 

In April of this year, The Decrees released their debut four-track EP Screams From Suburbia, offering a musical account of the everyday experiences of the monotony of modernity. This release blends full-throttle rock music with catchy choruses and beats.

Sons of Rage was one of the first songs the band wrote after forming, retaining their trademark sound while weaving in an infectious Celtic rock melody. This beckons to the forgotten past, to the band's Scottish roots, affectionately nestled in the band's collective psyche. This follows in the same vein of such Celtic-folk tunes as The Gael, steadily imparting strong and re-occurring themes and melodies, and coupled with the strong, driving and near-primal beats throughout. 

It's a significant release for The Decrees as it shows a more emotive side of their music, transmitting a massive dose of positive energy while also resonating with deeper musical inspirations. 

Callum said - "Lyrically and musically, this song is a serenade to that something better found over the horizon, way past those neon lights. It's about directing all your energies into chasing something you desire. Something that you are waiting for and hoping it won't pass you by."  

"It is about those intrepid few in the past who achieved the impossible." 

The band's influences range from The Doors, Hawkwind and The Sex Pistols to The Who, AC/DC and Issues.  

Guitarist Callum Bell's love for Stuart Adamson of Big Country and The Skids (he's channeling a bit of Stuarts unique guitar work on Sons Of Rage) as well as Gaelic-folk music are felt particularly in West Sierra. 

The Sons of Rage single was released on October 27 and made available on all the regular online stores and streaming sites, as well as being available via their Bandcamp.