The alternatie Scotish band MODERN STUDIES have released "Light A Fire", a tune that is a contrast of a space-psych-shuffle with lush 70s style three part harmonies. Together with the subtly arresting strings (which were written as if for a grand orchestral ensemble but restrained to a trio), these became defining sounds of the new album "We Are There" released February 18, 2022.
Through the hazy daze of a smoky folk opus, MODERN STUDIES craft rich soundtracks, stuttering Super-8 sketches from a washed-out world of melancholy, hand-tinted and tantalising. Lullaby couplets blossom into gorgeous chamber pop melodies, the drama unfolding behind Emily Scott’s plaintive vocal; part Julie London, part Sandy Denny, a little bit Kate Bush, with a hushed sigh of Joni.
Sweeping strings carry them into unchartered terrain on this new release, flying high above their psych-folk roots, it’s an epic journey that’s exquisitely delivered, transcending categories, nodding to Brubeck, Low, Talk Talk, Jim O’Rourke and Pentangle, making music that is ready to cross over in these modern times with songs of substance.
On their new album "We Are There", an ambient muse moves through the shadows, analogue instruments creak and Laurel Canyon harmonies tingle in tape-echoed air; melody and magic conspire to create something way beyond the sum of its many parts, elevating Modern Studies from self-made innovators to poetic protagonists.
Today's tune "Light A Fire", taken from the new album "We Are There", enjoy!
"The Turning Of Our Bones" is the comback tune with the Scottish duo ARAB STRAP, their first new song in 15 years.
ARAB STRAP are a Scottish indie rock band whose core members are Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton. The band were signed to independent record label Chemikal Underground, split in 2006 and reformed in 2016. The band signed to Rock Action Records in 2020.
The Scottish duo, Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton, are “back from the grave and ready to rave”. And tell us that the new song is about “Inspired by the Famadihana ritual of the Malagasy people of Madagascar, in which they dance with the corpses of loved ones; it’s all about resurrection and shagging.”
"It's about hopelessness and darkness,” says Aidan Moffat. “But in a fun way.” The ARAB STRAP frontman is speaking about the band’s 7th studio album and their first since 2005’s "The Last Romance". The band's exciting return saw the much lauded "The Turning Of Our Bones" single achieve Record of the Week on Jo Whiley's BBC Radio 2 show and hit the B-list at BB6Music. The new album will appeal to longtime fans and pick up new ones who weren't ready for ARAB STRAP first time round!
“‘The Turning Of Our Bones’ is an incantation, a voodoo spell to raise the dead,” Moffat said of the new song in a statement.
ARAB STRAP last performed as part of the Iceland Airwaves festival in Reykjavík in November 2017, with Moffat telling a fan after the show that the performance was likely to have been their last ever gig.
Enjoy today's tune "The Turning Of Our Bones" taken from the new album "As Days Get Dark", released 5 March 2021 via the label Rock Action.
"As The Love Continues" is the tenth studio album by Scottish post-rock band MOGWAI, released on 19 February 2021 on Rock Action Records in the UK and Europe, and on Temporary Residence Limited in the US.
The album contains eleven tracks, which consists of mostly instrumental music. Only one track, "Ritchie Sacramento" (see and hear it below) contains clean vocals, sung by Braithwaite and referencing lost friends including David Berman of SILVER JEWS and Scott Hutchison of FRIGHTENED RABBIT. In a statement, Braithwaite said of the song: “‘Ritchie Sacramento”s title came from a misunderstanding a friend of ours had about how to say Ryuchi Sakamoto. The lyrics were inspired by a story Bob Nastanovich shared about his friend and bandmate David Berman who proclaimed ‘Rise Crystal Spear’ as he threw a shovel at a sports car. The song is dedicated to all the musician friends we’ve lost over the years.”
MOGWAI, formed in 1995 in Glasgow. The band consists of Stuart Braithwaite (guitar, vocals), Barry Burns (guitar, piano, synthesizer, vocals), Dominic Aitchison (bass guitar), and Martin Bulloch (drums).
Today's tune "Ritchie Sacramento" arrives with a music video directed by Sam Wiehl, which he made with the Unreal Games Engine. Enjoy!
"Super Trouper" is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA, and the title track from their 1980 studio album of the same name, written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. The song – with lead vocals by Anni-Frid Lyngstad – had the working title "Blinka Lilla Stjärna" (i.e. Twinkle Little Star, in Swedish), and was the last track to be written and recorded for the album (ultimately replacing the track "Put On Your White Sombrero"). "Super Trouper" was released in November 1980 as the album's third single.
The song's name refers to the Super Trouper, a make of followspot used in large venues.
Today's version is made by the Scottish indie pop band CAMERA OBBSCURA, formed in Glasgow, 1996 and have released five albums to date – the most recent of which, Desire Lines, was released in 2013. The current members of the band are vocalist Tracyanne Campbell, guitarist Kenny McKeeve, bassist Gavin Dunbar, and drummer Lee Thomson. The band undertook an extended hiatus in 2015, following the death of long-serving keyboardist Carey Lander. The surviving members later reconvened in 2018.
The band's bright take on indie pop has been frequently described as "twee pop," and garnered comparisons to fellow Scottish band BELLE & SEBASTIAN. The band have also been praised for their "honest, wide, and adult approach to heartbreak, romantic liaisons, and escapism."
"Super Trouper" by CAMERA OBBSCURA was releeased as a B-side on thier single "Tears For Affairs", released April 16, 2007, the video clip is from the "Sessie op Motel Mozaique", 4/14/07, enjoy!
The Scottish Caledonian Metal SAOR have released a brand new record called “Forgotten Paths” on February 15 via Avantgarde Music.
The band is inspired by heritage, nature/landscapes, sorrow and traditional poetry. Since its formation in 2013, SAOR has continually evolved while remaining boldly faithful to its Scottish heritage. Forged by the vision of the band’s founder Andy Marshall, SAOR (meaning “Free” in Scottish Gaelic) has a uniquely expressive approach that dives deep into lyrical themes based on literature, landscapes, history, sorrow, nature, and the majestic mountains of his homeland.
Expertly transitioning between atmospheric Black Metal, Celtic Folk, and traditional Scottish sounds – the wildly exploratory music of SAOR knows no limitations and seeks out every opportunity to expand on its potential.
For the past two years, SAOR has been writing and recording an all-new set of powerful songs that
take the insightful mix of stunning melody and musical intensity in their sound boldly into the next
chapter of their career on the highly-anticipated release of the latest record "Forgotten Paths".
Enlisting the talent of Neige from ALCEST to contribute to the new album, along with another ensemble
of talented session musicians, "Forgotten Paths" promises to be a genuine experience in music unlike
any other, designed to push/pull emotions through thought-provoking and poetic lyricism and sounds
that courageously explore the most innocent expressions to the full storm and fury of Saor’s unbridled
passion.
Their creation of Caledonian Metal has clearly caught fire with listeners and ignited what was once
only a spark of support into a full-blown blaze of burning desire and an authentic craving for the
unmatched skill, uniqueness, and imagination in SAORs verifiably epic sound.
Album Cover is made by Atterigner and Layout Art by Anaïs Chareyre.
Today's tune "Bròn", taken from "Forgotten Paths", released 15 Feb on Avantgarde Music, enjoy the brilliant video!
"Sgùrr" is the 6th album release by THY CATAFALQUE. Was released October 16, 2015.
For those new to THY CATAFALQUE, it is the solo endeavour of Hungarian multi-instrumentalist Tamás Kátai, who moved to Scotland several years ago. He plays a version of black electronic folkish avant-garde metal world music.
"Sgùrr" (the title of which is Scottish Gaelic for “The Top of a Mountain”).
"Sgùrr" is an violent poetic and atmospheric dark journey true the Scottish Highlands all the way to the Hungarian Lowlands, the songs are about water, mountains, their interrelationship, and the symbols attached to them. The album is very playful with a joyful ambient harmony and gritty, pummelling black metal and monumental doom-inspired riffs.
The album starts and ends “Zúgó” (Pt.1 and Pt.2) with a narrates words by Viktória Varga, in Hungarian about the passage of rapids, the sounds of water carving through mountains over eons of time. "Alföldi Kozmosz" is an electronic folkish tune, beautiful melody with almost a dancing beat. "Oldódó Formák a Halál Titokzatos Birodalmában" is a more than 15 minutes, were hard-driving drum rhythms coupled with hard and lightly aggressive guitars with a blackness feeling. "A Hajnal Kék Kapuja" is an instrumental piece, here he shows the beauty of his travels. "Élo Lény" is a more intense piece, heavy and hard with folkish approach. "Jura" is black-ended all the way, fast and heavy, dark and ugly. "Sgùrr Eilde Mòr" continues where "Jura" ends, but with a much bigger spectrum and length. "Keringo" is the last proper tune, a half pace until the drums and guitar enters half the way to give the tune some contrast until is almost fades out in a beautiful violin solo.
Vinyl of "Sgùrr"
Sum: "Sgùrr" is something totally different, if you do not listen with blinders so you should definitely try this.
Today's tune "Oldódó Formák a Halál Titokzatos Birodalmában" is taken from "Sgùrr", enjoy!
Monday, new week, time to introduce "Record Of The Week"
"Ancient Astronauts" with HOLY MOUNTAIN is the follow up album to the first anthropomorphous debut album "Earth Measures".
HOLY MOUNTAIN are a psychedelic rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, comprising Andy McGlone (guitar and vocals), Pete Flett (drums) and Allan Stewart (Idlewild/DeSalvo). The band are currently signed to Chemikal Underground Records.
This Scottish three-piece emerged on the scene in 2012 with a penchant for old-school heavy metal and a desire to tear up any stage they were on with their brand of hard-hitting riffs and explosive cosmic atmospherics, making them a premier group in the stoner/desert rock genre.
The band entered Chem 19 recording studio in April 2013 and completed recording of their second album "Ancient Astronauts" with producer Paul Savage. The album also features Graeme Smillie (Emma Pollock, Unwinding Hours) on organ and keys. The album was mixed by Savage in December. The band released a 7" single, "Luftwizard" from the album, with a cover of BLACK SABBATHs "War Pigs" as the B-Side.
The album was released in the UK on 7 April 2014.
"Ancient Astronauts" they continues the path that they made on "Earth Measures" but with more spaced out heaviness and summoning vocals, a real badass album in other words.
The album contains some real dark filthy titanic riffs and slamming drumming that suits perfect for the Vinyl.
Tunes like the opener "LV-42666", "Gift Giver" and "Tokyo" are high speed jamming and unpredictable tempo-shifting with hard and filthy riffs with a touch of both Blues and classic Garage Rock where tunes like "Star Kings" and "100 Years A Day" are more Garage Rockers with Stoner base. "Luftwizard" is a far out Blues psychedelic rocker with some LED ZEPPELIN beats that i just love. The Bass player are in focus on the title track "Ancient Astronauts" where his shattering playing is clear, monoton and classic. The guitar licks are cleaver and well used over the hole thread. The album ends with "Hollow Hill" a real classic rock smoker with it's earthshaking retro rock.
Sum:
"Ancient Astronauts" is a real rock smoker !
Today's tune "100 Years A Day" is taken from their latest album "Ancient Astronauts". The Video is made by Michael Sherrington of Forest of Black.
UK Punk legends THE EXPLOITED did visit Sweden for the first time, yesterday they was the first head-liner at PSK (Pretty Shitty Kjell)
Since the debut album "Punks Not Dead" in 1981, THE EXPLOITED have shown that they mean what the say. Not even an heartattack last year could hold Wattie and the boys away from the scene.
Matt Justice (Matt McGuire) - guitar, Irish Rob - bass, Wattie Buchan - Vocals & Wullie Buchan - drums
THE EXPLOITED is a Scottish punk rock band from the second wave of UK punk, formed in 1978. Originally a street punk band, THE EXPLOITED became a faster hardcore punk band with a heavy influence. Formed in Edinburgh by Stevie Ross and Terry Buchan, who were later joined by ex-soldier Walter ("Wattie") Buchan (Terry's brother), they signed to Secret Records in March 1981 and released their debut EP Army Life. The album Punks Not Dead followed in the same year. Despite many lineup changes, "Wattie" Buchan has remained as the leader, and the band continued into the 2000s and developed a worldwide following. In 2012 the band started writing material for a new album.
Despite being an iconic British hardcore punk band, THE EXPLOITED has gone through different musical styles throughout its career, starting with an Oi!-influenced street punk style on their first EP and their debut album Punk's Not Dead (1981). The band then adopted the hardcore punk style (containing riffs of thrash metal) that would become its hallmark music style during the 1980s (highlighted in the albums Troops of Tomorrow (1982), Let's Start A War ... (1983) and Horror Epics (1984)). Around the end of the 1980s, the band moved to a crossover thrash sound, starting with the LP Death Before Dishonour (1987) and continuing with the albums The Massacre (1990), Beat the Bastards (1996) and Fuck the System (2003). The band plans to release a new album in summer 2015.
Todays tune "Was It Me" is taken from the album "Fuck the System", released in 2003 by Dream Catcher Records. Ironically, this album was available in the US in a "clean version" with its anti-authoritarian title censored to "F*** the System" and edits made to the tracks themselves. The production value of this CD is much higher than their earlier work.
Listen to "The Exploited - Was It Me" on Spotify