It’s a little odd not to be doing a radio show when it’s Thursday night.

Still, the band that I started my show with last week are She’s Hit, who hail from Glasgow.

Including Scott Paterson of Sons & Daughters on bass, the band also features Div Wilson, Cammy Wilson, Mike Hanson and
Philip McLellan.

They’re running their own label, Re:peater Records, and this will form the debut release on October 18, a split single with Jacob Yates and the Pearly Gate Lock Pickers (led by the lead singer of the much-missed Uncle John and Whitelock).

It won’t surprise you that this band have been compared to the likes of Suicide, the Birthday Party and the Jesus and Mary Chain. On this evidence (and that of their myspace) they really ARE that good.

Turn it up. This is a five star single, up there with the best releases this year.

Mogwai -’Special Moves’ (Rock Action)

Given that Mogwai have a (well-deserved) reputation for awesome live shows, it’s perhaps a little odd that this is their first, a mere fiteen years into their career. No matter. When it’s as good as Special Moves, it really is worth it.

It really is worth getting the vinyl box set (I’m going to starve for the next month and it will be worth it) - or the deluxe download package in order to hear the whole thing. Like the best live albums, it is not just a simple replaying of the albums, but shows just how great the band are live, and is a great album in its’ own right. ‘Like Herod’ still make you jump at THAT point (it is possibly the audio equivalent of that scene in Carrie.

All five of their studio albums from the last thirteen years or so are represented, rather than just being based on one or two albums. This album is yet more proof - if confirmation were needed by now - that Mogwai really are one of the best acts of the last twenty years. A new album is due next year - bring it on…

Special Moves is out now on Rock Action

Mogwai -’2 Rights make 1 wrong.’ mp3

King Creosote, Meursault and Animal Magic Tricks -’Cold Seeds.’ (Song, By Toad Records)

This is clearly the year of painfully cool collaborations (see also: Burns Unit). Cold Seeds is Kenny Anderson (AKA King Creosote), Neil Pennycook (of Meursault, who also features on the forthcoming debut album from the Last Battle), Frances Donnelly (AKA Animal Magic Tricks), and cellist Pete Harvey who plays with both Meursault and The Leg.

This album was recorded over two weekends last year at Song, By Toad HQ. It was literally recorded live in the living room -and you can hear Floyd the cat on the first track (he’s a Maine coon, and absolutely gorgeous). This whole album is a lo-fi gem. You may have heard ‘Crank Resolutions’ on the most recent Meursault album (I certainly hope you have by now) and King Creosote’s ‘By 11 o’clock she’d left,’ one of my favourite songs of his. Both songs appear performed by the artists together, in radically different form. For my money, the highlight of the album is the King Creosote-led version of Donnelly’s song ‘the Perfume Of Mexican Birds.’

It is as lofi as anything, and that will probably put some people off. Their loss. This is a document of what sounds like two wonderful weekends and something you oughta hear if you have any interest in the current scottish music scene, and indeed, beyond.

****

Cold Seeds is released on Song By Toad Records (officially) on September 20.

Cold Seeds -’Leave Me To Lie Alone In the Ground.’ mp3

Cold Seeds -’The Perfume of Mexican Birds.’ mp3

A good day for 17 Seconds Records.

First of all, the Last Battle have made a Free Live EP available via their bandcamp called ‘A Wee Red tale.’ (17SEC22)

Featuring three live tracks recorded at the single launch for ‘Ruins’ last monht, it really sounds awesome.

Not only that, but X-Lion Tamer’s single ‘Hope’ is available to download from iTunes as of now (17SEC23). Oh, and Vic Galloway played it on Radio Scotland tonight as one of his ‘Future Scottish Anthems.’ Which was great!

Hope you’re well…I’m tired and really needing to sleeeepppp….zzzzz

Picture courtesy of Dylan. Many thanks for letting me use this!

Broken Records/Sparrow and the Workshop, Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh, August 28, 2010.

It’s been a while since I was at the Liquid Rooms. The venue has just opened after refurbishment following the fire in Christmas 2008, which badly burnt the restaurant upstairs and the ensuing water damage affected the Liquid Rooms. But it’s great to see one of Edinburgh’s best venues up and running once more, a place where I have been more times than I can count in the nine years since I moved to Edinburgh, seeing many great acts as support and headliners: Aberfeldy, Hundred Reasons, Cooper Temple Clause, The Rakes, British Sea Power, Franz Ferdinand, Sons & Daughters, Glasvegas…

…and it’s fitting that I should be here with my wife watching Broken Records. By my calculations, it’s the sixth time I’ve seen them, three years to the month since Mrs. 17 Seconds and I saw them supporting Emma Pollock at Cabaret Voltaire. Then they were unsigned, now they are a headline act, about to release their second album on the mighty 4AD.

First up, the support act are the wonderful Sparrow and the Workshop. The Glasgow-based three-piece issued a fine debut in Crystals Fall in April and I hope to see them live again very soon. Interviewing Belfast-born, Chicago-raised singer Jill O’Sullivan a few months ago, she talked very warmly of the Edinburgh music scene. She told me how she met drummer Nick whilst stayiong in London and feeling lonely in London. I’m sorry she had such a miserable-sounding time there for the sounds of it, but grateful that this three-piece have come together to produce such brilliant music. It’s clear that the band are hugely grateful to Broken Records for taking them out on tour the first time. Their country-spaghetti-western feel (and I mean that as a compliment) wins the crowd over, with songs like ‘Crystals’ and ‘Into The Wild.’

Broken Records’ lead singer Jamie Sutherland talks about tonight as being a ‘happy sad occasion.’ Sad, in the sense that Gill Dave ‘Gill’ Fothergill is leaving for ‘pastures new’ (or returning to the world of work, depending on which source you find on google!) and ‘cellist Arne Kolb is returning to Germany for ‘reasons of love.’ So it’s an emotion-packed show, which is utterly, utterly euphoric. The set is interspersed with tracks from the new album Let Me Come Home and the record of of last year, Until The Earth Begins To Part. Jill O’Sullivan adds her bewitching vocals to one track which is one of those moments.

And over a year since the release of their debut record, still it weaves its’ magic. Mrs. 17 Seconds woke up early to listen to it this morning. I sat down to play it before lunch again. It’s still so sweet and fresh. Jamie dedicates ‘Wolves’ to Graeme from the Kays Lavelle for coming to see them and not Phoenix. (No contest, certainly not in this house.) Arne’s ‘cello on ‘If Eilert Loevborg Wrote A Song It Would Sound Like This’ is described as being his finest hour with the band, and it most certainly is. Debut single ‘If The News Makes You Sad, Don’t Watch It’ and album opener ‘Nearly Home’ threaten to bring the roof off all over again.

They encore with a version of ‘Slow Parade’ which is more Buckley-esque than the album version (both Buckleys, since you ask). And we walk home, still on a high the next morning.

To download ‘A leaving Song’ from the forthcoming sign up for the mailing list here.

Broken Records -’Until the Earth Begins To Part.’ mp3

Sparrow and the Workshop -’The Gun.’ mp3

Miyagi - ‘Electrosaurus’ (Slow Train Records)

Edinburgh five piece Miyagi are now onto their third album. Whilst it is stating the obvious to report that they are another bunch of Scots with a deep love of the music of West Coast America of the sixties and seventies, do not fall into the trap of assuming that they are mere copyists.

Because Miyagi definitely aren’t copyists. they respect their influences and are building upon them. So whilst there’s very nice harmonies, they also take in the influence of classic sixties soul and psychedelia. Perhaps on the first play I thought tracks like ‘Little Pink Dress’ were familiar, but there is something here that keeps pulling you back to play the album again. It may take a few listens, but it’s an album that’s defintely were spending time with, and getting to know. Believe me, you’ll want to.

It’s a warm album, and God knows the weather in scotland is such that we need that, even (!) in August. It’s fun -and it doens’t tax you. Think I’ll go and investigate those earlier albums now…

****

Electrosaurus is out now on Slow Train records

Miyagi - ‘Alaska.’ mp3

Miyagi’s website/Miyagi’s myspace

The Last Battle will release their debut album Heart Of The Land, Soul Of The Sea on 17 Seconds Records on October 4. If you listened to my show on Fresh Air last night you will have heard a stunning live version of ‘Soul of the sea’ from their single launch at the Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh on July 1.

The album launch is September 18, and for now treat your ears to this:

The Last Battle -’Cutlass.’ mp3

Meanwhile, there is an interview with yours truly here! at The Scotsman’s blog.

Live on Fresh Air!

1. She’s Hit ‘Re: Peater.’
2. Album of the month Aberfeldy Somewhere to jump from. Aberfeldy ‘Claire’
3. Miniature Dinosaurs ‘Cold Shoulder.’
4. Meursault ‘Crank Resolutions.’
5. X-Lion Tamer ‘Hope.’
6. Not Squares ‘Release the bees.’
7. Funeral Club ‘Whiskey & Clyde.’
8. Last Battle ‘Soul of the Sea.’ (Live at the Wee Red Bar, July 1, 2010)
9. Gone but not forgotten: Orange Juice ‘Felicity.’
10. For a Minor Reflection ‘Dansi dans.’
11. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes ‘Home.’
12. Cover version of the week: Felix Kubin ‘Hello.’ (Originally performed by Lionel Richie).
13. Jesus H. Foxx ‘Trying to be good.’
14. Schnapps ‘Cross Dresser.’
15. Entrailicus ‘Urban Sprawl.’
16. Sparrow and the workshop ‘The Gun.’
17. The Cure ‘Inbetween days.’

…for my last Fresh Air radio show.

It’s been fun, and I’m hoping to make a return to the station come October when they broadcast again.

This week I will have live music from X-Lion Tamer, ‘gone but not forgotten’ is Orange Juice, and there’ll be another cover version of the week. Also a final track from the album of the month by Aberfeldy and my little brother’s going to put in an apperaance as well.

I’ve loved playing a whole host of new(ish) scottish bands and this week will be no exception, including the likes of Ming Ming and the Ching Chings, She’s Hit, and Midas Fall.

White Heath -’Election Day (Live for 17 Seconds).’ mp3

X-Lion Tamer -’Starsign (Vic Galloway session).’ mp3

I got a long email today from Domino Records, talking about one of their new releases.

The release in question is Coals To Newcastle, an excellent complete covering of Orange Juice’s career from 1979-1984. It’s out on November 7 in the UK, and consists of 6CDs and a DVD.

One man who has done an excellent post on it is my friend Jim over at the Vinyl Villain who has turned a press release into a labour of love (and whose brains Domino have been picking to put this together, properly).

So read what Jim has to say (you should read this blog every day anyway), and whet your appetite with a couple of OJ tracks. It’s been a crying shame that so much of their back catalogue has been unavailable for so long.

Orange Juice -’Blue Boy.’ mp3

Orange Juice -’Consolation Prize.’ mp3

Orange Juice -’Rip It up.’ mp3

Orange Juice will also be my ‘Gone but not forgotten’ band on my radio show on Fresh Air this Thursday. I won’t be playing one of these three tracks but a different one…