…quite cool that our very own Last Battle got to play the last instore at the Cockburn St store!
here they are playing ‘Whisky!!’
At one point on some of the photos I have seen, not only can you see all six members of the band – BUT you can also see very clearly the two 7″ singles that we have put out as a label for Aberfeldy and Dirty Cuts…
Owner Kevin Buckle explains what’s happening…
Some bands spend the first year of their existence barely making it out of the rehearsal room.
The Last Battle are not just any band. Monday will see the release of their long-awaited debut album Heart Of The land, Soul Of The Sea. The significance of October 4 is that it marks a year to the day since they played their debut gig at The Pond, in Leith.
Since then, they’ve played with an impressive list of artists, that many bands trying to break through here in Scotland would give their eye teeth to play on a bill with just one or two. Names that include – but are no means exclusive to – Withered Hand, Burnt Island, eagleowl, Found, Meursault, Unwinding Hours, Yahweh, Kid Canaveral, Endor, Chris Bradley, Dirty Cuts and Esperi. And they’re due to add the Scottish Enlightenment to that list very soon, too.
I first heard them courtesy of Matthew Young of Song, By Toad who featured them on his radio show on Fresh Air (go here to download the session and watch the videos. Within a brief period after this, Dan Willson of Withered Hand passed them my email and Scott Longmuir, the band’s singer, got in touch to ask if there might be a place at May’s Tigerfest for them.
There most definitely was. And seeing as no-one was scheduled to put out the band’s debut album, I asked if I might do so. They said yes.
So…they’ve recorded sessions for Celtic Music Radio and Leith FM twice and for my show during the summer on Fresh Air.
Their debut single ‘Ruins’ came out on July 5, and was picked by Vic Galloway as one of his ‘Future Scottish Anthems.’ The single launch was recorded and the free, three-track EP can be got from here:
The Last Battle -‘A Wee Red Tale’
And now, today, the album has turned up in physical format. We had the album launch on September 18, and it was fab, and it features contributions from both Neil Pennycook of Meursault and Bart Owl of eagleowl.
We’ve had some great reviews in so far…Is this music? awarded it five stars, [sic], magazine commented that the band ‘deserve the fruits of victory’, while Lloyd over at Peenko described it as one of his favourite albums of 2010, Last Year’s Girl commented that she was finding it hard to reveiw to the album because she kept going back to listen to tracks again, and this very day the Tidal Wave of Indifference have mad it their album of the week. Hopefully there’ll be more to add to very, very soon.
Like Matthew over at Song, by Toad who has just published this
You’ll be able to buy it from Monday on download services, and via the band’s website and ours. If you live in Edinburgh, you can now buy it from Avalanche Records on Cockburn St.
I don’t review the records I put out, but I am so very, very proud to have been involved in this release. Thanks to everyone who’s come along to the gigs, bought the music or blogged about them.
The Last Battle -‘Cutlass.’ mp3 taken from the album
The Last Battle -‘Black Waterfall.’ mp3 exclusive track
STOP PRESS: the band will be doing an instore at Avalanche Records, Edinburgh, on Monday October 4 at 5:30 pm
Well, it’s a busy few weeks ahead of us, and I’ve been interviewed about 17 Seconds Records again. This too will pass, but thank you Peenko!
I’ve mentioned it before but tomorrow night, The Last Battle have the album launch for their debut album Heart Of The Land, Soul Of The Sea. Support comes from Glasgow’s magnificent Burnt Island and Edinburgh’s Matt Norris & The Moon.
And I will be DJing. Tickets are £5 advance, £6 on the door.
Some great reviews coming in already here, here, here and here. The album will be released on October 4.
Sunday will see 17 Seconds Records at Independents’ day at the Barron Theatre in St. Andrew’s, Fife. Chris Bradley and The Last Battle join a bill that also includes Found, Kid Canaveral, Panda Su, Jo Mango, Iona Marshall and Oates Field. We’ll be selling 17 Seconds Records’ er, records, and CDs as well. It’s more than just a little satisfying to see our logo next to that of Chemikal Underground on the posters.
Next week The Last Battle will play the Sufjan Steves’ tribute night at Stereo, with other acts including Endor and Julia and the Doogans…
Meanwhile, on September 24 at the Freshers’ event at Edinburgh’s College of Art, X-Lion Tamer will be playing, with My Tiny Robots and The Machine Room.
Keep the music live folks (as the musician union used to say)!
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
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.
I’ve hinted at it before, but next week I will start four weeks of having my own radio show on Edinburgh’s local student radio statio, Fresh Air.
I was very flattered to be approached by them, to do something during the festival, so I’m going to do the best I possibly can. I will be going out on the airwaves (or whatever you call them when it’s an internet radio station) on Thursday August 5, 12, 19 and 26 between 7 and 8:30 pm (UK time; if you’re wanting to listen to this elsewhere, you’ll need to work out the time difference).
It goes without saying that I will be supporting local acts, and I’ve already worked out what the first track I want to play is (and no, it’s not an act on 17 Seconds Records, past or present!) I’m trying to finalise some live music and hopefully some more guests. I am also hoping to feature some unsigned acts, so if you read this and would like me to consider playing your music, please get in touch via the email on the right. Amongst features I am planning are ‘gone but not forgotten’ (you guessed it -a band or act no longer with us), album of the month (already decided) and quite possibly a cover version related one as well.
And if I can get it sorted, I’ll be updating the blog as I go!
For today, a fine band who are gone, but most definitely not forgotten around here:
Chapterhouse -‘Pearl.’ mp3
The greatest radio DJ ever. FACT.
X-Lion Tamer (AKA Tony Taylor) is not a man to let the grass grow between his feet. Since recording a session for Radio 1 in February, he’s supported Zoey Van Goey and played alongside 17 Seconds Records labelmates like Chris Bradley and The Wildhouse, to say nothing of working on amazing new tracks.
The first fruits of these will be released as a download single on August 30 ‘Hope’ coupled with ‘The Little Drum Machine Boy.’ If the latter title sounds familiar, that’s because an earlier version appeared on the Avalanche Records Christmas compilation at the end of last year. And no, it wasn’t anything to do with the title of the song Beck recorded years ago, and it still isn’t now.
There will be more to come from X-Lion Tamer before the end of the year. In the meantime, catch him supporting Deserters Deserve Death on Saturday July 31 at Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh.
If you still haven’t heard the Radio 1 session check it out here, courtesy of Peenko.
The first two singles ‘Neon Hearts’ and ‘I Said Stop’ are still available on download from iTunes, eMusic etc.. the physical CD has now pretty well sold out.
You can stream the two new tracks here at 17 Seconds Records’ myspace page.
‘C’mon! You must play with me before playing your records!’
So…17 Seconds (the blog) is four years old.
It’s been a wonderful journey so far, that’s seen me getting sent more music to review than I would have thought possible, getting on the guest list for lots of gigs, being written about, meeting lots of fantastic people, getting to DJ again…not to mention setting up a record label and interviewing people I have idolised, to being asked to present my own show on the radio.
Sure it’s had its’ downsides, but it’s been great, overall, so far. According to Matthew at Song, By Toad it’s the longest-running mp3 blog in Scotland so far. It’s been a helluva a journey at the same time -when I started the blog, Mrs. 17 Seconds had only just moved in (never mind getting married), we didn’t have the cats and the thought of radio shows, interviewing singers or promoting gigs was just fantasy. I didn’t have much of a clue how to go about it, but on a wing and a prayer I’ve got this far.
So thanks to everyone who’s supported me, particularly my parents, brother and sister in law, fellow bloggers, Laurent and Scott for helping me do the label and anyone whose encouraged me. Readers who left comments, bands who made me feel that coverage from me mattered. Especially when my world was falling down around my ears. Most of all to my lovely wife Mrs. 17 Seconds, with whom I celebrated three years of marriage yesterday.
There’s so many songs I could post right now- but if there’s just going to be one, it has to be this, the song that named my mission into the world of music on my terms:
The Cure -‘Seventen Seconds.’ mp3
xx
We are extremely excited that the Last Battle, who released their debut single ‘Ruins’ this week on 17 Seconds Records (17SEC19) will be supporting Withered Hand at the Electric Circus in Edinburgh on August 17.
Withered Hand’s debut album Good News was one of THE releases of last year; I interviewed Dan Willson in January and he’s a fantastic bloke. Interestingly, both bands have worked with Neil Pennycook of Meursault, whose profile continues to rise with slots at Glastonbury and T in the Park. If you haven’t got Meursault’s albums, you are letting yourself down, badly.
Last Battle -‘Black Waterfall.’ mp3
Meursault -‘Crank Resolutions.’ mp3
In other news, I’ve been offered my own radio show on Fresh Air radio, the local student radio station in Edinburgh.
very excited too…watch this space…
It’s getting busy here at 17 Seconds Records.
Next Thursday will see the launch of the debut single from The Last Battle ‘Ruins’, which takes place at the Wee Red Bar at Edinburgh College of Art, and features not only the band performing, but a solo set by Neil Pennycook of Meursault (who will be fresh back from Glastonbury), Jonnie Common and yours truly on the decks. Tickets are £5 (£3 concessions), and it lasts from 7-10. Which means you can still go home and get a decent night’s kip before work in the morning.
There’s a lovely write up over here at suitcase Orchestra. You can hear ‘Ruins’ on the most recent Song, By Toad podcast and also on Jim Gellatly’s latest podcast. Vic Galloway promised live on air that he would play it this coming Monday. You can bet I will be nudging him to do this…
Meanwhile, you can download the b-side to ‘Ruins’ for free NOW. Because we’re lovely people.
(NB due to the subject matter of the song, this does contain swearing. If you are easily offended, and God knows why you’re reading this blog, you idiot, DON’T LISTEN. Go and read Grazia or the Daily Mail instead. Fuckwit)
If you’re off to Kelburn Garden Party next weekend, not only will you be able to see excellent artists supported by this blog such as Broken Records, Panda Su, Meursault, Foxgang and Stanley Odd, but you will also be able to see our very own Chris Bradley who was added in the last month. Go Chris!
Chris Bradley -‘Golden Girl.’ mp3
If you aren’t going to Kelburn, you could catch the Dirty Cuts at the 13th note in Glasgow on Saturday July 3, ahead of their single launch for ‘Yummy Mummy’ on July 23, with a gig in Bristol and two in London coming up.
X-Lion Tamer will be releassing another four track EP with us in the next few months, and will be playing at Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh, alongside the fabulous Deserters Deserve Death on July 31.
X-Lion Tamer -‘Life Support Machine.’ mp3
There will be more to come…watch this space!