Category Archives: Fire Engines

Riffling through my 7″s #3

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franz-ferdinand-get-up-and-use-me-314984

I’m not quite sure what the story behind this was. But it came to pass that – in that most indie of old-style indie traditions, Franz Ferdinand and the Fire Engines released a split 7″. Each of them covering one of the other’s songs. So Franz did ‘Get Up And Use Me’ and the Engines did ‘Jacqueline.’ The Engines did briefly reform, playing a gig in Edinburgh which I was at, just somewhat the worse for wear, having already got there for Aberfeldy and Sons & Daughters. Ah well…

Franz Ferdinand -‘Get Up And Use Me.’ mp3

Fire Engines -‘Jacqueline.’ mp3

And if anyone knows any more about his this 7″ came to be, please let me know.

A Peel-approved Burns’ Night! (Part Two)

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Mogwai -‘My Father, My King.’ mp3 (2001 Festive Fifty no.10)

Teenage Fanclub -‘Like A Virgin.’ mp3 (1991 festive Fifty no.36)

Fire Engines -‘Candy Skin.’ mp3 (1981 Festive Fifty no.58)

Sons and Daughters -‘Johnny Cash.’ mp3 (2004 Festive Fifty no.7)

The Delgados -Pull the wires From The Wall.’ mp3 (1998 Festive Fifty no.1)

Rezillos -‘I Can’t Stand My Baby.’ mp3 (1977 Festive Fifty no. 4 initially!)

Arab Strap -‘The First Big Weekend.’ mp3 (1996 Festive Fifty no.3)

Enjoy! and mine’s a veggie haggis…

St. Andrew’s Day

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Today is St. Andrew’s Day, the Patron Saint of Scotland. This is not a national holiday here (it might be a different story after independence), and nowhere near as big a deal as St. Patrick’s Day is (hell, I think St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by half the planet).

But, what the heck, I’ve survived a week back at work, it’s three weeks until term finishes, and I got paid yesterday (hmm, guess what I do when it arrives – other than paying the bills, obviously).

So here’s some scottish stuff for you, and just to let you know, I interviewed Malcolm Middleton today, so that will be on the blog soon.

First up, the greatest song by the greatest scottish band EVER (IMHO).

Delgados -‘No Danger.’ mp3

Along with getting into death metal and grime this year, I’ve also been discovering folk. This is a gem (yup, I do listen to some music pre-1976).

John Martyn -‘Solid Air.’ mp3

I love the whole early eighties aesthetic (I may have mentioned this before). This is a classic:

Fire Engines -‘Candyskin.’ mp3

..Mind you, the late eighties threw up some gems too…

The Shamen -‘Jesus Loves Amerika.’ mp3

and so did the nineties… : )

Urusei Yatsura -‘Hello Tiger (Peel Session).’ mp3

And I’m planning something special for December. Watch this space…

Some Covers For Saturday Part III

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Well, I’ve got my USB turntable on the go again (not that it stopped working but it can be a time-consuming process) so here are a few goodies from the record collection.

The Swans were responsible for leading me to Joy Division. Aged eleven, I saw the video for their cover of Love Will Tear Us Apart on The Chart Show, a long-running UK TV show that every three weeks would do the Top Ten indie charts (the other two weeks being dance and Heavy Metal). Now the version I heard then had Michael Gira on vocals (anyone who has this please let me know etc..) but this version has the legendary Jarboe singing.

Swans -‘Love Will Tear Us Apart (Jarboe vocal).’ mp3

I said I would post it, and I have! A couple of years back, Franz Ferdinand and the Fire Engines issued a limited split 7″ (I love these! There is nothing more indie (in the old sense of the word) than a split 7″) of them covering one of the other’s songs.

Franz Ferdinand -‘Get Up And Use Me (Fire Engines cover).’ mp3

Fire Engines -‘Jacqueline (Franz Ferdinand cover).’ mp3

As a huge Cure fan, I was determined to track down a copy of this for years. A few times I thought I’d got it, only to wonder why every version seemed to cut off before the end. So when I found the 12″, I got it home to discover that…it’s how it’s meant to sound.

Dinosaur Jr -‘Just Like Heaven (The Cure cover).’ mp3

I thought this was a Nancy Griffith song -obviously without the swearing -but it was written by John Prine. Anyway, this is Alabama 3’s take on it.

Alabama 3 -‘Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness (John Prine cover).’ mp3

Finally, another record I spent years searching for (before it was eventually available on the B-sides and rarities triple CD compilation that came out in 2004). This single had Nick and Shane singing on the A-side together, before covering one of the other’s songs on the b-side.

Nick Cave and Shane MacGowan -‘What A Wondeful World (Louis Armstrong cover).’ mp3

Nick Cave -‘Rainy Night In Soho (Pogues cover).’ mp3

Shane MacGowan -‘Lucy (Nick Cave cover).’ mp3

These will be up for one week only. Enjoy!

Scots indie! Part 2

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The Vaselines

Just a quick post, but felt like posting some classic eighties scottish indie.

From Perhaps, which may be the most underrated scottish record of the eighties.

Associates -‘Breakfast 12″.’ mp3

The Fire Engines were a big influence on many scots bands, perhaps most notably Franz Ferdinand. I will post the split single that both bands did here at some point…

Fire Engines -‘Candyskin.’ mp3

OK so Psychocandy is the definitive scottish record of the eighties, but let’s not forget that there were some fantastic records afterwards too.

Jesus and Mary Chain -‘April Skies.’ mp3

I’ve posted this before, but it had to be part of this post. Just sheer class. Post-punk meets indie. Oh yes, oh yay…

Josef K -‘Sorry For Laughing.’ mp3

Their second single on the legendary Postcard label, and my favourite song of Edwyn Collins’ ultra-cool scottish heroes.

Orange Juice -‘Blue Boy.’ mp3

Later covered by Teenage Fanclub, the Pastels, still going in 2007, are fantastic. I met Stephen Pastel earlier this year, the most down to earth and shy musician I have ever met.

The Pastels -‘Nothing To Be Done.’ mp3

A huge influence on Nirvana, who covered this and two of their other songs, the Vaselines might well be Scotland’s answer to the Velvet Underground.
The Vaselines -‘Son Of A Gun.’ mp3

If you like these tracks, seek ’em out, goddamit!

Davey Henderson

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I thought today, given that it has been a very quiet week on this blog, I would highlight the work of one Davey Henderson, a man who has been responsible for some of the most fantastic scottish acts over the last thirty years, with the Fire Engines (pic above), Win and then Nectarine No.9.. I’m not authority on the man, but the music speaks for itself, so go and check it out if you like these:

I finally saw a reformed Fire Engines on Decemebr 30, 2004 when they reformed and headlined a gig that was supported by Sons and Daughters and Aberfeldy. Fire Engines have been held up as a major influence on Franz Ferdinand, who clearly owe them a large debt. They also gave the name to the Candyskins, who called themselves after this track:

The Fire Engines-‘Candyskin.’ mp3

After the Fire Engines split, Henderson formed Win.These mp3s were posted a few months ago by JC over at The Vinyl Villain (this is meant to be flattery, JC) here are both 7″ and 12″ versions of ‘You’ve Got The Power.’

Win -‘You’ve Got The Power.’ mp3

Win -‘You’ve Got The Power 12″.’ mp3

Davey Henderson then led Nectarine No.9:

Nectarine No.9 -‘Constellations Of a Vanity.’ mp3

Nectarine No.9 -‘Susan Identifier.’ mp3

a few weeks ago, I picked up a 7″ by Mr. Henderson, this time fronting a band called the Sexual Objects, which is out on Creeping Bent, so track it down.

As always, these mp3s will be up for a week. if you like what you hear here, go to Amazon or any music shop and support the artist.

Ten Scottish bands for today

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(A shot of Aberfeldy live last October. One of the bands you need in your life).

Okay, having done ten tracks last time, this time I thought I would point you in the direction of ten scottish bands you ought to hear.

This is not a definitive list, either of my own making or anyone else’s, but it’s 10 from a selection on my Myspace page that I would like to point you in the direction of. Some of these bands I have written about here, others I haven’t -yet!- so this should serve as an introduction.

Just in case anyone is very highly strung out there, this is not to slag off anyone, but highlight some great bands who are – by and large – active today, and is in no way a slight to The Associates, The Delgados (my favourite ever scottish band), Josef K, Aztec Camera, The Skids, Franz Ferdinand, Arab Strap, Belle and Sebastian…but you need to hear these guys and gals too:

Aberfeldy official site myspace

Ballboy official site myspace

The Cinematics official site myspace

The Fire Engines official site myspace

Mother and the addicts official site myspace

My Latest Novel official site myspace

Odeon Beat Club official site myspace

Sons and Daughters official site myspace

Swimmer One official site myspace

X-Vectors official site myspace

All of these acts have tracks for you to hear on their myspace pages, and many have mp3s for you to download, either on their mypsace page or on their own web pages.

Happy listening, and happy discovering!

Remember: artists cannot survive on goodwill alone. If you like what you hear, please, Please, PLEASE support them. Buy their music, go to the gigs, tell your friends about them. Snobbery and elitism is for losers.

BTW, two more Scottish based blogs you should check out: The Face Of Today and And Before The First Kiss.