Category Archives: Galleries

Album Review: Galleries

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Galleries -‘No Miracles’ (self-released)

There’s no shortage of bands playing epic indie pop. Some get it it hideously wrong (hello, Kodaline). Others suggest that they have promise (hello, Swim Deep). And then there are bands like the fabulous Galleries from Glasgow who just nail it.

There’s a touch of both Sigur Ros’ Jonsi and Andrew Montgomery of Geneva about singer David McAdam’s vocals which soar and make you gasp. There’s a touch of the Sigur Ros shimmering guitar shredding, like on album opener ‘Wilderness Song’ but a willingness to go down an M83 route on ‘Young Wounds.’

Three and a half years ago, when their debut, free EP arrived, I wrote that ‘they are at that juncture where post-rock and shoegazing and indie rock meet.’ This album may have taken a number of years to come together, but they have built on the promise of that debut on their first album.

In a time of so-much indie landfill, Galleries truly have something to offer.

****
No Miracles is out now. Stream it below.

A round up of some great new Scottish music

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Just as it says on the tin, folks. The fact that I’m doing this together should not be taken as me trying to do the bands concerned down by featuring them together, but rather that I’m trying to spread the word.

X-Lion Tamer you almost certainly know by now. He did a session for Vic Galloway on Radio One the other night, including three of his own songs and a cover of ‘Starsign’ by Teenage Fanclub. Like all the best acts, the three songs of his own that Tony plays ‘I Sais Stop’ ‘Neon Hearts’ and ‘Life Support Machine’ are hugely diffreent to what they sound like on his EP. Peenko Blog are hosting it here:

X-Lion Tamer on Peenko blog

I’ve featured Mitchell Museum on here before. They are soon to release their debut album The Peters Port Memorial Service and are giving away some older stuff for free, six tracks in all, via their Bandcamp page. This six track EP is called ‘We Lost First Prize.’

Go here!

A few weeks ago, I mentioned Annie Stevenson, who have now made their demo available to download for free from their Last FM page. Four tracks in all, and very good it is too!

Annie Stevenson’s Last FM page

Galleries were also played on Vic Galloway the other night, and if you haven’t downloaded their free EP shame on you!

Go here

Oliver Stays are a new band formed from the ashes of Jocasta Sleeps, Drive-By Argument and Atlas Skye. They’ve only been together since November but their myspace shows that this is a band with promise, make sure you hear them now! Jim over at Aye Tunes is also championing them.

Oliver Stays’ myspace

The Kays Lavelle are soon to release their debut album – entitled Be Still This Gentle Morning – this track is available as a free download and it’s ace. One of my favourite tracks this year. As John Peel used to say, ‘this track fades in slowly.’

The Kays Lavelle -‘The Hours.’ mp3

Thanks due to Aye Tunes, Peenko and Song, By Toad for all keeping me on my toes when it comes to new scottish music!

Presenting…Galleries

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Glasgow band Galleries have managed to reach an interesting point with their first, free EP. Namely, they are at that juncture where post-rock and shoegazing and indie rock meet. Over the course of five tracks the band lay out their stall and do it most impressively.

The band, made up of David (Guitars/Programming/Vocals), Adam (Bass), Paul (Guitars), and Andy (Drums) – no surnames here! – may be staring at their feet but the music they are currently making sees them reaching for the stars. This is music that shows it can be arty and ambitious. They list a number of influences on their myspace and while I don’t hear much of Jimmy Eat World or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, I certainly do hear the likes of Explosions In The Sky, Mogwai, Sigur Ros and particularly Mew.

2009 saw the scottish music scene perhaps the healthiest it has been for many, many years. And in 2010, on the strength of their debut EP, this band show that the sick man of Europe is fighting fit when it comes to wonderful music.

A band to watch very closely indeed.

Galleries – ‘+ Danger.’ mp3

Download the entire EP here

Galleries’ myspace