Monica Queen

Monica Queen – Thrum/Tenement & Temple – Interview

Anyone who has heard the stunning vocal talents of the one and only Monica Queen will rush to tell you she is one of Scotland’s brightest talents. With such an extraordinarily dynamic and unique voice, I guarantee that once heard, she is never forgotten.

From bands like the wonderful Thrum and Moni, through collaborations and supergroups such as Belle and Sebastian’s Lazy Line Painter Jane and the remarkable Gracious Losers, and recent albums with bandmate and partner, the equally talented and in demand guitar slinger Johnny Smillie, such as the astonishing and affecting Tenement and Temple album, she can put her voice to anything.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2021 Part 6

Here it is, Singles Round Up 2021 Part 6 – since I published Part 5, the quality songs just keep coming this year, and that is only the ones I am just about keeping up with. For every superb song I manage to listen to, I’ve probably deleted a handful of e-mails that may have contained another cracker.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again -don’t let anyone ever tell you that there are no good new bands or new music out there. If that sis what you think, you’re just too damn lazy to find it…

Here are a selection of the songs I’ve been enjoying of late.… Read the rest

Jim McCulloch – When I Mean What I Say – album review

I’ve never had the good fortune to meet Jim McCulloch, but I’m willing to bet he’d be one of life’s good guys. I’m also willing to bet that the vast majority of music fans will own or love at least one song featuring the talents of McCulloch the maestro in their collection. Whether they know it or not.

I may be wrong, but he gives the impression of being a quiet unassuming genius who just loves creating and playing music. Keeping his head just under the parapet focussing on what he loves and producing some timeless, unforgettable records in the process.… Read the rest

We’ll be coming, we’ll be coming…

…when you hear the noise of the Cundeez and Rudebeard boys, we’ll be coming down the road.

Remember the old days, remember the O’Jays… no, I’m going down the wrong cut de sac here. Remember in your youth (if you are of a certain vintage) when Scotland qualified for competitions with clockwork regularity? Only to crash out to some minnows in the group stages right enough, but qualified none the less.

Even if you weren’t a football fan, you knew we’d qualified. Who can forget being on the march wi’ Ally’s Army and Andy Cameron in 1978 when we all thought we were really going to come home from Argentina as trophy winners only for our dreams to be crushed.… Read the rest