October, 2022 - The Ginger Quiff

The Hedrons (and more…) – live in Glasgow

October 23, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

In the mid-noughties The Hedrons burst onto the music scene in a blaze of unfettered energetic punk rock glory but, much to the disappointment of their fervent fanbase, that flame burnt brightly but briefly and within a couple of years Tippi, Soup, Rosie & Gill were gone, leaving us with their sole album, One More Won’t Kill Us to console us.

Thankfully, Past Night From Glasgow has recently reissued the album, remastered and with extra tracks, which culminated in last night’s gig, nay, celebration featuring the remarkable talents of this most fondly remembered of bands.… Read the rest

Vulture Party – Archipelago – album review

October 15, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

A series of unlinked events and circumstances seem to have conspired and culminated in a lack of reviews appearing recently, subsequently my list of unreviewed releases is getting longer.

There was therefore no rhyme nor reason that I picked Archipelago, the new album by Falkirk based synth pop 4-piece Vulture Party ahead of the numerous other releases I have on my list.

Perhaps it was serendipity at play, as several of the songs here seemed to speak to my current circumstances, or perhaps it is just my own subconscious twisting and turning the lyrics and song messages to my own end.… Read the rest

Cloth – Low Sun EP – Review

October 6, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

Glasgow duo Cloth are the epitome of minimalism and using space and quiet as an essential part of their overall sound and impact, proof positive that powerful impactful music doesn’t always have to mean loud, brash and boisterous. This hypothesis is corroborated fully by the four tracks that make up the bands new 4 tack EP, Low Sun released on the influential Rock Action label.

The EP kicks off in unassuming but highly effective style with Old Stories, Rachael’s breathy vocal paired with minimalistic synth backing, before effective layering builds multiple textures, and fills the initial spaces and silences with soundscapes which are both somehow huge and restrained simultaneously.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up Part 9 – September 2022

October 5, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

two thirds of the way through the year and time for another round up of the best singles, demos, live tracks and general goodness that has come my way by hook or by crook throughout the month of September.

bis – Lucky Night

It’s your lucky day, bis returned in September with their new single Lucky Night, a song packed with bis goodness and accompanied by an engrossing CGI video packed with clones of the bis threesome. The upbeat electropop anthem bemoaning dodgy nightclub chat up lines “a boy walked up to me…” It’s bis, what’s not to love?

bis

The Nightingales – Bloody Breath

From their new album The Last Laugh is this slice of Nightingales brilliance, layering addictive driving rhythms starting with an incessant piano riff before adding throbbing bass and adding instrument after instrument to create an insanely hypnotic melee, all topped off with Robert Lloyd’s distinctive low, almost menacing brogue and you have sheer perfection.… Read the rest