Album/Single Review - The Ginger Quiff

An Eclectic Cornucopia of Charismatic Congenial Creations to Charm and Captivate

July 10, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

There are several tracks/singles and EPs that I have been sitting on for a while or I’ve just received that been enjoying recently

Katherine Aly

Starting with the sublime Katherine Aly. The Skin I’m Made Of is an achingly beautiful piano driven ballad. Aly has a beautifully distinctive voice, crisp and clear with no warbling affectations and the song reaches the parts other vocalists can’t reach. Some may have been lucky enough to catch her recently as I believe she supported Goodbye Mr MacKenzie in Dundee. I hope to hear a lot more from her in future.

The Martial Arts

Next up is stalwart of the Scottish indie scene, Paul Kelly, returning with The Martial Arts.… Read the rest

Rev Magnetic – Versus Universe – album review

June 21, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Luke Sutherland

Having loved the music of Luke Sutherland in his previous incarnations, Long Fin Killie especially, and devouring his novel Jelly Roll in one sitting, I was disappointed that I had allowed myself to lose touch with his musical career of late.

Thankfully, Rock Action labelmates, and kings of shoegaze, the mighty Swervedriver reacquainted me recently with Sutherland’s latest and, in my opinion his best, band, with Rev Magnetic providing the main support on their tour supporting Future Ruins.

Rock Action

I should take a moment to pause here and complement Rock Action on a quite phenomenal roster providing some of my favourite albums of last year and also 2019 to date – Swervedriver, Rev Magnetic, Twilight Sad, Katheryn Joseph, Aidan Moffat & RM Hubbert, Sacred Paws to name a few – and of course label founders the mighty Mogwai themselves.… Read the rest

Membranes What Nature Gives...Nature Takes Away

The Membranes – What Nature Gives… album review

June 19, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Four Seasons for the punk generation

It took a while for me to find the right words to put to this review. On the first couple of listens I was totally blown away, lost for words.

You see, What Nature Gives…Nature Takes Away is far more than just an album. Like nature itself, it is profound and unstoppable, a Tour De Force, an irresistible masterpiece in four parts. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons for the punk-goth generation if you like.

What The Membranes give…

It feels like the culmination of an entire life’s work, a cycle of life just like nature itself, it seems like the whole of The Membranes career has built to this overwhelming pinnacle.… Read the rest

Thirteen – Controversy – album review

June 17, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Unlucky for some?

Falkirk based punk rock ‘n’ rollers Thirteen launch their latest album Controversy at the end of June. Fans of the band will be familiar with a few of the tracks, with Tattered Sleeve, We Will Overcome and Spirit of Resistance taken from their EP of the same name as the latter. It hasnt been an easy ride getting this album made with Dolly sans band-mates at one point.

Controversy…ain’t what it used to be

It hasnt stopped him getting a solid album together. Dolly gives us another ten tracks in the same raucous rebellious spirit as the EP.… Read the rest

2 Sevens – Not for Resale EP

June 13, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

I was recently on holiday in the USA and I wondered why Glasgow’s 2Sevens kept popping into my head as I’d never actually heard any of their music. It was only when I got home I realised it was an unconscious observational moment – the bands original logo was based on the US 7 Eleven retail stores chain…

Well, I can now say I have heard the band’s music, with the band releasing their debut EP, physical copies of which will be available at the bands upcoming gigs.

Not for Resale

The band make a thoroughly enjoyable punk rock noise, I Can’t Take It launching the 3 tracks with persistent riffing, Into You builds to a crescendo from its initial understated bass and drums (not to be mistaken with drum and bass) intro.… Read the rest

The Gold Needles Through a Window album cover

The Gold Needles – Through a Window – album review

June 12, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

The Gold Needles, Hull’s purveyors of fine 1960s influenced psych power-pop prove their worth once again with a delightful selection of sunshine-tinged pop tunes, this time released on legendary US-based label Jem Records. The band appear to have taken the time between their debut Pearls and this new album Through a Window, honing and perfecting their blissed-out sounds.

This album is a cohesive solid set of ten beat pop influenced tunes dropping just in time for summer. Through a window will be a great soundtrack to long hot hazy summer days, if we get any. Even on days when the rain traps you indoors, pop this CD on and the sun will shine in your living room.… Read the rest

Southern Approach – Insurrection – album review

June 5, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Now is the time for Insurrection

The title of the new offering from Southern Approach is timely in its title. The dis-United Kingdom is at breaking point – literally, with the shambolic Brexit debacle exacerbating the divides between the people and those in power and that is before we stray outwith these shores…

Southern Approach was the first band to feature on the Ginger Quiff blog and I’m pleased to say that, despite all the shite going on, the band continues to go from strength to strength with the release of their latest rabble-rousing digital album Insurrection.

Beautiful Inside and Out

In a further act of kismet, there is also a mental health link.… Read the rest

Ex- EP 7 review

May 31, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

I’m not sure if Meek ever sleeps. His creative juices seem to flow 24/7 – what with writing many of his own books and compiling the works of others in the “For the Many, Not the Few” series, now onto its 8^th volume, the musical output from him (and the rest of Ex- of course) takes some beating.

The latest EP Ex- 7 is a case in point.

The three tracks here are of the now expected superior quality I’ve come to expect from Ex-, their melodic punk/NY garage-rock sounds complemented by Meek’s satisfying rich burr.

Ex- songs always have an intelligent lyric and an eminently memorable refrain or chorus.… Read the rest

The Spangles – Sweet F.A. – album review

May 30, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Spangles or Chips?

Spangles? Despite having an urge for some old-fashioned boiled sweets, and a bag of chips from the get-go (listen and you’ll know why) I managed to hold off the impulse for 30 odd minutes. Well, to be honest it wasn’t difficult to hold off, the music on offer from Sweet FA is as addictive as the thought of a good old bag of salty, vinegary chips

Growing Up?

I was smitten from the first song. “Everybody’s growing up, I’m just growing old”. Too right. Growing up is over-rated. Live for the moment.

The Only One, the delight that is One Good Reason, these songs are worming their way into my consciousness trying to make me believe I’ve known them forever.… Read the rest

Black Bombers – Vol 4 – mini album review

May 24, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Black Bombers

Black Bombers are a three piece rock’n’roll band featuring Alan Byron on Guitar/vocals, Darren Birch on bass and Dave Twist in drums. Their latest release is a sumptuous 6 track selection of prime deep down and dirty punky/bluesy garage rock ‘n’ roll. There is a nod to Black Sabbath in the monochromatic cover art and the title and its typeface.

So what of the tracks on offer? First and foremost, this a trio of accomplished musicians between them having notched up connections and appearances with several high-profile bands and artists. Lead singer Alan has an instantly likeable gruff raw vocal which is a perfect match for the matching the sound of the band, their fuzzy grungy guitar, sublime bass and thunderous drum sound perfectly.… Read the rest