Review - The Ginger Quiff

Sunstinger – She Stole My Sky – single review

July 27, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

She Stole My Sky

From the penetrating opening guitar cacophony I was captured by She Stole My Sky, a sound that brought back memories of the peak of shoegaze in the 90’s.

As the track progressed Sunstinger’s intense shoegaze leanings gave way to a sound akin to indie darlings The Twilight Sad, with a hint of psychedelia and a vocal that occasionally tips its hat to a delivery consonant to several Mancunian/Liverpudlian luminaries.

An all pervading sound and a song I will definitely be revisiting time and again.

Story behind the song…

When you listen to the lyrics, it becomes apparent that the lush piercing music soundscape tells a stark story.… Read the rest

Cockwomble – album review

July 25, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Cockwomble?

First let’s tackle the elephant in the room. That name. Cockwomble. It seems to divide opinion. After sharing videos and links in the past I’ve had several people say to me the name is ridiculous. I’m not totally going to disagree; the word in itself is ridiculous. But as Adam Ant once said, ridicule is nothing to be scared of…

cockwomble (countable and uncountable, plural cockwombles)

(Britain,slang,derogatory) A foolish or obnoxious person.

21st Century weirdness

This 21^st century created word is a by-product of the weird times we find ourselves living in, creating a new word is not entirely unusual, all generations have created their own words and insults.… Read the rest

The Kidney Flowers – The Kidney Flowers: album review

July 24, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Glasgow’s The Kidney Flowers have been gripping me recently with their rousing frenetic 11-track self-titled album. It has regularly been spinning on my turntable, kicking several shades of shit out of my speakers.

Ferocious Trashy Garage Modern Blues

This vital 3-piece, Grant on guitar/vocals, Sean on bass and Abigail on drums, play a ferociously sparkling blend of trashy garage modern blues. Unrelentless for the entirety, the instinctively primeval vocals over fuzzed-up guitars and a solid rhythm section pummel you into submission. Seriously good music, but without being po-faced or overly solemn.

Irreverance

Addictive bass heralds the mysterious Small Fingers, introducing incessant post-punk guitar riffing, while T-Rex glam stylings make an appearance on Underneath Her Thumb.… Read the rest

Baby Shakes – Live, The Flying Duck, Glasgow

July 18, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

I love a good gig, and usually have a few to look forward to weeks or months in advance. There is something to be said though for Impromptu gig nights. The other night in Glasgow was a case in point.

I’d seen the Baby Shakes gig advertised and had swithered whether I should go, mid-week, last few days before I’m off for a couple of weeks so busy at work. I’d unconsciously put a mental x against it as one of those, I’d like to go, but I’ll stay in.

Of course, if that had been the case, there wouldn’t have been much more to write about.… Read the rest

Curdle – Curdle -Album Review

July 16, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Not officially a “new” album as such, but as the album has just earned itself a vinyl release on Double A Side Records (having appeared on the wonderful Play it Like a Woman compilation), now is as good a time as any to revel in my love of the music of Curdle. A band who seem to announce a new live date every couple of days, and I can never get to any of them … as I keep saying, maybe next time.

I first came across the band when they supported Dead Hope in Glasgow’s Old Hairdressers and fell in love with the dark but uplifting racket they made, making sure I purchased the album on its release.… Read the rest

Bubblegum Lemonade – Desperately Seeking Sunshine – album review

July 11, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Having made mention of The Martial Arts on a recent blog and Paul Kelly’s welcome return with 4 glorious tracks on the I Use to be… EP, it would be remiss of me not to feature another stalwart of the Scottish indie-pop scene.

Bubblegum Lemonade

So, here’s to the multi-talented Laz McCluskey of Bubblegum Lemonade fame. It has now been several months since the band’s latest album Desperately Seeking Sunshine landed, but on the evidence of the 12 sun-kissed tracks on offer here, you don’t have too far to look. And thankfully the cantankerous Madonna is nowhere to be seen.

Laz has hit a fruitful vein of creativity on this, his latest release in a long line on the Matinee Recordings label.… Read the rest

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

The Wildhearts, Terrorvison & Gun live

June 27, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

An unusual set of circumstances today, it was hot in the city. Taps aff weather if you will. And I was going to a gig in Kelvingrove Bandstand. I’ve been to several of these before, and despite the summer dates, I have battled biting cold, light drizzle and heavier showers. Not so tonight, maybe not quite the taps aff weather it had been earlier in the day but certainly t-shirt and no jacket weather.

Baby Chaos

It was an early start having three bands on the bill that could each have been headliners in their own right, plus support from Baby Chaos.… 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

Reaction – Keep It Weird, Keep It Wired – album launch review

June 17, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

It seemed a long time in coming but Saturday’s launch gig for the vinyl version of one of 2018’s standout albums and the SAY listed Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired.

McChuills

There was a buzz of anticipation around the excellent McChuills venue on Glasgow’s High Street and an opportunity to catch up with friends old and new over a few drinks in the relaxed and friendly bar ahead of the evenings festivities as the inimitable dapper gentleman that is the one and only Nicky Stewart warmed up the crowd with some punk classics on the decks.

Talking of dapper gents, the equally debonair Alex “Mainy” Main was manning the merchandise and as grabbed a couple of words with him, I noticed a piece of ReAction merchandise that I didn’t own.… Read the rest