Tarbeach Records - The Ginger Quiff

Thee Effits Psychic Coffee Shop album cover

Thee Effits – Psychic Coffee Shop – album review

February 19, 2024 By neilho27@sky.com

Call this what you like, a post CD release, or a pre-vinyl release review on Tarbeach Records, so you could say it’s either well overdue, or it’s way ahead of the proposed summer vinyl release. The question is who are the mysterious Thee Effits, I hear you ask? The band is the latest incarnation of the ever mysterious The Electric Fits, the brainchild of Walt (aka Thee E-Fits), who released a debut album Opposable Thumbs back in 2015/6. The band is now, pick your adjective, re-formed, re-imagined, re-invigorated, re-generated, re-born, re-invented, re-incarnated into…Thee Effits and to celebrate this re-birth, have released this six track album in the form of Psychic Coffee Shop.… Read the rest

From Berlin to Russia, Punky Rock n Roll to Reggae and everything in between… bitesize album reviews (Joe Whyte)

February 15, 2022 By neilho27@sky.com

My output has been sparse to say the least in 2022, it is therefore with great thanks due to Joe Whyte (Vive Le Rock writer and guitarist with legendary Airdrie punks Reaction) that this blog contains not one but four album reviews covering the globe and providing a gamut of musical styles to suit all tastes…

First up, from one of my favourite record labels, Tarbeach, is an album from Two Hearts, a band I only became aware of last year after they performed as part of Cynthia Ross birthday bash streaming live from NYC…

Two Hearts

Rock ‘N’ Roll 2020 (Tarbeach)

7/10

A Japanese love letter to NYC

I’d have to say that this one was a slow-burner for me; the first couple of listens didn’t convince and I found the lo-fi, clattering production slightly irritating.… Read the rest

New York Junk – Live from The Bowery Electric

January 27, 2021 By neilho27@sky.com

It is almost a year since I last attended a real, live gig. Let me tell you, I have missed live music terribly, and things don’t look rosy for a return to sweaty club gigs, or any other kind of gig any time soon. After we entered the first lockdown in those dim and distant days of early 2020 little would we know we would be in the same, or maybe worse situation a year down the line with no end in sight.

Online Fatigue

Over spring and summer last year I enjoyed watching a variety of online gigs, from acoustic guitars in front rooms, to full blown electric sets from bands playing to camera’s in empty clubs.… Read the rest

Last Night From Glasgow – A success story for 2020

December 31, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

My love for certain record labels is well documented with NYC based, while retaining its Scottish roots, Tarbeach Records up there amongst my favourites. A fact that is ably demonstrated by the inclusion of The Cundeez Teckle and Hide and New York Junk‘s Dreaming (shortly to be available for ordering on red vinyl) amongst my favourite albums of the year.

It is probably the only record label that I can say, hand on heart, that I own every pone of their releases. Here’s to another successful year in 2021 from Tarbeach.

Last Night From Glasgow…

This year though, one record label stands out amongst the others.… Read the rest

The Ginger Quiff – 2020 review

December 23, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

Albums of the year

2020 might have been a year to forget for uncountable reasons, a year many would rather forget. However, the amount, and quality, of new music that saw the light of day in 2020 was astounding. So much so, narrowing down my favourite albums of this year to a top ten was a nigh on impossible task.

Even now as I have committed to and published this list, I am still making changes in my head. To say that some of these albums were “better” than others would be to dismiss the quality of said albums. Just know that I appreciate and applaud the time and love that has gone into the recording of all of these albums.… Read the rest

The Cundeez – Teckle & Hide – album review

October 16, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

I’ve been immersing myself in some Dundonian culture lately thanks to Teckle & Hide the latest, and strongest, album from The Cundeez

An Intoxicating Heady Brew

100% proof claims the album cover, and its claims are not wrong. The sixteen tracks served up are an intoxicating heady brew. The Cundeez cementing themselves as a North East Scotland powerhouse. One minute offering an ultimate good time party anthem, guaranteed to have any party jumping as they provide the raw unfiltered craic, once again promised on the album cover. I’m not going to lie though, the party might get messy, there are no guarantees how things might end up.… Read the rest

Ty Murray – Treefort – album review

August 19, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

Frontman for Chapter 11, Ty Murray had his album Treefort re-released on CD on Astoria, NY label Tarbeach Records last week. Two of his tracks have appeared previously on Tarbeach , with Monkey Don’t Care covering She Goes Her Own Way and the albums closing track, After My Time.

Thankfully (for someone who loves a vast range of musical styles and hates labels) it is hard to pigeonhole/label Ty. His music is good old straight up rock music. Sure, there are influences that can be heard here and there. Opening track Fallen Angel has a Start! rhythm running throughout. While the second track Re-Enactor has its roots somewhere in the world of reggae, mixing this with classic rock riffing.… Read the rest

The Muldoons – Made for Each Other – album review

July 30, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

I have recently been expounding my love for a certain record label, the wonderful Tarbeach Records from Astoria, NY with links to home soil in Airdrie. Another of my favourite labels is altogether closer to home. Last Night From Glasgow, and its various offshoots Hive and Komponist have not let the grass grow under their feet during lockdown, with a seemingly endless supply of announcements and releases to delight and excite.

As I’ve recently reviewed two of the latest releases from Tarbeach It seems only fair that I balance this out and expound the virtues of Last Night From Glasgow too.… Read the rest

New York Junk – Dreaming – mini album review

July 24, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

New York Junk are one of those quintessential NYC bands. As soon as you listen to the songs you know where their origins lie, not just because the style of their music rests well with the icons of the New York City alternative an punk scene of the 60s/70s but also because the subject matter of their lyrics often reflects topics relating to the Big Apple or tackles the issues the city faces.

It seems only right then that the band release their new record, Dreaming, on Astoria, NY based label, Tarbeach Records. The record follows hot on the heels of another ex B-Girl Cynthia Ross related release, last year’s glorious ElectraJets Transatlantic Tales album, one of my albums of the year for 2019.… Read the rest

Reaction – The La Chunky Sessions EP Volume 1 – review

July 21, 2020 By neilho27@sky.com

There are dozens of independent record labels that are a cause for celebration. The one’s that, when you hear they have a new release coming, it is almost guaranteed you will love it. I’m not going to start listing those. Suffice to say that Tarbeach Records based in New York but with roots still attached to the heart of the West of Scotland is one that holds a special place in my music collection. I own all the releases to date. So far there is not one I don’t like. So, it gives me great pleasure to be reviewing the first of three tree-mendous releases (the pun is intentional) coming your way now.… Read the rest