Another bumper batch of singles, demoes, or tracks that have somehow made their way into my slightly detached world . I’ve been trying desperately to keep on top of all the new releases and singles that keep catching my eye/ear, evidently I am only human and there are loads I’ve missed, and some probably included here that have been out for a while but I’m only getting my lugs around them now.
As always, these are in no particular order and where available, they’ve been added to the Ginger Quiff 2021 Playlist.
First up, its a bittersweet song…
The Jazz Butcher – Time
Many of us will have been shocked and saddened by the sudden passing this week of one of independent music’s most highly respected and talented free spirits in The Jazz Butcher iconoclast himself, Pat Fish. Pat had been working on a new Jazz Butcher album, this song was part of these recordings and, as I mentioned, it is a bittersweet listen, with some prescient lyrics. Rest in Power Pat, you have brought joy to many over the years.
Telefis – Mr Imperator
One of Ireland’s finest ever singers and lyricists, Cathal Coughlan isn’t content with releasing one of this years essential albums in Song of Co-Aklan. Telefis is his collaboration with ex Compulsion member and now esteemed Irish producer Jacknife Lee. Mr Imperator their mighty second single.
David Long & Shane O’Neill – Albert the Painter
Staying with the talented Irish, Into Paradise was one of my favourite alt-rock bands of the late 80’s/early nineties who, in my opinion should have been huge. With a couple of EPs and an album (Moll and Zeis) already under their belts, Into Paradise lead singer/guitarist David Long alongside another Irish music icon in Blue in Heaven’s frontman Shane O’Neill have released a new single, Albert the Painter with an intriguing and historical video to go alongside.
“A beautiful song based on Hermann Hesse’s short story ‘The Painter’ about a refugee who prefers to walk the roads alone, gaining inspiration for his creations. In this video, the film footage (now colourised), filmed in Ireland at the turn of last century, blend’s with Hesse’s own artwork.”
The Martial Arts
As we start to near the darkness of winter, when we end up both going to and coming home from work when its dark, we all probably need a bit of sunshine to bathe in. Here is a song that can conjure that up for you, with a video to match. Getting Stranger is the latest song to be released from the Getting Stranger By the Month EP.
UV-TV – Always Something
UV-TV have one of those albums that I can’t stop listening to. Released earlier this year it is one of those albums that has been on heavy rotation in GQ towers but I never got around to reviewing. A “one’s you might have missed” feature is pending… Always Something is representative of their overall 80s/90s indie/goth feel – falling somewhere between the likes of JAMC, Echo and the Bunnymen, Beat Happening and The Heartthrobs. Essential listening.
Always Something | UV-TV (bandcamp.com)
Fistymuffs – This Job is Killing Me
Angry political post punk vibes abound from Fistymuffs on their new single denouncing the culture of being overworked and underpaid, of businesses placing profit before people. A well-timed release given the struggles many in already low paid jobs, and those out of work are going to experience with the cut in the Universal Credit “boost” by the ever caring Tories.
She Drew the Gun – Next on the List
The always inspiring She Drew the Gun released the latest in a strong run of singles last week. Always with something to say, Next on the List is an appropriate follow on from Fistymuffs as it rails against those who use their power to exploit others. Louise was due to celebrate the release of her album Behave Myself with a gig in Glasgow tonight. Unfortunately it has had to be cancelled due to illness. I look forward to the rescheduled date…
The Incomprehensible Static – Transmitting Live from the Future
The first of two surf related songs in this round up is the fuel injected adrenaline rush that is the drag racing influenced Quarter Mile Burnout. This is the debut single from The Incomprehensible Static whose album can be ordered now from Reckless Yes.
The Barbiturates – You Can’t See Me
The Barbiturates are a DIY “genreless” band from Londonderry, there are loads of goodies from the band coming your way over the coming weeks and months culminating in a mini album on Saturnalia. Cunningly titled “Super Callous Fascist Racist Tories are Atrocious” there can be no doubt where their allegiances lie.
The lead single, You Can’t See Me, has a gloriously textured laid back DIY feel with a lush bass line, and a vocal not unlike Babybird. The second track, Contort, is an altogether different affair, the title probably a good description of the song’s sound, the incessant beat writhing and twisting and overlaid by dissonant keyboards.
MEMES – Heavy Night
If nothing else, I’ve learned of a new genre, perhaps its always been there, I’m just out of the loop. So laptop rock it is then. Memes are a Glasgow duo and Heavy Night, as you might expect, Heavy Night is a song about the aftermath of a night on the tiles. Upbeat and humorous without being cheesey, like an cheery, no anxieties or woes to bring them down, Sleaford Mods.
Jackal Trades and Morphamish – On it Again
Last round up included Jackal Trades featuring Minerva Wakes, this time it’s a collaboration with Morphamish. As I type this I’m thinking I should have put this before Memes. If you want, this is the banger from the “night before” the Heavy Night, as the title suggests when you’re “on it again”.
Mush – Clarion Call
Clarion Call from the record store release Peak Bleak/Clarion Call is now available on streaming platforms. This powerful angular post punk tune from Leeds art-rockers Mush just missed the cut for their 2021 album “Lines Redacted” – ” “Clarion Call” sees the band further exploring the outer reaches of art-rock and includes a contribution from late guitarist Steven Tyson, as lead-singer Daniel Hyndman explains: “It’s one that nearly snuck onto Lines Redacted and the last tune Ty had a hand in writing some of the guitars. Can’t remember what it’s about to be honest just like the phrase, nice little tune though.” “
David Delinquent
When this song was released by Big Country it quickly became one of my favourite songs. When I saw the band perform it live, despite the euphoria and the singing and chants encouraged by Stuart Adamson, I always had a tear in my eye, such was the emotional power of the lyrics. I have a lump in my throat just thinking about it. I’m glad to say, David has dealt with the song sympathetically in his acoustic cover, listening to it had memories of school days and Barrowland gigs all flooding back in a rush. Check out all the covers he has recently uploaded to Bandcamp.
tAngerinecAt – House of Shards
An incessant throbbing beat, shattering glass, and an ingenious construct of futuristic hypnotic electronica and traditional folk instruments (the hurdy gurdy) fixing a foot in the past, come together perfectly with Eugene’s vocal on this darkly addictive song. I’m not sure what I’ve just heard, but I know I love it.
Brontes – Crowded Flat
There is a rightly justified hubbub around the name Brontes at the moment. Despite their relative youth there is an assured confidence in what this band are achieving and the waves they are creating, without yet having “officially” released a single song. In case you haven’t been caught up in the brouhaha, check out their Live Session.
Si Short & the Jacknives
If you’re a fan of Springsteen and a bit of blue collar punk n roll from the likes of Social Distortion or Gaslight Anthem, New York City from from Si Short and the Jack Knives is right up your alley. Driving guitars and earnest vocals all wrapped up in a love song to the Big Apple.
bdrmm – Port
A rising sinister hum, increasing in volume and intensity gives way to a sparse vocal and elegaic solitary bass before building layers of distorted electronica and shoegazey guitar. Nice. With Port bdrmm continue to peddle their own blend of experimental electronic based trippy shoegaze sounds. Keep it up.
Telgate – Love Zone
Suzi Quattro went down to Devilgate Drive, Telgate is going down to the Love Zone. The best way I can describe this is that Telgate’s Love Zone is like 1970s glam rock for the discerning 21st century music fan, before melding into some sort of psychotic anthem dripping with rebellious attitude, and I feckin’ love it.
Full Fat – Maybe Breakup
The last round-up included the wonderful Lipstick from Full Fat. This time round its the effortlessly laidback and supremely soulful Maybe Breakup. With this playing in the background would make any breakup feel a little better.
The Sweetheart Revue – Fall Back
Talking of effortlessly laidback, new single from The Sweetheart Revue is just that. Fall Back is an elegant lesson in how to create a beautifully unassuming song, its understated charm and beauty building into a complex layered arrangement which slowly creeps into your subconscious.
Big Girl’s Blouse – Rock n Roll Hit of September
It may now be October, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get yer lugs around the magnificent Rock n Roll Hit of September. A shot in the arm of pure manic grunge pop thrills underlined by a great big slab of dirty bass, what’s not to like?
Rudebeard – Bitter Pill
Hot on the heels of a live comeback in the sweatbox of Paisley’s Bungalow Bar, the mighty buckie swilling pirate ska-punks, with a penchance for swearing, Rudebeard, release something like their 20th EP of the last 2 years. As I’ve come to expect from the band, their latest offerings are of the same infectious itchy feet quality as usual. And no songs that made me greet this time… Check out the video for Bitter Pill, then head over to Bandcamp and pick up the 4 track EP of smile inducing ska punk goodness
Siobamm – Pick Yr Poison
From ska-punk to skate punk, Siobamm is no stranger to a Roller Derby. On Pick Yr Poison, her follow up to the excellent Gloom Patrol EP, she dreams up the ways in which she can serve up revenge, turning the tables on an unwanted predatory male. The almost suffocating undertones of the ominously menacing rhythm providing the ideal soundtrack to her revenge plans…
La Luz – Oh Blue
With their upcoming fourth album, the self titled “La Luz” due at the end of the month, Oh Blue is the final taster for the album. An affecting ballad taking a slowed down surf rock base, adding a sheen of 1950s dream doo wop and a background of woodwind for good measure, this should have fans of the band excited about the albums imminent arrival.
Captain Rico & the Ghost Band – Mexican Road Trip
I promised more surf rock, and I’m good for my promises. It was dragsters and strip racing earlier, now its Captain Rico’s turn taking us on a Mexican surf guitar safari/road trip from the 2020 album, The Forgotten Memory of the Beaches.
Absolutely Free – Epilogue (After Touch)
Canada’s Absolutely Free released their new album packed full of psych-pop dreamy sonic soundscapes in September. Here is the album’s opening song as a wee taster before you go and sample the whole album for yourself.
Wasuremono – Hi
In Japanese, the bands name means anything left behind. If this is the first time you’ve come across them, then you’ve already been left behind. But don’t worry, there is plenty time to catch up and get swallowed into their world of uplifting leftfield pop and let yourself be enveloped in the joy and warmth. Their fourth album Lets Talk (Pt 2) is due on in January.
Cundeez – On the Randan
Any plans the nicht? How’s about goin’ on the randan? All sound-tracked by Dundee’ s The Cundeez. During the recent Euro’s the Scotland fans were known to chant. “No Scotland no party”. You could quite easily just substitute Scotland with Cundeez, who could quite easily be tagged Scotland’s biggest party band. Who could blame them when you hear the tunes they’ve got to offer.
Collars – Jeremiah
OK, so I included this in the last round up. But I like it and there’s a video now…
Cousin Betty – New Dimensions
Some crunching antipodean desert rock you say? OK, here’s Cousin Betty with New Dimensions from their forthcoming EP Overs.
The Great Leap Forward – It’s a Wonderful Lie
The Great Leap Forward may be better known to some as Alan Brown of Big Flame fame. His current album, Revolt Against An Age of Plenty is perhaps one of the most eloquently delivered verbal assassinations of the current political map without reducing himself to petty name calling or lowering himself to any such debasing tactics. In fact, this single, It’s a Wonderful Lie (I’ve struggled several times not to type the name of my favourite movie), lets the politicians do this for themselves with cleverly sampled quotes digging their own holes for themselves.
Dean Wareham – As Much as it Was Worth
I feel as if I’ve been waiting aeons to see the former Galaxie 500 frontman play in Glasgow. 2022 it is then. In the meantime, I will enjoy his latest gloriously melancholic offering, As Much as It Was Worth from his forthcoming I Have Nothing to Say to the Mayor of LA album.
The Silverbacks – Archive Material
With some Autumn dates across the UK and a new album, also titled Archive Material, due early next year, this single follows on from the sounds of their predecessor Fad, criminally overlooked in favour of fellow Dubliners The Murder Capital and Fontaines DC. The glorious mix of jagged guitars, verging on afrobeat on occasion, french lyrical couplets, a smattering of cowbells and clever lyrics are a wonderful celebration of all that is good about the music scene in Dublin.
Cat SFX – Upside Down
Signed to Alan McGee’s It’s Creation Baby label, Upside Down is Cat SFX fourth single tries to return a bit of positivity into a world that was turned on its head. “Turn that frown upside down” sings Caterina “you’re alright now” as she tries to make sense of everything over an uplifting choppy rhythm.
Freya Beer – Beast
The title track of her newly released album, Beast. Tribal drums and a buzzing, humming guitar underline the verses before the chorus bursts in with a euphoric energy, which belie’s its underlying message. “guilty feelings you have caused… got me lying on the floor now, baby don’t you feel so free”
Hector Gannet – Silent Spring
As you would expect from Hector Gannet, The Silent Spring is a delicate but joyous celebration of Mother Nature. Introduced with birdsong, its much more than that though, listen closely to the lyrics, it is a gently delivered damnation of humanity and what we have done to the gifts she has brought. Is it “farewell to the honey bee”, are we going to welcome in a “silent spring”. The message – act now before it’s too late. Stunning.
Duncan Reid and the Big Heads – Your Future Ex Wife
Having been bereft of any live gigs from the best darn live band in the universe, Duncan Reid and the Big Heads, their vinyl 7″ finally dropping through the letterbox was a welcome ray of sunshine. Featuring on the A side, Your Future Ex Wife, one of the finest songs from their last magnum opus, the three songs just made me more resolved to see the band again sooner rather than later. Everyone needs a bit of live Big Heads in their life, on a regular basis preferably…
IDLES – The Beachland Ballroom
Having had to postpone their Barrowland Ballroom gigs due to COVID, it appears that we’ll have a new IDLES album upon us prior to the rescheduled gigs actually happening. If their very own “Ballroom” song is anything to go by, the new album will be a cracker, and the gigs will be the usual headrush of an event. This touching ballad starts with an almost 60s/Motown influence and builds to an hyper intense conclusion.
Loup Garoux – Gallon Distemper
Talking of intensity, featuring Senseless Things/Gorillaz Cass Browne, Ed Harcourt and The Feeling’s Richard Jones, Loup Garoux herald the arrival of their new album Strangerlands with this sweepingly majestic and darkly epic masterpiece.
Selkie – Beatroot
Berlin based Scot Selkie (Kristina Cox) has released her second single. Beatroot has a minimalistic brooding trip hop beat, providing a perfect platform to showcase her uniquely beguiling vocal.
October Drift – Airborne Panic Attack
Bursting in with a sudden squall of crashing guitars, Airborne Panic Attack’s guitars part to introduce Kiran’s vivid lyrics describing the mundanity of life, background instruments steadily increasing in their potency and verve, to a vibrant chorus warning of potentially walking around with our eyes closed and “death from above” coming.
The Stolen Moans – More
More is a trashy and addictive highly danceable glam punk stomp from LA’s The Stolen Moans. It is about “standing up to bullies and pushing back against misogyny in the workplace”. I want more…
Bad Skin – Grey Day
Heading down a grungier punk alleyway is Grey Day, the high octane L7/Distillers romp from Montreal quartet Bad Skin who make every effort to blast away any drab greyness with their incendiary riffing.
Legss – Hollywood
Both gritty and darkly humorous, Leggs have released their new single Hollywood this week. Musically, sinisterly shadowy and abrasive with lyrics which are both biting “we know that modern life isn’t only rubbish, its something less than colourful” and treacherous “There’s a train leaving in five minutes mister, be under it…”. Darkly majestic.
Lola in Slacks – Luna Moth
I know I said at the start these were in no particular order, but I may have kept my favourite until last. Luna Moth is the latest single to be taken from the phenomenal Lola in Slacks album due for release towards the end of October. All being well, over the next few weeks, The Ginger Quiff will have an interview with Lou, a review of the remarkable album, and post 23rd Oct, and the long-awaited album launch gig in the CCA, a gig review too. For now, just bathe in the majesty of Luna Moth.
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