Here it is, Singles Round Up 2021 Part 6 – since I published Part 5, the quality songs just keep coming this year, and that is only the ones I am just about keeping up with. For every superb song I manage to listen to, I’ve probably deleted a handful of e-mails that may have contained another cracker.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again -don’t let anyone ever tell you that there are no good new bands or new music out there. If that sis what you think, you’re just too damn lazy to find it…
Here are a selection of the songs I’ve been enjoying of late.
Chris Connelly and Monica Queen
I’ll kick off with a double header. Two songs from an epic upcoming album from the legend of Industrial music and, quite literally, the Queen of Scottish music. The album is The Birthday Poems and is a “song cycle” exploring the relationship between Orcadian poet George Mackay Brown, his muse Stella Cartwright and their mutual friend Stanley Roger Green. The two songs that announce the arrival of the album give voice to the two main protagonists, the first being Tae the Poets, voiced by Chris Connelly as George Mackay Brown, the song is an intoxicating and invigorating celebration Scottish writing and poetry.
The latest song is My Father Took Me Everywhere and is voiced by Monica Queen as Stella Cartwright. Not only does Queen lend her honeyed vocal to the character of Stella, the video is a tribute to a short film from 1964, Palindrome, which features rare footage of the real Stella.
The album is due on the 15th of June and is set to become one of my albums of 2021.
Chris Connelly – website – Facebook
Monica Queen – Facebook
Dead Pony
Not a new song as such, but Dead Pony have just released a video for their single 23, Never Me. Fortunately for them, but unfortunately for everyone else, their headline Summer Nights show at King Tuts on 28th August is already sold out. Take solace in the music….
The Cundeez
Yes, we know You Can Boogie, but the REAL anthem of this years Euros for Scotland comes from Dundee’s The Cundeez, even getting a spot on the STV Six O’Clock News this week. Everybody now… “Kilts on, Taps Aff” It is summer after all…
The Cundeez – Facebook – Tarbeach Records
Fat Cops
Lets face it, it wouldn’t be a Ginger Quiff singles round up without at least one Last Night From Glasgow related tune. So, here is the first in this round up! Fat Cops celebrate their collaboration with their single/video for Plan of Attack. This “plan” is to release a series of digital singles, ultimately releasing them together on physical format. The start of a beautiful relationship.
Fat Cops – Facebook – Last Night From Glasgow
Daniel Wylie’s Cosmic Rough Riders
Sticking with Last Night From Glasgow, if you’re a fan of Daniel Wylie, you’ll not be disappointed by the beautiful introduction to his latest album, Atoms and Energy, which takes its name from the lyrics in this single, Our Love Will Never Die. If you like this single, you will love the rest of the album. And just as an extra treat, Last Night From Glasgow’s offshoot, Past Night From Glasgow is re-releasing the classic Enjoy the Melodic Sunshine on vinyl too. Links below…
Daniel Wylie’s Cosmic Rough Riders – Last Night From Glasgow – Facebook
Jackal Trades
Ahead of a new album, Jackal Trades have released a song which represents Mark McGhee’s well-observed “review” of the last 12 months. As you would expect from McGhee this is a scathing stream of consciousness tirade, no targets missed in his bleak dystopian view of a year which, if we hadn’t lived through it, sounds like the script to a disaster movie.
Jackal Trades – Facebook – Bandcamp
Loud Women
Talking of people with something to say, Reclaim the Streets is an epic single by a vast number of women from a variety of bands across the alternative music scene, with lyrics reflecting messages we’ve all heard for years. “Text me when you get home”, “Keys between your fingers” “Stay close to street lights”. The message is clear and the clarion call goes out to all. It is not a woman’s responsibility to do everything she can to make herself safe, it is society’s problem.. And if I hear anyone saying “but not all men are like that” you need to take a look at yourself as YOU ARE COMPLETELY MISSING THE POINT. #Reclaimthese streets. Buy this song – all proceeds to Women’s Aid.
‘Reclaim These Streets’ song for Women’s Aid – LOUD WOMEN
Admiral Fallow
Admiral Fallow make a welcome return on Chemikal Underground with their new single Sleepwalking. “What would you want with someone who’s only in love with the idea of you?” ponders Louis atop a laidback groove as he thinks about someone sleepwalking through a relationship. A real grower that gets under your skin and grabs your imagination. Looking forward to more … and a new album?
Admiral Fallow – Bandcamp – Facebook
Jim Bob
Unsurprisingly, the events of the last 12 months have inspired a lot of songs. Jim Bob takes a different approach from Jackal Trades in The Summer of No Touching, bringing his own inimitable style and knack for engaging storytelling and painting pictures with words and writing yet another earworm to add to his burgeoning back catalogue. His last album Pop Up was a triumph. By the sounds of The Summer of No Touching, the new album will be just as good.
Jim Bob – Facebook – Album Pre-order Links
The Members
The first of two animated videos from the hands of the multi-talented JC Carroll. The Members frontman has created this quirky video for the heavily electronic but undeniably rockin’ bluesy second single from their latest album Bedsitland, Lovesongs (Joe Strummer Told Me). Check out the album, and while you’re at it get yourself a copy of the highly entertaining book, Still Annoying the Neighbours.
The Members – website – Facebook
The Interrupters
Before I share the other JC Carroll created video, I have to share this version of Joe Strummer’s Get Down Moses. It has been around for a while now, since an online Strummer tribute gig during lockdown, but I have been very remiss in not sharing before now. A belting version of a great song from one of the most exciting live bands I’ve had the fortune to see in recent years.
The Interrupters – website – Facebook
The Magic Sponge
Back to JC, and the video he has created for the touching tribute to Alan Turing from the superbly unique sound of The Magic Sponge, whose album, The Bespoken Word, which I reviewed for Louder Than War earlier in the year calling it “bewitchingly beautiful”. Please take the opportunity to listen to and grab yourself a copy of this album.
The Magic Sponge – Facebook
Nicol & Elliott
Lets stick with the animations, this time the new one from Nicol & Elliott, available now on Hive, an offshoot of… well, you know… This is a really engaging catchy toe-tapper with an equally engaging and kooky retro styled video to go with it. This is a love song plain a simple, a tale of unrequited love and trying to pluck up the courage to talk…. The band call it their “dumb crush song” but I think it is something quite special.
Nicol & Elliott – Single links – Facebook
Jo Carley & the Old Dry Skulls
I’m going to finish Round Up 6 for 2021 with this deadly addictive vaudeville rockabilly ditty from another band whose album I reviewed for Louder Than War earlier in the year. This video comes with a health warning – don’t mess with the Voodoo lady….
Jo Carley & the Old Dry Skulls – website – Facebook
The Ginger Quiff 2021 Playlist
As always, if the songs are on Spotify, they’re on the playlist.
Part 7 coming soon….