Final part of May’s Singles Round Up, I mean, it’s only August after all…
Another mix of genres and styles from across the gamut of new underground Scottish bands and beyond…
Scott C Park – That’s Love
Kicking off with references to ancient Beltane traditions, That’s Love is the second single to come from Revival, Scott C Park’s (the C stands for Caravan) Revival album, and the second song from an Isle of Lewis band/artist in this month’s round up. That’s Love is a joyous blend of lo-fi slacker rock and traditional Scottish folk that explores the little things in the relationships that show the true meaning of love.
Saint Sappho – Edge of Seventeen
Following on from their sublime debut album, reviewed here, the talented Scottish duo released their take on the Stevie Nicks classic Edge of Seventeen, giving it a dreamy Saint Sappho makeover and making it their own.
Divil – Thanks a Million
Like Glasgow, Dublin has a knack of churning out top quality bands, the latest of these to catch my attention is the trio Divil with their touching and impactful debut single Thanks a Million. The reflective nature of this visceral song is influenced by being consumed by grief, and the personal reactions to it, containing a wheen of entirely relatable lines – “I went on my face again,” “I’m stuck in my head and I can’t get out” & “I had a nice rest and I’m better now…” with an authentically uplifting chorus that expresses gratitude to those who are a rock for you at your lowest points in life.
Dovetailed – Kitchen
Dovetailed is the collaboration between Kim Grant aka Raveloe and Simon Riddell of Frightened Rabbit, Poster Paint & Olympic Swimmers among others, and Kitchen is their debut single release. The song is a delicately affecting ballad with a strikingly ethereal melody, with carefully selected instruments and sympathetic arrangement giving it a dreamlike haunting quality. I could have imagined the likes of Sinead O’Connor singing this…
The Cocktail Slippers – Joyride
The Cocktail Slippers haven’t made an appearance in these round ups for a while, so it is great to welcome them back with this old school rocker celebrating life on the road. Joyride comes from their 6th album, of the same name, a name which is also a perfect description of the song itself, with it’s joyous celebratory air, and compelling driving 1970’s hard-rockin’ rhythm.
Brittle – Breathe
Brittle’s lead singer Cameron Ferguson hails from Tain in the North East of Scotland, taking on the moniker of brittle after initially performing under his own name, and releasing a couple of singles, Roses and Card Machine. Breathe is the bands second single under their new name, with Be Mine out in February this year, on which the band create an expansive layered sound paired with an earnestly raw and emotional vocal and shimmering harmonies provided by Kate Lindsay on synth.
The Joy Thieves – No Anchor
Chicago based Edinburgh ex-pat Chris Connelly has appeared on these pages in several guises over the years, this time he is providing lead vocals to the industrial rock supergroup, swapping between sung and spoken parts, where he still demonstrates an Edinburgh twang despite living in the US since the 80s, his other vocal points at times channel the spirit of Bowie. The single comes from the third Joy Thieves album, the perceptively title Apocalypse Pending.
Esther’s Wife – Vidalia
The minimalistic arrangement of Glasgow based alt-folk duo Esther’s Wife’s third single Vidalia allows space for the vocal to take centre stage, giving the song a sparse and haunting allure.
Her Picture – The Ram
Her picture singles are never less than arresting in their captivating energy, and The Ram is no different. The minimalistic introduction is beautifully commanding, Anny’s vocal demonstrating a sylphlike elegance which hooks you and reels you in before the track bursts into life with a powerfully commanding rhythm section and richly textured guitar lines.
The Yummy Fur – New T Shirt
Released on 7” vinyl with Buffet Lunch from Errol’s Hot Wax, New T-Shirt signalled the welcome return of Scottish legends The Yummy Fur, their first release since the 2019 compilation Piggy Wings. Complete with a whimsical “see how many people wearing t-shirts you can recognise” video for the suitably left field song, a gloriously laidback sonic groove replete with resonant fuzzy riffs and, of course, some flute thrown in for good measure. Nothing short of smile inducing. A new album Everybody Talks About the Weather is set for a September release.
Big Crunch – More Than Chinatown
Apsi is continuing to enjoy her new musical direction post-Brenda with More Than Chinatown, following in the tradition of off the wall synth based bangers that Brenda were famous for but taking it even further into electro-pop territory. The single was the May release from her new venture Big Crunch and their “synth pop Italian disco industrial electronic trance banger factory” following up her debut, Not Your Boyfriend (originally released under her own name and featured in an earlier singles round up) and unique cover of the Papa Roach hot Last Resort.
The Soda Poppers – Not Even in Your Wildest (Fuckin‘) Dreams
From the twisted mind of Johnny Skullknuckles came The Soda Poppers blink and you’ll miss it high octane, pedal to the metal, take no prisoners raw trash glam punk energy headfuck of Not Even in Your Wildest (Fuckin”) Dreams. Nuff said.
Nanobots – Cut Existence
The two little lost robots Shona and Jim aka Nanobots May single is a slight departure from the sci-fi synth punk you’d expect from the space pop duo. Cut Existence is still packed full of synth bleeps and squelches, but the song is darker and has more of an angular post punk geek with jagged guitar and lyrics exploring the increasingly dystopian nature of the world we live in, with an on point wryly tongue in cheek sudden ending. Love it.
Late Night Getaway Drivers – Heard it on the Radio
At the core of Heard it on the Radio from Ayrshire/Glasgow alt-rock combo Late Night Getaway Drivers is a highly infectious guitar riff which will end up running through your head for days while frontman Conor’s lead vocal demonstrates a fervent urgency complemented perfectly by Chloe’s effective harmonies. This high energy infectious toe-tapper is definitely one of the sounds of the summer for me.
Niamh MacLennan – Homebody
Never let it be said that I don’t feature artists from all over Scotland, while singer songwriter Niamh MacLennan is now Glasgow based she originates from Applecross in Wester Ross. Her single Homebody mixes a hauntingly atmospheric melody with lyrics demonstrating a tender vulnerability and the desire to find sanctuary away from the white noise of modern living.
Fog Bandits – Devour
Produced by Blair Crichton of Dead Pony fame, Fog Bandits continue to plough a similar furrow with their own line in high octane punk infused alt-metal. The loud quiet loud nature of Devour features some aggressive shredding and explosive riffs and a rhythm section that pummels you into submission. This band just keeps getting better and better…
Karen Dio – Bexy
Karen Dio visits Glasgow soon to play King Tuts and I’m sure this single will be one of her set highlights. Written with Dinosaur Pile Up’s Matt Bigland, there is more than a hint of a Marilyn Manson mechanical stomp running though the track channeling Rock is Dead, topped with Dio’s Joan Jett styles proto-punk vocal.
Brnoutbby – Cult Leader
Brnoutbby follow up their debut single Bones with the pulsating throb of Cult Leader, with its crunching riffs and propulsive energetic rhythm matching the biting caustic friction in the lyrics taking aim at the rise in political agitators and their propaganda and those who take their words as “gospel.”
mango mango mango – let your guard down
Let your guard down was May’s heartbreakingly beautiful offering from mango mango mango, showing a vulnerable side to Mags Gwynne’s work creating a laid back dreamy vibe with ambient synths sounds giving it a hypnotic feel. As a trans-feminine artist, their work explores the themes of living as a marginalised individual in the current sociopolitical climate, with this song in particular focussing on the tiring nature of always being in fight or flight mode.