Song, by Toad

Meursault – Nothing Broke

It’s weird for me to be reviewing a record which is released on my own label, but inasmuch as it feels a little strange, it would in many ways be even stranger for me not to be reviewing Nothing Broke just because it’s on Song, by Toad Records.  So, erm, somewhat vested interests noted, let’s proceed.

For a lot of Meursault fans I think this EP will be most notable for the appearance of live favourite William Henry Miller Pt.1 – on an official release at long last.  For me, this is less the case for this song than it is for the title track itself.  The first four songs I ever heard by Meursault were demo versions of The Furnace, Lament for a Teenage Millionaire, Salt Pt.2 and Nothing Broke on their MySpace page just less than two years ago, roughly.  I specifically requested it when they performed their Toad Session almost a year ago – a sparse, lovely version itself – and I am thrilled to see it finally released into the wild, where it belongs.

Initially, this was supposed to be a mini-album including a lot of acoustic versions of songs from their album, but as it was recorded that concept receded somewhat.  According to the band it just seemed right to keep it all new material, although this does mean that there is a stunning version of Salt Pt.1 out there still waiting to be mixed.

Consequently, Nothing Broke ended up being far shorter than it was strictly intended to be, but this makes it lean as fuck: there is no flab on this whatsoever – not a whiff of filler anywhere.  In fact, although it might lack some of the thunderous noise which is apparently coming our way on the second album, it is an amazingly coherent, whole piece of work.  It works perfectly as a group of songs, some of which are the best I’ve heard in fucking years.

Red Candle Bulb is something of a Bear Scotland effort in that, for all it was largely written by Dan from Withered Hand, Neil from Meursault and Cammy from Enfant Bastard made their own contributions to the tune.  I’ve known of this recording of it – in my eyes the definitive one, although that opinion may be a little controversial – for some time and it’s another one I am glad to finally have see the light of day.  In fact, given how well-known W.H.M. Pt1 is as well, the only really new songs to me on hearing this were Love or Limb and the splendidly morose finale, William Henry Miller Pt.2.

How well these integrate into the better known stuff is impressive.  The emotional trajectory of the EP as a whole seems perfectly judged.  Love or Limb is the centre of the work, and the third in a surprisingly varied opening trio of rather dismal laments.  Nothing Broke, for all the band may insist it is a funny song, is nevertheless musically rather splendidly downbeat.  This mood shifts into the wryly humorous self-deprecation of Red Candle Bulb, and then the flirtation with country which flavours Love or Limb, before the dark cloud is brilliantly exploded by the jaunty clap-along of William Henry Miller Pt.1.  It’s perfectly judged – any more and it could all become a little depressing, but this song brings something of a release, allowing us to really wallow in the most miserable tune of the lot last of all.

Albums are by their nature often more sprawling, and now that there is expectation I would imagine the second record might be difficult to pull off with such ease, so to my mind I doubt there will be a more perfect, self-contained release for some time.  I really do think that this is an astoundingly good piece of work, dubious as that may sound coming from someone with a vested interest in its success.  That’s genuinely what I think, though.

Meursault – Nothing Broke

Meursault – Nothing Broke (Demo)

Meursault – Nothing Broke (Toad Session)

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My Latest Novel – Deaths & Entrances

I’ve been wrong about My Latest Novel in the past, and consequently I am a little wary of pronouncing any sort of definitive judgment on this album, but there’s only so long you can dodge a review, so I might as well inscribe my line in the sand here as anywhere.  The way it worked for me with Wolves was that for all I found the overall record a little unremarkable at first, there were one or two tracks I fell for immediately.  It took months, but I came to genuinely love the whole album.

In the case of their new effort Deaths and Entrances I have certainly found a good fistful of truly excellent songs; the two I’ve linked to below, I Declare a Ceasefire and A Dear Green Place, are truly gorgeous, and the first half contains some stuff I really do think is fantastic.  I am still no more than half there with the rest of the album though, I must confess.

It sounds, in all honestly, an awful lot like the last one in many respects.  Given I love the last one this is no criticism per se, and there has been incremental evolution.  It is not, however, as musically adventurous from one song to the next as Wolves was, and this is not necessarily a good thing.  The Broken Records album has been crticised – and it’s a criticism I agree with to an extent – for bulding to a grand crescendo in every song on the record, and although this doesn’t quite do so in the same style, exactly, the trajectory of each song is nevertheless very similar.

What this does to an album is rob it slightly of an emotional path of its own.  It somehow seems to have the result, despite it all having a very consistent sound, of making this sound more like an accumulation of songs than a single, coherent album, which works well as a collection.  It’s like an anthill – there may be lots of different ants within, all amazing little creatures in their own right, but the anthill itself can be something orders of magnitude more impressive in its own way, which each doing its own job within.  Unfortunately, because these ants all have the same basic design, the album ends up coming across as simply a bunch of ants rather than as an interdependent, unified colony.

I’ll wait though, and give this a few more listens, because as I said right at the beginning, I’ve been wrong about these guys in the past.

My Latest Novel – I Declare a Ceasefire

My Latest Novel – A Dear Green Place

Website | More mp3s | Buy from Resonance Music

Lord Cut Glass – Lord Cut Glass

It’s funny, you really can hear so much of the Delgados in this.  Given that, after Emma Pollock’s solo album last year, this is the product of the other half of that split, that’s no surprise of course, but as a fan of the Delgados it is quite strange to hear so much of their sound in something that is in many ways rather different.

Looking at the respective solo work and then back at the Delgados themselves it seems mean to say, but the removal of Pollock’s earnest piano balladry has done this music no harm at all.  I quite like her solo stuff, but the playfulness spilling out of this record is an absolute fucking joy.  It’s pop, for sure, for those of you who consider that label a slight insult (I can be the same myself, not that I’m all that proud of it), it has some jaunty circus licks, a touch of broadway in a sense, it sprawls about all over the shop, and is generally really rather splendid.

Lyrically it actually reminds me somewhat of Aidan Moffat’s recent album How to Get to Heaven From Scotland.  It’s not quite so up front about its verbal virtuosity, but the combination of dish towel navel-gazing and sly humour is definitely quite similar.  I can’t imagine Moffatt referencing Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree though, although in all honesty it’s far from impossible.

The rhythm drifts from the borderline military thrum, as illustrated on the cover, to the more orchestral pace we know from the Delgados, in particular from their later material.  That’s a broad generalisation though, because in general the overall variety of this album is one of its great strengths.  Orchestral waves do wash across it from time to time, but it’s not unusual for the accordion to be left to get on with things alone.  I like albums which can do this, particularly, as this one does so well, when the lyrical material is able to confidently make you laugh without detracting from the sincerity of the next song.  Songs like Picasso, for example, are musically quite basic despite the swelling arrangements towards the end, whereas other songs have absolutely everything thrown at them, including the kitchen sink.

It doesn’t do me much credit to admit that I had no idea this was coming, honestly, despite its appearing on a label only based about an hour away.  I actually had to be introduced to an album made in Glasgow by a publicity company based in the States, of all things, in the form of Team Clermont.  Still, no matter how I finally got here I’m glad I did, because Lord Cut Glass is an inventive joy of an album.  One of the surprise hits of the year so far, as far as I’m concerned.

Lord Cut Glass – Look After Your Wife

Lord Cut Glass – You Know

MySpace | More mp3s | Buy from Chemikal Underground

Jocky Venkataraman – Can’t Go There, An Introduction to Jocky Venkataraman

Jocky Venkataraman is an intriguing proposition.  I have been informed that he is one of Frightened Rabbit’s favourite artists, having recently appeared as a support act at their sold out acoustic show at the Captain’s Rest.  Well, having digested this album a couple of times, which you can download for free here, it’s safe to say that he’s found a pretty fond spot with me as well.  I’ve never seen him live, though I am now eager to do so, and this is indeed my first exposure to his music but there’s something of the Daniel Johnston’s about his music and that really can never be a bad thing.  Perhaps it’s the genius lyrical content which makes him stand out from the crowd?  Perhaps it’s the almost child like delivery of the vocals?  Or perhaps it that there are a lot of really catchy tunes on this record, which make it instantly appealing.  This record is quirky and diverse to say the least.  It’s challenging for sure.  ButI think it’s a gem.  He releases his second LP ‘Motorways Died Young/This is Not Food, This Isn’t Even Food’ through Glasgow label Wiseblood Industries this year. You’re either going to love this or hate it.  Either way,  enjoy.

Parcel People (Xmas Eve)

Airport Marches – Jocky Venkataraman

Never Gets Dark In June – Jocky Venkataraman

Small Town Boredom

Sometimes people come into your life and touch you with their music in a way that’s hard to explain.  Sometimes they write more miserable songs than you.  Sometimes they smoke like a chimney.  Sometimes they write the most heart wrenching tunes imaginable.  Sometimes they are from Paisley.  Sometimes they just happen to be one of the most important people you’ve met through music.  Sometimes they deserve much, much more media attention than they get.  Sometimes you get the opportunity to write about them and let a wider audience know about them.  Sometimes these things happen.  Sometimes they don’t. 

Small Town Boredom are Fraser McGowan and Colin Morrison who create ‘ whiskey soaked tales of loss & longing providing constant reminders of what was & what could have been.’  They have a new album out sometime in the future (not sure what date as yet – probably a year away knowing Fraser!) entitled ‘Notes From The Infirmary’.  I have been told by Fraser that I’m not allowed to review it on pain of death, or perhaps just some mild bodily harm.  Given his Paisley roots, I have no intention of breaking my word.   However, I do have a track to let you hear from the new album called ‘Void Lighting’ and can confirm that the album is brilliant.  I will also post a track from their wonderful debut album ‘Autumn Might Have Hope’ for your enjoyment.    This record was as Fraser describes ‘a testament to sorrow and self pity, a brutally truthful account of a functioning alcoholic and the loss of his so called loved ones.’  It’s content may be dark but the music is simply breathtaking.

I met Fraser through Bart, who as it happens plays for STB live and also appears on the new record and yet strangely has not heard it yet.  Fraser works in mysterious ways!  Anyways,  he has recorded a number of demo’s for me in the past and we’ve become really good friends over the years.  He even named his son after me.  Joke Fraser!  Anyways, Small Town Boredom are a wonderful band who deserve so much more.  The chorus of ‘Void Lighting’ gives me goosebumps.  Genius.  Under-rated genius.

Void Lighting – Small Town Boredom

Sparrow & The Workshop Tour Diary

Local legends, Toadworld faves and all-round good eggs Sparrow And The Workshop have, of late, been pounding the highways – and the byways – of our sceptered isle on their first proper UK tour. The band have taken the opportunity to become part-time documentary film-makers and produced this video diary of their adventures.

They’ve visited many of the UK’s major towns and cities, and Bristol, on their expedition, which was largely in support of that other bunch of stalwart Toad-buddies; Broken Records, who even make a brief cameo appearance in part three – keep an eye out for that!

The guys also visit England’s most revered site of ancient spiritual significance at Glastonbury Tor, and a place of equal religious significance to Wales: Neath.

The video itself breaks new ground in the surreallist docu-comedy genre, and has been described as “Luis Buñuel meets Benny Hill”. Well, I don’t know about that myself, but the monkey-skeleton scene in the museum (4:26 in part three) is nothing short of genius.

So to round-up, this whole thing is mad as badgers. As, clearly, are the band themselves.

Enjoy…

Beerjacket – Animosity

Beerjacket.  Wow, what a name.  Imagine if we had such things. Would they be jackets with a beer in every pocket?  Or would it be a jacket made of the same material as arm bands but instead of being inflated by air they would inflate when filled with beer?  This would obviously come with a handy straw for regular refreshment purposes.  We’d then need filling stations though, similar to those catering for automobiles, but instead of petrol pumps we’d have beer pumps.  What a glorious world it would be!  Unfortunately there are no such things.  However, on the flip side this beerjacket is equally as glorious.  This is like Elliott Smith never died.   This is lo-fi pop music at its very, very best.   This is a glorious end to a tiring Wednesday.

Beerjacket is the pseudonym of Glasgow singer songwriter Peter Kelly.  He’s no stranger to big gigs having opened shows for the likes of The National, Bat For Lashes, Guillemots and Rilo Kiley.  And yet, this is the first time I’ve stumbled across him with the release of his album ‘Anomosity’.  He evokes memories of early Elliott Smith and of Bright Eyes at his best, with this collection of 3 minute pop gems.  In fact, no track on the album is over 3 and a half minutes in length and if anything this emphasises the links to early Smith albums.  But that’s not a criticism by any means as this is a great listen and there is a space in my heart for somebody stepping up to the plate and delivering the quality of heart wrenching music attributed to the late, great Elliott Smith.  From the sounds of this, Beerjacket seems up for the challenge and I look forward to hearing more from this artist.  The album can be downloaded from all the usual places, though I believe the album launch is happening in Glasgow as I write with the physical release being available as of tomorrow.  Anyways, in the meantime, I’ve chosen a selection of tunes from the album for your listening pleasure and hope you enjoy this as much as I am.

Drum – Beerjacket

Screaming Hallelujah – Beerjacket

And here’s one of my all time favourite Elliott Smith songs cause I’m in that mood now.

Between the Bars – Elliott Smith

We Sink Ships – The Ghost You Left Behind

Ok, so We Sink Ships are not a band and The Ghost You Left Behind is not the name of an album or EP.  We Sink Ships are 2 wonderfully talented photographers in the shape of Heidi Kuisma and Neil Milton and The Ghost You Left Behind is the name of their latest online exhibition that can be viewed here.  I have known Heidi for sometime now and am a big fan of her photographs regularly visiting We Sink Ships and her own photo page on Flickr to check out her latest work.  The latest online exhibition, I think you will agree, is simply stunning.  And even better knews is that the pair of them are having their first “real world” exhibition at the 13th Note in Glasgow.  And if it can get even better, they are holding a launch night at the 13th Note on Monday 6th July with live music in the form of Hindle Wakes, Call To Mind and the wonderful, wonderful Debutant.   Anyways, I thought it would be nice to let you guys explore out some quality photography over at their site.  But before you do enjoy the wonderful sounds of Debutant.

Means to an end – Debutant

There Will Be Fireworks

I recently mentioned on one of the many threads on this blog that Sparrow and the Workshop fuck me up in so many positive ways.  Well here’s another bunch from Glasgow that fuck me up in so many wonderful ways.  I cannot actually describe how much I am loving the 2 tunes that they sent me this evening.  I had heard one of the tracks on Glasgowpodcart, a wonderful little pod cast based in Glasgow and run by an exceptionally lovely bunch of people.  The first moment I heard this tune I knew this band were for me.  I am quite frankly surprised not to have read about them on these pages before now – I have checked and see no record of any reviews of the band either on record or live to date.  Anyways, they are releasing their eponymous debut album on 1st July.   Neither of the tunes I am about to post are on the album.  In fact, the guys told me themselves that they think everything on the album is better than these 2 tracks – which is pretty impressive if you ask me!    And they are making waves.  Already being touted as the next big guitar band to come out of Glasgow they have drawn the obvious comparisons to the Twilight Sad and Frightened Rabbit.  Personally, bar a strong Glasgow accent, I don’t hear it.  There is something more intricate about this band.  Just something more melodic, atmospheric.  I am excited.  I get excited about a lot of Scottish bands, but this album is going to be bought the day it comes out, it’s going to be played until my ears can’t take anymore and I am going to get them at Trampoline as soon as I can - as long as they want to play of course!  Great stuff from a band with the potential to do great things in the second half of 2009.  Lets hope they do.

Foreign Thoughts – There Will Be Fireworks

White Noise – There Will Be Fireworks

Woodenbox with a Fistul of Fivers – Hang The Noose

Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers.  It’s a name you’re not going to forget in a hurry isn’t it?  And they are a band that you will not forget in a hurry either, of that I promise.  Starting off as a solo project simply called Woodenbox, Ali Downer has built around him a fine set of musicians who call themselves A Fistful of Fivers.  However,  there is definitely more of a band vibe to this lot than a solo artist with associated backing band.  Anyways, I remember seeing them a while back at one of the excellent Rubix nights (R.I.P) at the GRV and thinking what a great band.  They blew everyone away with their own brand of slightly eerie Americana.  Then this year at Trampoline’s 2^nd birthday party they once again left their mark with a blistering set which left me itching for more.  So I was extremely pleased and fortunate to have recently been asked to play piano for the band.   So far it has been an amazing experience playing Sneaky Pete’s and getting 4 out of 5 in the Scotsman then playing a practically sold out King Tuts on Saturday night before playing to a mobbed Kelvingrove Park on Sunday as part of the West End Festival.   However,  I don’t want the fact I now sit in on keys for them to suggest that there will be a bias in this review.  It’s important to note that I have always loved the band and think their music is simply brilliant. 

Anyways, Monday saw the release of their second single ‘Hang the Noose’ on King Tuts Recordings.  In terms of eerieness, this particular song stands out from the others.  It’s driving trumpet and saxaphone are particularly creepy and the song ebs and flows beautifully with an almost Mariachi like quality.  I can totally imagine the whole band dressed as Mexicans wandering through the streets playing this tune.  It’s  just great.  The second tune for your pleasure is called ‘My Mule’ and is the B-side from previous single ‘Twisted Mile’.  It is a much different proposition live than it is on this particular recording – as can be said about a lot of the tunes – but this is the version that sucked me in.  It’s a real TUNE!  Anyways, if you like what you hear, keep an eye out on their myspace for upcoming shows and for future releases.  Just make sure you catch them live as soon as you can because despite my bias, I can promise you they are as good live as anyone doing the rounds in Scotland at the moment.  And you can buy the single at all good music shops.

Hang The Noose – Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers

My Mule – Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers