By the time this is published I will be lying in bed in Toad Hall with a hangover like a nasty case of death warmed up.  The Song, by Toad Christmas Party was on Friday 5th December, and given how exhausted I am at the moment I would imagine that about two or three gins into the evening I will be whistling Waltzing Matilda out my fucking ears.

Still, the Meursault album will be out, the party will be sorted, the Song, by Toad Records publicity juggernaut will be chuntering along comfortably and I will be able to begin the gentle slide into Christmas relaxation.  Finally finally finally.  I am so fucking exhausted from all the bloody time I’ve thrown into this since the Summer, and over Christmas there will be two weeks off with little to do but move this site all over to self-hosting and tinker a little with the design.

I’ll be trying to make the sessions and Toad Records things a little more prominent, and generally poking about in general.  The problem is that my CSS is so piss-poor that I really am limited in what I can do, so I’ll just have to hope it turns out okay.  I am loath to pay someone to redesign the thing for me though, because that seems to be somewhat contrary to the Spirit of All Things Toad.

The Spirit of All Things Toad, of course, being gin.

Toadcast #49 – Hangovers

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01. The National – Fake Empire (01.30)
02. Doveman – Teacup (06.05)
03. Samamidon – Wild Bill Jones (12.53)
04. Phil & the Osophers – High Art (22.43)
05. Miracles of Modern Science – MR2 (26.15)
06. Radiohead – Idioteque (32.49)
07. Chopps Derby – Down the Dogs (41.22)
08. The 1900s – Age of Metals (47.01)
09. Alela Diane – White as Diamonds (50.12)
10. The Wave Pictures – Leave the Scene Behind (58.07)

Finally finally finally we are entering into the home straight as far as Alela Diane‘s new album is concerned.  The Pirate’s Gospel, her superlative debut, was recorded a little over five years ago and because of the slow trickle that finally saw it ease its way out into the world she has been sitting on this new one for bloody ages.

Well she’s signed to Rough Trade now and her new album, To Be Still, will be emerging in the middle of February next year.  White as Diamonds has been released as a teaser mp3 to whet our appetites, and bugger me it’s whetted mine.  She’s talked recently about adding depth and instrumentation to her sound and in this song you can hear just that, most instantly with the violin.  The bigger departure for her existing fans, however, will almost certainly be the standard pop rhythm section of bass and drums.  I have no idea why people feel the need to add this to songs – is it just to create a sound as unsurprising as possible for a radio audience?

Well it doesn’t really matter because, after the initial surprise, it makes little difference to the song, which is gorgeous.  The ability to add fiddle and, just at the end, a wonderful rumble of cello, is where the extra money of a recording deal really adds to an album and hearing an Alela Diane record with these lovely flourishes promises to be a real treat.  The bass and drums, frankly, I could do without, but from the sounds of this they don’t actually do it any harm either, once you get used to their presence.

Alela Diane Toad Session

Alela Diane – White as Diamonds

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Hello and welcome back to the Toad Sessions. I was a little drunk when I noticed that Alela Diane was playing in Edinburgh as part of the Triptych Festival, so the idea of emailing her label and inviting her to do a Toad Session didn’t seem quite so preposterous. In the morning, I thought I was mad and would be laughed at, but amazingly they agreed, and now here it is.

This one was also recorded by Nick at Bananarow and he’s done another amazing job – the songs sound absolutely gorgeous. Dylan’s pictures can be found at the Flickr page, and we have some more videos at the Song, by Toad YouTube page. Here’s the interview podcast, with the tracklisting at the bottom of the page.

Toadcast #30 – Alela Diane & Mariee Sioux Toad Session

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Here are the sessions tracks themselves. The Cuckoo is a traditional song, and Dry Grass & the Shadows is from Alela’s new album which should hopefully be out later this year. Mariee’s songs are Flowers & Blood from her recent album Faces in the Rocks, whereas the gorgeous Icarus Eye is an old song from a home release.

Alela Diane – Dry Grass & the Shadows

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Alela Diane – The Cuckoo

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Mariee Sioux – The Icarus Eye

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Mariee Sioux – Flowers & Blood

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Here are the videos, all hosted at the YouTube page. Again, the interview is going to have to go up later because I seem to have entirely lost Morgan, my resident editing expert, so I’ve had to cobble these things together myself. I am going to work on the interview movies as best I can, so they should hopefully be available in a week or two.

01. Alela Diane – Dry Grass & the Shadows (Toad Session) (04.51)
02. The Shaky Hands – Summer’s Life (08.36)
03. Johnny Cash – I See a Darkness (11.45)
04. The Holy Modal Rounders – Hesitation Blues (20.42)
05. Neutral Milk Hotel – The Communist’s Daughter (24.10)
06. Mariee Sioux – Flowers & Blood (Toad Session) (26.07)
07. Hem – Half Acre (32.29)
08. Bonnie Prince Billy – No Bad News (41.41)
09. Willard Grant Conspiracy – Twistification (46.05)
10. Vashti Bunyan – Glow Worms (53.35)
11. Mariee Sioux – The Icarus Eye (Toad Session) (58.10)
12. Alela Diane – The Cuckoo (Toad Session) (62.56)

Well I hope you like these. The next session is going to be with local band Meursault, and will be the first one to be recorded in Toad Hall. Very exciting!

This week the Edinburgh gig scene gathers pace slowly, but by the end of the week it’s going great guns, culminating in a weekend of Triptych splendour that will be the last of its kind. I think there’s pretty much bugger all going on today and tomorrow, but Wednesday is busy and it just gets better after that.

This week also represents the last ever Triptych Festival, which used to so splendidly showcase experimental and interesting music around Scotland. I didn’t like a lot of what they put on, but occasionally they came up with some gems, and this last one is no different, with the gorgeous Alela Diane headlining the Bongo Club on Sunday. And she, ladies and gentlemen, will be sticking around to record the next Toad Session on the Monday. I am so fucking chuffed about that I could do a little dance!

Wednesday 23rd April, 2008: Angus & Julia Stone & Paris Motel at Cabaret Voltaire.
I’d not describe Angus & Julia Stone as any better than decent, but Paris Motel are definitely worth seeing. They’ll be playing with a pared-down lineup and I think the best way to describe them would be as the house band on the Marie Celeste. Spooky and gorgeous.
Paris Motel – City of Ladies

Wednesday 23rd April 2008: Super Adventure Club at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
I know next to nothing about these guys, and apparently they are pretty new on the capital’s music circuit. I’ve had a bit of a listen to their MySpace page though and they sound pretty good to me: slightly spasmodic, experimental indie but with a slightly more acoustic bent that a lot of other stuff in this sort of territory.
Super Adventure Club – Built in Redundancy

Thursday 24th April 2008: Boyfriend/Girlfriend & Down the Tiny Steps at the Voodoo Rooms.
You all know how much I like the Tinies’ electronic pop stuff, and Girlfriend/Boyfriend are also well worth checking out. They’re quite standard indie, but I like ‘em nonetheless.
Boyfriend/Girlfriend – The Greatest High

Thursday 24th April 2008: The Un-Americans & Found & Frightened Rabbit & Withered Hand at the GRV.
Two of Scotland’s best bands, an Edinburgh favourite and a group I’ve never heard of. The Un-Americans have something of a dense, dirty blues sound which is rather promising, and I’ve never heard of them at all so definitely worth giving a go. Found and Withered Hand you know all about, and of course Frightened Rabbit have their new album Midnight Organ Fight to promote.
The Un-Americans – Jericho (Bootleg)

Friday 25th April 2008: Meursault & Fox Gang & Jesus H. Foxx (acoustic) at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
You know I love Meursault, but Fox Gang sound really rather good too and I’ve never had the chance to see them live. Provided I can stay sober enough in the pub after work on Friday, this week could be the on where I finally put that right. Their stuff sound quite mod-like at times, and has a good, funky beat underlying much of it and of course, most importantly, some bloody good tunes.
Fox Gang – White English

Sunday 27th April: Alela Diane & Michael Hurley at The Bongo Club.
Triptych may be no more, but they’re going out with a band here. Alela Diane’s Pirate’s Gospel was one of the loveliest albums of last year and I can’t wait to hear her fragile, bluesy folk live.
Alela Diane – Pieces of String

11. Shout Out Louds – Our Ill Wills

The first time I heard this album I thought it was mediocre.  Mediocre!  The next time I thought it was decent.  Now I think it’s an 80s indie pop masterpiece.  One of the most enjoyable records I’ve heard for ages. If you’re having a party with even slightly discerning guests put this on, loud!

Shout Out Louds – Tonight I Have to Leave It

review | website | buy

12. White Rabbits – Fort Nightly

Piano driven rock ‘n’ roll brilliance. You know how if you really love something you sit there drumming on the table with your fingers and bobbing your head like a muppet?  Well this is that album for me.  Great, great stuff.

White Rabbits – Kid on My Shoulders

review | website | buy

13. Frightened Rabbit – The Greys

This album has the dubious honour of being the first ever freebie I was ever sent to review.  I felt so important and so happy.  And what a fine album it is too: discordant indie with howling, tuneless vocals and scrappy, jumpy guitar.  Scottish indie is alive and well, and it’s because of groups like these lads.

Frightened Rabbit – Music Now

review | website | buy

14. Loch Lomond – Paper the Walls

Breathtakingly beautiful chamber folk from that cauldron of indie brilliance: Portland, Oregon.  Sufjan Stevens meets the Decemberists and, this year, outdoes them both.

Loch Lomond – Song in ¾

review | website | buy

15. Alela Diane – The Pirate’s Gospel

Truly a work of hushed folk wonder.  I only found out about her because she’s on the same label as the Shaky Hands.  What fine noses those people at Holocene Music have.  Honestly, you could not find a finer album of bluesly, folky, old-time gorgeousness.

Alela Diane – Pieces of String

review | website | buy

I sometimes think this could be the shortest review I’ve ever written, which seems a shame, because it’s not to show a lack of love for the album, which is superb.

All I mean is that explaining this music will take a second, and then it’s really up to you to have a listen, decide whether or not you like it, and then scuttle off to buy the album.  Basically, this is a short, lovely album of acoustic blues-folk with the sparsest of arrangements that nonetheless manages to generate a wonderfully evocative, full sound.

There you go – see: you know exactly what I mean, it’s not that hard and it’s hardly an unknown genre.  There is a lot of thin, lifeless stuff in this particular bracket though, so I do feel I should say that Alela Diane avoids any of that.  There is a wonderfully old-fashioned warmth to her voice which is rather gorgeous, and she is one of very few people I have ever heard sing songs with repeated choruses like ‘Clicketty-Clack’ without annoying me.  It is all at once very other-worldly and very simple and very present, and I would really recommend this record.

Alela Diane – Rifle
Alela Diane – Can You Blame the Sky?

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