This is called the Changecast because, in an absolutely stunning turn of events, it is not packed full of lo-fi garage rock for a bloody change.  Considering the racket you’ve had to put up with for the last year or so, it seems I have kindly granted you the respite of three songs you’d probably vaguely describe as Americana and a couple which are most unmistakably pop!  I know! Get me!

Tonight is of course the Rob St. John album launch down at Pilrig St. Paul’s in Leith.  He will be joined on the bill by Viking Moses, Meursault and eagleowl, the latter of whom just happen to be recording their debut album at the moment, which is rather exciting.

So, I will post this, attempt to get some nice lunch somewhere and then commence that uncomfortable ‘no-one’s coming no-one’s coming no-one’s coming… oh thank fuck’ dance I inevitably end up doing whenever I am promoting a gig.  Why I put myself through this all the time I just don’t know.

Direct download: Toadcast #197 – The Changecast
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01. Cub Scouts – Evie (00.20)
02. Horsecollar – The Thrill of Never Being Satisfied (06.53)
03. Yoofs – John Actor is Monkfish (14.39)
04. Youthfall – Guard it Like a Fortress (18.01)
05. Rollor – Jekyll Island (22.37)
06. The Lovely Sparrows – National Monuments (33.07)
07. Ohbijou – Niagra (39.42)
08. Milk & Biscuits – Rivers (44.10)
09. First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar (50.45)
10. The Twilight Sad – Sick (58.25)

When do the clocks go forward again? It feels like it should be soon, because the bite’s gone out of the cold, and you can see green shoots here and there on some of the plants, but I guess it’ll be a while yet, unfortunately.  Still, it’s actually light out when I leave work these days, which is a positive sign.

The post-Christmas gig lull seems to be slowly coming to an end as well, which is good news.  It’s actually a rather busy week this week, with the funs spread pretty evenly, instead of all clumping together on a single evening, as they have been wont to do of late.  How considerate of them.

Firstly, Frabbit are playing Cabaret Voltaire on Wednesday with Ross Clark and Dupec, but there’s little point making a fuss about that one seeing as it’s already sold out. I thought I’d mention it though, in case you’re the sort who can wangle guesties to this sort of thing.

Oh, and Song, by Toad is back on Fresh Air this evening, going live at about 8pm I think, but more of that later.  During the meanwhilst…

Monday 15th February 2010: Jesca Hoop, Run/Lucky/Free & the Wintergreens at Sneaky Pete’s.

There’s a touch of the alt-country power pop to this lineup, some of which strays outside my personal taste a little.  I was first introduced to Jesca Hoop by DC on The Waiting Room a year or so ago, and although I have not listened to lots of her stuff, I like the stuff I do know.  It’s a nice mix of influences, from old folk, to a bit of country, to radio pop and it’s all blended together very well. Maybe not for the sulkier indie kids amongst you, but still a good one, this.

Jesca Hoop – Summertime

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Tuesday 16th February 2010: Robin Grey at the Forest Cafe.

Robin Grey’s stuff doesn’t exactly demand attention – it’s not forceful or attention-seeking or anything like that – but it deserves it.  He is largely an acoustic singer-songwriter, although he’ll be playing with a band tonight.  I think the difference with Robin is in his confident, unassuming style.  He’s also a really strong lyricist so I definitely recommend taking the chance to see him play if you can.

Robin Grey – The Finchley Waltz

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Thursday 18th February 2010: Hexicon, The Just Joans & Cancel the Astronauts at the Wee Red Bar.

The third Gentle Invasion gig in about a week brings the easy acoustic pop of Hexicon to the Wee Red Bar, supported by The Just Joans, who must write the most Scottish lyrics of any band in the world, and indie-poppers Cancel the Astronauts.

The Just Joans – What d’we Do Now?

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Thursday 18th February at Cabaret Voltaire: The Mill with Ambulances and Carrie Mac, followed by Hot Club de Paris live at Sick Note.

There’s a lot going on at Cabaret Voltaire on Thursday with the excellent Ambulances bringing their easily-paced, old-fashioned indie to the Mill, alongside Edinburgh’s Carrie Mac.  After there will be Sick Note with Hot Club de Paris, who have kind of slipped off my radar in the last year or so.  They’ve a new album which is there or thereabout though, so this is probably a good time to catch up with them.  The new stuff on their MySpace sounds pretty good, so it’s all quite promising.

Ambulances – Come With Us

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Hot Club de Paris – 3:55am

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Friday19th February 2010: First Aid Kit & The Last Battle at Sneaky Pete’s.

Scandinavian ingenue Americana alt-folksters, with Edinburgh’s most upandcomingest folk-pop band makes for a pretty cast-iron lineup if you ask me.  This has been a long post though, and I am bored of writing about gigs, so to see what I make of First Aid Kit, just read my recent review of their album.

First Aid Kit – Hard Believer

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Maybe it’s something about a Scandinavian accent singing Americana, but this really does remind me of A Camp, Nina Persson from the Cardigans’ solo project.  The similarity is pretty superficial, so don’t think I am comparing the two, exactly, one just reminds me everso slightly of the other for some reason.

There are also fairly strong similarities to Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins and elements of Neko Case, and that is definitely a happy comparison to be able to make.  But where Lewis in particular favoured the plump and the lush in her arrangements, this seems to lean more towards the unfilled acoustic, giving it a little more of a back-room gig attitude than the more sumptuous Rabbit Fur Coat.

A little like yesterday’s Erland and the Carnival review and this afternoon’s Midlake review, however, it’s a lot more pleasant than it is gripping, but I am not complaining about that. Whilst the songwriting itself may flirt slightly with being a little too easy on the ear, the arrangements and recording have not really been glossed over at all, which means that this never sounds like it’s been smoothed out in order to make it palatable to easily startled ears.

Thematically, there’s a slightly surreal juxtaposition of magical fairytale imagery with lyrics which are overtly atheist.  This simultaneous embracing and rejection of fairytale is kind of interesting, because music of this style brings so much with it in terms of common metaphor, lyrical style and subject matter.

There is something quite strange, even for a fairly unforgiving atheist such as myself, to hear the thoughts of the unbeliever couched in the musical style of the devout.  The oddest thing about it is, I think, the fact that I assumed I had slowly ceased to notice the biblical (or older) references in a lot of traditional music (particularly from the States – it tends to be more pagan and magical in Britain).  It appears not, however, because I certainly do notice when the same subject matter is given a treatment which is the polar opposite to what I am used to.  Maybe this stuff sinks in more than we realise.

Anyhow, slight digressions aside, this is quirky, but not particularly challenging album which I am finding thoroughly enjoyable.

First Aid Kit – Hard Believer

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First Aid Kit – Heavy Storm

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Website | More mp3s | Buy from Wichita Records

This here is an automated, pre-written post as I’m currently away on one of my spy missions to the USof until the 21st January. Not only does my welcome absence afford TWoTH some much needed ‘down time’ from my giddy ninnying, she also has about 2 weeks of having to only worry about the DCHQ cats dropping half-chewed food on the duvet, leaving suspect puddles on the floor & jumping all over her head at 3am because they can’t sleep & want attention.

This week, then, in a further installment of the Drunk Covers series, TWoTH & I am genuinely delighted to present GUILT BY ASSOCIATION VOL. 2, the second album of intriguing & sometimes ingenius cover versions (recorded by a gaggle of well known, & not so known, indie bands & artistes) on the wonderful Engine Room Recordings. Read the rest of this entry »