Michael John McCarthy is a very talented young man.  As well as being one third of the highly rated Glasgow popsters Zoey Van Goey (though not my favourite third!) he is also the accordian player for Adian Moffat’s Best Ofs.  Well, on top of all this he’s found time, in his no doubt ridiculously busy schedule, to record and release a mini album under the name Radio Trees.  The album is FREE to download over at Wiseblood Industries a mega cool Glasgow indie label run by Adam Stafford of Y’all Is Fantasy Island fame and soon to be home of The Kays Lavelle!  Anyways, there will be more info on the Kays album later in this 2 week run of mine, but for now lets focus on this little piece of Alt.pop beauty that is Outside World Strategies Vol.1.  There are a lot of lovely pop songs on this but this is far from straight up pop.  There’s beatboxing, instrumentals, accordian, blues piano and some real vibes going on in there - ‘Keep Your Stick To The Ice’ actually reminds me, musically at least, of the Fun Lovin Criminals!  So yeah, I’m finding it hard to pin this down to any one particular style but I am really, really enjoying it.  It’s got to be a definite for all the Zoey Van Goey fans out there for sure.  It shows time and time again that MJ has a brilliant ear for a melody and for that pop hook which I guess is why Zoey Van Goey are doing so well and getting so much positive recognition.  Don’t over look this mini album though and make sure you get across to The Kays Lavelle’s new record labels website and download this record.  hehehe.  Sorry, that still makes me smile!  Anyways, the blurb on wiseblood’s website suggests that this will appeal to fans of Sparklehorse, Okkervill River and early Neutral Milk Hotel.  As a fan of all of these bands, I am inclined to agree, but this should appeal to a wide sprectrum of music fans,  those who like shimmering pop and those who like it a little edgier alike.  Enjoy.

Old Folks – Radio Trees

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Haunted – Radio Trees

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