So Many Animal Calls - TRAPS

Glaswegian "Fail-pop" four-piece's debut single TRAPS

I featured this delightful Glasgow quartet on the blog almost a couple of years ago upon the release of their demo EP, Your House Is A Hospice, describing them as "one of the most new, exciting and promising Scottish bands of 2010". It's now 2012 and after the release of their debut full-length EP, Eulogy, and having been signed to Glasgow label Overlook Records, that opinion has only been reinforced by their latest release.

TRAPS, released today on Overlook Records, is a whirlwind of infectious guitar pop. Delivering angular, jittery but finely crafted guitar melodies along with fervent vocals and heartfelt harmonies, this latest effort from So Many Animal Calls exudes a naturally youthful energy that's as charming as it is raucous. The B-Side, The Best Way To Be Broken, is far more refined as the pace slows and the vocals are beautifully complimented by delicate piano melodies before the guitar and drums gradually rise to perfectly layer the vocals for a rousing finish.

So Many Animal Calls will be launching their single at MILK in Flat 0/1 this Wednesday along with Paisley riff kings Carnivores. So until then, here's the video of the single (filmed, directed and edited by Emily Wylde) to whet your appetite.

You can purchase the single by clicking here and visit So Many Animal Calls official website here.

New releases: RM Hubbert, Django Django and Errors

Yesterday was a special day for music, Scottish music in particular. January's never been a month jam packed with musical excitement what with everyone being skint and miserable and hungover, but yesterday broke the tradition in spectacular fashion. Despite not even a month of 2012 having passed, three albums were released that are already strong contenders for my album of the year.

Thirteen Lost & Found - RM Hubbert

RM Hubbert's debut album, First & Last, was an emotional masterpiece of flamenco inspired, finger picking mastery. Thirteen Lost & Found (Chemikal Underground) however is a whole different masterpiece entirely. By using music as a way of reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances, RM Hubbert has shown the diversity of his song writing talents and in turn widening his musical reach and accessibility without reduction in quality. Accompanied by the likes of Aidan Moffat, Emma Pollock, Alisdair Roberts, Hanna Tuulikki and Alex Kapranos (who produced the record) to name but a few, Hubby takes the listener on an exquisite musical journey that simply takes the breath away.



Buy Thirteen Lost & Found here.

Django Django - Django Django

Edinburgh four-piece Django Django have been creating gentle waves across Scotland for the past year or so but you may be wondering whether or not you've heard them before. 2009 single Storm was an instant hit with music fans and reviewers alike, creating much hype, before the band simply disappeared and the reviewers who hailed them as the "next big thing" began to look rather silly, or so it may have seemed.  That initial hype has been firmly backed up by the release of their self-titled debut album (Because Music) almost three years later. It's quirky, it's silly, it's ludicrous but it's always perfectly crafted, pop tinged, electronic goodness. After already receiving widespread critical acclaim and judging by the reaction of a lot of the reviewers, I think it's perfectly acceptable to make the bold claim that Django Django have invented the wondrous new genre of tropical psychedelia. You heard it here first. [EDIT: It's apparently already been used to describe various artists, but none are as good as Django Django.]



Buy Django Django here.

 Have Some Faith In Magic - Errors

After an E.P. and two albums spanning six years, Errors seem to have finally discovered themselves by combining all of their greatest elements in to one mammoth sound and boy is it huge. Imagine floating through the atmosphere whilst a chorus of angels lull you in to a state of serenity before smacking you across the face with a glowstick the size of a garden spade and then gently laying you to rest amongst a bed of rose petals. Complete with the odd burst of hauntingly ethereal vocals, Have Some Faith In Magic (Rock Action Records) is exhaustingly excellent. I suggest you experience it for yourself.



Buy Have Some Faith In Magic here.

Gig review: RM Hubbert (and friends) @ Stereo, Glasgow (27/01/12)

Alex Kapranos and Aidan Moffat join RM Hubbert on stage at Stereo

First & Last was RM Hubbert’s debut album, and I’m glad the title only rang half true. I hailed that album as my favourite of 2010 and barely a month in to 2012, Hubby’s latest is already a strong contender for my album of this year with his brand new release, Thirteen Lost & Found.

Tonight was always set to be a special show. Not only because it was the album launch but because it might just have been, well and truly, the first and last live performance of the album in (almost) its entirety. As the gig title suggests, Hubby wasn’t to be alone in this celebration of fine talent, of which was in abundance. Instead, he showcased a whole new side to his music accompanied by various musicians ranging from the wonderful Emma Pollock and Alasdair Roberts to the ever-impressive and utterly captivating Aidan Moffat and producer of the album, Alex Kapranos.

From the outset, RM Hubbert captivated the audience with his trademark fingerpicking as he was joined by Marion Kenny on the Chinese harp and Hanna Tuulikki who gave a beautifully ethereal vocal performance reminiscent of Joanna Newsom. Another highlight was the performance of Gus Am Bris An Latha (which I’ve just discovered translates from Gaelic as Until the day breaks and is a common inscription on gravestones) with John Ferguson on banjo wonderfully complimenting Hubby’s intricate guitar picking. Despite all the collaborations on the album, there was still room for a few solo efforts from the man himself with For Joe being a particular highlight as I, and much of the rest of the sold-out audience, looked on in awe, eyes transfixed on the hands of a master at work. The finale before the rousing encore was definitely a special moment that I’ll treasure for a long time to come. This time joining RM Hubbert was Aidan Moffat who grasped the microphone and told us all a story with a haunting melody in the only way he knows how, performed to the backing of Alex Kapranos on melodica and RM Hubbert’s melodic guitar picking. If the reception after that was enough to take the roof off and shock the punters in the upstairs cafe, the following before, during and after the encore was enough to shake the whole foundations of the building to the ground.

To some, dealing with such depressing topics and depicting it in what may be deemed as melancholic music may be utterly depressing. Like he said, “It usually takes until you’ve died before I dedicate a song to you”. But to me, creating such extraordinary and awe-inspiring music during a time of deep, dark depression not only signifies hope in a world full of misery but shows the remarkable strength that some people possess in the face of adversity. And to me, along with RM Hubbert’s music, that is truly phenomenal.

RM Hubbert's website can be found here and you can buy a copy of the album in various formats here.

This review was originally posted here on the 28th January.

EP Review: Shambles Vs The Dragonwizard

Someone once told Shambles Miller, "When you sing you sound like Frankie Boyle" - he doesn't. However, on opening track 'Pssst!', I couldn't help but draw comparisons with Billy Connolly. Why? I have no idea. I would like to point out that this is neither a criticism nor a compliment, it's just an odd thought which was playing on my mind.

With that said, for me 'Pssst!' is the stand out track. The song moves along at a sprightly pace, illustrating Shambles' talent for writing amusing lyrics and uplifting melodies. It's a cheery little number and a pleasant opening to his debut EP.

The rest of the EP doesn't disappoint either. 'Robots' is a relaxing and dreamy track, despite it's punky edge, and 'My Best Friend Is An Outsider' is performed with such passion that it really helps to separate Shambles Miller from the countless other singer/songwriters across the country. However, it was 'Nothing Unfolding' which really struck a chord with me. This track took me on a melodic journey as I found myself submerged in the music, hanging on Shambles' every word. The song plays like a scrapbook, the imagery created through the heartfelt lyrics and the story progressing as though pages are being turned.

Overall, this is an impressive debut. The only possible problem with the EP is the huge contrast between the likes of the witty, upbeat 'Pssst!' and the more somber 'Nothing Unfolding'. However, bearing in mind that this is a debut EP, the chance to showcase two different sides to his music is not necessarily a bad thing. Shambles Miller's simple approach to songwriting takes acoustic music back to basics, stripping it down to the bare minimum and producing raw, heartfelt and at times humorous songs. It's an excellent beginning for my new favourite soloist and still with lots of room for improvement, things can only get better for Shambles Miller.


You can see Shambles Miller for free at MacSorley's in Glasgow on April 14th.
You can find him here on MySpace, Twitter and WordPress.
Buy the EP here or download the digital version.