It's just me on record, mostly. Rozi Plain has been helping me out live, a lot. When i go "full-on-easy-rocker-band" it's usually comprised of other Fence Collectees ... King Creosote (keyboard, backing vocals, accordion), Captain Geeko The Dead Aviator (drummage), OnTheFly (percussion and drum machines / electronics), Uncle Beesly (bass man) and James Yorkston (guitar, backing vocals). My pal Richard Colburn played bongos once, which was crackin'. Adem helps out from time to time too.
Hi there.
I'm the Pictish Trail. My real name is Johnny.
I run a wee DIY record label with my friend, King Creosote, called Fence Records.
I've got a new 7" single coming out, on icy-clear vinyl, on Fence Records - this Monday December 8th, 2008. It features two remixes of the song Winter Home Disco. One of the remixes is done by HOT CHIP, and the other is done by a band called FOUND (who are also on Fence Records). You can hear clips of the remixes in the MySpace Player, above. If you'd like to buy the single, you should click on the pic below ...
The original version of Winter Home Disco can be found on my debut album, Secret Soundz Vol.1 - out NOW through Fence Records. It's available from the Fence website, and in all good independent record stores. YOU CAN BUY A COPY FROM THE FENCE RECORDS WEBSITE BY CLICKING HERE.
This is what it looks like
And here is what some nice people have said about it ...
MOJO MAGAZINE
PICTISH TRAIL - SECRET SOUNDZ VOL.1 (Fence) **** 4 STARS Johnny Lynch the one man force behind the Pictish Trail, has spent much of the last few years helping friends and fellow fence members, like Kenny Anderson's King Creosote and James Yorkston get their careers off the ground. Finally recording an album in his basement he reveals himself as a powerful songwriter in his own right. Starting with a kraftwerk like electro pulse of 'Secret Soundz 2' the album moves straight into the emotive melancholy of 'All I Own', while 'I Don't Know Where To Begin', bolstered by a rhythm section from The Earlies, combines a constant folk drone with a soaring melody and Lynch's pure high vocals. He's at his best when he starts small and builds up - the glorious 'Into The Smoke' has the quality of a rousing anthem that, with its squiggles and what sounds like a toddler in the background, holds on to a sense of intamacy. **** Will Hodgkinson
PLAN B MAGAZINE "A post-summer trove of sun-warped electro, anamorphic folk, Reg Perrin homages and lambent anthems – not least the wondrous ‘Words Fail Me Now’: never has ill-fitting Y-front falsetto sounded so thrilling. The dude is a treat." Nicola Meighan
OBSERVER MUSIC MONTHLY
Pictish Trail, Secret Soundz Vol.1 (Fence) **** 4 STARS Johnny Lynch's debut as the Pictish Trail should be compulsory listening for anyone under the impression that Fence, the label he co-runs with King Creosote, is solely devoted to lo-fi folk. Indebted to Hot Chip, the Beta Band and Paul McCartney, this is charming, fresh and quietly outré. Paul Mardles
NME "This debut, despite being so lo-fi you can hear buses drive past, is more ambitious than the homely vibe suggests. The Pictish Trail has found limited resources to be no handicap for a limitless imagination." Sam Richards
THE SCOTSMAN "Secret Soundz is a collection of lo-fi, intimate, routinely lovely introspection **** 4 STARS " Fiona Shepherd
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If you'd like to own something Pictish on vinyl, then you might want to check out this is single. It's a split 7" with the band FOUND, on puke-green vinyl. My side contains the song 'Words Fail Me Now', which you can hear in the MySpace player, above.
My, im sorry about your prune fingers!i'll try not to let that happen again, but perhaps if I go to T In The Park tomorrow as penance then you'll not hold a grudge! hope you're having fun xx
I NEED UR EARS new tracks "cut you down" check out the new video "wheather in my head" Let me know what u think. Thanks one luv. For more exclusive muzic, videos, and more sign up for the mailing list www.phraydoepeans.com
oi oi we didn't realize how drunk we were 'til we left the gig on Monday and don't recall how we got back to the hotel! I'll give you a bell at Greenman and beers can recommence!
No worries! I was puzzled as to why i didn't have a bit of a hangover this am,but realised i must have drunk my own body weight in non alcoholic beverages all day yesterday before the beer drinking commenced! Have a good week-and stay cool! X
I am ashamed to say I'd never heard of you before - saw you last night in Night and Day Manchester and loved your set - bought the cd! Thankyou for pleasing me ears! :) x
Hi, just stopping by to let you know about a couple of gigs we're doing this weekend. Also come and listen to our album tracks, click the flyer below. x
The Stagger Rats are playing the following dates, hope to see you there: 26 Jun 2009 Rossburgh Hotel Dunbar 4 Jul 2009 Jar Music Group Showcase @ Cabaret Voltaire 18 Jul 2009 Devils and Medals @ The Halt Bar 8 Aug 2009 O2 Acadamey Glasgow ( Carling Academy) 15 Aug 2009 Maggie Mays RATS OOT!!!
loved loved loved your set on saturday your red herring was awsome bought secret soundz love it love it... i got kate to sign it though coz she's prettier and was available at the time all the best with everything damo
Hi Pictish Trail. We will be releasing a 10 track pastoral psych folk CD entitled 'midsummers' on 24th June 2009. midsummers is currently available to buy from our website www.millersounds.co.uk . You can hear some tracks from midsummers on our myspace player. Best wishes, The Rowan Amber Mill.
Great gig last night matey....just a pity the bar shut early! Have to get you that beer at Night n Day (a much better venue too me thinks) Oh and we've still got a Scottish fiver left over from Homegame so bring some merch next time so we can spend it! Steve n Adina x