Manchester's Amida have been compared to both the Pixies and the Magnetic Fields - due in part to their ability to wrench catchy pop from dark subject matter. This is exemplified on their debut mini-album 'Arts and Crafts' which, rattling through six tracks in under 13 minutes, has been described as "a masterclass in pop economy".
Pushing shiny pop hooks to a lo-fi aesthetic, the Just Joans create tales of heartache and teenage longing in small town Caledonia. Is This Music described their debut album (Last Tango In Motherwell) as "frankly staggering", and probably the best album of that year. This was followed by two mini-albums on the rather lovely Wee POP label: Virgin Lips and Hey Boy, You're So Sensitive.
The Occasional Flickers' main songwriter Giorgos Bouras recorded debut album 'Scattered Songs' in his native Greece. But it wasn't until he relocated to Greece and put together a new live band that the music truly felt at home. Imbued with the lyrical wit of Belle and Sebastian, but delivered in the off hand style of the Pastels - they're the best Scottish pop band to ever come out of Greece. Or maybe the best Greek pop band in Scotland. Either way, they're not to be missed.
Rags & Feathers recently supported a Hawk and a Hacksaw in Glasgow, and rather brilliant they were too. Note perfect folk-pop, kinda like the Handsome Family by way of Fairport Convention.
Ziggy Campbell fronts Edinburgh folktronic popsters FOUND. His solo performances tread a similar path, but the stripped back set-up helps place more emphasis on intimacy and experimentation, helped by his collection of home-made instruments and vintage loop pedals.
Having already recorded and released two albums this year (Apple Tits for Destuction - which has "a 60s vibe", and Dance, which is "mainly all circuit bent instruments and drums"), and with plans for two more (one abstract war concept album, and one straight forward indie), Les Enfant Bastard could just be the most prolific, if not the most diverse, artist in Scotland just now.
FRIDAY 6th JUNE IS THE LAST AMPBOX!! yep, its almost over.
we've played a lot of different takes on dance music over the months, but for the last one we wanted to book straight up party DJs that we knew would have the place jumping. we've been thinking about it a long time and done just that-
* ZOMBIE DISCO SQUAD (Get Rude, London) * PRO-VINYLIST-KARIM (Rub-A-Dub, Glasgow) * JOHN M. J. FARRUGIA (Big Toes HiFi, Edinburgh)
Expect Baltimore Club, Ballie Funk, Hip-Hop, Bassline, Dancehall, Booty Bass, Electro Crunk, Ghetto Gutter House and other made up genres; and if all this isn't enough we're rolling in the Big Toes, 15k, badboy sound system for the occasion. If you've been down before you'll know what to expect, if not, come before you miss the chance. This is going to be one mother of a party.
The Fusiliers are ScotCampus Musicians of the Month! Come and have a listen to the songs on our profile to find out why.
“Powerpop indie is how they dub themselves, but there are so many influences filtering in here, it's difficult to pinpoint their sound exactly. Post-punk with an energetic twist and a knack for a melody. Theirs is a sound which is trying to resolve the conflict between the obscure and the commercial, and it's a musical tightrope they tread well. Check out 'The Way' and 'Beauty And The Grace' on their MySpace for a taste.”
Hey guys hows it goin? Just thought i'd drop by to say howdy and ask you when's the next gig. Hope to be giggin soon too with a new band, in the process of lookin for a drummer at the mo so if you know of anyone lookin then gi me a shout! Hope you're all well. Eddie
