Music, Exposure

Exposure: Lord Auch

Formed from the ashes of the much loved, if somewhat short-lived, Black Wire, Lord Auch are a London-based quintet that write literate songs that certainly aren’t afraid to plumb the grimier side of things (they take their name from the pseudonym the…

Exposure: Make Sparks

Few people can genuinely say that they have dedicated their life to music. However, the boys of Make Sparks are an example of three people who have done just that. Their Light in the Sky EP is a collection of enthralling, well crafted pop songs…

Exposure: Bronto Skylift

For some reason duos can conjure more volume and power than traditional groups of twice the size can manage. Think The White Stripes, The Black Keys, Lightning Bolt, The Carpenters. OK, we can’t think of any more. No, hold on, here come Glasgow-based…

Exposure: First Aid Kit

Recent tour partners with new indie folk favourites, Fanfarlo, this Swedish duo are known to write the odd acoustic pleasure too. And all the more remarkable considering they’d still be at high school in the UK. For First Aid Kit are sisters Klara, 16…

Exposure: Mickey Gang

Cool, minimalist electronica and songs about menstruating horses – just what you’d expect from any bunch of 19-year-olds nowadays. Mickey Gang do it with a flair though, both beguilingly innocent yet with a knowing smile underneath, celebrating the…

Exposure: Mickey 9's

Glaswegian four-piece Mickey 9's are one of the Merchant City's most exciting new guitar bands. Their manic blend of onstage bodypopping, ski masks and Daft Punk covers will have you dancing like a loon and crying with laughter in equal measure.

Exposure: Civet

A civet is a 'small, lithe-bodied, mostly arboreal mammals native to the tropics of Africa and Asia'. They are also a remarkably kick-ass all female punk-rock group from Los Angeles. We can only wonder who’d be more fun to go out drinking with.

Exposure: Portugal. The Man

Portugal. The Man is not the most conventional name for a band. But it’s one that suits this Alaskan quartet of unrestricted imagination more than most. Now based in Portland, the group revel in an Animal Collective-inspired delirium of musical chaos…

Exposure: Phil Campbell

Glasgow-born singer/songwriter Phil Campbell has spent the last 15 years or so planting his musical seeds in London's bustling metropolis; which seems to have paid off in critical acclaim alone, landing him spots on Jools Holland and relentless touring…

Exposure: The Set Up

The Set Up play their own refreshing brand of bluesy pop-rock, layered with vocal harmonies and sweet melodies. On closer inspection there is more going on here than is initially apparent. The tuneful nature of their music disguises the cynical and…

Exposure: Scarce

SCARCE Q&A 1995: Rhode Island-based trio Scarce, whose post-Pixies sound and exciting on-stage dynamics had been receiving some attention from UK indie radio released their debut LP Deadsexy on the Paradox label in the UK. They toured Europe…

Exposure: Swimming

Swimming are a Nottingham-based five piece comprising John Sampson (vocals and guitar), Peter Sampson (drums and vocals), Andrew Wright (samplers and vocals), Jonathan Spittlehouse (guitar) and Blake Pearson (bass). Their post-rock influenced sound has…

Exposure - Shields Up

Formed in January this year, Edinburgh-based Shields Up’s self-titled debut album arrived in stores on October 5th. They have already been on tour around the UK plying their trade more than once and are fast earning a reputation for energetic live shows…

Exposure: The Tenebrous Liar

Steve Gullick has photographed everyone from Nirvana to Lou Reed, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy to White Lies over the last two decades, as well as publishing magazines, and (most recently) becoming a recording artist himself. His most recent project is [The…

Exposure: William Douglas and the Wheel

Another goodie to fly off the Edinburgh live rumour mill this year is four-piece rock 'n' rollers William Douglas and The Wheel. With the catchy, melodic soul of The Beatles an obvious influence, as well as the rambunctious rock of the Rolling Stones…

Exposure: Stereo Decade

Tomorrow’s music today

What do they sound like? They’ve been likened to ‘a wild night out jamming with Caleb Followill, mud wrestling Damon Albarn with Luke Kook tar and feathering Jack Peñate’, but Jonny Romain (lead vocals, guitar) and Joe Harvey-Whyte (guitar) opt for…

Exposure: The Barents Sea

The Barents Sea have embraced the traditions of old-fashioned songwriting and the advantages of online networking. Drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, from Bob Dylan to Bon Iver, their mini album, Bear Island reminds us that sometimes…

Exposure: James Blackshaw

Tomorrow’s music today

James Blackshaw is one of our most spellbinding contemporary artists: the virtuosic Londoner’s lush guitar mantras and instrumental psalms are extraordinary. He’s coming to Stirling soon but for now he’s reclining in Turin … ‘I just visited a fruit…

Exposure: Julia and the Doogans

All timid, lovely folk pop, Julia and the Doogans are as blissful and beautiful as a band can be. Ever evolving, and embracing new sounds and instruments, this collective is united by the voice of Julia Doogan - both hopeful and heartbreaking when the…

Exposure: The Kabeedies

A cute girl and a carefree attitude can take a band a long way. The Kabeedies might just like to think they have a little more than that though. Even if the girl is very cute and the attitude is very carefree. For underneath such welcome attributes a…

Exposure: Joe Carnall and the Book Club

It's nearly five years now since the music media's microscope focused in on Sheffield as acts like Bromhead's Jacket, Little Man Tate and Long Blondes were heralded to define the decade. And though only Arctic Monkeys may have made it into the big…

Exposure: Nite Jewel

The musical project of philosophy student and artist Romana Gonzalez, Nite Jewel filter ‘80s pop, ‘90s R&B and new age music through a dreamy lo-fi haze. Following the 12” ‘What Did He Say’ on estimable avant-disco stable Italians Do It Better, debut…

Exposure: Girls

Embracing the full liberty of San Francisco lifestyle, Christopher Owens has come a long way since his childhood growing up as part of the Children of God. The religious community, previously home to River and Joaquin Phoenix keep pop music a restricted…

Exposure: Fanfarlo

Fanfarlo are exactly what the increasingly dark nights and cold call for, a warm, quiet riot of a sound that will leave you glowing on the inside. Think how good a hot chocolate with all your best friends would be and then multiply that by ten and…

Exposure: Bowerbirds

Spending months in the great American wilderness worked for Bon Iver in creating great music to reflect a complex, beautiful nature. Such experiences have had a similar effect on North Carolina's Bowerbirds it would seem, with the epic Carolina woods…