Music and Issue 645

Tricky - Tricky Meets South Rakkas Crew

4 Dec 2009

(Domino) Hip-hop Bristolian Tricky re-invents himself once again with the help of this musical collision with Florida-via-Jamaica-via-Toronto outfit, South Rakkas Crew – producers of Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and Sizzla. With that mercurial ‘Straight…

Cryptic Nights

4 Dec 2009

It’s the first anniversary of the multi-artform night celebrating the possibilities of the CCA, and they’re commemorating with a feast. The first 25 people to book tickets will be offered a free Cryptic Nights banquet (everyone else can eat too, it’s…

Benni Hemm Hemm & Alasdair Roberts

4 Dec 2009

With the potential makings of a stunningly good Scotland-meets-Iceland collaboration straight out of the leftfield, this gig, brought to you by those thoughtful folks at Tracer Trails, will be the first airing of the pair’s collaborative work. Benedikt…

Trans Am - What Day Is It Tonight?

4 Dec 2009

(Thrill Jockey) Trans Am – even outside the studio, they’re so taut you could use them to cut cheese. This 1993-2008 live collection never skips a beat as it veers between synth presets and chugging guitar riffs, with excessive drum solos thrown in…

Sparrow And The Workshop - Into The World

4 Dec 2009

(Distiller) If only these guys were around in the 70s, their soulful country vocals and acoustic guitars married to noisy drums and bass could have landed them on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack – they’re that good. Thankfully, they’re here for us to…

School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms Deluxe Edition

4 Dec 2009

(Vagrant) A re-release of their ‘08 album with nine bonus tracks, this only confirms what we know – SVIIB make some gorgeous tunes. The ethereal twin vocals and broody, angelic electronic beats create clean, crisp otherworldly sounds perfectly…

VA – Fabriclive 49: - Buraka Son Sistema

4 Dec 2009

(Fabric) This is impressive: out of the 28 tracks on offer here, only six last longer than three minutes – something worth praising in an inherently repetitive genre. Buraka Son Sistema oversee the melding of various dance styles with lively African…

Best of a decade: Timeline

2 Dec 2009

1999 July Scottish Parliament opens, with Labour candidate Donald Dewar elected as the first First Minister ahead of SNP rival Alex Salmond. Dewar died suddenly in October 2000, following a fall at his Edinburgh residence. 2000 June Biffy Clyro…

Florence and the Machine - Florence Welch interview

2 Dec 2009

Florence and the Machine’s frontwoman Florence Welch is a surprisingly normal 23-year-old, albeit one blessed with the looks of a 19th century beauty and the best singing voice of her generation. So why is she so mired in doom and gloom? Jonny Ensall…

Best of a decade: Respectable in the Noughties

2 Dec 2009

Much of the most powerful art produced in Scotland in the 1980s–1990s developed in angry reaction to the political situation and tapped into our radical, left-wing and egalitarian traditions – it’s no accident that the most popular works of that period…

Christmas singles 2009 roundup

The Xmas Factor

2 Dec 2009

The dull predictably of The X Factor now means that some putty-faced goon will get a Christmas number one single every year from now until the apocalypse, followed in the top ten by an army of insentient reality TV drones. Yet, in the face of this sad…

Best of a decade: Franz Ferdinand release their debut album

2 Dec 2009

Setting the template for art-rock, and showcasing their ineffable cool in the process, Franz Ferdinand’s self-titled debut was a turning point for Scottish music. Claire Sawers asks Malcolm Ross of highly influential bands including Josef K and Orange…

Best of a decade: Music

2 Dec 2009

Arcade Fire – Funeral, The Knife – Silent Shout, Radiohead – Kid A, Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago, The White Stripes – White Blood Cells, Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand, Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion, Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever To…

Spotify playlist: St Andrew's Day

Secretly Scottish

30 Nov 2009

How about some Revolting Cocks, Siousxie & the Banshees and Human League? Just because it's St Andrew's Day it doesn't mean you have to subject yersel' to the barrage of yer Dougie MacLean, yer Proclaimers and yer Simple Minds to celebrate culture of…

Loud & Proud

24 Nov 2009

Loud & Proud, Scotland’s LGBT choir, has come a long way in a short space of time. The a capella group, which performs its annual festive concert at the George Square Theatre this fortnight, started life as a ten-week singing course at the LGBT Centre…

Creeping Bent Records showcase

24 Nov 2009

When Andy Warhol said everyone would be famous for 15 minutes, he wasn’t counting on the irresistible rise of the Creeping Bent Organisation, which this month celebrates 15 years carving out a parallel pop universe with two very special shows. Vic…

Profile: Filthy Dukes

24 Nov 2009

Name Filthy Dukes Occupation South London DJs and synth pop trio. Filthy Dukes, eh? What’s next – Prince Charles covered in mud? Far from being dirty members of the aristocracy Filthy Dukes actually started out as DJs Olly Dixon and Tim…

Fred Deakin set for Mumbo Jumbo

24 Nov 2009

With their motto of ‘quality retro to future classics, party rockin’ tunes and good time grooves’ Fred Deakin sounds like the perfect guest for Mumbo Jumbo. He’s best known as one half of burbling electronica types Lemon Jelly and Edinburgh club legend…

Paramore

24 Nov 2009

You know a band’s famous when, months after it’s happened, the world is still talking about the singer going blonde, and they’re only just losing Grammies to megastars like Amy Winehouse by a whisker. And boy are Paramore famous. Having sold out…

Teenagersintokyo

Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, Sun Nov 15

24 Nov 2009

Before the second of two Scottish dates by what is possibly Australia’s glossiest female-led quintet, the uber-cool members huddle side-stage for a pre-show toast of Jameson’s, no chaser. Not an uncommon pre-gig ritual, for sure, but here it oozes…

Abram Wilson - Life Paintings

24 Nov 2009

(Dune Records) Arkansas-born trumpeter Abram Wilson has been based in London since 2002, but grew up New Orleans, where he absorbed the city’s rich musical traditions and its potent trumpet heritage. That heritage is clearly reflected in his rich…

Ex Libras - Suite(s)

24 Nov 2009

(Wirebird) Formed in the unlikely locale of their Hounslow Borough library workplace, the London trio of Amit Sharma (vocals, guitar), Kieran Nagi (piano, bass) and Ross Kenning (drums) recorded this promising debut in, of all places, the garden…

Josephine Foster - Graphic As A Star

24 Nov 2009

(Fire) Colorado-born folkie Jo Foster, delivers her fifth solo set, inspired and based on the works of 19th century poet Emily Dickenson. Comprising 26 short fireside-folk dirges (think Shirley Collins or Tiny Tim), it falls short of the oblique…