Singer Songwriter

Seafieldroad - Seafieldroad

Thoroughly beguiling second effort showcases a spine-tingling delivery

10 Nov 2011

(Biphonic) It’s a shock to find Swimmer One and Seafieldroad’s Andrew Eaton-Lewis stripped of all his usual sonic accoutrements. But this second solo effort of piano-backed ballads is thoroughly beguiling. Rich, sonorous vocals are the focal point…

Lach's Antihoot music showcase returns to 2011 Edinburgh Festival

Antifolk set and nightly showcase from Edinburgh-based New Yorker

27 Jul 2011

Having brought his Antihoot night to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time last year, New York’s antifolk originator Lach (it’s pronounced ‘latch’, which Scots might find counter-intuitive) has found himself a new home. The man whose seminal open mic…

Luxury Car - When I Was Good

Unique and inventive brilliance of second album is striking from the off

11 Feb 2011

Biphonic Records is known predominantly for introducing us to some of the most inventive Scottish pop around – namely works by Swimmer One and Seafieldroad over the years. Makes sense then that John Robertson, aka Luxury Car, should join forces with the…

Seafieldroad - There Are No Maps For This Part of the City

15 Nov 2010

(Biphonic) Seafieldroad is the solo guise of Andrew Eaton, vocalist with noirish Edinburgh electro-pop trio Swimmer One, whose latest album Dead Orchestras is one of this year’s shimmering successes. Recorded in tandem with said LP, There Are No Maps…

Phil Campbell

11 Jun 2009

SINGER-SONGWRITER You can tell that Phil Campbell’s a songwriter’s songwriter by the company he keeps: members of Edinburgh’s Aberfeldy and The Gillyflowers have sung around for his set, and they seem to be enjoying what they hear. But then the…

Exposure: Anna Meldrum

6 May 2009

After a short time displaying her own blend of honest lyricism and melodic, guitar-fronted pop songs to a handful of low-key crowds - as well as the odd festival appearance and support slot - Glasgow-based musician Anna Meldrum has decided to enlist the…

Bob Dylan - The Playhouse, Edinburgh, Sun 3 May

5 May 2009

It’s impossible to deny Bob Dylan’s place in musical history. His music has profoundly influenced pop culture since the 60s. Even just being in the presence of greatness has a certain allure, and it’s definitely not lost on the packed Playhouse crowd…

Exposure: Withered Hand

17 Apr 2009

Despite a lyrical admission to listening to death metal bands, Withered Hand makes pensive and pretty 'antifolk' music sprawling with all sorts of questions and quiet conversations while his Neil Young-ish voice mingles joyously with varied…

Emma Curran

16 Apr 2009

‘This isn’t quite Madison Square Garden,’ jokes Glasgow lass Emma Curran, ‘but it makes a nice change.’ She isn’t joking either; Curran is every X-Factor competitor’s dream, an ordinary girl who travelled to the New York venue to see Snow Patrol, waved…

Norman Lamont - Roadblock

8 Jan 2009

SINGER-SONGWRITER Ayrshire-born, Edinburgh-based maverick, Norman (pot-pourri poet, not prickly politician!), could be Scotland’s answer to Leonard Cohen, albeit with a wicked sense of irony. Third album, the reflective Roadblock, sees the former…

Alex Cornish

11 Dec 2008

SINGER-SONGWRITER After the recent openings of the Picture House and Sneaky Pete’s, here’s another new Edinburgh venue that’s ripe with potential. Owned by Edinburgh University, the Bowery lies in the basement of the formerly underused Roxy Art…

The Pictish Trail

18 Sep 2008

SINGER-SONGWRITER The Pictish Trail is coming out of the shadows. Johnny Lynch (for the Trail is he) has until now focussed on running the Fence Collective and playing guitar for head-honcho King Creosote (aka Kenny Anderson). But with the release of…

James Yorkston - When the Haar Rolls In

21 Aug 2008

In this age of quick fixes and cheap thrills, there’s something deeply comforting about James Yorkston. This fourth studio album is the antithesis of the nasty fast food rush of most mainstream indie fare, more like a luxurious banquet in the company of…

Jackie Leven - Lovers At The Gun Club

14 Aug 2008

SINGER-SONGWRITER (Cooking Vinyl) Now something of a Celtic/Romany troubadour, the Kirkcaldy-born Leven returns with his umpteenth solo album. Opening with the gun-tottin’ title track, and featuring guest vox from his absinthe-guzzlin’ buddy, American…

Laura Marling

The Mercury Rev

7 Aug 2008

Laura Marling is infuriating. Not her music, which is sublime, heartfelt, folky genius, but rather Marling herself, who’s so bloody talented and still only 18 years old. She got started early, brought up by a gardener mother and a father who was an…

Nina Nastasia

31 Jul 2008

Nina Nastasia is incredibly merry. The talented NYC-based songstress has just arrived in Ireland for a run of UK dates and has spent the day reacquainting herself with old friends and the local whiskey she loves so much. When we finally pin her down for…

Joan As Police Woman - To Survive

5 Jun 2008

SINGER SONGWRITER (Reveal) Being a sometime member of both Rufus Wainwright’s band and Antony and the Johnsons, and the ex of Jeff Buckley to boot, did much for Joan Wasser in terms of recognition when she launched her debut album two years ago.

Joan As Police Woman

5 Jun 2008

It’s hard to categorise Joan As Police Woman (aka Joan Wasser and her band). She’s worked with Rufus Wainwright, is one of Antony’s Johnsons and creates intelligent, thoughtful music with a punk rock attitude. ‘I’ve called it punk rock R&B but American…

Phil Harding - The Story of Beginners

24 Apr 2008

SINGER-SONGWRITER (Wb Records) Over 30 years in the making, prolific pop producer Phil Harding finally marks the release of his debut solo album. From working with the likes of Stock, Aitken & Watercrap during the nauseating 80s, The Story of…

Ally Kerr - Off the Radar

10 Apr 2008

SINGER-SONGWRITER (Much Obliged Records) Off the Radar is the second album from one of Scotland’s brightest rising stars, Ally Kerr, whose debut set Calling Out to You from 2005 was hailed by critics from as far afield as Tokyo; the Glaswegian can be…

Kim Edgar - Butterflies and Broken Glass

14 Feb 2008

SINGER-SONGWRITER (Quietly Fantastic) Winning 2006’s Burnsong competition and being chucked into a house with established songwriters was a dream come true for Scottish singer Edgar, and she’s made that experience count on this accomplished and…

Jeffrey Lewis & the Jitters - preview

13 Dec 2007

Anti-folkist singer-songwriter and underground comic book artist Jeffrey Lewis was signed to Rough Trade records back in 2001, releasing his wonderfully titled debut album The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane. But his most recent album is perhaps his…

Steven Lindsay

Kite

1 Aug 2007

Although his official biog describes one-time Glasgow School of Art student and Big Dish frontman Steven Lindsay as ‘more Damien Hirst than Damien Rice’, the latter artist is really the perfect comparison.

Randan Discotheque

Album

16 Jul 2007

SINGER-SONGWRITER RANDAN DISCOTHEQUE I Am the Singer, You Are the Song (Fife Kills) Snaking from Johnny Cash train stomp rhythms to delicate love stung paeans to departed muses, Randan Discotheque throws up an occasionally disconcerting…

Badly Drawn Boy - album review

Badly Drawn Boy

2 Oct 2006

SINGER SONGWRITER This fifth album from Mancunian troubadour Badly Drawn Boy was, by Damon Gough’s own admission, his hardest to make. And, well, you can tell, because it simply isn’t any good. Having moved from indie label to major, Gough seems…