David Pollock

Ensemble - Excerpts

3 Jan 2011

(FatCat) The work of Montreal-based composer Olivier Alary, who has worked with Björk, Cat Power and Lou Barlow, this album is the follow-up to his debut on Rephlex, *3Sketch Proposals*2. Flitting somewhere between measured ambience and bold pop…

Ten Tracks presents 10-band bill at Stereo, Glasgow

The Blessings, Frog Pocket, GRNR, Not Squares, Tokamak, Logik Party, Foxgang, Fur Hood and Blood Blo

23 Dec 2010

Scottish music download portal Ten Tracks is renowned for offering ten bundled tracks for a pound, so it makes sense that this live special should offer ten high quality acts on one lengthy and great value bill. ‘We’ve got The Blessings (left), who run…

Idlewild perform 100 Broken Windows album live

Tenth anniversary of band's breakthrough second album

23 Dec 2010

If it’s true that Idlewild will be on sabbatical for the whole of 2011 while singer Roddy Woomble releases and tours his new solo album, this tour is a perfect way to say goodbye to their fans for now. It celebrates the tenth anniversary of their…

Paul Weller combines faithful version of back catalogue with moments of self-indulgence

SECC, Glasgow, Sat 4 Dec 2010

23 Dec 2010

After the success of his new album Wake Up the Nation earning a Mercury nomination, it seems The Modfather Paul Weller has enjoyed a bit of a critical revival. Still, many at this packed-out, large-scale show would no doubt have been here if he was…

Decoded - Jay Z

Music Memoir

23 Dec 2010

(Virgin) Fans of one of the world’s biggest rap artists will no doubt be putting this glossy, hard-bound autobiography on their Christmas list, but the hardcore don’t seem to be the only audience Shawn Carter is targeting. Although illustrated with…

The Hot 100 2010 - Mark Millar, Kevin Bridges and Alasdair Gray take top 3 spots

Our annual chart of the people from Scotland being interesting, successful and creative

16 Dec 2010

The Hot 100 is a list of Scots who’ve made a sizeable creative splash in 2010. It includes musicians, artists, writers, actors, fashion designers, technological innovators, shop owners, festival directors, record label heads and one mad cyclist.

The irresistible appeal of Belle & Sebastian

We chat to the fiercely loyal fans of their distinctly Glaswegian style of sentimental, cerebral pop

15 Dec 2010

There’s something about the Belle & Sebastian fan that makes them go the extra mile and a half. Avid merch collectors, devoted gig-goers and long-term lovers of their brand of Glasgow pop, in the lull between B&S’ tenth studio album Write About Love and…

Hogmanay 2010/2011 clubbing highlights in Edinburgh and Glasgow

The best New Year's Eve club nights in Scotland

15 Dec 2010

Hogmanay is the biggest night of the year in many clubbers’ calendars, and, as usual, crowds in Edinburgh are spoilt for choice. The Official Edinburgh Hogmanay Afterparty (HMV Picture House) will rock to the frenetic live show of electro-house heroes…

A look at Deadmau5's rise to fame

The Canadian DJ and producer set for Braehead Glasgow show with Magnetic Man and Calvin Harris

10 Dec 2010

How the hell did Deadmau5 get so big? The Canadian DJ and producer has been a powerful force on the commercial end of the dance music circuit for a couple of years now of course, but this month is set to prove he’s no longer just another face in a crowd…

Glasgow club Blast Off 2011 hosts Optimo's JG Wilkes on Jan 1st

Nice’n’ Sleazy’s now-traditional New Year’s Day party

10 Dec 2010

Name Area 51 Presents Blast Off 2011 What is it? Nice’n’ Sleazy’s now-traditional New Year’s Day party, for anyone who thinks one whole day of partying just isn’t enough any more. Residents Gordon Mackinnon, aka GK Machine (Zoo Muzik), one…

A Guy Called Gerald set for Glasgow date at Animal Farm

Pioneering Manchester producer's show is live performance of back catalogue

10 Dec 2010

For a man who’s had a two-and-a-half decade career in electronic music, including some definitive mid-90s work on the UK jungle and drum & bass scene, Gerald Simpson will be forever known for the fruits of a very brief moment in his career. It was…

Twin Sister - All Around and Away We Go - Single of the Fortnight

Singles and Downloads - 30 Nov 2010

30 Nov 2010

Wow. Whisper it, but we might just have stumbled upon one of the most half-decent months of Singles & Downloads in recent memory. Where to start? How about in the most unlikely of places, with Plan B ’s ‘Love Goes Down’ (679) ●●● and the continuing…

Bigfoot's Second Birthday Party

M_Nus artist Ambivalent to kick off third year

30 Nov 2010

‘I guess you could call what we do environmental art,’ says George Russell. ‘We started Bigfoot’s as a way of exploring unconventional ways to host electronic music events, and that involves spending as much time on the production side of things as…

Vintage Violence - new Edinburgh club from the makers of FAST

Glam Rock with a twist

30 Nov 2010

‘It’s pretty rock’n’roll,’ says promoter Chris FAST, discussing the spirit of his semi-regular club night at Edinburgh College of Art’s Wee Red Bar. That should come as no surprise – Chris’ old club FAST was among the very best nights in Edinburgh for a…

Manuel Göttsching of Ash Ra Tempel lines up Glasgow date

Influential German electronic composer plays first gig in Scotland

24 Nov 2010

This is a coup and then some for the team behind Glasgow’s Men & Machines club night. Not only has Manuel Göttsching never played Scotland before, but he only plays about two or three gigs around the world every year. ‘I’m usually too busy with other…

Exposure: S-Type

Homegrown beat-maker launches EP at Mixed Bizness

24 Nov 2010

Bobby Perman’s new single on Scottish label Phuturelabs isn’t his first, but it does signal a change of musical direction under his production alias S-Type. The Edinburgh-raised, Glasgow-based brother of Dougal (who runs Radio Magnetic, where Bobby…

Glasgow Popfest brings together The Felt Tips, The Orchids and The Power Cut Choir

Must-See acts at Glasgow's new festival

24 Nov 2010

1. The Power Cut Choir. Welcome to Glasgow’s newest music festival, which presents a bunch of bands and DJs in the indie-pop, post-punk and twisted folk veins over three days and two venues. There’s way too much to go into here, so instead The List…

Emeli Sande - King Tut’s, Glasgow, Mon 15 Nov, 2010

Voice of UK rap-pop hits tours classically-styled soul material

23 Nov 2010

Acknowledging the fact there were representatives of London record labels in the house for this last date of a short Scottish tour, Aberdonian singer Emeli Sande seemed every inch the promising young singer-songwriter trying hard to make an impression.

Glasgow clubs Death Disco and Pressure hit 8th and 12th birthdays

The Count & Sinden, Brodinski, Mathew Jonson, Paco Osuna and Slam set for club birthday events

19 Nov 2010

Take Glasgow’s most famous venue, two of its finest and most enduring nights, add a busload of excellent DJs and sing a big old chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’. The Arches’ Death Disco and Pressure both celebrate birthdays this fortnight, so we asked people…

Doc Daneeka set for Edinburgh StepBack date

UK funky and basement house DJ and producer

19 Nov 2010

Name Doc Daneeka Also known as Mial Watkins is his real name. Occupation Producer and DJ of what many might call UK funky, but what he prefers to refer to as ‘basement house’. ‘Endorsed by Marcus Nasty, L-Vis 1990, Gilles Peterson, Kode9…

New Edinburgh club Soul Kitchen plays hip hop and soul

Hip hop, souls and soulful house on menu at Medina

19 Nov 2010

Edinburgh’s club scene isn’t as bad as its detractors might make out, but it isn’t thriving. Fewer good venues have been taking up the slack over the last decade, which is why anywhere that’s trying to do its own thing should be celebrated. Take compact…

The Atomic Society of Justice

John Miller's episodic one-off tribute to the 1940s ‘Golden Age’ of comics

19 Nov 2010

(Small Press) In comic geek speak, the ‘Golden Age’ means the 1940s, and the advent of the superhero era from DC and Marvel. Set in 1942, this episodic one-off tribute comes from prolific Scots small press creator John Miller. As is typical of his…

Gruff Rhys new solo album a collection of autobiographical piano ballads

'Hotel Shampoo' a departure for Super Furry Animals singer

16 Nov 2010

‘I don’t keep diaries,’ says Gruff Rhys, on the phone from his home in Cardiff, ‘but I’ve kept every bottle of free shampoo I’ve been given (in hotels) since I started to tour 15 years ago. I always wanted to build my own hotel out of all that free…

Edwyn Collins

Oran Mor, Glasgow, Sun 7 Nov 2010

16 Nov 2010

With a new solo album called Losing Sleep and a retrospective of his old band Orange Juice called Coals to Newcastle out, it should have been just another day at the comeback coalface for a middle-aged indie star with a healthily enduring reputation.

Tinchy Stryder

HMV Picture House, Edinburgh, Wed 3 Nov

16 Nov 2010

‘I wanna get real deep with you right now,’ promises East London’s own Tinchy Stryder before his big number one hit of last year ‘Never Leave You’. Deep is relative, though. Here it translates almost exactly as ‘a bit like the heart-numbingly awful bits…