A post for St. Andrew's Day

November 30 marks St. Andrew's Day, the Patron Saint of Scotland.

This isn't a particularly big day in Scotland, but then St. David's Day and St. George's Day aren't either. Which probably seems out to the Americans reading this, when you consider how important both Thanksgiving and the 4th of July are.

There's much I love about Scotland, my adopted homeland since 2001. I didn't just move here because I loved Belle and Sebastian or because of Fopp and Avalanche, though these were factors in my coming. Since moving here, I've interviewed Emma Pollock, had tea at Stevie Jackson from Belle and Sebastian's house, worked with members of the Prats, X-Vectors and Wounded Knee, to say nothing of seeing many acts. Oh, and started my own indie label, done my own club night, begun this blog...and qualified as a teacher. It's a place where many of my dreams have come true.

It's not just about the music. There's great literature, great films and a whole thriving culture. I don;t think I could live anywhere else. Sure the winter's are severe, but you can't have everything.

My favourite scottish band remain The Delgados, who are just brilliant. They split up in 2005, but are just life affirming. My favourite Delgados song is 'No Danger' which is from the album The Great Eastern, my favourite scottish album (it was recorded in New York State. Then again, Transformer by Lou Reed reminds me of New York but was recorded in London. Go figure...)



And an mp3 from the album, 'American Trilogy.'

The Delgados -'American Trilogy.' mp3

Oh go on! Here's the video too...



And some other great, classic scottish tracks...

Motorcycle Boy -'Big Rock Candy Mountain (Velocity Dance Mix).' mp3

Aztec Camera -'Oblivious.' mp3

Primal Scream -'Velocity Girl.' mp3

Jesus and Mary Chain -'Upside Down.' mp3

Camera Obscura -'Eighties Fan.' mp3

Yes, I know most of them are over twenty years old, but hey...

Some more covers for you all

Well, I know these have been posted before, but I figure that you might like to hear these if you haven't before...

First up, my support of Lightspeed Champion this year annoyed a few folks, but I stand by it, especially when he does covers as good as these...

Lightspeed Champion -Back To Black (Amy Winehouse cover).' mp3

Lightspeed Champion -'Xanadu (Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra cover).' mp3

Endearingly shambolic, and a wonderful version:

Raincoats -'Lola (The Kinks cover).' mp3

I was passed this cover by the record company, proof that some record companies areaware of the support provided by blogs.

Alabama 3 -'Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover).' mp3

Another cover of a post-punk era song:

Belle and Sebastian -'Final Day (Young Marble Giants cover).' mp3

I spent ages trying to track this down. Cheers to Steve at Teenage Kicks, hope your blog is up and running again soon, mate!

Cud -'You Sexy Thing (Hot Chocolate cover).' mp3

Proof that great songs DO get to no.1, Rihanna's Umbrella topped the UK charts last year for ten weeks, spawning these two covers. If anyone has an mp3 of her collaborating with the Klaxons doing a mash-up of 'Umbrella' and 'Golden Skans' please email me and I will post it here.

Biffy Clyro -'Umbrella (Rihanna cover).' mp3

Manic Street Preachers -'Umbrella (Rihanna cover).' mp3

The greatest ever Scots band take on one of America's greatest bands, and do them justice.

Delgados -'California Uber Alles (Dead Kennedys cover).' mp3

There are apparently folk who do not like this cover. They are idiots. That is a fact, not an opinion:

Slits -'I Heard It Through The Grapevine(Marvin Gaye cover).' mp3

Some Covers For Saturday Part V

Emma Pollock, of The Delgados

Hadn't posted many covers here for a while, so here's have a dozen for you.

First up, as I have said on many occasions before, The Delgados are my favourite scottish band of all time. So here's a cover of a Delgados song, and the Delgados covering the Dead Kennedys' California Uber Alles:

Comrade Down -'American Trilogy (Delgados' cover).' mp3

Delgados -'California Uber Alles (Dead Kennedys cover).' mp3

I will post my review of the Lightspeed Champion album here very soon. In the meantime, here is his cover of Olivia Newton-John and The Electric Light Orchestra's song 'Xanadu.' mp3

Lightspeed Champion -'Xanadu (Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra cover).' mp3

I've posted cover versions by Nirvana before, so why not other bands taking on Nirvana songs?

Patti Smith -'Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover).' mp3

Tori Amos -'Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover).' mp3

Kathryn Williams -'All Apologies (Nirvana cover).' mp3

There will be more music, including album reviews and more John Peel-related posts over the next few days, so keep checking back...

have a good weekend, Ed X

Another Festive Fifty themed post thingy

Sorry for the lack of posts over the last few days, things have been rather busy. Anyway...how about some more Peel-related posts, eh?

The Delgados -'American Trilogy.' mp3 (2000 Festive Fifty no.10)

Aphex Twin - Windowlicker.' mp3 (1999 Festive Fifty no.42) (How the hell did this only get to no.42 and the Cuban Boys were no.1?! Go figure...)

Clinic -'The Second Line.' mp3 (2000 Festive Fifty no.28)

Hole -'Beautiful Son.' mp3 (1993 Festive Fifty no.47)

The Fall -'Dr. Buck's Letter.' mp3 (2000 Festive Fifty no.3)

Melys -'Chinese Whispers.' mp3 (2001 Festive Fifty no.1)

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead -'Mistakes And Regrets.' mp3 (2000 Festive Fifty no.4)

Age Of Chance -'Kiss.' mp3 (1986 Festive Fifty no.2)

Calexico -'Ballad Of Cable Hogue.' mp3 (2000 Festive Fifty no.22)

Frankie Goes To Hollywood -'Two Tribes.' mp3 (1984 Festive Fifty no.25)

It's funny, I felt in 2000 that I felt increasingly rmeoved from the music scene, as I failed to really love 2-step garage or nu-metal. Maybe there was much better stuff than I appreciated...

Enjoy

X

A Peel-approved Burns' Night! (Part One)

This post is jointly dedicated in respect of Robert Burns and John Peel, and features three scots bands, beloved by the late Mr. Peel covering Burns related songs.

Today is Burns' Night in Scotland, in honour of Robert Burns (1759-1796), scotland's National Bard. No other literary figure - not even Shakespeare- can really be eclebrated as he is. The man was a legend, and his inspiration runs through to this day, inspiring many. Maya Angelou (I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings) discovered Burns when she was eight and said 'He was the first white man I read who seemed to understand that a human being was a human being and that we are more alike than unalike.' At the Burns and a' that Festival in 2003, Patti Smith performed a rendition of 'Afton Water.' Kofi Annan gave the inaugural Robert Burns Memorial lecture in New York, using Burns' 'A Man's a man for a'that' as the touchstone for his remarks. Written in 1795 and covered by Ballboy (see below), this 'anthem of radicalism' was described by his later biographer Auguste Angellier as a 'Marseilliase of Equality' and was chosen to open the new scottish parliament.

Ballboy -'A Man's a Man For a'That.' mp3 (Available as a free mp3 from their website)

My all-time favourite scottish band The Delgados covered 'Such a Pacel Of Rogues In A Nation' for a Peel session a few years ago. The Parcel Of Rogues In A Nation refers to the English and England, and is Burns' scathing attack on the Union Of Parliaments in 1707. Some see it as evidence of his nationalist tendendies, but others have suggested that he was just being provocative.

The Delgados -'A Parcel Of Rogues.' mp3 (available on their Peel sessions album)

Burns was a love machine par excellence, fathering nine children, not all of them with his wife Jean Armour. But she inspired 'I Love My Jean' set to music by Camera Obscura a few years ago, who also wrote music for 'My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose.'

Camera Obscura -'I Love My Jean.' mp3

Camera Obscura -'A Red, red rose.' mp3 (from the I Love My Jean single)

Other than that, amongst many others are Eddi Reader, who has released a n entire album of Burns' songs and also, Belle and Sebastian have covered one of his best-known songs 'Auld lang Syne' in swedish (if anyone knows how to get hold of this please let me know).

There will be more scots, John Peel related music later. Watch this space.

For more on Robbie Burns go here

A Festive Fifty Theme

First of all, thank you to everyone who has been in contact with details about new acts; I'm going to try and go through it carefully and give my considered opinion about what to post; so if you don't see yourselves posted immediately, don't take it personally!

I was considering posting some other stuff today, reflecting on what might make my Festive Fifty at the end of the year, and found my mind drifting to the great man of the Festive Fifty, John Peel.

So, with a big nod to Steve (and not Mike, as I mistakenly called him earlier!) over at the brilliant Teenage Kicks, a brilliant Peel-related blog, here are ten tracks that made John Peel's Festive Fifty over the years.

Given that he often got frustrated at some things being unadventurous, and there being 'too many white boys with guitars' I have tried not to fall into the same trap.

Bang Bang Machine -'Geek Love.' mp3 (No.1 1992 Festive Fifty)

We've Got A Fuzzbox and we're Gonna Use It -'Rules And Regulations.' mp3 (No. 31 1986 Festive Fifty)

Future Sound Of London -'Papau New Guinea.' mp3 (No.11 1992 Festive Fifty)

Half Man Half Biscuit -'The Trumpton Riots.' mp3 (No. 14 1986 Festive Fifty)

Althea & Donna -'Uptown Top Ranking.' mp3 (No. 2 1977 Festive Fifty)

Teenage Fanclub -'The Concept.' mp3 (No.6 1991 Festive Fifty*)

The Bhundu Boys -'Foolish Harp/Waerara.' mp3 (No.30 1987 Festive Fifty) (Steve from Teenage Kicks has got in touch and pointed out that it wasn't this version that made the chart. However, it is fabulous!)

Kenickie -'Come Out 2nite.' mp3 (No. 1 1996 Festive Fifty)

This Mortal Coil -'Song To the siren.' mp3 (No. 4 1983 Festive Fifty, No.10 2000 Millennium Chart)

The Delgados -'Mr. Blue Sky.' mp3 (No. 29 2002 Festive Fifty)

For more on John Peel and fansites start here

* 1991's Festive Fifty was known as the Phantom Fifty as John felt it was too predictable, topped as it was by Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and not featuring the dance sounds he'd been plugging that year. It was eventually unveiled, track by track over 1993).

St. Andrew's Day

Today is St. Andrew's Day, the Patron Saint of Scotland. This is not a national holiday here (it might be a different story after independence), and nowhere near as big a deal as St. Patrick's Day is (hell, I think St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by half the planet).

But, what the heck, I've survived a week back at work, it's three weeks until term finishes, and I got paid yesterday (hmm, guess what I do when it arrives - other than paying the bills, obviously).

So here's some scottish stuff for you, and just to let you know, I interviewed Malcolm Middleton today, so that will be on the blog soon.

First up, the greatest song by the greatest scottish band EVER (IMHO).

Delgados -'No Danger.' mp3

Along with getting into death metal and grime this year, I've also been discovering folk. This is a gem (yup, I do listen to some music pre-1976).

John Martyn -'Solid Air.' mp3

I love the whole early eighties aesthetic (I may have mentioned this before). This is a classic:

Fire Engines -'Candyskin.' mp3

..Mind you, the late eighties threw up some gems too...

The Shamen -'Jesus Loves Amerika.' mp3

and so did the nineties... : )

Urusei Yatsura -'Hello Tiger (Peel Session).' mp3

And I'm planning something special for December. Watch this space...

Scots indie!

When I first started this blog, about fifteen months ago, one of my main aims was making scottish indie as high profile as possible.

Arguably since then, I have diversified a little -folk, death metal, grime and even a little classical have made their way onto these pages.

However, my bandwith is about to be exceeded -again! and so I thought I would do a post the old-fashioned way, and about music I am passionate about, with or without regard to fashion.

Some of these you may know, others you won't. Some are well-known, others less so, some bands are gone, some new, some just beginning. But enjoy...

Arab Strap -'Love Detective.' mp3

Belle And Sebastian -'Funny Little Frog.' mp3

Isobel Campbell -'Amorino.' mp3

Franz Ferdinand -'Darts Of Pleasure.' mp3

Delgados -'American Trilogy.' mp3

Mogwai -'Dial:Revenge.' mp3 (featuring Gruff Rhys from Super Furry Animals, it's a celtic thing, you understand!)

Sons and Daughters -'Johnny Cash.' mp3

Teenage Fanclub -'What You Do To me.' mp3

Twilight Sad -'That Summer, At Home I Had Become The Invisible Boy.' mp3

1990s -'You're Supposed To Be My Friend.' mp3

Enjoy.

have a good weekend!

Some Covers For Friday Part III

Hey, it's Friday, it's been a good week, and I'm in the mood for sharing so here are some fantastic covers for you all.

First up, I heard Camera Obscura doing this live earlier this year, and it blew me away. They really DO make this their own song.

Camera Obscura -'Super Trooper (Abba cover).' mp3

Electric Light Orchestra are one of those bands that seem to be considered beyond naff, and yet...there's something quite nice about their songs in small doses. Or in this case, in the hands of the much-missed Delgados (RIP).

The Delgados -'Mr. Blue Sky (ELO cover).' mp3

I know very little about this cover, exvcept that The archies were a TV show before I was born, and this was no.1 back in about 1969 -but it's kinda cool, and I'd love to know where I can hear Mary Lou Lord's cover of the Bevis Frond's Lights Are Changing, too.

Mary Lou Lord -'Sugar Sugar [from the Archies].' mp3

You get to hear a lot of music when you write a blog. You also get the chance to hear a lot of stuff that you've been searching for for ages. These two songs were things I had put out pleas for-and ended up in my inbox extremely quickly. Thanks. These were originally recorded for an album for Northern Ireland called 'Peace Together' when the province was a lot more troubled. I love the Peter Gabriel original and also really like Pop Will Eat Itself's take on it (Gabriel's stuff with Genesis was mince though). While I quite like a lot of the Police's stuff (though their solo stuff leaves much to be desired in a certain case, Mr. Sumner) I was never a big fan of this song, until I heard Therapy? do it.

Pop Will Eat Itself -'Games Without Frontiers (Peter Gabriel cover).' mp3

Therapy? -'Invisible Sun (The Police cover).' mp3

There are some great Arcade Fire covers dowing the rounds, I posted their version of Guns Of Brixton earlier this year. This is their take on Bowie's Five Years.

Arcade Fire -'Five Years (David Bowie cover).' mp3

Morrissey was quite passionate about many bands over the years, and famously covered Suede's early b-side 'My Insatiable One' (again, if you know where I can get hold of this, please get in touch) before most people had even heard of Suede. He also bigged up James years before they broke big (although it's long been rumoured that 'We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful' was a dig at them). This song -the b-sde to his 'Pregnant For The Last Time' single -was a cover of a Bradford song.

Morrissey -'Skin Storm (Bradford cover).' mp3

Speaking of seeking out covers...I'd made a plea for this earlier this week and got this, plus another Tori cover into the bargain..

Tori Amos -'Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover).' mp3

Tori Amos -'Happpiness Is A Warm Gun (The Beatles cover).' mp3

Finally. This song (and if I really, really need to spell it out it's 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out') is possibly my very favourite cover version ever. I've no idea what Morrissey -or indeed any of The Smiths think of it - but it's fab in my eyes (or should that be ears?)

Schneider TM -'The Light 3000.' mp3

As always, if you like what you hear, please go and seek it out (it should go without saying that I do not hold the copyright and these are here for sampling only) by supporting the artists involved, preferably through your local record shop!

Keep Scotland Clean

Clean George IV are a scottish band that, I must be honest, I don't know a huge amount about.

However, they have so far issued one very good single, entitled 'First Blast Of The Trumpet Against The Monstrous Regiment Of Women.' This is not enocuraging wind instrument related misogyny, but is the title of John Knox's infamous pamphlet about women. As to the b-side, I don't know when the great Highland Crack epidemic was, though Scotland has had its problems with drugs like most countries in the majority and minority worlds.

This is their first single, available on 7" from HMV, and other stores (mine came from Fopp) and when you buy it, you also get to download the tracks for free (if only more bands did this, for those of us who like to have a physical product and like that to be vinyl. As well as owning iPods and not being able to afford USB turntables.)

Clean George IV -'First Blast Of The Trumpet Against The Monstrous Regiment of Woman.' mp3

Clean George IV -'The Great Highland Crack Epidemic.' mp3

Remember, if you like it go and buy it, and go and make friends with them at their mySpace page

And here's a few more mp3s of Scottish bands that I thought I would post. Enjoy!

The Delgados -'No Danger (Kids Choir Edit).' mp3

Teenage Fanclub -'Everything Flows.' mp3

The View -'Wasted Little DJs.' mp3

The View -'Superstar Tradesman.' mp3

NB. These will be up for a week only. If you like them, BUY THEM.

Links removed April 18.

Six of One and a Dozen Of The Other

Well, the Jock'N'Roll albums poll may not have posted any results...yet - but I figured that you can never have too many reminders.

So here are six great Scottish bands, with two mp3s apiece. Enjoy!

Aereogramme - 'Zionist Timing.' mp3

Aereogramme -'Wood.' mp3

Arab Strap - 'Cherubs.' mp3

Arab Strap - 'The Love Detective.' mp3

Ballboy -'Sex Is Boring (John Peel Session 21/3/00).' mp3

Ballboy - 'Sex Is Boring (John Peel Session 21/3/00).' mp3


Delgados -'American Trilogy.' mp3

Delgados -'Sink Or Swim.' mp3

Sons and Daughters - 'Johnny Cash.' mp3

Sons and Daughters - 'Dance me In.' mp3

Teenage Fanclub - 'What You Do To me.' mp3

Teenage Fanclub - 'It's All In My Mind.' mp3

As always, if you like what you hear, go and support the bands by checking out their MySpace sites and becoming their friends, buying the music from iTunes or Amazon or your local independent shop, seeing them in concert, and of course, voting for scottish acts at Jock'n'Roll

Hope you had a good Easter, Ed

Not Jackson but Emma

Oh, couldn't think of anything witty to call today's post. But, those of you who have read this blog regularly will know that I am a big fan of the Delgados, the seminal scottish band who for a decade from the mid-90s to the mid '00s delighted us with some of the best music ever, and on top of that, helped launch the careers of Mogwai, Arab Strap, Bis, Mother and the addicts, Aereogramme, Sluts Of Trust, and more recently, De Rosa and Sister Vanilla through the record label they set up, Chemikal Underground. They are my favourite scottish band of all time, yup, even above Orange Juice, Belle and Sebastian, Aberfeldy and Sons and Daughters.

Alas, all good things come to an end, and the Delgados called it a day in 2005. However, Emma Pollock has signed to 4ad as a solo artist. Her myspace site has a demo of a song called Fortune. The album is ready and has apparently has a sleeve done by Vaughan Oliver who used to do the sleeves for Cocteau Twins in the 80s when they were on 4ad. I cannot wait...

Drop by the myspace site and also her official site where if you sign up for the mailing list, you get an mp3 sent to you.

Oh, and go and buy The Delgados back catalogue. Every bit of it. I recommend The Great Eastern above all, which is my favourite scottish album of all time.

To see Delgados videos, click on the links below:

'Coming In From The Cold'

'Everything Goes Around The Water'

'American Trilogy'