Albums of the 2015

It has been another great year for Scottish music as it continues to export some brilliant albums. Some may say Scotland has punched above it's weight for many years, but maybe now it's just something the country is good at - and we don't get to say that very often!

I've been quiet on the blog this year, but I've decided to make a list of albums I've enjoyed this year. 

1. Admiral Fallow - Tiny Rewards

Album number three from Admiral Fallow grew on me a lot over the year, eventually becoming a favourite.

2. Kathryn Joseph - Bones You Have Thrown Me and Blood I've Spilled

It was a huge year for Kathryn Joseph who seemingly came from nowhere to release one of the most enthralling albums of the year. It's almost hypnotic!

3. Idlewild - Everything Ever Written

A bit of a comeback album for indie rock legends Idlewild brought a matured sound whilst keeping their distinct sound we know and love.

4. Young Fathers - White Men are Black Men Too

Surprise winners of the 2014 Mercury Prize, Young Fathers' second album brings more experimental hip-hop in their own unique fashion. I wasn't a fan of the first album, but this has been one of the most played albums this year.

5. The LaFontaines - Class

More hip-hip, this time from Motherwell. The LaFontaines debut album has gone down as a success as they continue to build a loyal fan base right across the country. I first saw these guys play to about 15 people in 2012; 2015 saw them sell out the Barrowlands in Glasgow, and that speaks volumes.

6. Phantom Band - Fears Trending

The Phantom Band have a habit of releasing albums without really telling anyone, so you may have missed this. Melancholic synth-folk music at it's finest!

7. Cherri Fosphate - We Didn't Come Here to Say Goodbye

Another debut album makes the list. It's raw, it's catchy and it was a long time coming. Worth the wait though. I recently did a full review of the album.

8. Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat - The Most Important Place in the World

Man of many musical talents, Bill Wells teams up with the man who should be Scotland's Poet Laureate, Aidan Moffat for the second time. Within the tales of love, sex and drinking, there is something heartening in there, I think.....

9. Rachel Sermanni - Tied to the Moon

It has been a good few years for Rachel Sermanni as popularity for the folk musician has grown tremendously across the world. Poetic lyrics, with perfectly composed music to go with it.

10. The Winter Tradition - Lumi

The Edinburgh outfit have released an impressive album full of guitar/synth driven tunes with big, singalong choruses. Even after some big support slots, The Winter Tradition are still slightly underground in Scotland. I hope 2016 sees them continue to tour hard and get the big break they deserve. 

Cherri Fosphate

It's been nearly 3 years since I first saw Glasgow based rock outfit Cherri Fosphate, and in that time they have become a firm favourite with their slick riffs and catchy choruses. The release of their EP Burning Youth in 2013 showed us what the band are capable of, and I've been looking forward to hearing more ever since.

We Didn't Come Here to Say Goodbye was officially released just over a week ago on Bloc+ (a great wee label), and provides more of those catchy upbeat tunes, with the unmistakable vocal of Jonny Sharpe. Opener Sea Foam Green is raw and fast paced with heavy riffs while Neighbour and Auf Weidersen are the most memorable tracks with their sing-along choruses.

Through the middle of the record, the album flows nicely through some of the songs from the Burning Youth EP, all of which wouldn't be out of place in the underground NYC music scene (well, minus the Glesga accent!).

My personal favourite, Monster, is a slight change of pace. A slow builder of intricate guitar work before bursting into life while Jonny shouts "I'm not pathetic" repeatedly. You're not pathetic, Jonny.

The album picks up pace again with the fast paced drumming of Sonny Kaith in Kerry Rodgers, before winding down to a close with Didn't See You - a nice wee ballad to bring the heart rate back down after an album full of energy and passion.

This is a record you can play on repeat for days, yet appreciate something new each time.

New Music

After an extended break (I've been busy) I am back to bring you some of the best new music out at the moment. And did someone say Sigur Rós are back? Hell yes. One of my favourite bands return with Kveikur - their new album released on Monday past. As Jonsi said to one of the 'bigger' music websites, it is their most aggressive record to date, and some of the noises they have produced are borderline scary! Think falsetto Mogwai. The word Kveikur translates to 'candlewick' but when spoken sounds like 'quake' in English, and comes after Valtari, which translated to 'Roller' and had the aura of a calm and tranquil sea. So to me, Valtari was the calm before Kveikur brought the storm. Anyway, this, for me, is one of the top albums this year; placing between Pedestrian Verse from Frightened Rabbit and Trouble Will Find Me by The National.

Quickbeam have released their self-titled debut album which got them to number 10 in the Record Store Charts. With songs like 700 Hundred Birds achieving critical acclaim, the future is looking bright for the band. The record itself goes along at a steady and mellow place with the wonderful voice of Monika at the forefront as layer upon layer of orchesterial music is formed, occasionally reaching the crescendo moment. Quickbeam is available to listen below.




Cherri Fosphate have also released their debut EP Burning Youth. These catchy four tracks show all signs of promise from the young Glasgow based band whose live shows are full of confidence and consistency (and were probably one of the best acts at Brew at the Bog a few weeks back). The toe tapping Wool appears to be the lead track from the EP but my favourite song for no real reason is closing track Kerry Rodgers. The whole EP has catchy choruses to sing along to and riffs that will bring out the air-guitar hero in us all!

Other music I have been listening to includes the brand new album Desire Lines from Camera Obscura. I've been waiting in anticipation for a new release from them and at first listen, I am certainly not disappointed. I haven't listened enough to write a full review but I can't wait to listen more.

Boards of Canada have however been of great disappointment after all the hype surrounding Tomorrow's Harvest. Again, another band we have all been waiting on coming back from hiatus, but it doesn't feel like an album that has been 8 years in the making. But even after the ground breaking previous albums, it would be near impossible to replicate this to an audience 8 years older who would still enjoy it as much.

Anyway, hope you will find something you like here to keep you busy (Sigur Rós, Sigur Rós, Sigur Rós, Sigur Rós do it).

KOBI

We have featured Highlanders KOBI a couple of times on the blog now and it is clear to see that with each time, they have improved tenfold. Well they have done it again through the release of their brand new track All The Way. Produced by the Grammy award winning Steve Orchard (who has worked with British greats such as Paul McCartney, Noel Gallagher and Travis), All The Way is a 3 minute, catchy pop song with an uplifting brass section, and a chorus you will be finding yourself singing to yourself over and over again. The band have developed their sound from the 'post-rock'  Sinister, and find themselves drawing influences from 80's bands as well as modern acts such as The Cars, Aztec Camera and Foals. The band are doing a two date promo tour for the single. They will be playing Inverness and Glasgow, as seen above with Cherri Fosphate and The Uptown Beat!