Author: captainskydiver

Single Review: Suneaters by L-Space

by captainskydiver

Words: The Captain

Photo: Jannica Honey 

L-SPACE

It’s a Sunday afternoon and I’m sat on my sofa eating copious amounts of Pringles (standard) whilst listening to L-Space’s latest single “Suneaters”. It’s their first single to be released via the label Last Night From Glasgow.

First of all, a MASSIVE congrats to the band for getting signed to a label who fell in love with them after hearing their song “Space Junk” [See our review here].

If you’ve read my reviews before you know that I’ve reviewed them a few times before and I am DEFINITELY a fan. This new single is no different. It’s all about a better future, which I think we all dream of in the current climate.

I am a huge fan of ambient music AND post-progressive instrumental rock, so this song really strikes a chord (no pun intended) with me. The combination of slow synths, mixed with piano and beautifully soothing vocals draw you into the song. Suddenly it changes, those components are still there, but there’s a bit more of a beat to it. Suddenly, a dramatic change, the guitars kick in and drive the song to its climax until they fade away into the black. This amazing single also comes with two (yes TWO) B-Sides about comets and living outside time.

It is a truly breathtaking and mesmerizing piece of work from such talented and wonderful musicians.

You can get it/listen to it here:

Spotify // BandCamp 

Their album will be coming out on vinyl in September and they have a second single scheduled for May, so we don’t have to wait too long to hear what they have next for us. Yay! 

Socials:

Website // Label // Facebook // Twitter // SoundCloud // YouTube 

 

Album Review: Best Girl Athlete

by captainskydiver

Words: The Captain

Photo: George Mackie

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Following her debut album, “Carve Every Word” in 2015, Katie Buchan – aka Best Girl Athlete – has returned with her brand new album, the self-titled Best Girl Athlete, which she wrote prior to turning 18 with her father Charley.

Katie has already done a lot in her young years. Check it out!

She has:
– Toured Europe AND the U.S
– Released an album that was nominated for a Scottish Alternative Music Award.
– Carve Every Word was named the second best Scottish album of 2015 by Ravechild and received acclaim from people like The Line of Best Fit, Clash Magazine, Folk Radio, Artrocker, The Sunday Herald and BBC Radio Scotland’s Vic Galloway and Roddy Hart.

“…groove-riddled folk-pop…” – The Line of Best Fit

“… assured artistry…” – Clash

“…pretty amazing…” – Folk Radio

I was lucky enough to listen to this on vinyl as well as Spotify.
Big thanks to Charley for sending me the vinyl in the post and my mum for letting me use her record player!

The best thing about this album is that every song is different. You never know what to expect as each track ends and the next starts, it’s amazing! One song you have strings and eloquent vocals, the next you’re pleasantly surprised with some rap, then suddenly you feel like you’re at an accomplished pianist’s concert.

Katie is definitely an accomplished musician, her voice is strong and powerful and you feel as if she is singing directly to you. As each song is so different, it almost feels like both you, and your best mate who is TOTALLY different to you, could both identify with the music & lyrics on the album.
Each song can stand on its own, following the idea that these days it seems that most people like to consume music through individual songs and not whole albums.

Her music is different, it’s original and it’s certainly something for those with a very wide music taste, it’s definitely something you could play to your gran without worrying.

Having to pick a favourite is always so hard! In this case, I say… BUGGER THAT! I’m not picking a favourite, the entire album is my favourite!

The album is out NOW via Fitlike Records. It’s available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.

Official Site // Facebook // Twitter // SoundCloud

 

Album Review: An Unforgiving Light by Annie Booth

by captainskydiver

Words: The Captain

Album Cover: Brian Sweeney
Album Cover Text: Colin McArthur

ANNIE BOOTH

 

I’ve been a fan of Annie ever since I saw her back in 2015 at Teviot Underground (Edinburgh), you can see my thoughts on that show here.

But anywaaaaay, we’re here to talk about…. HER TOTALLY AWESOME, SUPER DUPER, AMAZING NEW ALBUM! Sorry, not sorry, about all the caps, that’s what people do when they’re excited yeah?

She’s already had good press galore, check out what some other really excited people had to say:

“One to watch in the Scottish folk scene” – Rave Child

“Her songwriting talents belie her years, part Sandy Denny part Christine McVie – both fragile and commanding at once” – Everything Flows

“A talented young lady” – Vic Galloway, BBC Scotland

Now to add my own thoughts to the MANY people who have already praised this record.

To put it simply:
It is fabulous!

To put it in more detail:
When I saw Annie back in 2015 she commanded the stage with such grace and this is certainly carried across on record. Annie is so very talented and her voice floats so beautifully through my speakers and fills the room with her wonderful music and voice. Each song on this record captivates me and pulls me in. It’s the kind of music you can imagine selling out huge venues and I know it would sound so amazing.

They say that the people in charge of scouting artists will listen to the first 5-10 seconds of a song and if they like that first 5-10 seconds then you’re in with a good chance. ANY of the 9 songs on this album would lend itself to this process, as each song is so beautifully put together.

I know you’re not supposed to have favourites, it’s not fair on the other songs is it? But, I’m a total sucker for those kinda slow, swaying songs. For me, it’s the final song on this record “The Line” (featuring Mt. Doubt’s Leo Bargery). It is emotional, raw and exquisite.

I URGE you to go and buy this record and play it until your neighbours start to sing along they know the words so well.

CD/Vinyl // iTunes // Spotify 

Find her on Social Media too:

Facebook // Twitter // SoundCloud // YouTube

 

 

E.P Review: All These Days by Gordon’s Alive!

by captainskydiver

Words: The Captain

Photo: Micky Cooper

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In the words of Kuzco… “BOOM BABY!” (if you don’t know what I mean, watch “The Emperor’s New Groove”, you won’t regret it). Some swish new music to get my lugs around.

“All These Days” is Gordon’s Alive!’s second E.P and they are very much rockin’ (geddit?) the old school rock style. It’s super awesome! Good riffs, nice vocals and I can feel my foot tapping along of its own accord.

If you like the “vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion”* that AC/DC and Led Zepplin make, you’ll LOVE Gordon’s Alive!. Trust me, four songs ain’t enough… WE WANT MORE!

If you want to see them live, then listen up!

Live at Harleys – 16th September 2017 @ Harleys, Ayr
EVENT LINK

SAHROCK – 11th November 2017 @ Ivory Blacks, Glasgow
EVENT LINK  

6th October 2017 @ Smash, Edinburgh

Facebook // Twitter // Spotify // Amazon // iTunes 

*definition of music, by Google Dictionary.

 

Single Review: Space Junk by L-Space

by captainskydiver

Words: The Captain

Photo: Gail Watt (The Woozle)

L-Space

I first saw L-Space as a support for Eyre Llew back in March and I really liked them, so when I was approached by the band to review their new single, I was rather elated.

As I said when I reviewed them live: “Think if Doctor Who and Red Dwarf got together and made a band, this would be it”. I still stand by that statement. It helps that I am an avid Doctor Who fan and also think Red Dwarf is pretty cool (I’m gonna eat you little fishy, I’m gonna eat you little fissssssssh!).

Judging by the name of this track, the other tracks I’ve heard and their stage talk, they LOVE space and this certainly comes across in this track. “Space Junk” is all kinds of weird and wonderful, with the emphasis on the latter. When I listen to it, I feel like I’m floating about in some kind of disco bubble in space and I’m having a party with other people who bounce by in their own disco bubbles and everyone is having a great time.

The synths emanating from my speakers (alongside the sweet, yet ever so slightly and nicely distorted vocals) make my room feel like that bubble I mentioned just before. This track is super cool and I urge you to listen to it, along with their other stuff. If you like what you hear, or think “that sounds so utterly amazingly cool I have to hear it on stage NOWWWWW!”, then you don’t have to wait too long! Here is a list of their next few dates, they’re going to be very busy!

  • The Flying Duck, Glasgow – 27th July,
  • MugStock,  Mugdock Country Park – 29th July (Chameleon Stage @ 13:40 & Oxjam Stage @ 15:15)
  • Merchant City Festival @ Tron Theatre, Glasgow – 30th July (with Fox Star Records) 
  • Opium, Edinburgh – 13th of August. 

Website // Facebook // Twitter // SoundCloud // BandCamp 

 

Single Review: The Game by Conor Heafey

by captainskydiver

Words: The Captain

Photo: George Robinson

ConorHeafey2

When you search for Conor Heafey’s page on Facebook, it pops up with “Rainy-day easy listening songs”, which I think describes his music PERFECTLY.

The Game is the title track from his recently released E.P and I’ll start off by saying that I think it’s Fabulous! (So fabulous, it needed a capital F!).

I think what I like most about the track that it’s so simple, Now, please don’t think that I mean it’s boring, far from it! What I mean is that there’s no over-driven guitars, no erratic solos, no trying to decipher what is being sung. However, it is INCREDIBLY catchy and his voice has a sort of gruffness to it, which sounds rather lovely. That mixed, with a great bassline and guitar, that slowly fade away as the track ends, makes a wonderful song.

Find him on:

Facebook // Twitter

You can find the WHOLE E.P on the following sites:

Spotify  // Apple Music  // iTunes  // Bandcamp  // Soundcloud

P.S. Sorry for all the caps, I felt they were needed + I got excited.

E.P Review: East Teen Salazar by AVU

by captainskydiver

Words: The Captain

Photo: Provided by AVU

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This is AVU. I saw them a few weeks back a Macmillan Charity gig in The Mash House (Edinburgh). As soon as the first note warbled out of the speakers, I instantly knew I wanted to review their music, so I approached them after their set. A few weeks later, here we are!

If you’ve read my previous reviews, you’ll know I do have a SLIGHT liking for instrumental music. By slight I mean on par with chocolate, which I maybe like a little too much sometimes. BUT… that’s not the point. The point is instrumental music speaks to me as you are allowed to interpret what the song may mean to you, no one is saying “this song is about this particular thing”.

However, AVU’s music is very different from all of the instrumental/post progressive instrumental rock I’ve ever heard. It seems to take on a more weird, yet just as wonderful, turn. I kind of feel like I’m floating through space, with lots of things flying past me, yet I am all alone facing whatever is coming. It’s certainly a very good E.P and if you like something different and slightly “not too mainstream”, then this is the E.P for you! If that’s not enough to entice you, then let me tell you this:
If you like dogs then you need this album. There is a song called dogs in which dogs feature. I felt like that last bit had to be in bold, just to show how awesome it is.

You can find them on all the following sites:

Facebook // YouTube // SoundCloud 

E.P Review: DO/RE by Blair Coron

by captainskydiver

Words: The Captain

Photo: Nicole Stapinski

blair coron pic

This is the debut E.P from Blair Coron and to cut a long story short, it’s bloody brilliant!

I grew up listening to A LOT of classical, jazz and folk music, so this E.P really spoke to me. Every single one of the five tracks is so exquisitely written and performed that it moves me to my very core. I can really feel the music flowing about the room I’m sitting in, bouncing off every object and filling the space with the beautiful sound. I almost feel like I’m in one of those movie scenes, where everything stops and goes into slow motion, then speeds up again and I am the only person there, running through the rain, spinning round and round on the teacups at the funfair or speeding down the motorway laughing.

Perhaps the track that stands out the MOST to me, purely because it differs so much to the others, is Track 4. Simply named “Abstract #32” it is a spoken word piece, with more music in the background. He is so softly spoken and the words seem to pitter patter across the keys with the fingers playing them.

Of course, I am only listening to this music on my very cheap speakers in my home, so I cannot begin to imagine so beautiful this must sound on a proper system or even live! I can really see this music being played in one of those empty/abandoned gasometers. I have heard music in one of those before and the acoustics are amazing.

Not to harp on, but this E.P is so, so, so amazing and beautiful and wonderful. Blair really is a very talented man (not only did he write all the music, but he also recorded it, mixed it, mastered it AND made the artwork). I am very excited to hear what he brings us next! I EMPLORE you to go and listen to his E.P and buy a copy! You will not be disappointed. You can find him on the platforms below.

Facebook // BandCamp 

Single Review: Lovinit by The Recoupes

by captainskydiver

Words: The Captain

Photo: Paul Zanetti

the recoupes

Ooooh-la-la! Some new music for my ears! Brilliant!

Within the first few seconds of pressing play, I was in love with song. I tend to establish my liking for a song in that period. So we’re already off to a good start, well done guys! It’s a funky and  fresh sound, with slightly raw and rough vocals layered over. I can definitely imagine dancing to this live, I’m a terrible dancer, but for these guys I’d do it! The band sound so tight and clear, it’s obvious they have it together.

I may be slightly weird, but when I listen to a song, I try to imagine a video to it. For instance a road trip or a night out etc. If I can’t see a video, I tend to like it. I like being able to imagine for myself what the song might bring up a picture of. I can totally see a video for this song, something with a beach, and a dinosaur outfit. Possibly… let me know if you need any extras guys! I do a mean T-Rex impression!

The single is out NOW and you can find it on all the following sites. Over and out!

Website  // Facebook   //  Twitter  //  Instagram 

YouTube  //  Soundcloud  //  Spotify 

 

Live Review: The Holy Smokes, The Baroque & Michael Barker @ Sneaky Pete’s 14/03/17

by captainskydiver

CollageTHS

(L-R: Michael Barker, The Holy Smokes, The Baroque)

Photos: Beth M Cameron 

Words: The Captain

It’s another Tuesday night in Edinburgh. It’s cold and raining, so what better place to be than inside helping The Holy Smokes celebrate the release of their new EP!

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First up is Michael Barker, who introduces himself and says he’ll be playing a mixture of covers and original songs. He makes every single cover his own and performs them so beautifully. If I had to pick a favourite cover, it would be “Adventure Time” by a band called Bry. It was beautiful and quite moving. He also has some good “stage banter” and talks about this “mad hair flapping” and that he doesn’t want to “look like that wonderwall guy” *cue audience laughter*.
Michael has an incredible voice and some damn good guitar playing skills. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the name of the two original songs he did for his set, but they were amazing!

You can find him on Facebook and YouTube!

tbN

Next up is The Baroque with his incredibly soft vocals layered over an electric guitar with a laptop acting as a piano. This guy is seriously cool and amazing! The music is beautiful to put it very simply and I don’t think any more words could describe it (but seriously, it’s damn good). He has a few funny pun song names too which make me giggle a little for exmaple “Away in a Stranger” from his first album (as he points out, he’s only got the one). and “Sunshine on Grief” (for all you non-Scotland residing folks, that a pun of “Sunshine on Leith” which reminds me… I must actually see that film at some point… anyway…. his last song is from his upcoming album (Songs of Joy and Rhythm) and is called “Song of Joy” and, just like all the rest, it’s amazing and super cool and yeah, you need to check him out! Like now… I’m watching you…..

You can find him on Facebook!

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Last, but by no means at all least, come The Holy Smokes! I’ve reviewed these guys on record before, and loved them, but this my first live show and I’m VERY excited. Like “omg a new kitten” excited. They start out by playing the title track from their new E.P “Let’s Go Out Drinking” and it’s rocky, it’s fast it’s awesome! I’m stood at the back doing a little bum boogie (there’s a lot of people in the venue and I’m small and didn’t fancy getting squashed, plus that gives more room to bum boogie).

They play a lot of their songs that I already know and a few I haven’t heard before so this was a good chance to hear the difference between record and live. The difference? There wasn’t any, they are just as fabulously good live as they are on record, something not all acts can master. They even dedicate their last few songs to the “most dedicated fan in the room”. Which is a guy called Callum (sorry if that’s the wrong spelling, there’s many different ways) who came all the way from Glasgow to see them *cue crowd cheering*. They even point out that they are selling handmade t-shirts at the merch stand, along with hard copies of their new E.P.

I implore you yo check them out because they are so super duper fantasicly cool and awesome. You can find them on Facebook, YouTube and BandCamp