... and back to the music

As we mull over the reaction to yesterday's Editorial, I thought it might be wise to turn the focus back to the music. Us bloggers have a vampiric allergy to the spotlight, y'see.

So how about some Friday freebies?

Jonathan from My Cousin I Bid You Farewell (right), who we interviewed back in April, got in touch yesterday to tell us about his new pet project:

"I am recording live acoustic covers at home and giving them away for free. I don't know how many I will record or when I will stop but I am going to be recording them as often as possible for the foreseeable future, basically until I run out of songs I enjoy singing. I only have one mic so it is very lof-i and lots of fun."

It's called, aptly, Songs I love but I didn't write, and you can download the first two covers here. MCIBYF are playing live at Sneaky Pete's in Edinburgh tonight.

We also heard from David of Dunfermline/Aberdeen group The Scottish Enlightenment (right). They are offering three tracks from their upcoming album St Thomas (no release date yet) for free download. Get your grubby mits on them here.

If you like that, they're playing a gig with the brilliant Mitchell Museum at Edinburgh's Electric Circus on Tuesday.

As for tonight, in Edinburgh there are recommended gigs at the Wee Red Bar (Black International), Sneaky Pete's (see above), The Bowery (Panda Su), while in Glasgow Colin McIntyre is doing his solo thing at Stereo with Washington Irving.

Tomorrow, Edinburghers should head to Sneaky Pete's for Vessels and The Kays Lavelle, while Weegies are advised to check out Findo Gask's second 'Crufts' night, with guests Copy Haho and Isosceles at Nice'n'Sleazy's.

More events are on our gig guide.

Before we sign off for the weekend, let us know what music is on your stereo/MP3 player/gramophone this fine autumn day...

Under the Radar podcast #2

Last month the famously provocative former NME writer Steven 'Swells' Wells died aged 49 after a battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma disease. His passing has led many to comment on the present state of music journalism and lament its apparent lack of authority and credibility, as a legion of bloggers threaten to swipe away the mantle of influence.

For our second podcast we investigate the situation in depth, enlisting viewpoints from both sides of the journos vs bloggers divide.

Billy has spoken to Mike Diver, former Drowned in Sound reviewer-in-chief and now online editor at Clash Magazine, and Matthew Young, the passionate blogger behind the influential, Edinburgh-based Song by Toad. Their answers make for a fascinating dissection of the future of music writing.

What's more, we have tracks by a fine array of UtR-tipped bands, including There Will Be Fireworks and Cancel the Astronauts, and we look forward to T in the Park with music from My Cousin I Bid You Farewell, Dead Boy Robotics and Tango in the Attic.

Enjoy, and let us know where you stand on the journo/blogger debate below...

Play: Podcast #2


Under the Radar podcast #2
(Right click and choose 'Save Target As' to save to your computer)

You can subscribe to the Under the Radar podcast at this link.

Running order:
01:20: There Will Be Fireworks - Foreign Thoughts
05:49: Cancel the Astronauts - Late in the City
10:34: Special report: music journalism v blogging (Mike Diver / Matthew Young)
20:18: Second Hand Marching Band - A Dance to Half Death
26:37: My Cousin I Bid You Farewell - The Contented Hearts
30:00: Dead Boy Robotics - We Drown Ourselves
32:59: Tango in the Attic - Jackanory

Words and Podcast: Billy Hamilton, Nick Mitchell

Tweet Nothings, feat. Frightened Rabbit, The Vaselines, De Rosa

We could sense the anticipation building in the blogosphere, but the wait is over. It's time for part deux of our now regular (until the sheer inanity of it all hits us like a Tyson uppercut to the chin) Twitter round-up. This week: band news, recommendations and even a spot of film criticism.


Tango in the Attic have a hair-raising time in Stirling...
@TangointheAttic: Just back from Cape in Stirling - fun gig, the mics gave us all electric shocks! Ouch!"

Miss the Occupier set up Twitter account, fail to tweet...
@MisstheOccupier: "______________"

Come on John B McKenna! We're not as bright as you...
@JohnBMcKenna: "Annona humboldtii Dunal [Monogr. Anonac. 64, t. 3. 1817] (= Annona humboldtiana Kunth)"

Frightened Rabbit threaten to go all Big Brother on us...
@FRabbits: "Getting a camera tomorrow so we might film ourselves making dinner if that's ok with you? Suggestions for ingredients welcome..."

While My Latest Novel threaten to go all rap on us...
@MyLatestNovel: "On the way home from our session for Marc Riley on 6Music. Felt good. Real good. In the hood. Don't be rude."

Jonathon of My Cousin I Bid You Farewell consults his inner film critic...
@mcibyf: "Michael Bay needs an editor badly. Seriously. I completely lost interest. I miss the theme tune too. 'Transformers! Robots in Disguise!"

We Were Promised Jetpacks big up their Mancunian contemporaries...
@wwpj: "In case anyone was curious, Tell You So by The Longcut is the best song ever."

The Gothenburg Address make a half-hearted attempt at a gig plug...
@gothenaddy: "playing 13th Note this wednesday .. come doon .. unless your at the ATP premiere .. which would be understandable .. "

The Vaselines have some good news...
@the_vaselines: "We've been writing new tunes this evening. Cant wait to finish them so we can play them for you. Soon."

While De Rosa have some bad news...
@wearederosa: "To all who listened. De Rosa has come to an end. If you liked our music or came to see us play we'd like to thank you all. Goodbye, De Rosa."

Words: Nick Mitchell (and Twitter)

Musicians of Scotland: Tweet something interesting/funny/newsworthy this week and you too could feature in Tweet Nothings. Just think how proud your Mum will be.

Spotted any other tweeting gems we've missed out on? Share your favourite weekly tweets with us below...

On the radar: My Cousin I Bid You Farewell

There are times when artists neither move or inspire us, but then, as if from nowhere, that one inestimable sound emerges from the masses.

With My Cousin I Bid You Farewell [MCIBYF] you can sit clouded in their songs for hours. It's as uplifting and infatuating as being in love

Formed and based in Glasgow, the five-piece - spearheaded by Jonathan Sellar's captivating and unforgettable voice - performed their first gig for the BBC in late 2008 and have gone on to gain a dedicated following.

The name itself is enticing; a mirage of seduction, it sparks a curiosity that makes you want to find out every detail about them.

Our featured cut, 'The Contented Hearts', is like the opening of a stadium show - you can already imagine crowds singing with drunken glee. Yet, there's a range of shy personalities in the band who shine through the music, orchestrated with huge voices and bursting hearts.

Play: MCIBYF - The Contented Hearts


Sellar describes how his passion started: "I have been writing songs since I was 14 and I can’t help it. I write them all the time. There is a deep Scottish influence in my art, the way I sing and the way I arrange songs. Everything from Midge Ure to Rod Stewart has influenced me in some way. I grew up listening to albums rather than artists."

Reminiscent of Arcade Fire with undertones of Bruce Springsteen, MCIBYF's haunting darkness adds to these influences and it just works.

On the future, Sellar says: "We are going to play a lot more and make an album. The current line-up of the band has only been together since February as it has taken me a while to find like-minded fools."

People talk about falling in love at first sight; we fell in love at first listen. UtR are now head over heels.

Discover MCIBYF for yourself at one of the following shows:

16 April: Limbo @ The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh
16 May: Cassette, Glasgow
17 June: Captain's Rest, Glasgow

- Halina Rifai