Belle and Sebastian (16) POP BAND From a Wispy folk-filled start to glam and funk-tinged offerings. these stalwarts of the Glasgow music scene just keep on improving. Their seventh album The Life Pursurt was released to critical acclaim earlier this year. affirming frontman Stuart Murdoch's place as
one of our finest lyricists and Belle and Sebastian as a formidable force in contemporary pop. (CP)
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Triptych (-)
A FESTIVAL Triptych proves sponsorship doesn‘t have to stifle creativity. Weighing in with an eclectic lineup that encompassed iconic figures like Aphex Twin. ()detta and the Sun Ra Arkestra. Refusing to bow to sheer commerciality. Triptych has proved there is a market for the leftfield while never overlooking up-and~ coming Scottish acts. ll‘lNl
Robbie Coltrane (-)
TV/FILM ACTOR Melvyn Bragg had a decent fight with him over the war in lrag on the South Bank Show but Coltrane kept smiling through realising he had JtlSl made a strong comeback in the role of Edward 'F—itz' Fitzgerald. This year's Cracker was a typically tense affair about a bitter ex-sguaddie out for revenge. ’80)
Steven Thomson
(80) b PRODUCER The Glasgay! (lthXLlOT has enioyed a triumphant year. bringing the annual celebration of queer culture to a Wide audience. Louise Welsh's T he Importance of Being Alfred among this year's many highlights. Thomson also presided over a successful first year for the C) Gallery. (AR)
F o u n d (-)
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POP l3/‘.l.‘l)
With the sad demise of The Beta Band in 2004 we were needing another bunch of multi-media malcontents to inspire, confuse and delight audiences with their own boundary free pop. Found’s debut album Found Can Move emerged this year and was a gem - replete with a colour-your-own- cover sleeve. For Found though, the focus is less the music -
J ‘fi-I.
Malcolm Fraser (-) b ARCHITECT Things came together neatly for Fraser this year. as he completed an assured restoration and extension of the old HBOS bank in Edinburgh. l raser's Scottish Storytelling Centre also opened its doors snoehorning a delicious space into a tricky heritage site. Best of all. his 5.75m Dance City building opened up in Newcastle. There should be international work aplenty for Scottish architects of his calibre. i’NBl
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which blends bubbling dancefloor introspection with textured folk pop - and more the overall trip. Nowhere was this more perfectly realised than in the band’s 2006 Electric Proms performance. For this musical ‘event’ courtesy of
Iamie Byng (31)
A BOOK PUBLISHER The Canongate boss steered the Edinburgh-based publishing house through a year of change. Byng himself moved into a new role as publisher and MD. handing on the commissioning role to incoming editorial director Anya Serota while proVing there's life after Pi With a brace of Booker nominations for authors Kate GrenVille and Mil Hyland. Behind the scenes. work progressed « in partnership with Birlinn - on a major biography of Sean Connery. (AR)
the BBC’s season this autumn, the Edinburgh-based quintet teamed up with comedy duo Noble and
Silver to create something
interactive, unpredictable, and fun. Comic vignettes were nailed to musical loops while the performances splintered, and even ended up in a cupboard at one point. This makes sense from a band who once hosted a gig that centred around throwing paper aeroplanes to make music. The future is a blank canvas for them to scribble on. (MR)
Mark Nelson (-)
COMEDIAN Voted Scottish Comedian of the Year in September. Nelson has a fair job on to Justify this lofty title (to be fziir to him. the word New should really have been inserted somewhere). Luckily. his ac so far merges the offbeat and the offensive and definitely reveals a star in the making. (BD)
Alan Spence (-)
VAUTHOR AND POET With The Pure land. the Glasgow-born poet and novelist created a beguiling masterpiece. Spence's tale of an 18 year—old Scot learning the ways of the Japanese Samurai and embarking on a tragic love affair with a courtesan is both page-turning adventure and enlightening historical epic. lAR)
Cabaret Voltaire (-)
V VENUE In the face of adversity and the harsh times Edinburgh club and gig venues faced throughout 2005 and 2006. the Cab stood out as a haven for live music and DJs. Totally committed to bringing new bands and tours to Edinburgh and constantly pushing the beiindaries With an enViable club roster (including the likes of Ultragroove. Soul Biscuits. Trouble and Sugar Beat). Without it the capital would be a far quieter city. lHN)
14 Dec 9006-4 Jill) 200K THE LIST 21