list.co.uk/music SINGLES & EPS
Records – Singles | MUSIC
LEONIDAS & HOBBES Machines, Tapes & Electronic Setups EP (Hobbes Music) ●●●●● The debut EP from Edinburgh electronic duo Leonidas & Hobbes (the latter, Andy Richardson is a well-known promoter about town - for nights including Limbo, and is also a sometime writer of this establishment; he does the regular Decktionary columns in the Clubs section) is an impressive piece of work, not least for all the genres it manages to cram in – from the beautiful, gospel-voiced flashback acid house of ‘Driftin’ to the luxurious old-school NY electro of ‘Jackin Pschidt’ and the Tron-sampling ambient synths of ‘Program’. Listen to the full EP, which is also available on vinyl at hobbesmusicon. bandcamp.com
FRIGHTENED RABBIT Late March, Death March (Atlantic) ●●●●● Scotland’s newest famous band return with the latest single from Pedestrian Verse, a taut folk rocker with a lovely rattling rhythm, some boozy religious imagery and those ‘oh-oh-oh’ harmonies that Bruce Springsteen always used to employ. A lovely song that all their fans will know by now, although the extras are worth it: live versions of ‘December’s Traditions’ and ‘The Oil Slick’, and the understated hymnal of ‘The Architect, a track recorded with Manchester Orchestra and previously only a Record Store Day limited release. Frabbit play T in the Park, Sat 13 Jul; Turn to page 112 for Scott Hutchison's answers to our First & Last Q&A.
THEAPPLESOFENERGY a ghost from a whisper (theapplesofenergy.bandcamp.com) ●●●●● One for the ambient electronica heads here, and what a charming selection it is. Over five tracks, this EP from lone Edinburgh producer Steven Gribben bobs through some lovely territory, from the clanking windchime soundscape of ‘Clouds Through An Open Window’ to ‘Notes Erode’s sinister churn of static and distortion and ‘A Moment to Contemplate’s ghostly nocturne. All are obscure, but filled with eloquent musical charm and a rich sense of place and mood. Listen to/buy music at theapplesofenergy.bandcamp.com See twitter.com/theapplesofnrg and facebook.comtheapplesofenergy
HARVEY MCKAY Goodbye (Soma) ●●●●● Long-standing servant of Soma, Glasgow’s Harvey McKay has released an EP containing two tracks – ‘Goodbye’ and ‘The End’. Rather than signalling the demise of the fresh-from-playing RockNess producer’s career though, there’s no need to break out the hankies yet; the label tell us it’s only his first release of the year. (In fact the track titles are more likely to be a reference to McKay’s father, who was sadly dying from cancer as McKay wrote these tracks.) He’s created two deep techno epics here, the first building from an almost dub-style bed of spacey effects to a pounding dancefloor groove and the latter a stomping metronomic beat which builds like a pressure cooker. (reviews by David Pollock)
EXPOSURE
Tomorrow’s music today. This issue: Hector Bizerk.
‘Drums. Rap. Yes.’ It’s not just Glasgow duo Hector Bizerk’s signature tune, but their mantra too: no hype, no bullshit, just beats, rhymes and positive energy. As they ready their second album, due in September, and pre- pare for a busy festival summer, MC Louie talks origins, minimalist ethos and why not to be ashamed of rapping in your own accent. Tell us how you got together
’Audrey is the most creative drummer I have ever seen. We worked together for Impact Arts facilitating a songwriting with kids project in Drumchapel, jammed a few times on our lunch break and eventually wrote a song that became our first single ‘Burst Love’.’
‘Maximum noise using minimum instrumentation’ is another of your mantras – what’s the thinking there? ’If you tune into acoustic singer-songwriter music, good songs have the strength to capture audiences with merely a good chord progression and tidy melody. We feel that hip-hop can stand out with the same minimalist ethos.’
Scottish rap – does it get the credit it deserves? ’I think so. There are loads of talented MCs in this country. Check Mog, Mistah Bohze and Erin Friel. Three incredible talents who are completely different.’
What’s your response to people who say you can’t rap in a Scottish accent? ‘Imagine if Robert Burns or Edwin Morgan hadn’t used colloqui- alisms? Would Irvine Welsh or Ian Rankin novels have the same impact in the Queen’s English? Rap is a reaction to the writer’s surroundings. I’d feel uncomfortable changing my accent or using Americanisms or cringey grime words. Ya get me blud?’ (Malcolm Jack) ■ The Roxy 171, Glasgow Thu 20 Jun; Kelburn Garden Party, Largs, Sun 7 Jul; T in the Park, T-Break stage, Balado, Fri 12-Sun 14 Jul, see page 20 for our guide to the T break acts at this year’s T in the Park, including Hector Bizerk.
13 Jun–11 Jul 2013 THE LIST 79