FOLK
NOBODY sounds quite like Kathryn Joseph. The mesmeric songwriter’s latest release The Worm, initially released as part of a double A-side single, is further evidence of her colossal talent.
Fragments of other artists infiltrate this piano-based lament like echoes – you could draw comparisons with Radiohead’s reverberant mid-2000s production or Bjork’s otherworldly vocal qualities.
Broadly speaking though, this Scottish auteur is utterly in a realm of her own. The National awaits the follow-up to her magnificent debut with great excitement.
ELECTRONIC
BELLAHOUSTON Park played host to stadium DJ Calvin Harris this week. The Dumfries lad, who once worked in fish factories and supermarkets, is now headlining to crowds that are 30,000 strong.
Therefore it seems only fair to pay tribute to his latest single How Deep Is Your Love, a foray into deep house that is surprisingly more nuanced than his more marketable chart hits of recent years.
INDIE
GLASGOW based four-piece The Bellybuttons have been described variously as “slacker-psych”, “bubblegum garage” and “navel-gaze”, but we’d be happy to settle for “incredibly catchy indie rock”.
Their single Play, taken from their forthcoming EP of the same name, is a bouncy introduction to a band equipped with both catchy riffs and sardonic lyrics.
Fans of classic late 1980s/early 1990s college rock acts like Built to Spill or Dinosaur Jr will particularly appreciate the drawling vocals and layabout rock attitude.
You can purchase Play digitally or on cassette on September 14 via Fuzzkill Records.
POP
THE BLOGOSPHERE has been abuzz with excitement for the aptly named A Splash of Colour by Glasgow group Smash Williams.
As a single it’s almost uncategorisable – guitar reverb, whizzing synths and processed beats provide the perfect platform for some seriously catchy vocal melodies. The track eventually strives for the anthemic, progressing into a powerful refrain of “we’ll pick each other up.” They’ve already been co-signed by Chvrches, so you can already tell that they’re worth giving some attention. The track is available on Soundcloud and is their only release to date.
ROCK
AS DRAMATIC as it sounds, alt-rock collective Halo Tora represent hope for a Scottish scene that has been crying out for another act to represent it on the international stage.
Okay, so this Glasgow quintet won’t be presenting their cinematic rock sounds to stadiums just yet, but there’s a self-assurance to the band’s new release Permanent Revolution.
Building on an arpeggiated intro on keys, the track unravels into a swirling mix of dramatic vocal harmonies and guitar solos. It’s an outstanding highlight from their debut album Omni/One.
Album of the month: Halo Tora, Omni/One
Festival Watch with Tenement TV: Putting the grunge in gay Paris
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here