DUNDEE four-piece Vladimir will release their new single In My Head this Monday. The young Scottish band are fast gaining a reputation as one of Scotland’s most exciting bands, becoming known for their notoriously loud shows along the way.
Vladimir have mixed a variety of different styles into their music, although the band have said their sound is simply “bleak”.
Listening to their latest release, it is difficult to believe the band are all still in their teens, but they say they just make music because they don’t know what else to do.
“We can’t find jobs we are happy with and we maybe never will, music keeps us content with life,” Vladimir frontman Ross Murray said.
“It’s dark music written by four young lads from Dundee letting out their frustration on the world.”
In My Head is a statement of intent, the driving intro leading into the understated but undeniably catchy chorus. Their previous single Come Over gained plaudits from critics across the UK and beyond. Joy Division-esque guitars jingle over the droning vocals, making for a thrilling live number.
During the past year, the band have played with fellow Dundee boys The View as well as Peace, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Pulled Apart by Horses, touring to venues all over the country.
In the next 12 months lead singer Murray said the band plan to play “as many shows as we can” taking their music to “as many people as possible”.
The band’s live performances are arguably their strongest point. In the past even sound engineers have struggled with the deafening noise they create.
Vladimir will play a show alongside legendary post-punk band The Fall in London tomorrow night to launch the single.
SINGLE of the Week – Gerry Cinnamon – Kampfire Vampire.
Gerry Cinnamon, who first rose to prominence last summer with his viral pro-independence track Hope Over Fear, is back with a cracking new single. Kampfire Vampire again showcases not only his natural songwriting ability, but his instrumental talents as he both strums guitar and plays harmonica.
Undoubtedly drawing from Neil Young and Johnny Cash, there’s a definite touch of Americana to the track, and the folk singer’s earthy voice gives it a timeless quality. This one serves as a nice backdrop to the breezy summer evenings we’re starting to get.
Although the single will officially be released in May, a limited number of vinyl copies were released on last week’s World Record Day.
Cinnamon said he wrote the song about the Glasgow music scene, adding that it is about people “that think they can control music and make money off wee guys”.
The Glasgow singer-songwriter built up a following in the late stages of the referendum last September. Asked by friends to write a song about the Referendum, the Yes-inspired track has gathered a total of over 120,000 views on Youtube, despite being written only two days before the vote.
Upon its release Gerry said: “Folk keep asking me to write a song about Independence and I’ve patched it so many times. Today it wrote itself in about five minutes.”
Last July, Cinnamon sold out King Tuts in the fastest time ever recorded for an artist without a record out, with all tickets being snapped up within the first six hours of release.
Gerry will play at the Eagle Inn in Coatbridge tomorrow night, before playing dates in Dunfermline, Dundee, Stirling and Glasgow.
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