ELECTRONIC
IF you’re even remotely involved in Glasgow’s bustling club scene, there’s a good chance you’ll have come across Sega Bodega. The half-Chilean DJ has repeatedly captured the city’s imagination with his sprawling dance tracks.
Unsurprisingly, his new EP Sportswear presents another fine selection of bangers. Lead track Broken Ribs showcases exactly why Bodega is so special: its melody is disjointed, its rhythm is stuttered, its synth lines are all over the place, and yet it’s one of the catchiest tracks you’ll hear this year.
Influenced by fellow Glasgow producers Rustie and Hudson Mohawke, Bodega’s music is clearly club-orientated. Nevertheless, Broken Ribs is another example of how EDM can be both danceable and have emotional depth.
HIP HOP
COMBINING the disparate genres of hip hop and folk can prove a clumsy endeavour if you don’t know what you’re doing – just ask Ed Sheeran. Luckily, Edinburgh duo The Urban Folk Crowd aren’t attempting “folk-hop” for the sake of it.
Crossing the talents of songwriter Calum Carlyle and poet/emcee Conscious Route, new single Encoded makes for a surprisingly natural fusion. Both elements are incorporated tastefully, with Carlyle’s four-chord acoustics providing a platform for Route’s musings on various social issues.
The chorus is a little unsubtle and unnecessary, as Carlyle preaches that “we should come together” and “open our minds”. The Urban Folk Crowd don’t need to justify themselves though – this particular experiment comes off well.
INDIE
PAISLEY four-piece Lemonhaze seem pretty unremarkable on the surface. Like dozens of other Scottish indie outfits, their aesthetic is geared towards channelling “Madchester” and neo-psychedelic acts from the early 90s. This is misleading, as their new single Feel demonstrates a band comfortable in writing unadulterated pop hooks.
Rhythmically evocative of classic Big Beat dance tunes, the track ultimately breaks into full-on synthpop.
The band’s anthemic qualities would transfer well to a live setting. If you’re lucky enough to live in Kilmarnock, you may as well pop down to Bakers tonight and sample them for yourself.
PUNK
FORMED in Edinburgh but with origins in Shetland, Isaac & The Ransel Men sound unique for a young Scottish rock band. Their influences run the gamut, stylistically encompassing everything from rockabilly to contemporary garage rock. Consequently, their new single Two Minute Punk Classic makes for an interesting brew. The track – which indeed lasts two minutes – is bursting with energy and raw punk attitude, but it’s also dynamic with unexpected gear changes.
It’s debatable whether the track warrants the title of “classic”, but it’s doubtful that The Ransel Men would care: their infectious sound already has a notable swagger.
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