Latest News
Bear Arms album ‘Strength and Conviction’ out now!
"… enamoured with the smooth riffing and floating vocals
of the Walter Schreifels school of rock…"
- Rock Sound Magazine
of the Walter Schreifels school of rock…"
- Rock Sound Magazine
"The new knights of the Biffy realm."
- BBC Introducing
- BBC Introducing
Bear Arms debut album, Strength and Conviction, has been released via Struggletown Records and is available to buy from iTunes.
AltSounds exclusively hosted a full stream of the album which you can check out here or via the ABoF SoundCloud page.
Single Fool's Gold was released to celebrate the launch of Bear Arm's debut album with the video premiering on Rock Sound Magazine's website yesterday. You can watch the video on the band's YouTube channel, or via the embed below.
Stream and download single, Fool's Gold, on Bear Arms BandCamp page or via the embed below.
Combining elements of emo, math rock and post-hardcore, Bear Arms offer an eclectic take on the alt-rock sound that has swamped the airwaves in recent years, and 'Innate' is a perfect example. The track melds intricate guitar work and no-holds-barred string thrashing beefed up with transcendent vocals and a drums that will put your speakers to the test. Pulling on early noughties influences such as Glassjaw, Texas Is The Reason and Thursday, they have produced an album that accentuates the loud/quiet, singing/screaming dynamic beautifully, while maintaining an emotionality that should endear them to a wider audience.
Album track 'Innate' premiered on Big Cheese Magazine's official website, and you can also stream and download it from the ABoF SoundCloud page. You can also stream and download album track 'Courage' and watch the live footage video that accompanies it via YouTube.
Bear Arms, who consist of Richard Wardrop (guitar/vox), Keiran Hird (guitars/vox), Lewis Mcgourty (bass) and Dean Louden (drums/vox), formed in early 2011 after the members grew up playing in bands together when they were at school. Keiran joined after the rest of the band moved to Glasgow and Dean was the final piece of the Bear Arms puzzle when he was added to the line-up in 2013 after the regional drummer left the band.
The band have already picked up support from the likes of BBC Introducing's Ally McCrae, Big Cheese Magazine and the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show, and with their debut album's release, they're set to end the year with an almighty bang.
Strength and Conviction by Bear Arms is out now via Struggletown Records and available to buy digitally on BandCamp and iTunes.
Glyphs EP ‘Out To Sea’ out now!
“Curious, exotic nuggets…”
- Clash Magazine
"...an atmospheric journey for the listener to find themselves lost in."
- Artrocker Magazine
Glyphs have released their fourth EP Out To Sea via Small Sounds. The EP premiered on Artrocker where you can stream it in full for free.
You can also stream and download EP tracks 'The Machine' and 'Shed Skin' for free on the ABoF SoundCloud page.
Out To Sea is the work of a band who have harnessed their considerable talent by melding together various genres into one, unique sound that encompasses tender, melodic pop vocals, hip-hop style beats and electro-synth all accompanied by comforting noises and samples that could have been lifted from a Spectrum 128k circa ’85. Opening track, and official single Out To Sea, displays the band’s playful side by evoking the spirit of 80’s synth-pop bands such as Erasure and The Pet Shop Boys creating an ear worm that’s hard to shake. While ‘The Machine’ could sit alongside many modern electronic artists like The Knife and Autechre as beats pop and samples soar, neatly bridged by a shoegaze style chorus. Closing track ‘Man Of Straw, Man Of Stone’ sways rhythmically with samples and beats washing gloriously over soft, distant, dream-like vocals reminiscent of Boards Of Canada.
Formed in 2010 Glyphs came together after Mark Walsh (vocals/songwriting) and Matt Wilkie (producer) became flatmates. Despite having known one another for a few years previously, Mark had embarked on a two year trip to Asia and Australia and it wasn’t until his return to Brixton that the pair reconnected. Originally hailing from Liverpool the duo set about writing and recording together as Matt had an array of music and beats already written and Mark was able to provide the lyrics and vocals.
Out To Sea is Glyphs’ fourth release following on from their Small Sounds EP and Glyphs EP both released in 2011 and the Locks & Keys EP, which was released in 2013. Combining a wide range of influences from Caribou and Bonobo to Four Tet and The Knife, Glyphs have created a sound that they can call their own.
Out To Sea is released via Small Sounds. Download it digitally via iTunes.
The Marivaux release ‘All In Good Time’ video!
The Marivaux have released the video for All In Good Time, the title track and single taken from their forthcoming EP, released via AWAL on 10th November 2014.
You can watch the video via the band's YouTube channel or via the embed below.
You can also download and stream EP track 'Come With Me' for free from the ABoF SoundCloud page or via the embed below.
The EP is about ‘no hopers’; the endless falling, standing and repeating that each generation has to deal with, the overall message being simply to chill out and enjoy the ride. Each track is filled with a classic underground rock sound with lots of good old fashioned noise and lead singer Phil McAdam’s northern slurs completing the package.
The band have already picked up support from the likes of BBC 6Music's Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson as well as BBC Introducing... Manchester, and they've played sold out shows in Manchester as well as abandoned mansions (like the Belgian Embassy) in Rusholme. They have also supported the likes of The Futureheads and George Borowski and have held shows at Liam Gallagher's Pretty Green stores nationwide. The boys are currently touring the UK and will be heading to Europe in November.
All In Good Time is released via AWAL on 10th November 2014. Download the single via iTunes.
Bloc+Music release Ensemble Part 2!
"Delete U2 and fit this on a playlist instead."
- The Sunday Herald
Bar Bloc are delighted to announce the release of their second of four free compilation albums via their Bloc+Music label, available to download for free now via Bandcamp.
A stream of the compilation album was exclusively hosted by AltSounds yesterday and is a yet another fantastic collection of some of the most talented up-and-coming bands on the Scottish music scene right now.
You can stream and download the Bloc Ensemble Part 2 for free (or name your price) via Bandcamp.
You can also stream and download the Bloc Ensemble Part 1 for free via Bandcamp.
The compilation is the culmination of the venue hosting some of the best up-and-coming artists in Scotland and beyond, and is the perfect showcase for a venue and label that has been renowned for cultivating grass roots art in Scotland. Bloc was recently nominated for an Unsung Hero Award at the Scottish License Trade Awards due to its initiatives to help the wider musical community in Scotland as well as deserving social causes. Indeed, Bloc have helped local bands by subsidising a touring van which is loaned to musicians at cost price (non-profit) enabling bands to tour and perform their art on a financially sustainable basis. As well as this, their label Bloc+Music is run on a non-profit basis to allow Scottish musicians to release their music without having to kowtow to the practices and pressures of major labels. This has seen the likes of So Many Animal Calls, Campfires In Winter and Felix Champion thrive and allowed them to progress their musical career at their own pace and in their own image.
Bloc’s DIY ethic is worn firmly on their chest and has aided not just the music community but the creative sector in Scotland in general with the backing of DIY label StruggleTown as well as Hay Man!, TYCI and Ment1 He1th, all of which carry the work of young Scottish artists and authors who have been instrumental in highlighting political and social issues to the wider Scottish community.
This is the second of four compilation albums featuring the likes of Algernon Doll, So Many Animal Calls and Felix Champion, highlighting Bloc's penchant for the more alternative side of music. The compilation also illustrates the diversity and talent prevalent on the Scottish music scene of which Bar Bloc and Bloc+Music have been leaders in their field and will continue to spearhead for many years to come.
Bloc Ensemble Part 2 is available to download for free via the Bloc+Music Bandcamp.
The Last September album ‘Volcano’ out Monday!
The Last September release their third album Volcano via Fountainhall Records this Monday, 20th October 2014. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, the album was funded completely independently, allowing the Edinburgh based band the creative freedom to produce something truly remarkable.
The fantastic stop motion animation video for album track and single This Train Remains was put together by the BAFTA award winning Ainslie Henderson, and was featured as one of Vimeo's Staff Picks. The video premiered on Artrocker Magazine and you can watch it now via the embed below.
You can also stream and download the single for free from the ABoF SoundCloud page.
Volcano is an album which is as much about city life as it is influenced by the solitary simple life among the birds and bees which frontman Pete Deane embraced during a sabbatical in the Scottish countryside. The Last September took Peteʼs basic ideas and developed them into vibrant, living breathing pieces of music, greater in scope than just the singer-songwriter based music of their previous albums. The tracks explore themes of belonging, desire, isolation and memory. It became apparent during the writing and development of the songs, that there was also a central location. Much like the character of a city which lends itself to the theme of a film, Volcano is also informed and mindful of one place: Edinburgh and the hills around it. The volcanoes, the history and the people - it has all seeped in and made this album an insightful and haunting collection of musical vignettes.
Earning his stripes playing in Edinburgh-based indie hopefuls Suburbia (which gave him the opportunity to work with renowned producer Tony Visconti), Pete boldly struck out on his own musical path 2004. Along the way he collected a number of like-minded eccentrics over and, the line-up was complete once Simon ʻthe Mad Dukeʼ Usher sat down behind the band’s drum kit in 2013.
This Train Remains, the first single taken from the album, has grabbed the attention of XFM's Jim Gellatly and has also picked up support from the likes of Supajam, The Vinyl District and Insomnia Radio. With a number of live dates planned at the end of the year, The Last September are sure to end 2014 on a high note.
Volcano is released 20th October via Fountainhall Records.