some stuff, and most likely some things too.

Have decided to set myself a new year challenge (resolutions are just rubbish!) For at least the first three months of 2012 I am going to have no music on my iPod that is signed to a major label. Local bands and anyone who self releases only. Now, given how much I love all sorts of music and how excited I get when I discover a new band, or a band I already love release a new album, this could be difficult for me! At least I have a decent amount of local/unsigned acts albums already, with work by El Dog, Dave Hughes, Matt Stevens solo work and his band the Quick and the Dead, Jim Byrne, Chris TT, Dave Arcari, the Zips, Hordes of Unstoppable Skeletons…just off the top of my head. This is not enough to fill my iPod however! So time to discover some new, local and/or unsigned music. This is where I’d like some help. I would like some recommendations of what else to fill my iPod with. The local Glasgow music scene is very alive and well, as is the self release scene and I’d like bands to send me links to their bandcamp pages, myspace profiles, etc. Any takers?

A couple of weeks ago, myself and the boyfriend went along to Coopers on Great Western Road for a bite to eat and a few beers with my parents. We were sitting around enjoying a lazy late afternoon’s relaxation, and we got to talking about the massive painting hanging on one wall. My mum knows her art, and was trying to remember who it was that had painted it but was getting nowhere, so out came the phone, and onto google. Turns out it’s by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, it’s called Peasant Wedding. She passed her phone to me and I scanned through the web page, and came across something familiar, this. Music lovers amongst you may recognise this as the front cover of Seattle bad Fleet Foxes self titled 2009 album. I’m still not tired of this album, it’s extraordinary. The close harmonies are somewhat reminiscent of the Beach Boys, but from a colder climate. The folk sound they employ seemed fresh and new at the time and hasn’t dated in the 18 months or so since it’s release. It’s also a happy memory of working in Borders Books.  Seems their follow up is still a  few months away, wish they’d hurry up with it! Since getting into this band, I’ve realised that not all folk based music is the arran-jumper wearing, twee, dreariness that I’d once thought! Bands like Mumford and Sons and Band of Horses have come into my radar and I love them both.