The Most Important Place In The World

The last time Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat recorded an album (Everything's Getting Older, released in 2011) it won the Scottish Album of the Year Award. They have just released a second - The Most Important Place In The World on Chemikal Underground and I fully expect it to be on the shortlist for next years award.

Why?

Well, in short, the album allows two of Scotland's most treasured and talented musical artists to combine to create something genuinely special and unique.

Moffat is fine poetic fettle; flowing with anger on The Unseen Man, full of romance/realisation with Far From You, oozing sleaze and lust on Vanilla and This Dark Desire and in classic form on Any Other Mirror. Always full of sharp, honest and often funny observations.

For me, Moffat is at his best when he goes off on one; flowing with ease to vent his anger, frustration, desires, issues, heartbreak and ache... his lyrics, pace and flow are sublime especially on songs like The Eleven Year Glitch with a sample below.

the problem is that no-one changed, we didn't evolve, we just grew in all the wrong directions

we met too late, we tried too soon, we died so they could live

but don't peek behind the curtain, never scrutinise a mind, 

because you never know the heartbreak and the horror you might find, 

don't think you'll get a answer, don't expect to understand, 

the fragile correspondence between heart and head and hand

you'll never want me back, oh just say you'll never want me back

walk away, but don't you dare come back

just make sure before you pull the trigger

Dark (honest) humour is all over the closing We're Still Here, with Moffat talking about banks, bookies, pharmacies, charity shops, surgeries, letting agents, jewellers and even trainer shops! But Moffat says more about the state of Britain in 2015 in 4-minutes than most artists manage in a career - the fact that things are/can be pretty bleak but in the end we are still here.

Wells provides the perfect backing throughout, this is a real partnership; dreamy, seductive and 60's like on Vanilla, gentle beautiful on On The Motorway and The Tangle Of Us, matching Moffat's lyrics with the perfect mood on This Dark Desire and going bar style jazz and adding backing singers on Street Pastor Colloquy, 3AM.

I only bought the album today, picking up a super ltd edition print in the process from the lovely folk at Monorail and I have already fallen for it's charms. I suspect many more will follow.

Dreamers

I have enjoyed and admired the creative talent of Duglas T Stewart for over 20-years. Duglas has a new project that he is working on called Dreamers - a departure from his work with BMX Bandits - or maybe the next step.

The Bandits last 3 albums (My Chain, Bee Stings and BMX Bandits In Space), have delivered career highlights, with Duglas reaching new heights with his songwriting and delivery. His ever willing band of collaborators extended to help him produce results that he probably dreams of - akin to his great hero Brian Wilson and also Daniel Johnston.

Duglas with the great Brian Wilson, Brian with the great Duglas T Stewart

Check out the likes of So Many Colours, The Sailor's Song and the exceptional The Unforgiven for starters. A far cry from the C86 days yet retaining the warmth, melodies and love that Stewart has a natural knack for.

Duglas recently wrote this on the BMX Bandits website. (click the link for the full post)

"2014 was a difficult year for me. I know there are people out there who have it much worse than me but that doesn’t help, actually it just makes you feel worse and guilty that you’re not feeling good. On the last night of the year I recorded a song.  I thought I was going to be celebrating the arrival of the new year and new hope for the future in Hamburg but I was home alone in Bellshill. I was in a mess. I recorded a version of Somewhere from West Side Story. I found an orchestral backing track, added some of my own stuff to it and put it through some echo and sang one take straight into the computer mic. At least that’s what I think I did. I couldn’t actually remember doing it until I found the file on my desktop. It sort of made slightly harrowing listening for me but I think I captured something that has something, a rare authenticity. It’s certainly for real. I sent it to the mighty Bill Wells for his opinion. He said he thought it was “very special” and I trust his taste."

I was extremely moved by this recording. It is the sound of a broken heart, still clinging to hope, love and dreams. It is the sound of an artist looking for solace in song. It is beautifully and heartbreakingly fragile, my heart strings are pulled with every listen.

Duglas has released a further Dreamers song entitled Rust, another raw beauty.

The BMX Bandits will always have a place in my heart, but I am looking forward to hearing Duglas complete his Dreamers project with some more 'very special' music.