Two Sunsets

 I usually start the new year with a blog focusing on things I'm looking forward to in the year ahead; gigs, festivals, albums, the development of younger bands I've fallen for ...

Who knows what is going to happen this year, lets just hope it is a lot brighter and positive than 2020. It has to be ... right?

I was delighted when Tim Burgess and The Pastels announced a #timstwitterlisteningparty for Two Sunsets, the 2009 album made in collaboration with Tenniscoats. It's just so chilled, beautiful and dreamy. Just what I need right now to switch off from the news and these crazy and worrying times we live in.

So for my first blog I thought I would tweet along and use some tweets from the band. If you missed the listening party then I hope you might find the album through this blog, it's a beauty and it might just help you in the months ahead.

All the photos were tweeted by Katrina from The Pastels. 

Tokyo Glasgow creates a warm ambient atmosphere to welcome listeners into the world of The Pastels & Tenniscoats

The title track is sung beautifully in Japanese, everything sounds so pure, possibly/probably improvised, all the more gorgeous and special for it. The last ninety seconds or so are just blissful, described by Katrina as the kind of song you could jam forever.

Stephen - Two Sunsets was a song that Tenniscoats brought to the first session. We recorded it with our friend @balcooke and in a way it established this really naturalistic way of working. Most of it is just us playing together in a room at La Chunky (a small studio in Glasgow).

Song For A Friend has a gorgeous feel to it, a duet between Saya and Stephen, there is so much love and care in this song.

In November 2019 I wrote a blog on 10 of my favourite songs by The Pastels and Vivid Youth features. Gloriously mellow and gorgeous, just so beautiful, sublime and in the moment. Katrina's voice is so gentle and pure. 

Yomigaeru has a playful Japanese vocal melody over lush backing vocals, described by Stephen as like a magical Japanese 1960's film.

Modesty Piece is a short 90-second instrumental with a hummed vocal melody, all kinds of dreamy gorgeousness

About You is a Jesus & Mary Chain song from their classic Darklands album. This is a stunning cover, so beautiful, true to the original but different - if that makes sense!

Stephen - it's sometimes hard to make a cover of a song you love so much but I think we managed to take it somewhere else while keeping the essence. The words are heartbreaking. Jim told us he was into it which meant a lot.

There's something warm about the rain

Boats is a gloriously lazy melodic song, sung by Katrina, Hikoki is another brilliant example of Tenniscoats and The Pastels seemingly conjuring melodies from thin air.

Katrina on Sodane - Maybe the most pop song on the record, handclaps and Ueno's exuberant riff, so good. I think I wanted to do the descending ba ba ba all the way through but luckily Saya put her foot down.

Stephen - I love Sodane. Ueno had such a great pop hook for it but Saya thought it should be used very sparingly :)

Mou Mou Rainbow lasts almost 7-minutes and within 20-seconds we're lured into a gentle wave of melody that lovingly washes over the listener.

Stephen - Mou Mou Rainbow was one of the first songs we heard by Tenniscoats. We asked them if we could re-record it for Two Sunsets. Nice slow psychedelic vibe.

This beautiful album closes with Start Slowly So We Sound Like A Loch, a beautiful title for a beautiful poetic dreamy song.

Katrina - Overheard this phrase at a project ability film launch at the GFT and saved it in my heart.

If you enjoy this blog and check the album out, you can also buy a copy from Monorail and Stephen might even sign it for you. BUY HERE

BMX Bandits 30

Everything Flows Podcast #10

BMX Bandits are 30 - Duglas T Stewart interview and music

Duglas and Chloe - BMX Bandits core in 2016

Yesterday afternoon I enjoyed a couple of hours sitting on a bench in Glasgow Green in glorious sunshine with a cheeky ice-cream, recording a special podcast in the company of Duglas T Stewart; singer, songwriter and leader of legendary Scottish band - the BMX Bandits.

BMX Bandits have been celebrating 30-years of music - the band formed in 1985 and released debut single E102 in 1986.

It was 5-years after the release of debut single that I discovered the band in 1991. Aged 15, I was a musical sponge, soaking up all kinds of stuff. From raiding my parents record collections to discover The Beatles, The Stones, Marvin and Tammi and Jose Feliciano....and scouring the NME and Melody Maker every week, looking to discover favourite bands of my own.

A number of the bands I fell for back in 1991 were from in and around Glasgow. A couple happened to hail from Bellshill which seemed rather incredible for a young teenager in the relative Lanarkshire backwater of Carluke.

The BMX Bandits seemed to be a band that practically everyone was linked to in some shape or form. Check their family tree below! Kurt Cobain also said 'If I could be in any other band, it would be BMX Bandits.'

BMX Bandits subsequently turned me on to all kinds of stuff. Being friends with Duglas means that you are never far from a lost 60's classic or super cool new band from Japan appearing on your timeline. I'm very fortunate to have grown up with bands who wear their influences on their sleeves and someone like Duglas has remained a musical sponge long past his teens! His knowledge and taste is impeccable and I was absolutely delighted when he agreed to meet for a podcast where he has selected all of the songs. 6Music or Radio Scotland should sign him up for a show!

Listen in to learn about what these songs mean to Duglas and we also get a chance to talk about all things BMX Bandits - The Pretty Flowers, the Splash Club, E102, 53rd and 3rd, Creation, the 90's, My Chain, Bee Stings, BMX Bandits In Space, past and current members, future plans....

We somehow pack all of this and much, much more into 72-minutes. LISTEN HERE



1. The Morning Of Our Lives - Jonathan Richman
2. The Sweet Sounds Of Summer - The Shangri-Las
3. Lutie Lutie - Tenniscoats
4. Who Do You Think You Are? - Jigsaw
5. Like A Monkey In A Zoo - Daniel Johnston
6. I Saw The Light - Todd Rundgren
7. Someday Man - Paul Williams
8. Jean - Rod McKuen

Also - check this brilliant garage pop groove Razorblades and Honey by BMX Bandits and Anton Newcombe that Duglas mentions in the podcast. Recorded in Anton's Berlin studio during a recent trip. It is ace. Hope they record again in the future.

How Many Glasgow

Yesterday I bought the album How Many Glasgow by Jad Fair, Tenniscoats and Norman Blake on Japanese import and I have been enjoying a lovely Sunday evening lying in bed listening to it with headphones on, watching the sun go down on a lovely sunny April weekend in Glasgow.

So how did the album come about?

In 2012 Jad and Norman were invited by Daniel Johnston to play at one of his exhibitions in Madrid. The duo subsequently went to Japan to tour with Tenniscoats (Saya and Ueno Takashi) and after two shows in Tokyo they booked a recording session; How Many Glasgow is the result of that session with most of the tracks recorded in 2 or 3 takes over the course of 2-days.

I'm real pleased with how it came out. It has a friendly and natural feel to it - Jad Fair

Mostly improvised, you hear the songs in the order they were recorded. Jad is an inspiration and a huge talent....Tenniscoats are one of my favourite groups. They are original and fearless and it was a privilege to work with them - Norman Blake

Jad's description is spot on. The album has a very warm feeling to it - 4 friends coming together to create and record an album virtually on the spot.

The artists combine well - the music is relatively simple; largely finger picked guitar with some keyboards, organ and a little percussion. Jad's contribution is improvised spoken word with Tenniscoats making up backing vocal melodies on the spot.

Jad's lyrics are all about love and hope, his voice is very easy and at times very soothing to listen to. Tenniscoats sound utterly gorgeous.

There are some sublime moments; Yes, We Can is an early highlight while Reading Bubbles with the Japanese vocals and melody is absolutely stunning. Jad's mellow and calm spoken word section combines beautifully with those of Tenniscoats. Then it is the turn of Norman to sing with Tenniscoats on the beautiful Raindrops (track 4).

This Is A Time is probably my favourite song on the album; it has a lovely feel to it and all 3 artists are at their best - Norman playing some mellow guitar, Tenniscoats  playing some subtle keyboards and singing backing vocals while Jad is at his romantic best.

A brand new day has begun

A brand new spring has now been sprung

And into this life we have been flung

Let's make the most of it

Horray for us

Doowee Do (track 11) has Norman singing in Japanese and harmonising with Tenniscoats and The Door Will Open is a fragile beauty.

The way the album was recorded is captured beautifully at the start of I Have A Plan with Jad and Tenniscoats laughing as they begin - the song is another highlight.

The closing Yo Yo Yo! is clear evidence that this is an improvised album, this is just a fun jam, sounding like it was recorded in one take - but who cares when you have songs like those mentioned above.

Norman and Jad play Mono in Glasgow on Monday 18th May. Tickets HERE

2014 review by Duglas T Stewart

Duglas T Stewart has been writing, singing, recording and releasing music with the BMX Bandits since 1986. Duglas' musical taste and knowledge is absolutely incredible and he has turned me on to many fantastic songs and artists via Facebook and Twitter - not only from older artists but also new and emerging artists whom he supports wholeheartedly - Randolph's Leap and TeenCanteen are just a couple of examples of young Scottish bands that Duglas has helped and supported.

On a personal level, I have been enjoying Duglas' music since I was in my mid-teens and it has been tremendous to watch him develop as a writer and artist. The last three BMX Bandits have been exceptional and deserve a wider audience. This years single My Girl Midge is heartbreakingly beautiful.

I caught up Duglas for his review of 2014.

1. Album of 2014

How Many Glasgow by Tenniscoats, Jad Fair and Norman Blake

The group I have listened to most this year are Tenniscoats.

2. Track of 2014

Love Thy Will Be Done by The Icypoles

It's actually a cover version but it's a great song and I think this is the best version. Their album is beautiful.

3. Man of 2014

Stuart Kidd - Stuart was a BMX Bandit for a number of years. He joined us when he was still just a kid and I have felt a sense of pride watching him grow as a musician and an artist. He has been so prolific; contributing (sometimes as a writer, singer, sometimes a musician and a player, or all at the same time) to many great records over the last few years by acts including Dr Cosmos Tape Lab, Poundstore Riot, The Pearlfishers, Jad Fair, Norman Blake, The Wellgreen, Euros Childs and others.

Stuart has also played a couple of shows with me and we've worked on some recordings together. He's a great and prolific talent. He does everything with a sense of joy and positivity and with great taste and instincts.

Stuart on the left - his album with Dr Cosmos Tape Lab was a personal fave of mine in 2014

4. Looking to 2015

2014 has been the hardest year of my life and I approach 2015 with fear but still praying for a miracle.

There are things I look forward to; the debut album by TeenCanteen, new albums by Teenage Fanclub, Tenniscoats have made an album of Bill Wells cover versions that I'd love to hear. I think Euros Childs is sure to make a new album. I had hoped to make a new album with Chloe but don't know if we will but it's still a dream.

I'm also looking forward to the debut album by Glasgow duo Elara Caluna and a Joe Meek tribute album by JONNY (Norman Blake and Euros Childs) called Jonny Remembers Him.

Euros and Norman - JONNY

5. Favourite live shows of 2014

TeenCanteen at Broadcast, Burt Bacharach in Edinburgh, The Rutles at King Tuts, No More Tiger at Broadcast, The Pearlfishers at the Tolbooth in Stirling and Tennis at Broadcast.

TeenCanteen at Broadcast