Saint Mungo EP by Fatale

Last June I published a blog on Fatale, a new young band from my hometown of Uddingston. They had just played their first couple of gigs and released a demo of an original song called Moves You and a cover of Femme Fatale. You can still check them out here - FATALE DEMOS

I fell for Fatale instantly. And then fell even further upon seeing the band live and bumping into them in person in McChuills and at gigs. Ben Robertson (vocals), Euan Corrigan (lead guitar), Christopher Jollie (guitar and songs), Oscar Tighe (bass) and James Lindsay (drums) are super tight, literally bouncing off each other whether on stage or hanging out. They look the part, with great hair, style, warm smiles and a cheeky charm. 

Live, and in recordings, they have developed considerably in the last year. Building interest and generating greater reactions with each and every gig. They are getting about town in all the right places ... and have a wonderful natural confidence, as well as a real thirst for discovering music.

Fatale have wisely taken their time to record and release. Waiting to find the right studio and producer. Chris McCrory has done a cracking job in capturing their raw energy, ear for pop, love of guitars and instinct for hooks and flows.

The result is the six-track vinyl only Saint Mugo EP - named after the patron Saint of Glasgow. You can catch the brilliant DIY video for the song Jesus Christ below. It's like The Monkees in Glasgow sunshine on Buckfast Tonic Wine!

Read on for my track-by-track review. You can also check this recent blog for an interview with Christopher Jollie. You can also order the EP from the fabulous Monorail.

Moves You

Moves You is an absolute blast. 30-seconds of overdriven guitars leading to the first verse, which could be mistaken for a chorus. This is one of Fatale's strengths, they have an instinct for melody and hooks, verses are like choruses. Raw and soulful harmonies, young romantic lyrics sung from the heart.

Would you find a price for all the stars that shine on you?

There is a sublime, unexpected, dreamy breakdown after the first chorus before Fatale burst back into life. Guitars crash, collide, chime, blur, reverberate and fuzz together. Glorious.

Winged Horse

The guitar intro to Winged Horse warms my heart. Fatale quickly find a groove behind it and the beats encourage handclaps. The bridge to the chorus has the hook I'm walking through the East End of my mind, I'm searching for a place I cannot find. Then the double chorus 

You take a piece of me

To make some time for you

Every word I meant to say

Ends up lost along the way

This is under 2.5 minutes of flowing guitar pop. 

Another Sunrise

Another Sunrise begins with warm Big Star-esque guitars that sounds like they are basking in summer sunshine. Ben Robertson croons the opening lines.

That summer feeling can't keep me warm the rest of my life

Things then explode for the prechorus, with Robertson calling it out.

I'm beginning to wonder is that all that there could be

My eyes are open, but there's nothing I can see

This leads to the defiant, don't give a f**k  statement hook of I'm going out tonight. I can imagine this blasting out of radios and speakers, and being sung wholeheartedly by teenagers across the country (and beyond). Another verse, prechorus and chorus lead to guitars rising and Robertson repeating the hook. Then Fatale slow it down to a delicious fuzzy feedback fade out.

Jesus Christ

I first caught Fatale playing in King Tuts in July 2025 and described Jesus Christ as the catchiest guitar pop song I've heard in a long time. While there are a few contenders on this EP, this is a beautiful riot of a song and recording. Serious top marks to producer Chris McCrory for the energy and guitar sounds he has captured. He gets it - big time.

The guitars of Euan and Christopher collide gloriously, there are more hooks than Rocky Bilbao fighting at his peak. Most bands would love to have the verses to this tunes as choruses! The bridge/pre-chorus is even catchier and then there is the chorus itself;

 

Jesus Christ knocked on my door

Just let me sleep ten minutes more

Coming out with songs of praise

Oh now I'm lost in a Catholic haze

Having had the pleasure of spending time with main songwriter Christopher, one ambition (that he has mentioned more than once) of his always sticks out: he wants to write songs that feel like one continuous giant chorus - or a seamless sequence of them. Hook after hook.

So immediately out of the chorus appears another super catchy bridge back into the chorus. Keeping up? Well if you can't that is part of the charm of this delicious slice of guitar punk pop.  You'll want to play it again ... and again.

How can I hold my head up when you're down

How can I stand the world when you're not around

The little fuzz bass break after the middle eight is superb. Then it's straight back into the chorus for a final blast. Think God Knows It's True era Fanclub meeting The Undertones for a couple of pints of Guinness and then having a jam. Catchy guitar brilliance. Infectious energy. 

St Mungo

Title track St Mungo is beautifully melancholic. Robertson's voice has an aching quality to it as he sings she's the song I've never sung. The backing vocals are heavenly, and there is a wonderful feeling to the guitars, especially as they ring through solo/break after Robertson declaring I swear I will learn. They continue to ring through the short outro with gorgeous band harmonies I'll never, ever, learn

Long Hair

Speaking of melancholy, Fatale strip things right back, to go acoustic for the final track. Robertson sounds dreamily in love, not caring about anything other than being with his girl. 

I don't know what you're thinking baby

I don't know if your hairs grown long

Robertson declares took so long to find you, and then sings it again, as if he can't believe his luck. Keyboard is introduced and beautifully and naturally adds to the dreamy feeling.

There is a real organic feel to the recording, almost demo like. But sometimes a demo captures things in a way that can't be replicated. Robertson mumbles that's fucked at the end. But he gets it bang on. Sung from the heart. 

Fatale - NYR at King Tuts

Glasgow seems to recognise how dark, wet, cold and miserable January is, so the city does its very best to put on music events to keep spirits up. Celtic Connections attracts artists and music fans from across the globe. Closer to home, King Tuts Wah Wah Hut promotes the best new bands around as part of their New Year Revolution series of shows through January. 

On Friday (9th) night I headed in to see Fatale, a young five piece, still in single figures for gigs and yet to release a single. As mentioned in an earlier blog this month, I think Fatale are the most exciting young band in Scotland at present. They look great, have fantastic taste in (and enthusiasm for) music and out of their 11-song set, taking into account the 2 cover versions, 5 or 6 of their own 9 songs sound like they could be clear and obvious singles. 

This was the best I've seen Fatale. They played with confidence, introduced new songs to their set and looked like they were having even more fun on stage than the audience, who were jumping and pogo-ing around. There was even a brilliant display of crowd surfing during the band's final song! 

Lead singer Ben Robertson somehow managed to keep his hat on for the first few songs, before eventually taking it off due to the heat in the room. Robertson is a natural front man, his energy is infectious. He has his arm round his guitarists at times, while at others he is down at the barrier and in with the crowd. Good vibes.

Good vibes all round. From the warm guitar opening of September onwards, Fatale blitzed King Tuts. A cover of The Vaselines Molly's Lips third song really got the place going.

Head's Gone could be one of the aforementioned singles. While Jesus Christ almost certainly will be. A teasing intro with Big Star-esque guitar sounds leads to the band flying through the verse to the chorus. 

Jesus Christ knocked on my door, just let me sleep 10-minutes more

Coming out with songs of praise, righteousness lost in the haze

Another Sunrise is another one that connects, the defiant statement hook of I'm going out tonight will probably be blasting out of radios and speakers within a couple of years and be sung wholeheartedly by teenagers across the country (and beyond).

Fatale were in full flow. The duel guitars of Euan and Chris (sporting a Shonen Knife t-shirt) were deliciously fuzzy, bassist Oscar locked in the groove, while James (vintage AC Milan shirts swapped for a Maradona T) on drums drove things forward.

By The Tide is another guitar pop gem. Fatale seem to have a natural feel for a good song structure. They know when to build a bridge, when to rip through a verse, when to hammer home a chorus or hook. 

New song Wired (To The Feeling) felt effortless. The band seem to be writing brilliant new songs ona regular basis. They could already start recording and releasing a steady stream of singles. But they (probably rightly) are letting things build. After all, as mentioned previously, they have still played less than 10 gigs. You can check a couple of demos on their soundcloud though.

I'm wired to the feeling

When I'm by your side

Electricity is flowing

Everything's just right

With every tear you don't cry

With every tear you don't cry

Fatale closed with the two songs they recorded as demos 8-months ago. Their cover of Femme Fatale by The Velvets has become a sing-song, the call and response chorus and then the hook see the way she walks, hear the way she talks is sung with love on stage and in the crowd.

Then it was the glorious Moves You, like a long lost Fanclub song from between A Catholic Education and Bandwagonesque. Full of zip and zest, but with a sublime breakdown and harmonies, before a furious romp through the chorus, cracking instrumental with a brilliant guitar solo and another run through the first verse and chorus for good measure. 

Fatale head out on the road in February for dates with The Cords. Keep an eye on their Instagram page.

26/02 - Cafe Drummond, Aberdeen

27/02 - Beat Generator, Dundee

29/02 - Upstairs, Inverness

All I Have To Do Is Dream

 

Trust me #109
All I Have To Do Is Dream by The Everly Brothers

My Mum joined her church community choir earlier this year. This is different from the Sunday Morning Service choir, the focus is on pop songs, rather than hymns. 

A few months back, I was working from my local coffee shop and decided to pop round to my Mum's flat (close to the church) to see her. I was a little early, and as I knew choir was on until 2.30pm, I thought I would surprise my Mum and meet her at the church.

The main doors to the church were open, so I walked in to the sound of The Everly Brothers All I Have To Do Is Dream echoing from the back room and through the main hall. 

What a song.

Whenever I want you, all I have to do is dream

Dream, dream, dream

Dream

The Everly Brothers encapsulate the feeling of longing and lusting after someone out of reach in real life, but not in dreams. A feeling I'm sure that everyone reading this has felt before. How many hours, days, weeks and months (particularly as a teenager!) have I spent dreaming and fantasising about girls out of reach?!

But enough about this. Back to the church! 

All I Have To Do Is Dream is a hymn. And it was quite something hearing my Mum and her church community choir sing it. My Mum, by her own admission, isn't a great singer, but she loves the community choir. 

Released in April 1958, this incredible song is still finding an audience, still exuding life, still resonating ... still dreaming. Sometimes that is all we have to do. All we can do. 

When you talk about The Everly Brothers, you are primarily talking about harmony. Don and Phil Everly weren't just two brothers singing; they possessed an almost telepathic vocal bond.

All I Have to Do Is Dream is a masterclass in close-harmony singing .Phil's higher, softer voice weaves in and out of Don's lower, grounding tenor, their voices merging into a single, shimmering instrument. This technique set a new benchmark for duets and profoundly influenced everyone from The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel to the Beach Boys.

There's nothing complex about this song - just a straightforward, yearning narrative backed by a sparse, gentle arrangement with lyrics capturing a universal teenage feeling - the joy of fantasy and dreaming.

When I want you in my arms

When I want you and all your charms

Whenever I want you

All I have to do is dream

As an added bonus, the song even gets gee whizz into it, with the rather cheesy line 

Only trouble is, gee whizz

I'm dreaming my life away

This is a beautiful song and hopefully the Uddingston Parish Church Community Choir are performing it this evening and on Sunday.

All I Have To Do Is Dream is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE. Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell

62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry

66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker

67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones

68. I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters

69. Dream Baby Dream by Suicide

70. Stove by The Lemonheads

71. Red Lady by Phil Cordell

72. Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb

73. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift

74. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up by The M.V.P.'s

75. Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura

76. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

77. The Rat by The Walkmen

78. My God Has A Telephone by Aaron Frazer

79. Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

80. Sweet and Tender Romance by The McKinleys

81. Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros

82. 69 Police by David Holmes

83. Hey Lisa by David Holmes

84. I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel

85. Kung Fu by Ash

86. Kids by MGMT

87. Slight Return by The Bluetones

88. Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band

89. Cut Your Hair by Pavement

90. Race for the Prize by The Flaming Lips

91. Waitin' for a Superman by The Flaming Lips

92. Acquiesce by Oasis

93. This Is Music by The Verve

94. Lone Swordsman by Daniel Avery

95. Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub

96. Common People by Pulp

97. Let Our Love Grow Higher by Eula Cooper

98. Regret by New Order

99. Keep On Keepin' On by Nolan Porter

100. Sit Down by James (Live at G-Mex) by James

101. Never Lose Your Sense Of Wonder by Yeti

102. Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over by The Charlatans

103. Life Is Sweet by The Chemical Brothers 

104. How Can I Tell You (To Love Me More) by Brooke Coombe

105-107. Wigan Casino - Three Before Eight - Time Will Pass You By by Tobi Legend, Long After Tonight Is All Over by Jimmy Radcliffe, I'm On My Way by Dean Parrish

108. Cobra by Geese

Fatale at King Tuts

Driving home from King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut last night, I felt genuinely elated. I had a proper buzz. There were a few reasons for the good feeling, but most of all, I’d just discovered my new favourite young band - Fatale. I was kind of getting used to thinking those days might be over.

I had already fallen for them after hearing their demo of original song Moves You and a cover of The Velvets Femme Fatale that inspired their choice of name. The demo prompted me to reach out to the band for a short interview that you can check HERE,

Other reasons behind my elation were;

• Seeing Tuts rammed with young people in search of, and supporting, new music. The downstairs bar was mobbed and it was clear that most of them were there to see Fatale. The upstairs venue had to open the section by the sounddesk for Fatale coming on.
• Loads of cool kids in cool clothes with cool haircuts. A nice mix of 60's and 90's fashion. Part of me felt old, part of me felt excited to be around it. The energy and enthusiasm of youth is infectious.
• Meeting a cool young journalism student who said they read my blog!
• Teenagers being inspired by and getting into Scottish indie guitar bands (and the likes of T-Rex and The Velvets) that I discovered when I was a teenager.
• Reminiscing about good times in King Tuts over the years. Here is a blog I wrote about 25 of them on Tuts 25th anniversary.

Fatale were onstage at 9.15pm and they played a 30-minute set of energetic guitar pop. Less than a handful of gigs old as a band, they displayed all the kind of raw energy and potential that excites me as a music fan.

Arriving to cheers, the band plugged in and were off, playing a 7-song set to cheers and pogo-ing. A scuzzy cover of T-Rex's Life's A Gas was an early highlight with some of the crowd singing the refrain, while their own song Another Sunrise told of the desire to go out and have fun.

Fatale look the part too. There are some fantastic haircuts (or lack of) across the band, while I found myself debating whether guitarist Chris in his vintage Captain America (the band) long sleeve t-shirt, or drummer James - sporting a retro AC Milan top with Kaka's name and number on the back - had the coolest top! Shout out to singer Ben for also wearing a BMX Bandits T.

Captain America/Eugenius are a clear and evident influence on the band, scuzzy and fuzzy guitar sounds mixed with chimes, and catchy melodic vocal hooks. 

Fatale's song Jesus Christ is the catchiest guitar pop song I've heard in a long time and I hope they get to record it before too long. Their cover of The Velvets Femme Fatale was glorious, with singer Ben's voice sounding superb. The band stretched it out a little with the call and response at the end.

Closing with the aforementioned Moves You, echo-ing the delights of early Teenage Fanclub, Fatale generated a huge reaction from the crowd. 

It's going to be really interesting to see how Fatale develop over the next year or so. It's still very early days. Keep an eye on their Instagram for demos/show announcements.

Instagram

Soundcloud

Introducing - Fatale

What is it about you Uddy (Uddingston) boys and The Velvet Underground?

Back in mid-April, my friend Derek sent me a cryptic WhatsApp message, and then followed it up with soundcloud links to a young teenage band called Fatale . Del had produced and engineered demos for two songs; Moves You and a cover of The Velvets Femme Fatale.

Fatale soundcloud

Del was excited enough to also post in the Teenage Fanclub Fanclub Facebook group with the statement  - If you like Catholic Education era Teenage Fanclub then you'll love Fatale.

Fatale, as you might have guessed from Derek's comparisons, love electric guitars that crash, collide, chime, blur, reverberate and fuzz together in the glorious way that I have loved for over 3 decades.

Hailing from my home town of Uddingston (on the outskirts of Glasgow), I was determined to find out more about this young band that seem to be bursting with talent, taste, looks, great hair (I found out upon meeting them), energy and enthusiasm.

Moves You is the first song that they have released. The overdriven guitars are fired up beautifully, there is a sublime dreamy breakdown, before they burst back into life. Vocally, this is pure So Far Gone/God Knows It's True era Fanclub, raw and soulful harmonies, young romantic lyrics sung from the heart.

Would you find a price for all the stars that shine on you?

Meanwhile, their cover of Femme Fatale is gorgeously raw and warm, sounding like a lost Fanclub cover they recorded for Bandwagonesque era b-sides.

I caught up with guitarist Christopher Jollie to find out more in the interview below. It was also great to bump into the whole band after the BMX Bandits show on Friday night. During the gig they stood to the side, shaking their heads in time and singing-along, Chris wearing a Eugenius t-shirt. They looked like a real gang, tight friends, a band. 

I can't wait to see them live. Read on for info about how they formed, influences, writing and news about their next gig.

1. How did the band form? Where are you all from? How did you get to know each other?

Our singer Ben and lead guitarist Euan are cousins and both of them had came out of playing with other bands. Myself and our bassist Oscar had been school friends with Ben and had played in a drumless, gigless band just before Fatale. A total shambles. Euan and our drummer James had also been school pals but had never played in a band together. 

From James perspective Euan was playing songs with his wee cousin (he thought he was nine) and wanted him to drum with them. When we show up at his garage for a jam, to his surprise there’s three eighteen year old's with guitars. The band just took off from there.

2. How did you start creating music together? Does anyone take the lead on writing? Or do you jam ideas?

We started off with acoustic demos recorded by Ben and Euan, and built up from there. It’s a collaborative process we go for, with everyone coming in with their own songs, and fleshing them out in practice. I’d always hated showing folk my own songs, but I had Moves You as a demo on my phone from months before and tried to show it to the guys. I had to do that another twice before we sort of took it seriously as a song, and now we’re in the process of getting it recorded and produced. We do have very diverse influences, which allows us to do different things with each song.

3. What kind of music are you listening to at present? Have any bands influenced you?

I was just at the Barras seeing Dinosaur Jr. and wow. They’ve always been a band that I’m just in awe of. I’ve been listening to a lot of soul music and bands like Big Star, the Kinks. Apart from that I’ve been getting dead into Eugenius, who had sort of passed me by when I was discovering the Fanclub. Scottish music has shaped our sound unlike anything else. There’s just something inside a lot of Scottish bands that just can’t be replicated. We are very keen to keep that sort of thing going.

4. How did you get on playing McChuills at the start of May?

McChuills was our first gig together, and it was a sellout. We were opening for a very good Irish band, The Labourers, and playing alongside our good pals, Bogle, as part of the Vicar Street Social night. We were originally scheduled to play a Sunday Soundclash on the 4th of May but due to the football it was cancelled. 

That had left us without a gig until July, but thankfully our mate Ben Brown managed to pull some strings and get us a spot on VSS thanks to a demo recorded by Derek McKee. We played 7 songs, including covers of the Scream’s Velocity Girl and the Velvet’s Femme Fatale. Our closer, Moves You ended up getting played twice since we didn’t have another song and the crowd were wanting more. I had already plugged out my guitar when Ben tells me we’re replaying it. You can’t plan for the energy in the room, and everything came so naturally.

5. What do you have coming up in terms of gigs, recording and releasing?

Our next gig is a part of King Tut’s Summer Nights Festival. We’re opening for a band we know called The Violet’s on Sunday 20th July, so it should be another great night. TICKETS

We’re also looking at our options for getting Moves You recorded and released in the next month or two, to keep the excitement going. Del done a great job of our demo so we’ll be looking towards him for potentially recording some covers to put out over the summer. We’re also in the early stages of setting up a once or twice a month event, looking at platforming the sound of young Glasgow. It’s exciting times for us, but it’s just the start of something that we truly believe in.

Slight Return

 

Trust me #87
Slight Return by The Bluetones

30-years ago, on 22nd February 1995 I visited King Tuts Wah Wah Hut to catch a couple of hotly tipped bands - Supergrass and The Bluetones. Exceptional value for a fiver!

Supergrass were building towards the release of debut album I Should Coco and had made waves with debut single Caught By The Fuzz in late October 1994.

Meanwhile, The Bluetones were being spoken of in hushed tones by the NME and Melody Maker. A 4-piece who had been holed up in a garage crafting melodic guitar pop songs inspired by the Roses. I can't remember where I bought it, possibly at the gig or maybe in HMV Sauchiehall Street, but I managed to get my hands on their debut single, a beautiful blue limited edition 7-inch of Slight Return b/w The Fountainhead.

Despite being such an incredible double header, I really don't remember too much about this gig! That could be down to the fact that it was 30-years ago, or be down to the fact that I probably had 3 or 4 beers as I do distinctly remember my friend Scott driving. 

My memories of those heady Britpop days may be a little hazey at times, but Slight Return still sounds as fresh and effortless as the first time I heard it. Cool, melodic and full of charm, The Bluetones re-released it in January 1996 and it reached number 2 in the charts.

The Roses influence was clear from the off with Adam Devlin playing a beautifully warm guitar chord to allow Mark Morris to come in with the opening lines

Where did you go?

When things went wrong for you

When the knives came out for you

Devlin begins to riff after the delivery of the opening line with a tight yet loose rhythm section coming in alongside him. There is plenty of space throughout Slight Return, a purity that ensures it has a timeless quality, unlike many of the songs from around this time that could easily be identified as mi-90's Britpop wannabe's. It doesn’t try too hard; it just flows. The rhythm section, led by Scott Morriss on bass and Eds Chesters on drums, keeps things tight but never overpowering, allowing the song’s melody and atmosphere to shine through. There’s an understated confidence to it—a song that doesn’t need to shout to be heard.

You don't have to have the solution

You've got to understand the problem

And don't go hoping for a miracle

All this will fade away

So I'm coming home, I'm coming home

Around 10 or so years later, Mark Morriss played at Maggie's London Night Hike as a lovely colleague of mine at the time (Claire) was friends with him through being a bit of a superfan. Mark was absolutely lovely and played a cracking acoustic set as hundreds of people arrived to hike through the night. Claire also managed to get me backstage at a Bluetones gig at the QMU - good times.

30-years on from seeing The Bluetones for the first time and buying their debut single, the band are playing in my home town of Uddingston. Almost literally in my Mum's back garden! I must message Claire!

Musicfest Mainstage has a line-up of The Bluetones, Echobelly & The Supernaturals with more to be announced. It's a brilliant family-friendly event, held at Uddingston Cricket & Hockey Club, 10-15 minutes walk from the train station. That in itself is a mere 14-minute train ride from Glasgow Central.

MUSICFEST MAINSTAGE - INFO & TICKETS
Slight Return - original video 

Slight Return - Later with Jools, 1996

Slight Return is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE  Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell

62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry

66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker

67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones

68. I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters

69. Dream Baby Dream by Suicide

70. Stove by The Lemonheads

71. Red Lady by Phil Cordell

72. Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb

73. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift

74. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up by The M.V.P.'s

75. Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura

76. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

77. The Rat by The Walkmen

78. My God Has A Telephone by Aaron Frazer

79. Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

80. Sweet and Tender Romance by The McKinleys

81. Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros

82. 69 Police by David Holmes

83. Hey Lisa by David Holmes

84. I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel

85. Kung Fu by Ash

86. Kids by MGMT