2014 review by Skinny Dipper

Skinny Dipper are a relatively new addition to the Olive Grove Records collective and they released a beautiful EP back in September. They create a beautiful organic sound full of melody and hope.

Alex from Skinny Dipper answered a few questions on 2014.

1.       What singles/songs that have been released in 2014 have stood out for you?

A few standout singles from this year are:

-       “She’s Not Me” by Jenny Lewis off The Voyager

This is one of my favourites off of her new album and the song is just contagious in its melodies. I catch myself humming this all the time!
 

-       “Disco/Very – Keep It Healthy” by Warpaint off their self-titled album

This is cheating a bit, they are my two favourite songs off of the new Warpaint album. They were combined together for the music video so I will combine them as well. the songs are on opposite spectrums but show both sides of what I love so much about what Warpaint does

 

-       “Gimme Something Good” by Ryan Adams off his self-titled album. I heard this being played quite a lot on BBC Radio 6 and didn’t realise at first that it was Ryan Adams. It grew on me each time I heard it and now I absolutely love it.

2.       What albums released in 2014 have you enjoyed?

These 6 have been my most listened to albums so far this year. Well, the Hey Rosetta album only just came out but I love it and them so I couldn’t not include it. July Talk was technically released in 2013, but a deluxe edition was released this year so I’m going to include it as it has been probably my most listened to album of the year!

-       Warpaint - Warpaint

-       Jenny Lewis – The Voyager

-       July Talk – July Talk

-       Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – Hypnotic Eye

-       Ryan Adams – Ryan Adams

-       Hey Rosetta! – Second Sight

-       Hard Working Americans – Hard Working Americans

3.     What old music/bands have you discovered/gone back to in 2014?

In the excitement of Robert Plant playing Glasgow this month I have been going back and listening to lots of Led Zeppelin recently. That never gets old.

 

4.     What has been the musical highlight of 2014 for you?

 

I would probably have to say getting to see Jenny Lewis in Glasgow at the end of August. She is just amazing. She did a great mix of new songs, all my older favourites of hers plus a bunch of Rilo Kiley songs I never thought she would play!

 

5.     What are you plans for 2015?

For Skinny Dipper, we are looking to write some more songs in the new year and get those gig ready and recorded. We are really excited to be playing Celtic Connections in January (25th as part of Hazy Recollections)! 2014 has been an amazing year for us so we can’t wait for 2015 and hope it is even better!

2014 review by Olive Grove Records

One of the hardest working guys in the Scottish independent music scene must be Lloyd Meredith who runs Olive Grove Records and manages Randolph's Leap. Lloyd also used to run the highly respected Peenko blog, but after having a beautiful daughter something had to give!

Olive Grove Records is growing from strength to strength, enhancing its reputation year on year through consistently brilliant and interesting releases. Releases by The Son(s) and Skinny Dipper have been favourites of mine in 2014.

I caught up with Lloyd to find out how 2014 had been for him. I'm off to check out some of his musical highlights! I also caught up with some of the acts from the Olive Grove Records so expect their reviews to follow through the week.

1. What singles/songs that have been released in 2014 have stood out for you?

I don't think all of these tracks were necessarily released in 2014, however, they are 3 of my favourite songs that I've listened to this year.  

The Notwist - Kong

Poor Things - Halcyon Days!

The Burning Hell - Amateur Rappers

Ezra Furman - My Zero

2. What albums released in 2014 have you enjoyed?

Excluding the albums that I have personally been involved with releasing, I have found a lot of time for the following albums this year: 

Jenny Lewis - The Voyager

The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream

Bonnie Prince Billy - Singer's Grave a Sea of Tongues

The Notwist - Close To The Glasss

Honeyblood - Honeyblood

The Twilight Sad - Nobody Wants To be Here And Nobody Wants To Leave

Benjamin Booker - Benjamin Booker

3. What old music/bands have you discovered/gone back to in 2014?

I have found myself gorging on old Belle and Sebastian albums a fair bit this year. I am really intrigued about what their new album will be like and I can't wait to see them at the Hydro in May!

4. What has been the musical highlight of 2014 for you?

2014 has been a pretty amazing year for me, both in terms of the label and managing Randolph's Leap. I honestly don't think I could pick out one single thing, the Olive Grove showcases at Celtic Connections and as part of the Pleasance Sessions were massive for me, seeing Call To Mind play with the Cairn String Quartet up at Eden Court Theatre was pretty damn special. Releasing actual records with The Son(s), Skinny Dipper and Call To Mind was really important for me, having never released anything on vinyl through Olive Grove, it meant a lot to me. If you add in everything that Randolph's Leap have achieved since the release of their debut album, Clumsy Knot, then it's safe to say that the past 12 months have been pretty damn ace!

5. What are you plans for 2015?

Hopefully we'll be releasing new albums from Woodenbox and the State Broadcasters, plus there might be another addition to the Olive Grove family. Also, Randolph's Leap are just in the process of recording their first ever studio album, so hopefully that will be out at some point too.