Hotchpotch by KiDD

I first came across Stuart Kidd when he started playing drums with BMX Bandits at a very young age. Since then he has gone on to play with Euros Childs and Linden, whilst creating music with The Wellgreen, personal faves Dr Cosmos Tape Lab and solo under the name of KiDD.

The small label The Barne Society have thoughtfully collected the best of KiDD's solo work into an album entitled Hotchpotch that is available to stream or buy HERE

KiDD can melt hearts, Little Lucy is an ode to a friends baby girl and he sings about love being on her side. If Norman Blake from Teenage Fanclub ever records a solo album then I expect it to contain something like this. Melodic, thoughtful and beautiful.

Most of the songs have a lovely laid back feeling and groove to them. The vocals are gorgeous - melodic, pure and true.

Listening to Waiting for Springtime on a cold, wet and miserable day in Glasgow was like escapism. A lofi drumbeat, gorgeous melodies and a hushed and dreamy vocal...

7am, another tired Tuesday

I'd much rather be, hiding beneath the duvet

If KiDD reminded me of Norman Blake earlier on in the album, Waiting for Springtime is the kind of song Gerry Love would....well, love!

We've been so long, waiting for springtime

It's been so long, I can't recall the last time

We felt the sun

Royal Jelly is a wibbly, wobbly, sugary instrumental that is great fun, Leave Me Here I'm Sleeping is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard this year, while Ring the Belle is more dreamy, acoustic, gorgeousness wrapped up in just over 3-minutes

The compilation closes with What Do You Think, melodica over a lazily strummed acoustic guitar and

Where do you think I'd be if something went wrong

You'd open your eyes to see I've been here all along

I'm a little late in posting the blog, so the limited yellow cassettes have sold out, but you can name your price for a download - make it a good one :-)

Linden - Bleached Highlights

Linden is Joe McAlinden, formerly of Superstar, guest on Teenage Fanclub records and very formerly of The Boy Hairdressers.

Linden's debut album 'Bleached Highlights' has just been released on Edwyn Collins new label AED Records. 

The album is already receiving some excellent reviews;

• Album of the Week - Scotland On Sunday
• “A beautiful record” 4/5 - Q Magazine
• Album of the Week - Alexis Petridis The Guardian
• “Beautifully assured” - The Scotsman
• “This album is stunning” - Daily Record
• Album of the Week - Vic Galloway BBC Radio Scotland
• Album of the Week - Tom Morton BBC Radio Scotland
• “Perfect pop moment” 4/5 - Sunday Express
• “Glorious… A prime contender for Scottish Album of The Year” - The Sun

If I was to add something from this blog to the section above it would be;

• "Immediate guitar pop with hooks and harmonies. Simple at times, always beautiful." everythingflowsglasgow

 The first four tracks on this album are sublime, as good as anything you will hear all year, or any year. McAlinden has an effortlessly pure voice and he splices it perfectly with chiming and warm fuzzy guitars.

Opener 'Brown Bird Singing' has been released as a limited 7-inch via AED. Upon listening, it is easy to understand why it was chosen as the lead single, although there are a load of potential follow ups.

It is the sound of sunshine, beautifully produced by Edwyn Collins and Sebastian Lewsley. Check out the DIY video below.

The opening four tracks on the album grabbed me; immediate guitar pop with hooks and harmonies. Simple at times, always beautiful.

'I Just Wanna Be Here (When I'm Somewhere Else)' and the title track 'Bleached Highlights' flow beautifully, leaving me wonder if they were written around the same time. 

'Thank You' has a chorus that just lifts the whole song;

I'm never gonna let you down girl, take my hand and welcome me back home

Hey, I'm always gonna be around girl, understand that you're my way back home

The CD (resplendent Jim Lambie print) comes with a lyric book and looking over the lyrics as I listen it is clearly evident that 'Bleached Highlights' is an out and out love album. 

That is hammered home by 'If I Had Wings' which (on only a few listens) is a song that stands out, brilliant guitar work and McAlinden sounding particularly angelic and soulful. At only 2 minutes and 20 seconds long, you'll be playing it several times in a row.

I finally found you

My senses around you

I finally found you

People in love experience all kinds of emotions and 'Written' and 'Hear My Name' highlight insecurities, maintaining the flow of the album but just slowing it down ever so slightly.

'Something Wonderful' is acoustic based until the chorus with McAlinden sounding almost breathless as he is singing his hear out.

Somethings wonderful just got better

And I think of you every day

The album closes with 'Hide Away' with a melody that reminds me of something else but I just can't place it. However that is one of Linden's (and indeed McAlinden's) clear strengths - immediately accessible and understandable guitar pop with melodies and hooks. It is simple and pure, this is not an album that will take you a dozen listens to get into, you either like it and get it or it isn't for you.

I like it and I've got it!