Faces and Places by Mark W Georgsson

I first heard Faces and Places (the debut album by Mark W Georgsson) around a year ago when Mark sent it through. I had been a fan of his band Velveteen Saints but they had split up and Mark had gone off and recorded an album. He warned me it wasn't the pop punk vibe of the Saints, but more acoustic, country and alt folk.

I fell for it immediately; warm, tender, loose, reflective....it got better with every listen. It is out tomorrow on Last Night From Glasgow on limited 12-inch with stunning artwork on the outside and inside by Brian Sweeney.

The title is very apt; various cities and countries are namechecked throughout the album, it was also recorded in Edinburgh, Mull and Iceland. Then there are Mark's friends who help - Rod Jones from Idlewild produces and plays guitar, his friends in Iceland reprise the beautiful duet Ballad of the Nearly Man in their native tongue to close the album and Brian Sweeney (a fellow Albion Rovers supporter) provides stunning artwork.

Opener Break Free is the oldest song on the album, written when Mark was in his teen's, it has a youthful edge to the lyrics but they could be sung by anyone of any age. The wistful and weary voice over the strummed acoustic guitar give the song a beautiful feel. The picked solo is exquisite.

I feel you near to me but a distant memory

Oh My Dear Friend picks up the pace, a jaunty country rocker with a great hammond flow throughout. At under 2-minutes long, Mark and co race through it. This is always a live highlight.

The title track is sublime, it has a glorious lazy loose feel to it. The playing is sublime, the jazzy saxophone is Van Morrison-esque, the vocals are perfect.

I'm hearing answers to questions that I never asked

Rodeo, as the title track might suggests, is west country blues, with Mark reminiscing about a girl he met once and can't find again. The chorus comes in at just after 33-seconds, the harmonies on the verses and the choruses are full of emotion and soul. There is honky tonk piano and a screaming sax. You'll be singing this chorus after one listen. 

I swear I'll never leave you and I swear I'll never go

I swear I'll always be the one who'll hold you forever more

I swear I'll never leave you and I swear I'll never go

I swear I'll always be the one

Your rodeo

All the songs I'm playing are screaming for you

Nickel Or A Dime is another upbeat country rocker with free form violin throughout. The feel to the record is superb. Tight loose is how Mark refers to it - trusting the musicians on the album to bring their own magic to his songs, letting them play and go for it, they repay that trust ten-fold. This is another live gem.

And if the rain should start to fall

On a glorious sunny day

I would hold you tight and whisper close

That a cloudburst don't last long anyway

Mark sold out his album launch show at the Hug and Pint for Celtic Connections last week and assembled a 7-piece band to bring his album to life. Oh how they brought Forever Lonely Forever Blue to life. The chemistry between Mark and his great friend Tino MacDonald dates back to their Velveteen Saints days and to see them duel and bang off each other on stage is a delight, I can almost sense it happening in the studio on this song. The pedal steer guitar is stunning and li

No-one even comes close to you

Forever lonely, forever blue

I still miss you

I still miss you

The Ballad Of The Nearly Man was the debut single that launched Mark's solo career. Slow and tender celtic soul, this is a gem. Katie McArthur duets with Mark and her vocals are pure gold. The video, by Brian Sweeney is beautiful. I'll never forget Sweeney firing into the label launch party last June with the finished cut and us playing it on to a curtain behind the stage as Mark and his band played.

Mark and co pick up the pace again on A Banjo Lament and Mark is still missing his girl. This is about a girl Mark in the Arlington Bar in Glasgow - love at first sight. She told Mark she was in all the time, so Mark went back the next day....and the next....and the next.....and he still goes! And he still talks about her!

If I see her again

I'd love to hear what she's gotta say

Pic by Brian Sweeney

And then we get to the final 3 songs, a trio of beauties. Stay is unbelievable - Mark displays maturity beyond his years, in his lyrics, his delivery and his voice has a 70's era Rod Stewart feel to it - stunning. It is only January but this may already be my song of the year - check it out - the playing, singing and feel are pure soul.

You're Not Alone is Mark's best vocal, he stretches his voice out, the piano playing is sublime. The production and feel on the entire album is absolutely superb, but for the final 3 songs Mark, Rod Jones and team take it up to 110%.

It's good to know that we'll remain close

A new day has just begun

The Ballad of the Nearly Man is reprised in Icelandic for the finale; sung by Mark's friends Arnari and Sigríður. My heart melted when I first heard this and it melts now - good god listen to that girls voice. I love the fact that they not only sing in a different language but switch the order of male and female on the Scottish version to be female and male on their own version. This floors me and I always have to play it again immediately.

There you have it - I can't recommend this album highly enough. It is the complete package and you can order the vinyl via the Last Night From Glasgow online store or check it on iTunes or Spotify tomorrow.

Introducing - Mark W Georgsson

How do you choose what song(s) will launch a record label?

Well in the case of Last Night From Glasgow Records, the label that I helped to co-found earlier this year, it kind of landed in our laps.

Mark W Georgsson has recorded a stunning album of celtic/folk/Americana songs with Rod Jones from Idlewild producing. I've known Mark for a number of years as he used to be in a band called the Velveteen Saints who I really liked.

Mark went off and did something completely different after the band broke up. The depth, maturity and quality that is displayed throughout the album (that the label will be releasing in January) is quite incredible.

So Mark sent me the album, around the same time Ian Smith and I started discussing forming a record label. We approached Mark and asked if he would be interested in releasing a single - a AA side as Mark's friends in Iceland had recorded vocals for The Ballad Of The Nearly Man in their native tongue.

So the A-side is a beautiful duet between Mark and his friend Katie McArthur and the AA-side is the same song in Icelandic by Mark's friends, including Arnarni who sings for the band Leaves.

AA-side artwork by Brian Sweeney

So Mark is pretty good at networking! Rod Jones for production, friends singing on his record and then as a friend and  fellow Albion Rovers fan, acclaimed Scottish photographer Brian Sweeney has provided the artwork. The AA side cover (above) is an Icelandic football pitch in the snow (quite stunning) and below is the A-side cover is a Scottish football pitch.

A-side artwork by Brian Sweeney

OK - now i'm going to ask you all to set aside 3 minutes and 13 seconds to watch Brian's beautifully shot promo film to accompany Mark's single.

I'll then tell you what I think of the film and song afterwards.

Well I hope you agree; song and film are beautiful.

The guitar is sparse and beautifully played, Mark's voice is gentle, weary and soulful, the lyrics paint a picture, the production allows everything to breath, there is no rush, a sense of reflection...

The barren winters cast a doubt

Upon his weary mind

As a storm brews out on the Atlantic Sea

Set to blow all his thoughts back to me

That sense of space, time and reflection is amplified by a truly gorgeous 40 second instrumental featuring some exquisite guitar playing.

Katie McArthur then joins us to beautifully sing a verse, before Mark returns towards the end and the two sing in tandem;

As a storm brews out on the Atlantic Sea

Set to blow my one true love, back to me

Brian Sweeney was introduced to me by Mark as 'a mad genius'. I've met Brian a few times and Mark's description is pretty perfect. He is literally fizzing with creative ideas 24-hours a day. His thoughtful and stunning film (featuring South Uist, Vatersay, Eriskay and Barra) is the perfect compliment to Mark's song. It is truly beautiful.

So yeah, I'm delighted with the first release on Last Night From Glasgow; the song, performance, artwork, film, the people involved......  we have many more to come.

Last Night from Glasgow Records

So....I have co-founded a record label! Along with 5 friends I have co-founded Last Night from Glasgow Records (or LNfG Records). Top marks to anyone who guesses where the name came from!

Here is a little information about the label that may be of interest;

Objective - to help unsigned artists release their work (mostly) via vinyl, to promote and help them in any way we can.

Music - anything goes....well, almost. I don’t think we’ll release any heavy metal! We would love to release music we fall for - creative, interesting and melodic, music we think warrants a helping hand or platform. At present we need artists to come to us with release ready material (who knows - if things go well in the future we might be able to fund studio time)- electro, pop, guitar pop, americana, soul, funk, disco..... don’t be shy, but be good and be confident and passionate about your material.

Crowdfunding/label members - the label is essentially founded on the crowdfunding principle which makes so much sense. We want to get 100 members (we have 72 at the time of going to press) to help fund a number of releases (5 or 6) each year. Potentially more depending on how sales go.

The label is strictly not-for-profit - All profits will be split between the label and artists, with all of the labels profits being reinvested for future releases.

Membership benefits - Each member will receive each release, so the artist has essentially sold 100 records from the off (106 including the board). We’ll be printing runs of 300, so 200 (196) will be up for sale to the public. Each member will also gain access to exclusive label launch parties and in short play a huge role in helping some amazing artists release records.

Membership fee - Is £50 per annum and I can guarantee that members will get value for money in terms of releases, involvement and lots of fun at gigs and parties.

LNFG 001

A - The Ballad of the Nearly Man - Mark W. Georgsson featuring Katie McArthur   

AA - Söngur hins mædda manns - Sigríður Thorlacius ásamt Arnari Guðjónssyni

The first release on Last Night from Glasgow Records will be a AA sided 7-inch single involving the singer-songwriter Mark W Georgsson and friends.

Around the time Ian and I began to discuss forming a record label (I’ll save that for another blog but Ian first emailed me on January 22nd and we only met for the first time shortly afterwards!), Mark also contacted me with an album he had finished recording. It is a beautiful Celtic-Americana-Folk album produced by Rod Jones from Idlewild. I really fell for it (completely different from Mark’s former pop punk band Velveteen Saints who I really liked) and told him about the idea for a label and wondered if he would be up for releasing something.

Mark was keen to launch his solo career and we hit upon the idea of a double AA side featuring his song The Ballad of the Nearly Man which is friends in Iceland have also recorded in their native tongue for the flip side.

Both versions are absolutely beautiful and I am thrilled that we are launching our label with such a stunning 7-inch single. Arnari (male vocalist on the AA side) is the singer from cult Icelandic band Leaves.

Mark’s connections don’t end there, he is also friends with acclaimed Scottish photographer Brian Sweeney who is a fellow Albion Rovers supporter - there are not too many, so I think they all know each other! Brian has kindly provided 2 stunning images from football grounds in Scotland and Iceland.

If you’d like to find out more about the label visit;

Website
Facebook
Twitter

Artwork for LNFG 001 - Pictures by Brian Sweeney

Idlewild ABC Glasgow

Idlewild returned to Glasgow last night for the first of two sell-out shows to promote their new 'comeback' album Everything Ever Written. (see review here)

They played an absolute blinder, Rod Jones put in an astonishing performance on lead guitar, with echoes of Jack White at times, Peter Buck at others. Roddy Woomble was passionate and assured, often stepping side stage to enjoy watching and listening to his band.

Yes Idlewild are back, Woomble, Jones and drummer Colin Newton are now assisted by Andrew Mitchell, Hannah Fisher and Lucci Rossi - 3 extremely talented multi-instrumentalists that also added backing vocals and delightful harmonies.

The band were on fire, starting with Nothing I Can Do About It before launching straight into You Held The World In Your Arms. We were standing at Rod Jones side of the stage and it was an absolute pleasure to watch the guitarist in spellbinding form at such quarters.

Woomble quickly discarded his tweed blazer as the band swiftly got down to business, hitting their stride from the off. The audience reacted accordingly, the love and passion for Idlewild was evident from the roar that greeted their arrival on stage but it developed throughout with outbreaks of pogo-ing (and a mosh pit at times) and a mass sing-a-long at others. There will be a few hoarse voices today.

Little Discourage, Love In A Hiding Place, Roseability, A Film for the Future, Captain, Every Little Means Trust were played in quick succession by a band on top of their game - Woomble taking his mic from the stand and patrolling the stage, Jones leaping about on to the drum riser and then back to stand like a rock god on top of his monitor.

Idlewild have a stunning back catalogue and they have added to that with their latest gem of an album.

American English was greeted like a long lost cousin whilst (Use It) If You Can Use It from the new album was probably my highlight of the night. The closing instrumental was sensational with Jones guitar soaring. The duelling guitars were a real highlight of the night - sounding superb.

El Capitan was ferocious before Utopia brought a sense of calm before an epic Scottish Fiction closed proceedings with Woomble ensuring the full band came to the front of the stage to take acclaim from a crowd that were blown away by an incredible performance.

Welcome back, don't go away!

Everything Ever Written by Idlewild

Idlewild have just released Everything Ever Written, their 7th studio album and first in 5-years. It is a welcome return by one of Scotland's best loved and most respected bands.

Idlewild earned that love and respect through sheer hard work, displaying a fierce independence, poetic lyrics and edgy guitars, often with a punk spirit but maturing superbly with age.

The album was funded through Pledge Music - an idea that must appeal to Idlewild's DIY punk roots, cutting out labels and allowing band and fans to interact and strengthen relationships. Much of the album was written in a cabin on the Isle of Mull and the songs retain a loose rustic feel when captured on tape.

Radio distortion gradually builds into Collect Yourself, but Idlewild don't just ease themselves back into the swim of things - they come crashing in with an in your face guitar riff and sounds like they are enjoying themselves.

Woombles delivery is Stipe like at times, particularly on Come On Ghost, which leaps straight into the 'one of the best things they've ever done' category - the closing instrumental is a welcome surprise, taking the song that one step further.

So Many Things To Decide leaps ahead and may well be the best thing they have recorded - it is absolutely stunning in terms of writing and performance, captured exquisitely and produced with care.

Do you ever get the feeling I made important decisions far too late in life?

The band are clearly flying and Nothing I Can Do About It is another gem. Woomble is letting lyrics flow, Jones guitar is piercing and uplifting, the Motown-esque pounding drums and female backing singer towards the end lift the song to a glorious climax.

You can make sure the book shelves are alphabetical, poetical, non-political....

There's nothing I can do about it

Even if I could, I would only walk away

Every Little Means Trust is steeped in R.E.M influences. (Use It) if You Can Use It is soulful and playful - the band are tight, allowing Woomble to do what he does best and Jones to play delicate chiming riffs over the top before soaring around 2-minutes in and Roddy picks up the pace too as the song flows gloriously before a brilliant wig out jam.

Idlewld let rip with On Another Planet which has a real urgency to the lyrical delivery and raw electric guitar. Fast, furious and fun.

The guitar is stripped back for All Things Different which has a real loose jazzy feel to it, complete with trumpet. This is a band completely at ease and full of confidence. No wonder - this is a stunning collection of songs, a real work of art, a statement.

A bit beyond wear and tear but content like a shipwreck, sleeping in rust, lying on the ocean floor

and the waves are turning away, turning away from the shore

Radium Girl is perhaps the poppiest song on the album, not that any of the others are inaccessible! Left Like Roses is melodic and all kinds of gorgeous that the band recognise and run with. The production throughout is beautiful.

How do you end an album like this? The answer is with a song entitled Utopia. The sense of space, time, ease and confidence that is felt throughout the album is captured perfectly - Everything Ever Written is an exceptional album, ending with a real beauty, jazzy psychedelic instrumentation and Woomble singing his thoughts, almost stream of conscious style at times. Gorgeous.

Everyone in the world is up to something at every single moment