Miaoux Miaoux album launch at Mono

Last night I went down to one of my favourite venues to witness one of my favourite artists celebrate the forthcoming release of their album ‘Light of the North’. The venue was Mono and the artist in question is the supremely talented MiaouxMiaoux, someone whom I have written about many times on this blog and I also had the pleasure of working with him for a while.

Miaoux Miaoux is essentially Julian Corrie, but he has a growing number of people helping him – Kris Fergusson on bass duties, Paul Carlin on drums and guest vocals from Anna Miles and the exceptionally cool Profisee, not to mention the backing of the seminal record label Chemikal Underground releasing his music.

The album is already picking up fantastic reviews and I really hope that as the reviews and word of mouth recommendations grow, then Miaoux Miaoux will go on to be recognised and appreciated as one of the best artists in the UK; songwriting, singing, production, guitar, synths, bass, drums, remixes…..this boy has the lot and it is beautifully packaged in his debut for Chemikal.

I arrived through the drizzle just as the recently reformed Mitchell Museumwere finishing their last song – not good! Between song music was supplied by Auntie Flo and the excellent line-up was further complimented by ConqueringAnimal Sound, long terms friends with Miaoux Miaoux and currently on the shortlist for the SAY Award with their sublime album ‘Kammerspiel’, although I would say that to fully appreciate their talents and music then you really should take the time to catch the live.

Jamie and the rather gorgeous Anneke took to the stage and urged the crowd to move forward, which they duly did. They then proceeded to play a beautiful 30-minute set that consisted entirely (or certainly largely) of new music. Anneke prowled the stage, using her voice to create wonderful sounds that conjured up references to Bjork in my mind. Jamie created melodies from a vast bank of keyboards and synths, cinematic, vast and expansive, yet also with the capability of drawing you in to make you feel right at home. One new song in particular caught my ears, starting off with lush synths before Jamie created a simple melody that threatened to go ballistic and clubby but just teased and developed into a stunning song. I caught up with Jamie afterwards to say hi and he will be announcing some great news in the near future about their next release. I hope that CAS or Remember Remember win the SAY Award.

On to the main event though. Miaoux Miaoux took to the stage and with a brief but heartfelt thanks for coming, the trio of Julian, Kris and Paul launched into their set. The trio are super tight on stage and the addition of live drums and bass has really pushed the Miaoux Miaoux sound into new territories. Forthcoming single ‘Better For Now’ sounded brilliant, Julian’s vocals were effortless, the rhythm section locked together. ‘Autopilot’ came blasting in, the squelchy synth supplemented by Kris on bass and Julian singing about love found and love lost;

‘I love you but I’m letting you go’.

The album may sound poppy but several of the songs deal with the loss of love, it is nicely balanced by those that sing of the joy of finding and being in love. All of the album (I’ll review that shortly) and the live songs show off Julian’s natural talent for melody and hooks. Old favourite ‘Knitted’ isn’t on the album but it remains a love highlight, as does the instrumental ‘Hrvatski’ which benefits from the live band jamming on it.

The trio had further guests in the shape of Anna Miles who sang the perfect summer pop song ‘Is It A Dream?’ and provided additional vocals on a few others, while the MC/rapper Profisee sang the delicious ‘Virtua Fighter’ that could easily find it’s way on to a Gorrilaz album. ‘Cloud Computer’ has a beautiful guitar riff that stays in my head for days every time I hear it.

‘Hey Sound’ is Miaoux Miaoux’s real party song, a real dancefloor filler, the only problem was that the cool Glasgow scenesters that made up a large percentage of the crowd were too cool to dance – shame on them. I can’t wait until this album takes off and people do dance at Miaoux Miaoux gigs.

There was no room for ‘Snow’ or the stunning ‘Stop the Clocks’ (my personal favourite from the album) but the band closed with a superb cover of ‘Theme From Great Cities’ by Simple Minds.

Get on to the album, out on Chemikal Underground on Monday.  I promise you, you won't regret it.

My albums of 2011

In no particular order (although starting with my sisters band) here are a list of 17 albums that have sound tracked my year. I'm not going to pick my favourite as I think it has been an outstanding year for music and at various times through the course of the last 12-months, all of the albums listed have been a favourite. 


There are still albums from 2011 that I still intend to buy - FOUND, White Heath and Jonnie Common to name a few. Ridiculous considering I was standing next to Jonnie Common at his merch stall a few weeks ago enthusing about his music!


There is a real mix of music below, dig in, each album features a video to one of my favourite tracks from it. 

Love and Lemonade - Futuristic Retro Champions
Futuristic Retro Champions brought an end to almost 5-years of joyous pop music with this staggering 26-track compilation of their releases, demos, and unreleased tracks. Taking influences from the girl bands of the 60's, through to bang up to date electro pop, this is a gem of an album. Only £7.99 on itunes!

Jonny - Jonny

Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and Euros Child (Gorky's) combine their songwriting talents with gorgeous harmonies and a sense of humour to create a wonderful album. Only £3.49 on itunes!!!! 'Never Alone' is also one of my songs of the year, absolutely gorgeous.

Kammerspiel - Conquering Animal Sound

One of my albums of the year and their gig at Sneaky Petes in Edinburgh as part of their launch tour was one of my gigs of the year. CAS provide something genuinely different from anything else going on in the Scottish Music Scene. Anneke's vocals and twisted melodies are a joy. Bear (below) is a prime example of CAS at their best, layering voclas, melodies and sounds to create something truly special.

Build A Rocket Boys - Elbow
Guy Garvey and co returned with more big tunes, reflections on love and life and a warmth that few other bands can even dream about. Whilst not having anything as anthemic as One Day Like This, not many albums released in 2011 can boast two openers like The Birds and Lippy Kids. I love the lyric from the latter, reminiscing of youth 'walking on walls, stealing booze and hour long hungry kisses.'

Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire
What can you say about Ryan Adams that truly captures his genius? He really is a one off. This is a stunning album that I can imagine myself going back to time and time again to really appreciate the depth of it. Yet in saying that, it is immediately accessible. You need to listen to the album to get the finished version of the song below, but this video is amazing.

Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
Faris Badwan's main band The Horror's turned many heads this year with the release of their 'Skying' album. I liked the reviews, bought the album, but I just can't get into it at all....yet. Faris is clearly a creative guy though and this is his side project with Rachel Zeffira. Bonding over a love of The Shrangri-La's and Phil Spector, they have produced a cracking album. 30-minutes long, well worth investigating. This title track is more Sonic Youth than Spector, I love the groove. 

King Creoste and Jon Hopkins

This could easily be classed as a mini-album, however regardless of the length of the album, the quality is undisputed. Absolutely flawless in terms of the music and production. The lyrics and vocals are pretty incredible, especially on headphones. Gorgeous.

Cut Copy - Zonoscope
I got Cut Copy's debut album back in 2004 and although I haven't bought every album since then, they are certainly a band I have continued to follow. With Zonoscope, their third album, they have reached new heights. There are the synths, the beats, the bleeps, the hooks, the harmonies and all the stardust you associate with Cut Copy...it's just done better. 'Where I'm Going' is pure pop with elements of the Beach Boys, while 'Need You Now' is Cut Copy at their MDMA sprinkled best, taking you on a trip and then releasing the beats. The closing number 'Sun God' lasts for a truly epic 15-minutes.

(I Can't Get No) Stevie Jackson - Stevie Jackson

One of my favourite guitarists released his debut solo album. Stories and reflections from his youth are told with humour and brilliant playing. Try Me is pure Kinksy rock, while the lovely Feel the Morning closes the album in style.

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
Fleet Foxes debut album was remarkable, it just seemed so perfectly formed. Could they repeat  it? Thankfully they could. They are fast becoming one of my favourite bands; great playing, harmonies to die for and beautiful lyrics and lead vocals.

Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Along with Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver made a mockery of the 'difficult second album syndrome' with the release of his eponymous album earlier this year. He didn't retreat to a log cabin this time, instead he added layer upon layer to produce stunning results. I wish I had gone to see him in Edinburgh.

Player Piano - Memory Tapes
I loved Memory Tapes Seek Magic album from a couple of years ago. Whilst I didn't fall for this in quite the same way, it did soundtrack quite a few summer days. Sadly there isn't any form of video at all on youtube for 'No. 79' which is just pure summer pop. There is for 'Sun Hits' which is just as good.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
Surely his best album since Pavement? It starts with the brilliant 'Tigers' with catchy guitars and hooks and Malkmus rhyming stuff with Birkenstocks. The Jicks playing throughout is tremendous, the production is crisp and clean (by Beck), Malkmus sounds like he is really enjoying himself. 

The Babies - The Babies
I popped into Mono in Glasgow at the start of November and got talking to Dep about his albums of the year and he said that this was probably his favourite. I respect his taste, so I bought it and it is brilliant. Really raw pop. Much of it sounds like it could be live, there is a great feel to it as a result. 'All Things Come To Pass' is one of my highlights, great guitar and an almost nursery rhyme like melody. Just over 2 minutes long.

Adam Stafford - Build A Harbour Immediately
I've caught Adam live quite a few times over the last couple of years and enjoyed his live performances immensley. I've seen him in the small confines of the Captain's Rest, looping and layering his vocals to astonishing effect, on stage at Platform in Easterhouse supporting Jonny and more recently at his album launch at Stereo where he played with guests. Adam has an amazing ear for melodies and is incredibly creative with sound. I like this album so much that I bought it on ltd editon yellow casette as well as on CD. Check Adam's own track-by-track guide at the PEENKO blog. 'Shot Down You Summer Wannabe's' is my personal favourite, sadly that isn't on YouTube but this highlights Adam's talents.

Remember Remember - The Quickening
There are some bands that I keep hearing about, seeing their name and I never get round to checking them out. Remember Remember were one of those bands and how I have kicked myself for not checking them out sooner. They tick so many boxes for me; cool front man, diverse band members, experimental sounds with a pop edge..... They blew me away when they played the Detour night at the Science Centre and I can't wait to see them live again. 'The Quickening is an outstanding record that offers something new with every listen. 'John Candy' is a song that got me immediately on first listen and I never tire of it.

Noel Gallagher and the Flying Birds
Oasis ended in a mess. Liam Gallagher has become a caricature of himself, while Noel seems intent on highlighting that he was the chief all along. It's a sad state of affairs when two brothers are going to court and arguing through the media on a weekly basis (all publicity is good publicity as they say). On to the music though, Noel has produced a good album. Opener 'Everybody's On The Run' is widescreen, a huge song with brilliant strings. 'AKA What A Life' is a brilliant single.  

Lady North/Paws - Gerry Loves Records split single

If you google Gerry Loves Records the following blurb will appear on your screen;


A tiny DIY Label in Edinburgh, Scotland, producing quality musical artefacts. 


It is a pretty perfect description.


The first release on this tiny DIY label with a great name (a play on Teenage Fanclub's Gerry Love for any non-Fanclub fans) was a little over a year ago, in April 2010, another split single featuring Conquering Animal Sound and Debutant. Since then releases have also included music by; Trapped In Kansas, Yahweh, Japanese War Effort, Miaoux Miaoux, Wounded Knee and Fox Gut Daata. Now we arrive at LOVES005 with the release of a new 7-inch featuring Lady North and Paws.


Before I go on, it is worth going on to the Gerry Loves website where you get to listen to all the releases to date, hopefully before you buy one or two. 


Full credit to Gerry Loves Records for pouring their heart, soul and cash into Scottish independent music.

A split 7-inch single reminds me of my youth and Nirvana sharing vinyl space with Jesus Lizard. I still have the 7-inch, it is probably worth a decent amount.


The artwork (Gerry Loves Records like their artwork) is more simple than the previous split 12-inch that came out at the tail end of 2010. Lady North get one side and Paws the other in a hand silk screened cover.


Let's check out what is on offer on the vinyl that comes inside.


Lady North offer 'It's All About Gettin' that Claude Monet'. Their music is described as 'math rock'. Now I'm not quite sure what that means, what I get on listen is evidence of a band that are clearly shit hot and exceptionally tight. The recording sounds pretty live, perhaps because of the fact that it sounds like freeform jazz or a jam at times, really loose, yet they know what they are doing.


You can get lost in this, I imagine it would be brilliant live and I'm regretting not going to the launch night at Captain's Rest earlier this month. 


There is what could be considered a drum solo at times, the music veers from jazz to prog to what could also be considered heavy rock at times. 

Paws are up next with the track 'Lekker'. I caught them at Sneaky Petes in Edinburgh back in April and I really enjoyed their energetic set and guitar sounds.


If anything, they sound even more ferocious live with 'Lekker' than they did that night in Petes! 


'Lekker' is under two-and-a-half minutes of driving guitars and beats. The vocals are distoted to the extent where it is quite hard to make out the lyrics at times (along with the fact that they fly through the song) 

yeah we just started something new, but i am still pretty terrified of you

It is a pop punk, fierce love song and over before you know it with a catchy; 

'holy f**k I think I'm falling in love, with you, love uv uv uv, with you'.

Check an acoustic version below;

I look forward to the next release.

Conquering Animal Sound at Sneaky Petes

Last night I ventured through to Edinburgh to catch the final show of Conquering Animal Sound's (I'll refer to them as CAS for the rest of this blog) tour to promote their debut album 'Kammerspiel'.

With Miaoux Miaoux and Esperi supporting it was an outstanding line-up that the promoters This Is Music had collated and the Edinburgh music scene was out in force to catch it.

I tend to skip over any Rugby features in the sports section of The Times, so I was quite taken aback by the swarms of Scotland and Wales supporters that were wandering around shouting, pi$$ing in the streets and falling about. There were also the usual groups of stags that congregate in Edinburgh every weekend.

I picked my way through to get to Sneaky Petes just prior to 7pm and met up with Julian (Miaoux Miaoux). I got chatting to Chris who is effectively Esperi and discovered he is a lovely guy. I'd caught one of his shows in Glasgow last year when he played with a guy from Portugal called Noiserv and I had really enjoyed his songs. Esperi's latest single on Olive Grove Records was a cracker and he told me he had plans to record an album with a band, complete with string section and more. Considering the layers of sound that Chris can create on his own, then the album will be interesting to hear.

The venue filled quickly, with the promoters having cupcakes spelling CAS's name for the first folks through the door. Esperi's solo set can be very gentle and quiet at times and it is to his credit that his music captivated the packed venue to the extent where you could hear a pin drop. Top marks to the polite Edinburgh audience. The highlights of Esperi's set was a song I had seen/heard him play the last time I saw him, I did ask him the name of it afterwards but I can't remember! It may have involved the words cats and dogs, but maybe not! Anyway it showcased what he is all about, making something gorgeous out of practically nothing, playing a variety of instruments and looping and layering them into something sublime.

(Esperi)

Miaoux Miaoux was up next and by this point Nick from Sneaky Petes was considering it a sell-out, he did shortly afterwards. Miaoux Miaoux picked up the beat from Esperi and he introduced two new songs into his set, including the future pop-dance smash 'Hey Sound' that Jamie from CAS described as 'song of the year'. 'Hrvatski' was brilliant and Julian's performance of 'Knitted' was the best I have seen to date;

it's too late for you, it's too late for me

Julian looked lost in the music, looping beats and synth riffs and then jamming along on his guitar at times, dancing with a smile on his face at others. With a number of further shows in Glasgow and Edinburgh planned over the next couple of months I would highly recommend checking him out.

So it was on to the headliners CAS, a duo consisting of James Scott and Anneke Kapman. Jamie also records under the guise of Japanese War Effort and also plays in Barn Owl

The duo quickly got into their stride. The rather gorgeous Anneke had two mics on stage to help with her layering vocals and harmonies, while Jamie was busy playing guitar and a bank of electronic equipment. At other times Anneke played what looked like a toy harp.

Their are elements of Bjork and Liz Fraser in Anneke's vocal style and delivery, but she is completely herself, commanding the attention of the crowd, looking confident and stylish. Jamie took the time to thank the crowd on several occasions and his warm persona transferred well to the stage.

CAS are alternative, yet accessible, leftfield yet with a pop edge. I said that Esperi seemed to create songs out of nothing and CAS are similar in a way. They started one song by sampling and looping their finger clicks yet before you new it a beautiful soundscape was being gently lifted towards our ears.

As I only bought the album after the show I didn't know the names of the songs, but after listening to it earlier today I would say that Flinch was my personal highlight from their quite stunning set. A simple 4/4 beat with the aforementioned toy harp and Anneke's dreamy vocals.

I will be you and you will be me

CAS were sublime last night, I went in not knowing what to expect and came away thoroughly impressed. I'm currently on my second listen of the album and I can already tell that it is one that I will return to and discover new sounds and delights time and time again.