NEW MUSIC SPECIAL
Reachout of Oh-Eye Records, The Silver Pill, Pariah, Laeto, Pupkin
16 THE lIST 15 Feb—l Mar 2001
THE MAGNIFICENTS
Sound like A recalcitrant fusion of hell-fire rantings and chundering motorik synthpop
Who Edinburgh's very own electro-punk seditionists, The Magnificents have accrued a reputation as one of the city's most unpredictable live attractions Released in May on the Munich-based Krankenmusic label, their debut EP features the anthemic ’Kid Now’, a characteristically obsfuscating spurt of teutonic artpop that neatly encapsulates the band’s chaotic ethos Aside from a forthcoming salvo of local gigs, the enigmatic quartet also plan to release an album in the not too distant future YOu have been warned
Hear ’Kid Now' EP on Krankenmusic (PWi
Web www . themagnificents . co . uk
THE MARVELLOUS MECHANICAL MOUSE ORGAN
Sound like Belle & Sebastian on a c0untryside picnic.
Who The MMMO (as we like to call ’em) are Just one of a handful of excellent bands to spring from the fertile breeding ground of Edinburgh Art College Preferring a gentler path to pop glory, soft-spoken frontman Ewan John and his assembled band of mUSlClanS create warmly evocative pastoral pop, lacing their laidback tunes With various classical instruments and the odd bleep of keyboards to unasSumingly great effect.
Hear Single 'Ducks Are Coming Soon' released on the band's own label. (DJ)
Web www . mouseorgan . wiredup . com
MOUTHMOTH RECORDS
Sound like An excuse for some good onomatopoeia: bleep, doop, beep, clink.
Who Prime exponents of the whikki-Whikki-wah form of sound entertainment. The pet-proiect of one John Charles Wilson, Mouthmoth Records prowde shelter to the likes of Frog Pocket, Ayr Unit and D/compute. Distracting electronica and charming cover sleeves are rules of thumb.
Destiny's Child must surely be an influence on Mouthmoth’s ethic. Altogether now: ’all the women (and men) who’re Independent throw your hands up at me’ and buy this crowd’s records. John Charlie, how your angels get down like that.
Hear My Favourite by Frog Pocket and The Moving Finger Writes... by Ayr Unit, for starters. (JC) Web mouthmoth . go . to
MULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Sound like The Beta Band if they grew up on, well, Mull. Who Let's get this out the way: they really do come from Mull. HaVing relocated to Glasgow many years ago, main Muller Colin Mclntyre and bassist Alan Malloy are now creating gently qUirky acoustic tunes with a wonderful otherworldly glow under which beats a pure pop heart. Currently being Wildly championed by the UK music press and broadsheet newspapers alike, expect to be reading plenty of Mull-based punning headlines in the coming months.
Hear 'Barcode Bypass’ single on Tugboat Records. (DJ) Web www . tugboatrecords . com
NERVE
Sound like A teenage Green Day With A levels.
Who Glasgow three-piece punky popsters Nerve are a breath of fresh air. Frontman Jim Henery is confrontational and engaging, While the band's Willingness to gig until they drop has seen them bwld up a whopping fanbase and made the national rock press sit up and take notice. With a new mini- album, Pyscho Poetry, and a tour in the pipeline, Nerve’s brand of brash, three-minute, two-chord punk classics looks set to invade the minds of impreSSionable kids everywhere. Hear Swimming With Sharks mini-album out on Twenty Stone Blatt, (DJ)
WEI) WWW. nerve . freeservers . COl'Tl
OH-EYE RECORDS
Sound like Uncompromismg Scottish hip hop.
Who Established by local hip hop head Reachout two years ago, Oh-Eye has Since been a haven for homegrown talent.
Reachout's experience in club promotion has brought him into contact with talented hip hop artists both in Scotland and further afield, making Significant 'hook tips with acclaimed perfOrmers such as Roots Manuva
To date, the label has released two EPs and one compilation album, the latter featuring DMC Winning turntablists Richie Rufftone and Plus One and Scottish MCs Mr Jinx and Farnia G Forthcoming releases include Reachout's debut album Roks n’ Rolls, due to hit the shelves in April Hear STS ‘Seven Seals EP' and ‘The Eye Drops Vol 1’ compilation album (CB) Web www . oheye-records . co . uk
0 l. D S lit
Sound like Portishead, Boards Of Canada and The Beach Boys domg hot knives and OUle board
Who A mysterious outfit who have played sparsely around Glasgow before sneaking out their critically acclaimed debut platter on local label Mint Records Electionic pulses, swatlies of synth patches and percussive bumps clamber around acoustic guitars and barely there vocal lines But this is no skin up and switch off odyssey, Old Solar require your upniost attention. Attention which Will be rewarded
Hear Many ViSitors Have Been Gored By Buffalo album on Mint Records. (MR)
Web mintrecords@yahoo . com or www.mintrecords.com
PAREAH
Sound like Some of their songs have lyrics. Most don't Some of their songs are quite serene. Most aren’t. Some of their songs have song titles. Most don’t. Some of their songs end. Who Support slots With the likes of And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead have built Pariah a reputation for putting the mental in instrumental, John Peel has played the band tWice on the radio, and indeed once left a message on a Pariah member's answerphone, telling them to contact Feargal Sharkey if they needed advice. The hallowed tape recording is now guarded under lock and key.
A Pariah CD of 'no fixed length' should be coming out on Foundry in the near future. Expect it to be epic. Hear 'Astronaut’ — the closing track on Toons Ya Basl -- a covermount compilation given away With the Strathc/yde Telegraph student newspaper. (JC)
Web pariahtheband@ hotmai l . com.
PU PK l N
Sound like Do you like catchy melodies and snazzy tunes? Of course you do. Love them now. Watch them become masswe. Cry 'l was there from the start’. Jom the backlash. Who NME recently hailed Pupkin as one of the four best upcoming bands in Glasgow, and perhaps more geographically precise, they could be called part of a resurgence of the Lanarkshire scene. If you like them, you’ll love them.
Record label interest in Pupkin was bubbling up at the time of writing. Destined to become pop stars, but not Popstars. Hear 'Shell’ the first track on the aforementioned Toons Ya Bas/ compilation CD, stage . vitaminic . co . uk/pupkin also has some audio clips. (JC)
Web www . pupkin . 8m. com
MURRAY ’: ~ ‘5
Sound like Deep to progressive house strongly influenced by Danny Tenaglia.
Who After Winning Muzik's ’Bedroom Bedlam' title back in 1997, Murray Richardson has proved himself to be a master of self-promotion. He can now boast two Edinburgh residencies (Acetate, Rebel Wa|t2), his own promotion company, a healthy production career and one of the most impresswe international touring schedules imaginable. When he's not topping up his tan touring in South Africa, Australia and the US, Richardson can be found at his regular Edinburgh residenCies and Will soon be launching a new club night at the Honeycomb.
Hear ’Alive And Kicking' 12in on 20:20 Vision (released 19 March), House Of //I Repute compilation mix CD on Kickin' Records (released 26 March).(CB)
Web apachepromotions@cableinet . co . uk