Music HITLIST THE BEST ROCK, POP, JAZZ & FOLK
list.co.uk/music
Drop the Lime New York producer Drop the Lime delivers high energy, bassline-driven fidget, house and electro. See Clubs preview, page 91. The Arches, Sat 4 Aug. (Rock & Pop)
The Ballad of Mable Wong The Glasgow-based intrumental rockers play a live soundtrack to a short film made by the band’s guitarist, Rory McIntyre. CCA, Glasgow, Thu 8 Aug. (Rock & Pop) Anster Mustered A community fundraiser in the fishing village that’s home to Fence Records. Pictish Trail (above), Gummi Bako and Lidh will all perform, and beer from St Andrews Brewing Co will be served. Middle Pier, The Harbour, Anstruther, Thu 9 Aug. (Rock & Pop)
Ensemble Economique, Purple Pilgrims and Asparagus Piss Raindrop See preview, right. CCA, Glasgow, Fri 3 Aug. (Rock & Pop) Piping Live The annual celebration of all things bagpipes returns. The week-long festival includes beginner’s workshops, family events and pipe band performances. Various venues, Glasgow, Mon 6-Sun 12 Aug. (Piping Live)
Lowland Hills (Jer Reid and Joe Quimby) Rare duo performance from these serial collaborators, plus a debut solo performance from Howie Reeve (Tattie Toes). Joined by solo explorers Mt. Judge (No Comet). Mono, Glasgow, Thu 9 Aug.
War Iron with Headless Cross and Lords of Bastard Expect a ‘heavy psychedelic sludge doom feast . . .’ from this triple bill. The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow, Fri 3 Aug. (Rock & Pop)
National Youth Orchestra of Scotland with Nicola Benedetti See photo preview, page 123. NYOS, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Thu 2 Aug. (Classical)
PREVIEW EXPERIMENTAL POP ENSEMBLE ECONOMIQUE
Following their 100% Silk label showcase in June, promoters’ Cry Parrot are now bringing Brian Pyle (pictured), aka Ensemble Economique from sister label Not Not Fun (also based in LA), to Glasgow to perform an intimate CCA gig alongside female duo Purple Pilgrims. Both acts’ back catalogues
reveal a shared leaning towards sounds both eerie and unsettling; US-based experimental artist Pyle’s dark, atmospheric output draws acknowledged inspiration from such legendary soundtrack pioneers as John Carpenter, Ennio Morricone and Claudio Simonetti, while sisters Clementine and Valentine Nixon’s productions blend distorted guitar ambience with ethereal vocals to edgy, anxious effect. Originally a member of
uncompromising improv act Starving Weirdos, Pyle has long been a musician keen to open up new doors and exciting possibilities by collaborating with various artists on the contemporary music scene. While his early work as Ensemble Economique largely concentrated on deep, meditative stretches, more recent recordings under this solo moniker have dug deeper into nuanced, cinematic and ritualistic passages of sound. Songs play out like scenes from a film blending into one another; his use of muted drum machines, synthesisers and effect pedals adds a throwback feel that makes his material seem both ambiguous but strangely familiar. The formerly New Zealand, now Hong Kong-based Purple Pilgrims released their debut album on the antipodean psych label Pseudo Arcana last year. Described as ‘super-fuzzy psychedelic outsider dream pop’, their vocals are only tantalisingly apparent on effect- laden songs filled with his, feedback and rumble; performed through a single, tiny amp their sound feels mysterious and distant. (Colin Chapman) ■ CCA, Glasgow, Fri 3 Aug.
2–9 Aug 2012 THE LIST 117