Local lads and lassies done good, the Dunfermline band first emerged early in the noughties with debut Northern Electric - signed via an early internet deal, the album bucked preconceptions incorporating pipes and drums, but with modern triphop beats punctuated by samples and electronic lines. Now they’ve got a new lineup, gone back to basics, and in sophomore release Happy Robots Smiling People they have produced an electronic-based release rich in samples that complement perfectly the organic ‘real’ heart of the record - one which saw them appear as Single of the Week on Colin Murray’s Radio One programme. Their homecoming show should be quite an event..
The Edinburgh 4-piece make modern psychedelia that owes little to the music of the 60s and everything to the present and future. Album This Mess is full of the kind of cut and paste, lo-fi treats you would associate with the likes of Super Furry Animals, an album which reflects both the bleak winters of Scotland and the uplifting warmth in the hearts of the people.
Having taken on the mantle of torch-bearers for electronic pop, the Edinburgh/Glasgow act come across like a jaunty Blue Nile or perhaps a more dance-minded take on electro duo The Associates. With two fantastic albums behind them, they have developed into a compelling live act to boot..
