Elba Sessions

Today’s instalment of the Elba Annual features a blogger who has just found himself rated as hotter than Subo in The List’s Hot 100. I’ve never met Subo so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt…

Peenko, or Lloyd as his family call him, has had as he calls it, ‘a batshit crazy’ year. I could list the amount of pies he’s put his fingers in this year, but he covers it all quite nicely in his Annual answers…

Album of The Year - I have been debating this in my head for months now, it’s been a really hard choice. There have been so many albums that have got me really excited this year, personal highlights would have to include Kid Canaveral, Admiral Fallow and RM Hubbert (although I am not sureif it came out this year). However, I can’t really see past the Phantom Band’s ‘Wants’. I never thought that they’d be able to better last years Checkmate Savage, but they have and then some.

Best Gig – Man that’s a tough one, there have been so many great gigs for me personally this year. What makes it doubly hard to select one is my god awful memory. Off the top of my head I really enjoyed The Unwinding Hours (both at Oran Mor and at the ABC as part of the Chemikal Underground birthday bash), the Kid Canaveral album launch at The Roxy (possibly the sweatiest I have ever been at a gig), The Phantom Band at Oran Mor (it’s amazing what a difference a new drummer can make). I guess my favourite gig would have to be the National at the Academy, that was pretty fucking special, coming out the first few drops of
snow made it feel almost magical.

Favourite New Band(s) - Another toughie, if we’re going for bands that I hadn’t heard of until this year my personal favourites would have to be we’re only afraid of NYC, Randolph’s Leap, the Son(s), I Build Collapsible Mountains and Hey Marseilles (the only non-Scottish band in there). I am sure that if you asked me this in a weeks time I’d have a totally new list of acts, there genuinely are so many amazing new bands in Scotland at the moment.

Musical Memories of 2010 - Where do I start?! this year alone things went batshit crazy for me, I guess putting on the first ever AvP gig would have to be pretty near the top, mainly cause we didn’t have a clue what we were doing and still loads of folk turned up. Starting not one, but two labels has got to be in there. I was really flattered by the number folk that took the time to write about Olive Grove (one of the labels). Alongside side that I guess I can’t leave out becoming the manager of Campfires in Winter and the wee stint I did on the radio for Fresh Air.

Also, I nearly forgot to mention goNorth and the crazy few days I had up there hanging out with Ian from the blog Have Fun At Dinner. Awesome times were had in Inverness, we even got to see Mimi from Shameless signing autographs in the Inverness Poundland. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Hopes/Plans for 2011 - For me personally I hope to have the time to keep the blog going, what with becoming a dad in the summer my time has been somewhat taken up. Then again I don’t want to be a rubbish dad, nobody wants their children to grow up hating them. Plus I need someone to pass the legacy on to!

As for the labels, I hope we can continue to find new up and coming talent and show them off to the world. At the moment we’ve almost agreed a deal for our next Olive Grove release which has got me pretty excited.
As well as that I am hoping to put on a few more gigs and record a few more sessions. I won’t be resting on my laurels that’s for sure!

Check out the Peenko Corporation Juggernaut at the following URL’s

Peenko Blog

Olive Grove Records

Today’s Elba Annual post comes in the form of a band from Edinburgh who we featured on these very pages back in August after their release of their brilliant EP ‘Artificial Life From A Digital Sea’. Also, as we mentioned in Thursday’s annual post, Loch Awe will be heading west to record some tracks at Elba Studios early next year.

Matthew, the quickest replying musician in Scotland, gave us these answers on his 2010…

Album of The Year - This is a super hard question to answer as there’s been so much good music out this year. I actually came down to a shortlist of four, but one of them really stood out, and it was Meursault – All Creatures Will Make Merry. It’s just truly original – I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever heard anything else quite like it. It also helps that it perfectly suits the blizzard-like weather we’re currently experiencing. (In case you were wondering, the other three are Gil Scott-Heron, The Phantom Band and Kanye West)

Best Gig (Loch Awe) - Well we only played one gig this year, back in September. It was our very first show, and it was excellent fun. Hopefully we’ll be a bit more active next year!

Best Gig (by someone else…) - Can I pick a festival? If so then Retreat! Festival in Edinburgh really stood out (far better than Glastonbury, if only because the chance of me getting a blood infection in a church hall is almost nil, whereas it turns our Worthy Farm is bloody deadly). If not then Withered Hand & The Second Hand Marching Band at Stereo in June (I think) was absolutely brilliant. It was my first experience of SHMB’s music, and it totally blew me away. And, of course, Withered Hand were, as ever, great!

Favourite New Band(s) - There have been loads, so I’ll just do a wee list: So Many Animal Calls, Evenings, Yusuf Azak, Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers, Ute, Tangled Hair, The Scottish Enlightenment and Reverie.

Musical Memories of 2010 - Screaming along to Karma Police at the Thom Yorke & Jonny Greenwood secret show at Glastonbury was exactly as epic as it should be, and is the sort of thing I’ll remember for years to come.

Hopes/Plans (music) for 2011 - Loch Awe are recording some new songs literally within the first five days of the new year. They’re a little bit louder, not quite as folky and feature almost 300% more trumpet. We’re very excited! Apart from that we want to play many more gigs (including our first Glasgow show, and a few possible English shows) and to get our second album recorded over the summer.
I should be recording a collaborative EP in January with Glasgow songwriter Andrew Lindsay. He’s brilliant, and I can’t wait to yell all over his lovely songs, and allow him to do the same thing to mine.

You can still get you mitts on the afore mentioned Loch Awe EP on their bandcamp page here. We’d really suggest that you do.

Greetings to one and all. We realize we have been a little quiet of late and thought we should bring you exciting tidings. You will be glad to know that we have been fussing over various things that we love. Our silence has merely been a result of a post birthday high, distraction by lovely things (thoughts of babies and New York adventures), some tedium (nine to five related woes), fantastic grub and a lengthy amount of time dedicated listening to Sufjan Stevens’ The Age of Adz and The Phantom Band’s The Wants. All in all it is making it damn near impossible to accomplish anything at all. I am also undertaking a speed reading of Simon Pegg’s autobiography Nerd Do Well for stalking/book signing purposes tomorrow. If it weren’t for the fact I was taking a short break from work I am quite certain I would be snoring my head off with a keyboard as a pillow.

However, I have switched off the stereo and put the book down to update you on a few most charming items of interest.

I Build Collapsible Mountains debut mini album A Month of Lost Memories was released last week. This outfit is the solo work of The Gothenburg Address’ Luke Joyce. It is a stripped back offering. It is pure, simple, emotional and melancholic. The album is available on digital download as well as a limited run of 50 special edition hand made CDs. The CDs feature three further exclusive tracks and we encourage you to seek this out. I Build Collapsible Mountains plays Sneaky Pete’s on 30th October and will be playing the next Elba Sessions Presents… at The Liquid Ship on 4th November.

Favourite Son and Oxjam present a line up to make you tingle Friday 29th October at The Classic Grand. The eclectic evening will feature The Winter Tradition, Nevada Base, Kochka and The Clyde. It’s £4 in advance or £5 on the door. Its a great cause and there are rumours of fund-raising including PRIZES on the night.

Finally, Shambles Miller is releasing a follow up EP to his debut Shambles Vs The Dragonwizard entitled Shambles Sails The Clockwork Sea. I do enjoy how all of his titles and songs throw my imagination into fairytale land. That is, a nice, shiny, pleasant fairytale land. Not a creepy Guilermo Del Toro imagined world where creatures have too many eyes in many a weird place. Anyway, I’m losing focus. I think it is the feeling of freedom that is to blame. The four track release will launch (it will literally be catapulted into the air…)(no)(not really)(I was exploiting the connotation of the word launch) this Friday (the 22nd) in The Liquid Ship.

VOLCANIC ASH DELAYS ELBA BLOG (apologies for the slight ’10 hour’ delay)

Well this weekend seems to be dedicated to the resurgence of awful nineties acts in the fair city of Glasgow. Not only are we being honoured with an appearance by Reef but also the one hit wonder duo Shakespear’s Sister. What a worry. Anyway, onto some live music that we want to tell you about. We’ll keep it short but very sweet.

For those of you lucky enough to have received tickets, like Elba’s very own Phil Smith (we are not speaking due to this), The Phantom Band, Race Horses, And So I Watch You From Afar and Chickenhawk play King Tuts as part of the BBC United Nations tour tonight (15.04.2010). That is a ridiculously tasty line up. Do enjoy, you select few.

If psychadellic rock is calling you this weekend, Californian Wooden Shjips play Stereo Saturday.

RM Hubbert and Moon Unit will be in Mono as part of their Record Store Day festivities. Not only that but it’s free!

*UPDATE TO THE ABOVE* Them pesky Zombie avoiders Super Adventure Club play Avalanche on Saturday 17th as part of their record store day celebrations. That’s at 3pm.

My turn, let’s keep it snappy…

Album of The Year – Loads to choose from! Titus Andronicus – The Airing of Grievances probably tops the list though. Honourable mentions to Brakes, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Le Reno Amps, Cuddly Shark and The Cinematics, oh, and The Phantom Band! (I could go on…)

Hopes for 2010/Things You’re Looking Forward To – Putting on more gigs, writing more for the blog (and getting better at it), seeing and hearing loads of new music, working with Armellodie records and seeing it evolve, Pavement at the Barrowlands (!!!!!!!) and putting some faces to email addresses!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US HERE AT ELBA!

SEE YOU IN 2010!

As the Elba Annual begins to draw to a close for 2009, today’s post comes from one of my favourite new bands, Maple Leaves. They’ve had a pretty busy year cramming in much more than many unsigned bands could do in several years with a set at T in The Park, tv and radio performances not to mention the thumbs up from none other than Stuart Murdoch (Belle & Sebastian). Here’s hoping that we see plenty more of them in 2010. Anna tells us what made her 2009…

Album of The Year – May I have 3? Or even 4? This is nigh on impossible to choose just one, I’m afraid as Checkmate Savage by Phantom Band, the God Help The Girl album, Zoey Van Goey’s ‘The Cage Was Unlocked All Along’ were all out…so how do you choose between them? Not to mention Bill Callahan record….! Sorry I’m quite bad at making decisions on stuff like this….!

Things You’re Look forward to in 2010 – Releasing our first proper single and playing some great shows, in Edinburgh and in King Tuts again in January. We were in Chemikal Underground’s Chem 19 studios in November and the songs for our first single are just getting mastered now, so should be released in the New Year. Can’t wait!

Follow Maple Leaves at the following for latest gigs and newses…

www.myspace.com/mapleleavesmusic

@mapleleavesband (twitter)

Facebook group – Maple Leaves

Hot on the heels of last night’s blog on the BAMS (see here), we have cornered the mastermind of said BAMS to ask what made his year. We’ve enjoyed following Peenko’s blog for a long time now, the Friday Freebies are a personal favourite, and whilst the relationship has thus far remained virtual, we hear he is one hell of a mover on the dancfloor! I give you Peenko’s Elba Annual…

Album of The Year – The Phantom Band – Checkmate Savage

Hopes for 2010/Things You’re Looking Forward To – I’m really looking forward to ‘The Winter of Mixed Drinks’ the new Frightened Rabbit album/ Homegame 2010/ possibly releasing a record with a cracking band called Campfires in Winter/ the Kid Canaveral album/ seeing what else the Glasgow Podcart team come up with/ The Unwinding Hours album/ and lastly to hopefully get to meet one of the lovely Elba Session team in person (ed: can be arranged!)

Make sure that you bookmark Peenko’s blog. There’s some crackin’ stuff on there for download and a few Elba recommendations in the shape of Andrea Marini and Cuddly Shark!

The Elba Sessions podcast has been running since July this year and we have been blogging since September so we were pretty honoured to be asked by Peenko to throw our tuppence worth into what is now affectionately known as The Scottish BAMS or The Scottish Bloggers and Music Sites Award 2009, to give it it’s proper title. The Phantom Band’s Checkmate Savage took the honours and the Top 20 was packed with plenty of good choices, with a large amount of Scottish talent being represented.

Personally I struggled a bit, not to choose the ten so much, but more to order it from 10 to 1. Looking back at my choices, I’ll stick with my Number 1 and possibly the first few places but to be honest, if any of my top 10 were at number 1, I’d have no complaints at all. Here is how Stephen, Chris and myself voted…

(note: Stephen ducks out slightly by nominating an unreleased album, but we’ll let him off for that and you’ll notice I favoured counting down from 10 to 1, to build suspense and all, wheras my fellow amigos went straight in with a number 1!)

Phil Elba

10. Cuddly Shark – Cuddly Shark
9.Le Reno Amps – Tear It Open
8.Bruce Springsteen – Working On A Dream
7.The Cinematics – Love and Terror
6. Brakes – Touchdown
5. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
4. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion
3. Sufjan Stevens – The BQE
2. Phantom Band – Checkmate Savage
1. Titus Andronicus – The Airing of Grievances

Stephen Elba

1. De Rosa – Prevention
2. My Latest Novel – Deaths and Entrances.
3. Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career.
4. Idlewild – Post Electric Blues.
5. Conor Mason – When its Over
6. Le Reno Amps – Tear it Open
7. LAU – Arc Light
8. bat for lashes – two Suns
9. Daniel Wylie – Fake your own death (wont be released until 2010 but i have heard the tracks and they are ace!)
10. Cuddly Shark – Cuddly Shark

Chris Elba

1. Wilco – Wilco (the album)
2. Richmond Fontaine – We Used To Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River
3. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
4. Bruce Springsteen – Working on a Dream
5. De Rosa – Prevention
6. Bob Dylan – Together Through Life
7. Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
8. The Low Anthem – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
9. Sufjan Stevens – The BQE
10. Le Reno Amps – Tear It Open

I was pretty pleased that 4 of mine were included in the Top 20 and having seen the spreadsheet where the maths was done, a couple just missed out. I think The Phantom Band were worthy winners though, being voted for by predominantly scottish blogs and writers it’s fitting that a Scottish band should win it, who would have doubted that one would!

And here’s how the masses voted!

1. The Phantom Band – Checkmate Savage (61)
2. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion (54)
3. De Rosa – Prevention (53)
4. King Creosote – Flick the V’s (51)
5. Withered Hand – Good News (45)
6. The Twilight Sad – Forget The Night Ahead (43)
7. We Were Promised Jetpacks – These Four Walls (40)
8. Beerjacket – Animosity (38)
9. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More (32)
9. Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career (32)
11. My Latest Novel – Deaths and Entrances (28)
11. Malcolm Middleton – Waxing Gibbous (28)
13. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – s/t (25)
14. You Already Know – s/t (24)
14. Broken Records – Until the Earth Begins to Part (24)
16. The XX – s/t (23)
17. The Antlers – Hospice (21)
18. Sufjan Stevens – The BQE (19)
18. And So I Watch You From Afar (19)
20. Wilco – The Album (18)

You can praise/blame/thank the following for their input!

17 Seconds, AyeTunes, Dear Scotland, Earz Mag, Elba Sessions, Glasgow Podcart, Hooligans Lament, Jim Gellatly, JocknRoll, Jockrock, Kowalskiy, Last Years Girl, Love Shack Baby, Manic Pop Thrills, My Portiswasp Says, Off the Beaten Tracks, The Popcop, Products of a Gaseous Brain, Song By Toad, The Daily Growl, The Spill, The Steinberg Principle, The Vinyl Villain and Under the Radar.

And once again, well done to Peenko for organising all of this!