My latest musings on music and writing
SAY what? The result is in
I photographed Port Isla for my review of their performance at Bush Hall, as part of the Bushstock festival, and couldn’t resist sticking around at the front to photograph the next band on the bill – the simply fantastic Honeyblood.
In an earlier gift of sound and fiction I mentioned that the SAY (Scottish Album of the Year) Award had opened for the public vote. Since then, the votes were cast, the judges had their say (sorry for the pun) and Kathryn Joseph‘s Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled emerged victorious. I voted for Honeyblood obviously, and was disappointed on their behalf when they didn’t win, but Joseph’s album is simply beautiful (I cried when I first heard The Crow).
There were plenty of brilliant albums on the shortlist, proving my theory that Scottish music is arguably where it’s at. More to come on that in another blog.
Songs about books
Speaking of Honeyblood, they also sprung to mind when I saw that the Guardian were doing one of their readers recommend features on songs about books. Unfortunately I missed the deadline for submitting my recommendation as I’ve been busily trying to catch up on everything since coming back from my holiday. So, what would my recommendation have been? Choker by Honeyblood, which was inspired by the short story The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter.
The song is full of the heady mix of desire, revulsion, anticipation and dread that flows through the short story and is a great example of reinvention – Stina Tweeddale’s reinvention of a short story by a literary master who loved to reinvent old tales into deliciously dark supernatural fiction.
I couldn’t resist picking up a copy of the new deluxe edition of Carter’s book, produced by Penguin books for the 75th anniversary of her birth.
Drifting through Totnes
As I mentioned above, I went on holiday to Devon at the beginning of this month. Anyone that follows me on Twitter may have suspected as much due to the drastic reduction in waffle and the sudden increase in Instagram images of seaside views.
In between eating fish and chips al fresco and strolling around the countryside I made the trip to Totnes and headed straight for Drift. This is a real gem of a record shop, sitting proudly at the top of the High Street. I’m welcomed warmly by Jenny on entering and am instantly struck by how airy and uncluttered it feels for a record shop, in spite of the fact that it’s a real treasure trove of vinyl, CDs, books and posters. Jenny is also playing Ryan Adams Live At Carnegie Hall, which adds to the relaxed atmosphere.
There are lovely little handwritten descriptions next to new releases, which tempt you into buying a record you hadn’t previously considered. The passion for what they are doing in Drift is obvious from the small touches like this throughout the shop and the warm customer service, not only in person but also online. I would encourage you to visit if you are in the area.
The Drift website is also great 
and is where I pre-ordered my copy of the limited edition clear vinyl of Wild Nights by PINS, knowing that I would be heading to the shop during the week it was released.
I completely fell for this band’s first album, Girls Like Us, which quickly became my pre-going out record to blast loud. Some called it droney, but I just found their brooding sound addictive. By comparison, the new album has more of an indie-pop flavour, as shown on Dazed By You and Curse These Dreams, which has a dreamy Stone Roses sound.
It still retains some of the darkness, all of the great song writing and the feisty attitude that got me hooked. Young Girls has had me singing “what will we do when our dreams come true?” repetitively since I first heard it. The first single, Too Little Too Late simply rocks and builds to thrashing guitar riffs, which will undoubtedly be a big hit with the festival crowds.
In every way PINS have negotiated that tricky second album with ease, producing a more developed sound that does justice to their songwriting.
Don’t be angry humans
Instead, listen to the new Human Don’t Be Angry album! It’s folky electronica noodling and I just love it. And I got number 1 in the limited run of 500 copies of Electric Blue. I think this officially inducts me into the geek hall of fame. I’ll look forward to receiving my badge in the post.
Been listening to this loads. Love it! Great work @M_Middleton_UK! Oh, and check out the Ltd ed number 🎶🎧😸 #smugface pic.twitter.com/DQLb08Aci0
— Rhiannon Ormerod (@MsRhiannonHolly) June 22, 2015