Some favourites from 2024

2024 was another topper of a year for records! Of course, life, live music, YouTubers (mainly Seeking A Thread and the utterly endearing Baggy Hi-Fi!) and football got in the way so loads of amazing records only got only one or two spins. I'm planning on catching up with them all when I retire. As usual, all titles are links to the records. Here's hoping 2025 brings half as many treats!

New Albums

Pretty much every lp (Humdrum, Chime School, The Umbrellas, Neutrals etc) released by Slumberland Records - what a year they had!

The Softies "The Bed I Made" (Father/Daughter)

Stephen Pastel and Gavin Thomson "This Is Memorial Device" (Domino)

Tia Rosa "Misterio Lounge 3000" (Inscrutable)

Mo Dotti "opaque" (self-released)

Beth Gibbons "Lives Outgrown" (Domino)

The Bevis Frond "Focus On Nature" (Fire)

Ulla & Ultrafog "It Means A Lot" (Motion Ward)

Amy Rigby "Hang In There With Me" (Tapete)

Simon Joyner "Coyote Butterfly" (Grapefruit)

Dummy "Free Energy" (Trouble In Mind)

Rachel Love "Lyra" (The Cat Collects)

Mt. Misery "Love In Mind"  (Prefect)

Thee Heart Tones "Forever & Ever" (Big Crown)

Belong "Realistic IX" (Kranky)

Various Artists "Two Two Seven" (Prefect)

There aren't any stats to prove it but I'm pretty sure the April Magazine song, above, from "Two Two Seven" was my most listened-to song of the year.

New Singles / e.p.s

Seefeel "Everything Squared" 12" & "Squared Roots" CD (both Warp)

The Embrooks "Terry and Julie" 7" (Disques Rogue)

The Cords "Bo's New Haircut" cassette (Heavenly Creature)

JJ and The A's "Eyeballer" 7" (La Vida Es Un Mus)

Thee Heart Tones "No Longer Mine b/w Cry My Tears Away" 7" (Big Crown)

Added Dimensions "Time Suck / Hellbent EP" 7" (Domestic Departure)

Emilia Sisco, Cold Diamond & Mink "Let Me In" (Timmion)

Florence Adooni "Uh-Ah Song" 7" (Philophon)

Rosettes "Souvenir" 7" (Timmion)

The Crystal Teardrop "By The River" 7" (Popclaw)

Little Skull "s/t" 7" (Horn of Plenty)

The Gabys "s/t" 7" (fruits & flowers)

Selfsame "s/t" & Zero key "s/t" 12"s (both False Aralia)

Cindy "Swan Lake" 12" (Tough Love)

Reissues

Birdie "Some Dusty" lp (Slumberland)

Naoki Zushi "IV" 2*lp (World of Echo)

Eddie Marcon "Yahho no Potori" lp (A Colorful Storm)

Ozean "Ozean" 12" (Numero Group)

Linda Smith "I So Liked The Spring" & "Nothing Else Matters" lp (Captured Tracks)

Guided By Voices "Tonics + Twisted Chasers" lp (Superior Viaduct)

Roy Montgomery "Temple IV" 2*lp (Kranky)

Simon Joyner "The Cowardly Traveler Pays His Toll" (Homeless)

Windy & Carl "Consciousness" lp (Kranky)

Twelve Cubic Feet "Straight Out The Fridge" lp (Sealed)

Spoonfed Hybrid "Spoonfed Hybrid (30th Anniversary Edition)" 2*lp (4AD)

loads of BBC session 10"s/lps (Jesse Garon & The Desperadoes, The Green Telescope, 14 Iced Bears, The Aislers Set etc.) released by Precious Recordings of London 

Most watched YouTube clip

"Between Two Points" was originally written and recorded by the wonderful The Montgolfier Brothers

2023 in live music

Jetstream Pony being ace at Mono on Hogamany

2023 continued where 2022 left off with bands and artists playing out of their skin night after night. It's impossible to be nostalgic and trot out the the old "gigs were better in my day" cliches when so many musicians both young and old are continually proving otherwise. Venues like The Glad Cafe and The Old Hairdressers, in particular, hosted an insane number of wonderful acts. Those venues do things right with great sound and wonderful staff who treat people well. More power to their elbows! It would be impossible to pick a favourite show but special mention must be given to Wreckless Eric for being, frankly, inspirational and genuinely moving as he gave it *everything* in both Coatbridge and Glasgow. His latest album is a triumph and, in "Standing Water", features one of the greatest songs of 2023 for Not Unloved's money:

Glas-Goes Pop! was an absolute treat again with The Loft being unbelievably brilliant which, when you consider that the group that isn't a going concern, almost makes you question the laws of physics! Barbara Manning, too, was a revelation playing her songs and those of others (The Verlaines! Richard Thompson! etc.) with real conviction and fire, in the process winning many hearts. On the other hand, Ana Roxanne played one of the year's subtlest gigs. It was also one of the most soul-nourishing with an incredibly respectful audience remaining almost completely silent during the quiet, fragile songs. It was a real joy to witness Linda Smith and Nancy Andrews play songs from their magnificent "A Passing Cloud" record up close and The Declining Winter's emotional heft cemented their place as one of 2023's most compelling groups. Oh, and it was a real thrill to witness the Glasgow audience turn out in great numbers to witness The Clientele's long overdue return. 2023 really was quite a year for live music.

31/12 Norman Blake / Jetstream Pony / Homework @ Mono
21/12 Civilistjavel @ The Old Hairdressers
20/12 Richard Youngs playing "Advent" in full @ The Old Hairdressers
17/12 Current Affairs (last ever gig) / Dancer @ Mono
07/12 Linda Smith & Nancy Andrews / GNAC @ The Glad Cafe

24/11 The Declining Winter / Epic 45  / GNAC @ The Old Hairdressers
19/11 Tara Clerkin Trio / Chizu @ The Glad Cafe
18/11 Kirk Barley / Semay Wu @ The Old Hairdresser's
15/11 YL Hooi / Silzedrek / Noble Leisure @ The Glad Cafe
14/11 Wreckless Eric / Iain Shaw @ The Rum Shack
13/11 Colleen Green / Hound / Clay Rings @ Stereo
12/11 Wreckless Eric @ The Georgian Hotel (Coatbridge)
10/11 Dali Muru and The Polyphonic Swarm / Susannah Stark @ The Glad Cafe
09/11 Bills Wells aka The Sensory Illusions @ The Glad Cafe
06/11 Snooper / Hotline TNT @ The Hug and Pint
03/11 The Clientele / Nightshift @ Stereo
02/11 Richard Youngs / Raymond MacDonald @ The Old Hairdressers
01/11 Chris Stamey / Warren McIntyre @ The Glad Cafe
27/10 Jim Ghedi & Toby Hay @ Gulliver's (Manchester)
25/10 Kid Congo and The Pink Monkeybirds / Louise McVey and Cracks In The Concrete @ Room 2
21/10 Amelia & Rob (house gig)
12/10 The Telescopes / no support @ Nice'n'Sleazy
10/10 Blues Lawyer / Dancer / Maz & The Phantazms @ The Glad Cafe
08/10 The Popguns / Homework @ The Hug & Pint
07/10 The Make-up / Lung Leg @ Room 2
05/10 Sir Richard Bishop / The Sound Priestess / Burnt Paw @ St. Vincent's Church (Edinburgh)
03/10 En Attendant Ana / Nightshift @ Broadcast
30/09 Russell Haswell / Hyppia / Cru Servers @ The Old Hairdressers
29/09 Robert Henke (Monolake) @ Tramway (as part of Sonica)
28/09 Trees Speak @ Broadcast
16/09 System Exclusive / Brenda / Dancer (missed 'em) @ The Old Hairdressers
15/09 Free Love / R.Aggs / Isa Gordon @ The Rum Shack
14/09 The Vaselines / The Cords @ Mono
10/09 The Bevis Frond / Dragged Up @ The Old Hairdressers
09/09 The Yummy Fur / Es / Memorabilia etc. @ The Old Hairdressers
05/09 Damon (actually Richard!) & Naomi / Richard Youngs @ The Glad Cafe
02/09 Matana Roberts / T.R.I.P. @ The Old Hairdressers
30/08 AttackRelease night (Everyday Dust / Dohnavur / Faex Optim / Mike E Smith) @ Bloc
27/08 Nightshift / Lawsuit / Radio Banter @ The Old Hairdressers

26/08 Dragged Up @ Some Great Reward Records
21/08 Escape-ism @ Broadcast
20/08 Kubler-Ross / Body Maintenance / Memorabilia @ The Old Hairdressers
17/08 Alasdair Roberts @ Bru
11/08 Michael Head and The Red Elastic Band @ Summerhall (Edinburgh)
09/09 Rebecca Gates (Manidiscimmia) / Daphne X / Ybalferran @ The Old Hairdressers
08/08 Sacred Paws @ George Square (UCI Cycling World Championships)
05/08 Dancer / Small Gauge / Essen @ Stereo (missed Essen, unfortunately)
03/08 The Miki Berenyi Trio @ Mono
30/07 Barbara Manning / Gerard Love @ The Glad Cafe
28/07->29/07 Glas-Goes Pop! @ GUU Debating Chamber
27/07 The Glands of External Secretion feat. Barbara Manning / Puppet Midnight / Lovely Honkey @ The Fruitmarket Gallery (Edinburgh)
22/07 The Thurston Moore Group / R.Aggs @ Mono
21/07 The National Jazz Trio of Scotland @ The Glad Cafe
20/07 Powerplant / Current Affairs / Gamma / Memorabilia / Kute @ Stereo
17/07 Kate Clover / In The Plughole @ The Flying Duck
28/06 Laura Cantrell / Doug Levitt @ St. Luke's
25/06 Tashi Dorji @ The Glad Cafe
25/06 The Boo Radleys @ The Hug and Pint
25/06 The Go Steady @ McChuills
22/06 Ribbon Stage / R.Aggs @ The Glad Cafe
17/06 Andrew Wasylyk / Siobahn Wilson / Loris S Sarid @ Futtle (St Monan's, Fife)
15/06 Adela Mede / Dialect / Man Rei @ The Glad Cafe
11/06 The Chills / Rats On Rafts @ Mono
09/06 Mun Sing / L / Susannah Stark @ The Flying Duck
03/06 Flasher / Nightshift / The Pink Pound @ Mono
02/06 Delphine Dora + Sophie Cooper / Pefkin @ The Glad Cafe
31/05 Pram / Pearling @ The Old Hairdressers
22/05 Loop @ Room 2
20/05 The Primitives @ Broadcast
19/05 Heavenly / Panic Pocket @ Bush Hall (London)
18/05 Soundlab @ Iklectik (London)
16/05 Sylvie / Anna St. Louis @ Broadcast
05/05 Barrence Whitfield and The Savages @ The Rum Shack
29/04 Cindy / J Mahon / Simone Antigone @ Mono
28/04 David Jaycock / AliShaSha @ The Glad Cafe
23/04 Death and Vanilla / RVG / Modern Studies @ The Hug and Pint
22/04 Dancer / L / The Bluebells @ Mono
20/04 Shonen Knife / Run Into The Night @ Summerhall (Edinburgh)
15/04 Mary Lattimore / Instruction Manual @ The Glad Cafe
07/04 Milky Wimpshake / Count Florida @ The Glad Cafe
06/04 Nina Nastassia @ Broadcast
03/04 The Courettes / The Three'n'Eights @ Nice'n'Sleazy
31/03 Adam Matschulat / Mark Vernon @ The Old Hairdressers
30/03 So Sner (feat. Stefan Schneider of To Rococo Rot)  / Miki Yui / Ailie Ormston @ The Glad Cafe
26/03 Ana Roxanne / Chantal Michelle @ The Glad Cafe
25/03 The Thanes / The Screamin' Kick / The Pharisees @ The Old Hairdressers
24/03 Gina Brich @ The Hug and Pint
23/03 GNAC/ The Orchids @ The Glad Cafe
18/03 The Go! Team / Baba Ali @ SWG3
16/03 The Serfs / Memorabilia / Kute @ The Old Hairdressers
11/03 The Dream Syndicate / The Rain Parade @ Hug and Pint
09/03 Coby Sey / Cru Servers / Comfort @ Stereo
04/03 Free Love @ Hug and Pint
01/03 Robyn Hitchcock / Jessica Morgan @ Mono
19/02 Ex Void / Headcleaner @ The Old Hairdressers
17/02 Dry Cleaning / Dehd/ Thus Love @ Barrowland
11/02 Marina Allen / Kacey Johannsing @ Hug and Pint
10/02 Lande Hekt / R.Aggs @ Hug and Pint
29/01 Tongue Depressor / Pefkin / Dome Riders @ Old Hairdos
23/01 Peel Dream Magazine/ Wild Cabin / Loris S Sarid @ Broadcast
21/01 The Cool Greenhouse/ Water Machine / Former Champ @ Stereo
19/01 12th Isle presents: Ronald Langestraat / Devon Rexi / Nicolini @ Old Hairdos
05/01 Florist / Carsick Charlie @ Mono