2 fairly new tunes of Scottish origin

"Bosnia" is the first Le Thug recording I've been aware of since their 12" on Song By Toad - "Paints" in particular - sent me into something of a spin in December 2014. It's a sparing, low key return but equally memorable. Gone is the hazy One Dove danceability, replaced with sepulchral ambience. After a day spent working to Grouper and Lightning In A Twilight Hour, it really makes sense.

Tomorrow Syndicate may have been a going concern for around 5 years and call Glasgow's Southside home, but they were new to Not Unloved when in late 2016 Polytechnic Youth announced the details of their 7". "Into The Void" is a fine debut. There's a welter of this Ghost Box-y, Krautrocking stuff around at the moment (most of it good, I'd contend) but "Into The Void" is succinct, dramatic and melodic enough that it holds its own among the likes of Cavern of Anti-Matter and Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation. Polytechnic Youth only pressed 250 copies so it may already be scarce. Get on it!

"Paints"

"I just take my time
 I don't need to rush
 I feel good about
 Being good to you"

One of the most elegantly languid tunes to appear in my life of late has been "Paints" by Glasgow's  horrendously named Le Thug.  'Appear' because I didn't seek it out - it was on a free cd-r given to those who attended The Green Door Studio's 7th anniversary wingding at The Poetry Club last weekend.  If "Paints" is any guide, Le Thug aren't the pistol-toting, gold toothed gangsta rap crew their name would suggest but a gauzier, dronier version of the divine One Dove.  Clio Alexandra MacLellan has the most heavenly voice.  It carries the melody of the chorus like cherry blossom on a warm breeze.

From the looks of things, "Paints" used to be on the group's bandcamp page but isn't anymore so I can't share it here.  Hopefully, however, if this picture on Song By Toad Records' tumblr site is any guide, it'll be released on vinyl at some point soon (see track 4):

  

Right now I'm regretting the fact that I wasn't aware of Le Thug sooner as they played The Old Hairdressers on December the 2nd.  It would've been great to swoon and sway to "Paints" particularly as I was on holiday that week.  A missed opportunity.  Fortunately, the Christmas holidays will afford the time to become familiar with the songs posted on Le Thug's Soundcloud page.  Here's hoping that there's something possessing even a tiny fraction of the finesse of "Paints".