The Eastern Swell, STOOR, St. Christopher Medal

Doors 7pm

£7.00

Over 18s only

The Eastern Swell
Some bands appear to arrive fully formed from the off. All their influences, musical stylings and concepts in place, the flaws ironed out, right through to the final execution with every piece intact. The Eastern Swell are one such beast. An Anglo-Scottish outfit, formed in Edinburgh in 2014, the final pieces of the jigsaw took place with the name change from Lainie & The Crows to The Eastern Swell and signing to Edinburgh’s Stereogram Recordings.
Their critically acclaimed debut “One Day, A Flood” is one of those albums that is ideally listened to right through as a whole in a single sitting. A proper album in the 60s/70s sense. Many of the tracks are linked together so that despite wide-scoping musical styles, there is an underlying cohesion.
Musically it spans many genres – folk, neo & pastoral psychedelia, punk, prog and late 60s/70s rock can all be detected in places. There are some pretty interesting and tricky time signatures in there too, which add a math-rock element.
Factor in the Influences the band have cited when making the album which include Fairport Convention, Syd Barrett, mid-period Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, King Crimson and Todd Rundgren through to more (relatively) contemporary artists such as the Pixies, Thee Oh Sees, Cat Power, Gillian Welch and Tame Impala and you get a heady brew indeed.
This all brings a refreshing eclecticism to the proceedings, as it flits from genre to genre.
“One Day, A Flood” was released on CD and download on Stereogram Recordings on September 16th 2016 preceded by the download single and video “Rattling Bones” which came out on September 2nd. Their latest single and video “Muckish Mountain” was released on November 25th.
Press quotes:

“A fascinating debut” **** - Scottish Daily Express

“A rather magical album, and definitely one of the finest releases of 2016, so far.” 9/10 -Louder Than War

“This Anglo/Scottish group cook up a pleasing patchouli oil scented blend of prog rock, pastoral folk and psyche soul.” **** - The Scotsman

“An album that is both gripping and haunting as it is elating.” – Penny Black Music

“The Eastern Swell have spawned a truly extraordinary assemblage of songs here.” – Pure M Magazine

“Aural treats abound.” - When You Motor Away

“If you choose to listen all the way through you’ll be repaid, and handsomely. Every moment counts with The Eastern Swell.” **** - IsThisMusic?

“Fragile vocals sounding exquisite.” - For Malcontents Only

“Potential definitely fulfilled.” - Folkwords.com

“If one word had to be used to describe One Day, A Flood, the debut album from Scottish quartet The Eastern Swell, it has to be spellbinding.” - The Ringmaster Review

“Their unconventional approach, musical talent and intelligent lyricism make for an interesting and masterful album.” 7/10 – Whisperinandhollerin.com

STOOR
Stereogram Recordings are delighted to announce the addition of Dundee based alternative rock outfit STOOR to their ever increasing roster.
Formed from the fumes of the original West Port bar and distilled from earlier Dundee punk/New Wave bands, STOOR have been a presence on the Scottish music scene since the 1990s. The nuclear core of the band (Scott Mckinlay, drums; Stef Murray, bass and vocals; Ross Matheson, guitar) fused over their love of punk, film and TV themes and the Kinks to name but three influences. Over the years other members have come and gone with the present fourth member being Davie Youngblood on guitar.
Sporadically gigging like a Time Lord on a sabbatical, STOOR have been a rare band to witness (which could be of interest to Pokemon-Go players). Recent years has seen a flurry of activity with many sightings of their musical Tardis in venues around Scotland and the North of England.
Their debut album, eponymously titled ‘STOOR’, was self-released on vinyl last year to critical acclaim. Piccadilly Records in Manchester summed up its musical delights pretty accurately with this precis:
“STOOR's self-titled LP is filled with gutsy post-punk anthems and confident instrumental wizardry. Clanging distorted guitars and chugging rhythm tracks are fittingly topped with tuneful but aggressive vocal lines. Arrhythmic passages leap out of the groove before diving straight back into the melodic assault. 'Infect me' shows a more restrained side, and showcases STOOR’s ability to reign it back a bit and focus on the nuts and bolts of their sound, and is further evidence of their ability to competently cover a wide variety of sounds seamlessly. This is an exciting and rousing collection, well worth the rack space for any fan of post-punk or indie.”
The album alongside CD and download/streaming versions was reissued on the Stereogram Recordings label on October 28th 2016.
Earlier vinyl singles are also due to be re-released. STOOR continue to create diverse aural slices of middle age angst and the growing absurdities of life with a second album in the process of recording.
Press quotes:
“If you like your music challenging but accessible, inventive but melodic then I’d thoroughly recommend this delightful album to you. I know it’s only May but this is my album of 2015 so far and it’s going to have to be something special to topple this one from that slot.” IsThisMusic? 4.5 / 5 stars
“May well be the best record by a band you’ve never heard of this year.” Manic Pop Thrills
“This is the moment they should be enveloped by the biggest spotlights, courtesy of an encounter which has to be considered as an album of the year contender.” The Ringmaster Review
“STOOR have an unusual and distinctive sound and take on the world.” Penny Black Music

St. Christopher Medal
When the Scotpop 4-piece Life With Nixon signed off for good in August of 1998 at Sleazy’s in Glasgow, it seemed like the end of something special. Time had run out on Britpop – too many bands, not enough ideas. Getting less young and less stupid, time had also run out on the Nixon’s own brand of ‘sloppy energy’. They did a lot in 5 years, squeezed a lot of goodwill out of two ep’s and a million shows, but even the best bands split up eventually – it happens.
But things don’t always stay where they’re put. A full 17 years later, Ali and Kenny Mathieson, Billy Nisbet and David Mack, all four Nixons from that night at Sleazy’s, released “Sunny Day Machine”, the wonderful debut album by St Christopher Medal on Stereogram Recordings. Along with newbie Andy Jeffries on piano (Ali’s roommate from university in the late ’80’s!), St Christopher Medal make music that is full to the brim with 17 years of life, love, kids, jobs and the whole history of rock n roll. Ali, who writes the songs and sings them, teaches in a high school in rural Perthshire – Kenny, his brother and ace guitarist, spins vinyl at The Dead Rabbit in Upper Manhattan where he lives. Billy, David and Andy play bass, drums and piano in Perth, Teeside and Dorset respectively. Makes practicing difficult. Gigs are rare and valuable things. You’ve got to really want to be in a band like St Christopher Medal!
But “Sunny Day Machine” is a record that none of them could have made in their 20’s. It’s energy comes from long friendship. From deep love of Music, from C86 to the classic Country Rock of The Stones and the Flying Burrito Brothers. None of it dimmed for even a moment. Teenage Fanclub. The Hold Steady. Dylan. The songs are denser, more complete. They’re about life – growing up, surviving over time, dreams, children – and they’re sad and funny. The record was made in six days of being together (years of gigging paying off in deeply unexpected ways) followed by two years of head-scratching. It is the sound of a band who can’t stop being a band, even when being in a band makes no practical sense.
Sometimes the best things in life make no sense at all. “Sunny Day Machine” is a statement of intent. After 24 years of playing together, St Christopher Medal are finally getting started.
St.Christopher Medal will release a new single and video entitled “Wayne Moon Pilot” on February 3rd 2017, and play The Wee Red Bar at Edinburgh College Of Art the same day.
Press Quotes:
“On the form demonstrated by this debut album, St Christopher Medal are a highly melodic and subtly barbed addition to Edinburgh-based label Stereogram’s burgeoning roster of literate pop artists” – **** Is This Music?
“Combining the melodic strengths of Teenage Fanclub with Bruce Springsteens’s heart-on-the-sleeve directness, St. Christopher Medal purvey a Caledonian take on classic Americana” - Sogo Magazine
“The time flies by due to the amazing amount of life and vitality prevalent throughout…wonderfully rousing.” - Pure M Magazine
“This is a very fine record by a very fine band.” – Penny Black Music
“For those who value intelligent songcraft, ‘Sunny Day Machine’ is a subtle and compelling joy that rewards repeated listening.” – 8/10 Louder Than War