It’s a digital-only version of SNACK Bits this month, which initially made us think we’ve gone all futuristic. Then we realised it just makes us a clunky, chunky Max Headroom – glitchy, but still shouting about new Scottish tunes. You avoid the paper cuts – we deliver the deep cuts and wanna-be hits.
Talking About Ray, a three-piece from Falkirk, mess around with ‘Mess Around’ in a familiar poppy, punky way. It’s clean, the drum kicks hard, and that race to the chorus before it takes off is exactly what you want from a song like this. For those who want something like that, but a bit harder, Dalmatic delivers with ‘Empty Lights’. There’s a touch of anger in the vocals, and the shredding guitars put it at the hardest edge of indie as opposed to careering into hard rock/metal.
And for those who want to venture way beyond that, Sixth Wonder swing from screaming in your face to leaving you swooning in the blink of an eye. They’ll freely admit the Prologue EP is a bit brutal in places, but ‘Thorn’ digs into you while ‘Guts’ is even more frenetic. It won’t be for everyone, but if your clouds are a bit darker this summer, you’ll find solace here. The infectious intro to ‘Ropeburn’ inevitably gives way to something that leaves you feeling a touch tender, but give yourself over and you’ll be swept up completely.
Tidal End return with ‘By Design’, and after the 80s synth opening, you’re struck by how Scottish the band are – and that’s not a bad thing. It’s not trading in stereotypes either, just that commercial pop sensibility that seems to come naturally here. There’s plenty of hooks to make sure that if you hear it, you won’t forget it.
Starksy-Rae’s ‘That’s The Way It Goes’ is a woozy little number with plenty of sax. It stumbles and staggers, but never loses its footing – like a drunken friend who still dances in time. ‘Violent Sun’ by Ali Stott also feels slightly out of place these days, it’s a bit loose, and a bit sun-tinged. You’ll like the strum and guitar licks that lap away at the end of lines, and we might as well stick early 90s Radiohead into your head, because that’s what the song does.
‘New York Man’ by Steven Young has the feel of a Richard Ashcroft solo track that’s been beaten up by Alabama 3. That’s likely to appeal to quite a few folk, and the song’s about Stanley Kubrick, the guy that filmed the moon landings, so plenty to debate here.
Messy Eater also carries that funky, slouching vibe on the Southern Fried EP, with opener ‘Slowcoach’ setting the blissed vibes. We’ve covered this act before, and this is more of the same – it’s unique, but immediately familiar. Quirky, but never for the sake of it, and confident enough to moonwalk when it’s not standing on its own two feet.
Conversely, ‘Stealth’ by JusHarry is aptly named. It’s moody and modest, rapping slowly, but with clear intent. A call to arms for action rather than procrastination, it could be ideal on hot days when you want to lie low but build focus.
Kirsteen Harvey drops Senses, an EP with plenty of likable moments, especially on ‘Days Like Today’. It’s one of those songs you swear you’ve known all your life, with snippets and snatches of much-loved tunes popping into your head. It should be available by the time you read this and it’ll fit around your summer no problem.
The same can be said for fellow late-July release ‘Lucky Kennels’ by PVC. It’s made for sunshine, blistering with cooing backing vocals and a pace that strolls, never runs. If you’re a sucker for melodic twists, you’ll linger around this one. ‘Scarlett’ by The Painting also has lofty ambitions, keen to be pop built for stadiums. It perhaps needs more of a kick to soar, but you can’t argue with the scale of the track as it washes over you.
Hopefully the Scottish summer lasts long enough for us to get the full benefit of ‘Wipe Out’, the latest track from the Hen Hoose collective. There are glorious lilts and pleasing shifts in the melodies (led by MALKA), but as you’d expect, there’s an army of performers making this a truly delightful turn.
Ray Aggs’ violin never fails to twist a track in the best way, and Inge Thomson sprinkles vibrant sonic bursts throughout. It bodes well for next year’s album – but don’t wish your life away. Lie back and let this wash over you now.
Post Coal Prom Queen have been shinier than they are on ‘The World Accumulates’, but they’re none the worse for it. This one’s measured, deliberate, and the ideal platform for Lily Higham to intone over the top, giving us that iron-fist-in-a-velvet-glove feel pop fans love. Yes, there’s a trip-hop shimmer to it, but more than that, it’s a song that seeps into you – if you give it permission to.
And just when you think we’re coasting to the end, Plasticine return, to remind us that some modern bands still carry ambition and dreams of something bigger. ‘Hopeless in Love’ is big – in lyrical analysis, in vocal delivery, and in its sweeping outlook. Summer Skye knows how to build to a chorus and cut you to your knees when she gets there.
Musically, it’s all about tension and release, biding its time until a nod or wink sends everything skyward. Lights, fireworks, and that rare feeling that maybe, just maybe, there’s something bigger than us after all.
Now, there’s no shortage of songs about summer lovin’ (we’ll tell you more, tell you more) but what about break-ups? If you’re having a rubbish time because your love life is off-track, HÜSH have dropped ‘Drift and Decay’ just for you. It’s like just having your best friend around: they’ll put an arm around you, they’ll call the wrong ‘uns out, and then they’ll have you punching the air in belief before the end. No matter what you’re going through, don’t waste the summer; get outside and enjoy the fresh air!
We love a call-back at SNACK Bits, and we’re pleased to say Annie Booth didn’t let us down. We trailed new EP The Brace last month with the lead track, ‘Spring Hands’, which we loved, and there’s more that gets us nodding here. ‘Ivar Imagined’ is a pleasant strumalong, complete with adorable drum-fills. This too appears to be a collection telling us about the end of a relationship, but if we can’t indulge in summertime sadness, we’ve lost track of ourselves.
And that’ll do us. We’ll likely be back in this format next month, so if you fancy hanging out, you know where we’ll be.
SNACK Bits is brought to you each month by Andy Reilly.
