HEARING AID

Music at STAR

[standrewsradio]

Canadian duo Nature of Music have come through with an amazing mix brought to us by Thump's Northmix series.  Whether you're situated uncomfortably in the library trying to work, comfortably in your flat celebrating the culmination of revision, or simply looking for some sounds to engage with, be sure to take some time out of your schedule to give this a listen.  Check them out on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/natureofmusic

[standrewsradio]

Wishing everyone all the best during revision period! Put this on before your exam/coursework and we guarantee* you will do well.

[standrewsradio]

The Bronze Medal - Darlings (2014)

Consistently, many Scottish artists somehow manage to make a pleasant soundtrack to melancholy. The Bronze Medal are just one of these, but they bring a unique fusion to the table. Their latest release, ‘Darlings’ is their first studio-length album and follow up to truly outstanding eponymous 2012 EP. It is tempting when listening to it to simply draw up all their seemingly obvious influences: the beautifully sad and soft baritone of The National; the up-beat bedroom synth of the Postal Service; the brass band touchings of Beirut. But in truth they really are something entirely original. The 45-minute jeremiad is delicately and masterfully produced, and commands the maturity of an older band’s third or fourth effort. As an outstanding debut, it deserves far more recognition.

Listen to their new album, "Darlings," in full here:

http://open.spotify.com/album/20QOAdOIVrnTJBBUYBdVX6

[standrewsradio]

Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways (2014)

Over the last three weeks, Saint David Grohl has blessed us with his presence through the only major medium not yet conquered: television. Having contributed significantly to dozens of albums over three decades; presented and produced numerous outstanding radio documentaries and recently released his big-screen debut Sound City, it seems Grohl only needs to sing on broadway - which he probably could - to complete the spectrum. The HBO show entitled Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways is as beautifully filmed as it is fascinating and engaging. Presenting the unique musical culture of a different US city every week, Grohl and his band team up with major players of each metropolis to investigate the impact of that city’s environment, people and politics on its musical output. So far, we have been taken on tours of Chicago, Washington and Nashville, and all have exceeded expectations. Choosing as their points of focus eight cities of magnificent importance in modern music, there is no absence of resource with which to conduct the lessons. Through interviews, personal anecdotes and live footage, the Foo Fighters have taught us much over the first three hours about the geneses of soul in Chicago, punk in D.C., and country in Nashville. If you can see through the striking (albeit deserved) self-aggrandizement of Grohl himself, this show is a welcoming and genuinely exhilarating insight into the extraordinary and diverse cultural heritage of the USA. The potential for a follow-up series further afield is enormous.

Check it out:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0295tgm/foo-fighters-sonic-highways-3-nashville

[standrewsradio]

Whether you're trapped in the library polishing off your deadlines or enjoying some free time having just handed everything in, take a deep breath and enjoy this ethereal mix by Room 303!

[standrewsradio]

OK Go has grown notorious over the years for their innovative music videos, and this one maintains their standard for quality production. As the band chants "I Won't Let You Down," listeners ought to revel in that reassurance. Not only have they not let us down with their stylistic video, but the musicality exudes happiness with their reliably catchy lyrics!

[standrewsradio]

Vampire Weekend's Chris Baio has released a number of solo projects in the past few years, and, as expected, they are all amazing. Here's one he just put up!

[standrewsradio]

Ultramaji's Jimmy Edgar has just released his third EP "Saline" (Earth) as part of a trilogy - the first two being Hot Inside (Fire) and Mercurio (Water).  Watch some cats and visuals take his song and turn it into a holistically transcendental experience.

[standrewsradio]

Having recently erupted across the blogosphere, Fleetmac Wood's ambition to play sets of exclusively Fleetwood Mac songs (originals, remixes, snippets, interviews, etc) continues to prove not only a worthwhile endeavour but also an achievable dance floor concept - they played for "something like six hours" at this year's Burning Man.

[standrewsradio]

"Based in Edinburgh, Messenger Sound System are Scotland's original (and biggest) roots and culture rasta reggae sound system. They have been lighting up city centres with their own custom built bass-heavy rig since 1987, and are passionate about bringing roots reggae rocking onto the dancefloor. They have a regular slot at the Bongo Club in Edinburgh, where they never fail to take the crowd on a musical journey - exploring classic rockers and steppers tracks, as well as fresh dubs from contemporary artists. Couple this with their ongoing relationships with MCing giants such as Afrikan Simba and Earl Sixteen, and you have a potent reggae mix that will leave you somewhere between frantic dancing and meditation!"

One may safely assume that the general student body of St Andrews would not musically default to Reggae; however, Music is Love once again showcased their ability to provide Reggae in an accessible platform which attracted students from all backgrounds. Bolstering inclusivity and accessibility as two of MiL’s major attributes, the student-run society continues their dedication to musical exploration. Last Monday they continued their weekly Open Mic Sessions in Sandy’s Bar, followed by Messenger Soundsystem on the following Friday in Venue 1; encouraging music aficionados of all varieties to partake in their festivities, Music is Love’s “platform” does not derive itself from any concrete structure but rather from an ethos as straight forward as the name professes. As their page proudly proclaims: “Music is Love” began as a collective of individuals passionate about showcasing quality music in what had become a music backwater. The biggest difference between their past and their future relies on one crucial assumption - that “music backwater” exists. As they have continued to grow over the past years, both in numbers and in relevance, they have not only overwhelmed themselves as they continue to outgrow venue after venue, but they have also brought the “music backwater” to the foreground. Realizing the general apathy of musical pursuits within this town, they have rallied as an organization to host events of all shapes and sizes.

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While last year’s Mungo’s Hi-Fi show set a precedent for Music is Love’s ability to host a  Reggae night, it also inappropriately “educated” students on what they were listening to. A common “complaint” on the night was that Messenger Sound System did not have enough Dubstep; students failed to realize that Mungo’s Hi-Fi advocates a Reggae/”Dub” (not Dubstep) sound while Messenger Sound System serves up more organic Reggae, although they sometimes do inject Dub into their sets as well. Perhaps what they meant to say in their dehydrated, dancing haze was that the speakers did not project bass as well as Mungo’s Hi-Fi’s did. In that regard, they were spot on; however, this problem arose not as a result of Messenger’s kit but the ENTS’ strict decibel regulations. Only minutes after they cranked their speakers to roughly twenty percent, Messenger Soundsystem had to turn their system down, and to kill the “noise” they had to strangle the bass. Thus, patrons who stood close to the speakers experienced extremely intrusive high-ends without the same bassy rhythms one might expect from a Reggae night. Fortunately, this slight technical problem did not prevent students from attempting (key word) to dance to the music.

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In the midst of it all, the MC’s reminded the dance floor that they presented “music so good, you’ve gotta play it twice.” The beauty of MiL events in general is that they succeed in striking the balance between quality over quantity in terms of the students who attend; when students come to listen to their music, they rarely complain or question the format with which they are engaging. A perfect example of this stems from their Open Mic series which takes place in Sandy's Bar. This week it hosted a variety of Freshers, many of whom had never performed before a public audience before. The genuine enthusiasm for music that the Music is Love community puts forward enables students to explore music in ways both the veteran committee as well as incoming Freshers had not yet thought to involve themselves.

[standrewsradio]

Brooklyn-based Valerie Teicher, aka Tei Shi, released a stripped down 'loop-ey' version of track "Nevermind the End" from her EP Saudade, for Nylon Studios today.

Additionally, don't forget to check the "No Angel" Beyonce cover she did in August here.

[standrewsradio]

Joseph D'Agostino's Cymbals Eat Guitars are back with their 3rd studio album, and he's not resting on his laurels. Rejuvenating the rhythm section by adding new drummer Andrew Dole, LOSE still maintains that recognisable, Pavement and Built to Spill influenced, lo-fi indie rock which characterised their first two albums, but now shows a more angsty and driven side to the band. 'XR', with it's relentless drumbeat and tub-thumping chorus melding seamlessly with harmonica that Dylan would be proud of, is a great representation of their new direction, and is definitely worth a listen

-Ben Ashbridge

[standrewsradio]

It's hard to believe Lydia Ainsworth's debut album, Right From Real, was only released this week, because a talent like this shouldn't stay hidden for long, and 'Hologram', her first single, is excellent. Her classical influences are clear, yet the delicate intricacies of the song, as well as its electronic element, conjure a dark yet ethereal place to mind, enveloping the listener in a way few would expect. The rest of the album's not to shabby either...

-Ben Ashbridge

[standrewsradio]

Tokimonsta's latest album, Desiderium, dropped this week. Listen to the full thing here:

Tokimonsta – Desiderium

In the mean time, enjoy the video to Realla feat. Anderson Paak

[standrewsradio]

Machinedrum drops new track "Only 1 Way 2 Know" on Ninja Tune Records. Mhmmm.

[standrewsradio]

Though Blonde Redhead continues to evolve and move further away from their original sound, what is consistent is Kazu Makino's endearing yet haunting vocals and brothers Simone and Amedeo's equally engaging parts on drums and guitar (and some vocals). Their latest album, Barragan, out in early September, displays a combination of genial instrumentals and electronic layers. With help from producer Drew Brown comes a beautifully put together album that is worth more than just one listen.

[standrewsradio]

Upcoming Gigs--Sept/Oct 2014

Glasgow Shows: Sept. 27th - Fantastic Mr Fox @ The Arches

Sept. 27th - SBTRKT @ O2 ABC

Oct. 2nd - Manchester Orchestra @ 02 ABC

Oct. 4th - Tycho @ Art School Glasgow

Oct. 6th - Avi Buffale @ Broadcast

Oct. 6th - Ella Eyre @ O2 ABC

Oct. 6th - FKA Twigs @ Òran Mór

Oct. 9th - Sylvan Esso @ Nice n Sleazy

Oct. 9th - Jake Bugg @ Royal Concert Hall

Oct. 13th - Grant Lee Philips @ King Tut's Wah Wah Hut

Oct. 13th - Clean Bandit @ O2 Academy Glasgow