Listen here or use the player on the right, though I’d love you to subscribe !

Lots of different things in this week’s Three From Leith – vocals recorded with the help of the SE Reflexions Filter (aka The Beast), an advert which isn’t all that it seems to be and some soul from a member of the family. I don’t think I’ve quite managed to get the settings right on my audio processor to cope with the changes brought about by the filter – hopefully the quality’s not bad enough to spoil your enjoyment of my ramblings !

Have a listen and see what this all means….

Jette-Ives – E
Jette-Ives is the amalgamation of writer/singer Jette Kelly (my new chocolate-eating friend and diet guru !!) and composer/producer Holmes Ives. The duo was introduced at a party in 2005 by a mutual friend who predicted an explosive collaboration. He was right. This is a track from their debut album, ‘In The Deep’, which will be released early in 2007. Keep your eyes on their website for details.
Jette-Ives’ MySpace
Email Jette-Ives

Lauran Gangl-Plant / The GangBangs UK – Swell
Now even as a qualified linguist I had trouble pinning Lauran’s accent down, though I knew she was Scots. It turns out that she is Glasgow born, moved to St Andrews until she was nine and then variously in the British Virgin Islands, Mecca, Memphis, Aix en Provence, Miami, NYC, Paris, Puerto Rico & LA. She’s sung with the Paris Opera Company, Robert Plant, Rod Stewart, Lou Reed, Julio Iglesias and Belinda Carlisle. Phew ! She’s engaged to Robert Plant’s nephew (uncle-in-law is singing backing vocals on this track !), though as you heard she loves me and informs me that the opening instrument is a Pipa and not a banjo as I thought !! A wonderfully friendly lady and a wonderfully upbeat and summery song. Go buy the Swell album here, or get The GangBangs UK on iTunes.
Lauran / The GangBangs UK’s MySpace
Email Lauran / The GangBangs UK

Ron Joseph – A Change Is Gonna Come
The Soul Man of Bourbon Street – my brother-in-law is an amazing showman, singer and drummer from New Orleans. If you’ve ever been on a Carnival Cruise, you might have experienced one of his incredible shows. He’s a born entertainer and really HAS to be seen live, working the crowds. A star !
Ron can be contacted via Three From Leith

The soundbed was ‘Flying Home’ by Charlie North.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
The Electrical Language Podcast – my good friend Gabor’s parents fled Hungary 50 years ago during the revolution and came to England. This week’s very personal podcast talks about this black period in history and plays Hungarian artists. A must-listen and a fine example of what podcasting is all about.
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – November issue out soon !

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2006 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

Technorati Tags: SE Reflexions Filter, Jette-Ives, Lauran Gangl-Plant, The GangBangs UK, Ron Joseph, Charlie North, Three From Leith, computermusictutorials, The Electrical Language Podcast, AMP’ed, podcast, podcastusermagazine

The sampler podcast for Podcast User Magazine is now available – listen to what’s on offer in the upcoming issue !

www.podcastusermagazine.com for your free copy of the magazine.

Listen here or use the player on the right, though I’d love you to subscribe !

I knew it, I really knew it. Me joking about superstition and getting all smug again about at lack of visits from the Flat Tyre Fairy the other week was just tempting fate a little too much. I got one coming home on Friday with five miles still to go, requiring me to remove the back wheel and replace the tube by the side of the cyclepath. This meant I was even less organised when I sat down to record that night, yet from a position of having no music lined up I ended up with a playlist that I was really pleased with. See if you agree.

Isa & The Filthy Tongues – How Many Days
Originally sent to me earlier in the year by their label, the excellent Circular Records, this is a wonderfully raw yet restrained track from their Addiction CD. You can buy it now from Circular Records, or from CDBaby in the US.
Isa & The Filthy Tongues’ MySpace
Email Isa & The Filthy Tongues

Nick & Gerald – Clear Air Turbulence (Redux)

A wonderful, atmospheric track that’s been getting a fair amount of play in podcasting circles recently from the excellent Nick & Gerald. As a Mike Oldfield fan from an early age, Gerald’s guitar work is subtly influenced yet a delight to those who appreciate it. Their new album, Anomaly, is available to buy here now, or for download from iTunes.
Nick & Gerald’s MySpace
Email Nick & Gerald

Hobotalk – Me & My Mountain
A small world. An old upstairs neighbour of mine is the keyboard player in the sublime, gentle Hobotalk. Little did I know back then that our paths would cross again like this years later. Another winner on the Circular Records label, which is available to buy here.
Hobotalk don’t appear to have a MySpace 🙁
Email Hobotalk

The soundbed was ‘Transparency Of Freedom’ by Aeryal.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
Well Made Music – a new podcast playing podsafe ambient, electronic and lounge music from around the world hosted by a fellow Scot name Neil. If you enjoy my soundbeds, chances are you’ll love this. Show 4 is now out !
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – November issue out soon !

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2006 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

Technorati Tags: Circular Records, Isa & The Filthy Tongues, Nick & Gerald, Mike Oldfield, Hobotalk, Aeryal, Three From Leith, computermusictutorials, Well Made Music, AMP’ed, podcast, podcastusermagazine

Listen here or use the player on the right, though I’d love you to subscribe !

I’m not a superstitious person, so even though this show was recorded on Friday 13th I wasn’t scared that anything might go wrong ! My only ‘superstition’ is to never mention the ‘p’ word (as in flat tyre) because I seem to tempt fate every time I do. I made it to and from work on my bike with no mishaps on the day, though I scared the living daylights out of an early morning jogger who displayed latter of the classic “fight, flight or funky” response by doing a hilarious, arms-straight-up-in-the-air, hand-waving, wide-mouthed dance on the spot…. Joggers in the dark wearing dark clothing and listening to iPods really need to be more aware of their surroundings and be more careful.

Phideaux – Little Monster
In honour of the fact that the show was recorded on Friday the 13th, and because there’ll be a TFL interview special with Phideaux talking about his new album ‘The Great Leap‘ soon, I decided to indulge in a relevant track from ‘Fiendish’.
Phideaux’s MySpace
Email Phideaux

The Winston Giles Orchestra – We Wait For Sunrise
After hearing this track on the Well Made Music podcast and feeling very uplifted and upbeat by the time it ended, I knew I had to share the good feelings with my own audience. A great track, with some lovely poetic lines from Australia. Get their new album here if you like what you heard !
The Winston Giles Orchestra’s MySpace
Email The Winston Giles Orchestra

Under Electric Light – Night Out
Another classic 80’s-tinged, New Order-ish slice of synth-pop from TFL’s good friends in Canada, Danny and Matthieu. Taken from their new Blue EP, which you buy via the link on their MySpace page.
Under Electric Light’s MySpace
Email UELThe soundbed was ‘Voix Complicite’ by Nick & Gerald.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
Well Made Music – a new podcast playing podsafe ambient, electronic and lounge music from around the world hosted by a fellow Scot name Neil. If you enjoy my soundbeds, chances are you’ll love this. Try it today – it’s now one of my faves !
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – October issue out NOW !

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2006 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

Technorati Tags: Phideaux, The Winston Giles Orchestra, Under Electric Light, Nick & Gerald, Three From Leith, computermusictutorials, Well Made Music, AMP’ed, podcast, podcastusermagazine

The Stereomovers have just let me know that their debut EP is now available on iTunes.

Follow this link:

Listen here or use the player on the right, though I’d love you to subscribe !
Recorded in the presence of my very weary legs last Friday, I’m maybe a bit shorter on the usual waffle as I was desperate to go and get my feet up and recover ! One of the lines from the opening song seemed like a suitable title and note of thanks to my wonderful thighs (where on earth is this leading, you may ask ?) in as much as they’d powered me to and from work for four straight days, over 80 miles, against a quite stiff wind and a rapidly tiring body due to lack of sleep !

Stereomovers – Ozean
A sublime, 80’s-tinged piece of pop-rock-electronica from the enigmatic Stereomovers. Whilst they don’t say much about themselves on their site, you can find out more about their everyday lives and adventures at the Stereoblog.
Stereomovers’ MySpace
Email the Stereomovers via their MySpace page

The Kazoo Funk Orchestra – Baby You’ve No Eyes
Madness, Kazoos and catchiness abound in this cross-continent collaboration. If you like the cut of their musical jib, then you’ll find this track and much more of the same on their Midnight Finger Painter CD, all for the princely sum of £3.
The KFO’s MySpace
Email The KFO

The Briganties – The Girl Heaven Sold
Infused with hints of Oasis, The Verve and other bands of their ilk, The Briganties have been receiving airplay on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio Newcastle and other stations. You can see why when you listen to their sound.
The Briganties’ MySpace
Email The Briganties via their MySpace page

The soundbed was ‘We Are Like Crystal’ by Aeryal.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
Well Made Music – a new podcast playing podsafe ambient, electronic and lounge music from around the world hosted by a fellow Scot name Neil. If you enjoy my soundbeds, chances are you’ll love this. Try it today – it’s now one of my faves !
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – October issue out NOW !

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2006 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

Technorati Tags: Stereomovers, The Kazoo Funk Orchestra, The Briganties, Aeryal, Three From Leith, computermusictutorials, Well Made Music, AMP’ed, podcast, podcastusermagazine

Listen here or use the player on the right, though I’d love you to subscribe !

This is one of those shows that’s been a very, very long time in the making. Two of the tracks have been spinning around my iRiver since 2004/2005, waiting for the right time and the right musical company before they were allowed to make their grand entrance upon the TFL stage.

Well, that time has arrived at long last – well overdue, but well deserved. The tracks you’re about to hear are quirky, weird, strange, off-the-wall, avant-garde, wonky and plain wonderful. Saddle up your sense of humour and get ready for the smile-along ride.

Tally Hall – Banana Man
Quite simply the most catchy tune I’ve ever heard; it’s still going through my head at innoportue moments two years after first hearing it. Anyone who I’ve played it to will testifty that this tune hardwires itself permanently into your neural pathways. There’s also a brilliant self-made video by the band to accompany it. Buy Tally Hall’s album ‘Marvin’s Marvellous Mechanical Museum here.
Tally Hall’s MySpace
Email Tally Hall

Bobtail Yearlings – Willy Cocoa
Just how wrong could I ever be with first impressions ? I didn’t think much of this on the first listen, but a few more confirmed that this is a fine piece of strange poppy folk with weird sped-up voices. Another one that works its way into your consciousness and won;t let go. If you want more, then the band has an 18-track CD available for $11.99. Oh, and Willy Cocoa (for the Scots out there) is not the powdered, sprinkle-on chocolate equivalent of edible underwear, the candy bra or chocolate boobs, OK ?
Bobtail Yearlings’ MySpace
Email Bobtail Yearlings

The Martians – Heaven
First played to me by Ewan Spence of The Podcast Network whilst waiting in Leith FM’s studios for his Fringe Podcast guest to arrive. A true piece of art, especially for lovers of Dr Who and Star Trek by the Edinburgh funsters.
The Martians don’t appear to have a MySpace page
Contact The Martians here or via Ewan Spence

Thumpermonkey – Hitchhikers Might Be Escaping Inmates
Creepy yet quirky, Michael Woodman and the boys will delight and scare you at the same time. This track was taken from their ‘Pigheart’ album, which you can find for sale here along with their other work. Another track which has been too long in coming to Three From Leith – thanks for holding on, Michael !
Thumpermonkey’s MySpace
Email Thumpermonkey

The soundbed was ‘Future Tense’ by Torchomatic.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
Quack Media – Al McWilliams gave me permission sooooo long ago to play Tally Hall. Thanks for putting up with the shamefully long wait, Al.
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – October issue out NOW !

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2006 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

Technorati Tags: Tally Hall, Bobtail Yearlings, The Martians, Thumpermonkey, Torchomatic, Three From Leith, computermusictutorials, Quack Media, AMP’ed, podcast, podcastusermagazine