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The UK is experiencing some unseasonably warm weather at the moment, so there really is – in the words of the Proclaimers – ‘Sunshine On Leith’ this week. I even witnessed Andy Tucker of the Dead Beat Club wearing sandals at a gig in a bar round the corner on Wednesday night, and it’s still only April !! I had to keep reminding myself of this fact as I sat in my parents’ back garden on Saturday, in the sun, sipping a cold beer and eating Jasna’s ‘picnic’ food (crisps, nuts & Bombay Mix) as the bees buzzed around the flowers which were in full bloom. You might like to slip outside if it’s warm where you are, sit back in the sun and turn the volume up for a cracking summer rock soundtrack consisting of:

Five Star Iris – Let It All Out
A comment I frequently make when Jasna breaks wind (which is often !), and this track really ‘lets rip’ to kick the podcast off in great style. Oh dear. What awful puns for such fantastic music. Lighten your wallet by making a trip to the band’s shop and ordering your copy of their self-titled album on their shop page.
Five Star Iris’s MySpace
Email Five Star Iris

Other Name – We Watched You Walk In
Enigmatic and light on bio info, yet heavy on the song quality, Other Name (aka RUOK) bring top music in the facefirstonlinoelumsayingtherightthingsactingthewrongwaycoldsweatfreezer burnskinnydippininwhiskeywavesetc vein (their long word, not mine !)
Other Name’s MySpace
Email Other Name

Starcode – Cold & Freezing / More Time
Brought to my attention by a label in Burbank, CA, whose boss and I got into discussions on Leith history ! I love the weird twists and turns these new contacts make and the side-roads we veer off down. It’s great fun ! A fantastic band, and I hope to bring you more soon. If you like what you heard, then go to CDBaby and buy their album, ‘Hum’. Alternatively, grab it on iTunes
Starcode’s MySpace
Email Starcode

The soundbed was ‘English Man’ by Keenan.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

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Big props given out to:
Digital Music Marketing – Mick Wainman, possessor of new Leith historical knowledge !
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – December issue out now !

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2007 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

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The Easter Holiday – a fine time to give the bike its first anniversary service, after almost 2000 miles of happy cycle commuting. A fine time to find out that there are various worn parts that need replacing, and a fine time to strain your back trying to undo very tight bolts and components ! I’m afraid I do go on at length about this in the show, so be warned.. Nevertheless, there’s some damn fine music once more to more than amply compensate you for listening to my twaddle !

“Love Again”
from “The Cage”
by Dirt Poor Robins
Astonish Entertainment

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• Buy at RealNetworks / Rhapsody
• Stream from RealNetworks / Rhapsody

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“Plane That Draws a White Line”
from “Plane That Draws A White Line”
by Alias & Tarsier
anticon

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• Stream from RealNetworks / Rhapsody

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“Love Crash Heal”
from “Love Crash Heal”
by Soular
Astonish Entertainment

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• Stream from RealNetworks / Rhapsody

More On This Album

“Over You”
from “Time and Space”
by Soular
Astonish Entertainment

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• Stream from RealNetworks / Rhapsody

More On This Album

This week’s Scottish Expression is from the film, ‘Local Hero’ by Bill Forsyth.

The soundbed was ‘SadSequence_Part1-2(edited)’ by Fumitaka Anzai.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

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Big props given out to:
Chain Reaction Cycles – and especially staff member Wayne, for exceptional customer service.
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – April issue out now !

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2007 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

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Recorded on my 18th birthday (oh, all right – it was really my 39th) after a nice lunch and filled with the joys of delicious food, a fine bottle of wine and the first signs of what has become a delightfully awful cold, you can clearly hear the effects of the last two items listed ! Nonetheless, despite being a tad silly at times, I still managed to put together a show with a distinctively local feel to it as my little birthday treat. Let’s hear it for another year in the company of:

Dropkick – Last To Know / Only For Yourself
Despite Mr Pervert moving home to get as far away from TFL Towers as possible, I was still able to track him down via the magical abilities of t’internet. He was therefore forced to tell me that Dropkick’s new album “Turning Circles” will be released on April 20th and that you can pre-order it via their website, and also buy it after the 20th on many, many music sites. I promised not to tell the world about him, the monkey, the suspender belt and the axle grease if he sent me some tracks to play. So now I won’t. Thanks, Alastair !
Dropkick’s MySpace
Email Dropkick

Frantic Chant – Headlong
Continuing in their single-word-title TFL submission tradition comes this new track from Leith’s own radge indie rockers Frantic Chant. If you’d like more, there’s plenty on their £7 “Songs Ya Bass” album, which you’ll find a link to on their MySpace page.
Frantic Chant’s MySpace
Email Frantic Chant

To The Rescue – Turn The Lights Down
The first studio track from To The Rescue to appear on Three From Leith, and it’s brill !! From the tinkly beginning to the roaring guitars, it’s great to hear the results of their first studio session under the wizard knob-twiddling (oooer missus !!) of Stephen Watkins, frontman of TFL veterans ‘The Acute’. I think I may have vaguely mentioned that Jon’s music shop in Leith is called Gig Supplies.. and it’s there that you’ll get your hands on their single.
To The Rescue’s MySpace
Email To The Rescue

The soundbed was ‘Voix Complicite’ by Nick and Gerald.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

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Big props given out to:
Gig Supplies – purveyors of the finest musical instruments and services to bands and musicians in the whole of the Leith.
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – April issue out now, featuring my article on shownotes and also with my name and TFL’s name being bandied about liberally throughout other articles !

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2007 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

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Back on track again, it’s time for a bit of waffle and a lot of spankingly good independent music for your lug-holes. Some French, some English and some Scots – it’s half of the Six Nations already ! Banish the fact that the Scots got the wooden spoon and fill your head with this little lot…

A Singer Must Die – The Crash
Coming next month on friend of TFL Steve Adey’s Grand Harmonium Records, this French duo’s track has me really excited about getting my sweaty paws on the full CD.
A Singer Must Die’s MySpace
Email A Singer Must Die via their MySpace page

Robin Tymm – Neighbourhood Down
Another outing on TFL from the frankly excellent Robin. Top singer / songwriter and top shy performer ! Get your hands on his music here.
Robin Tymm’s MySpace
Email Robin Tymm

The State Broadcasters – Archaeological Dig / South Pole Stag Night
On yet another spot-on recommendation all the way from Marilyn in LA for a Scottish band in Glasgow (thanks again, Marilyn !), here’s a tasty serving of Americana with Scottish sensibilities and humour. Their EP can be found to buy here.
The State Broadcasters’ MySpace
Email The State Broadcasters

This week’s Scottish Expression is: fu’ as a puggy

The soundbed was ‘SadSequence_Part1-2(edited)’ by Fumitaka Anzai.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

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Big props given out to:
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – March issue out now – April coming soon !

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2007 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

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I’ve just found out from my good friend Rob (Top Of The Pods) that he suggested Three From Leith as a show for reviewing in Podshow’s Podfinder UK video podcast. Rob works for them you see, so its good to have friends in the right places 😉

I’m on right at the end; click on the icon below to load it up !

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Not a reference to the good old days of corporal punishment at school (bring it back I say, and put some fear back into the consequences of misbehaviour amongst kids these days !), but a nod to the six great tracks I bring your way this week. Strapped for time after falling asleep when I should have been recording means that this week you get much more entertainment and the artists get double the exposure. I’ve made two CD purchases out of three so far from this week’s artists – will they excite you so much and cause you to rush for your wallets ? Time to find out.

What SNL Stands For from “Routine”
by Don Lennon
Martin Philip Associates

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
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Our Bodies from “Radical”
by Don Lennon
Martin Philip Associates

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
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• Buy at Napster

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“New Direction / Greycoated Morning”
from “Until The Sadness Is Gone”
by David & the Citizens
Friendly Fire Recordings

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
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• Buy at Napster

More On This Album

Thursday from “Citrus”
by Asobi Seksu
Friendly Fire Recordings

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
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• Stream from RealNetworks / Rhapsody
• Buy at Napster
• Buy at RealNetworks / Rhapsody
• Buy at GroupieTunes
• Buy at Insound

More On This Album

I’m Happy But You Don’t Like Me
from “Asobi Seksu”
by Asobi Seksu
Friendly Fire Recordings

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at eMusic
• Stream from RealNetworks / Rhapsody
• Buy at Napster
• Buy at RealNetworks / Rhapsody
• Buy at GroupieTunes
• Buy at Insound

More On This Album

Scottish Expression will return next week.
The soundbeds were ‘Perpetual Moves’ and ‘Ice Palace’ by Aeryal.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

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Big props given out to:
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – March issue out now – April coming soon !

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2007 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

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As some of you may know, I work in IT as developer. Since the end of 2006, I’ve been working as the sole web developer on a project at work which has involved lots of Java, XML and XSL (when I say ‘web’, I don’t mean building web pages or web sites – I mean doing the Java coding behind apps which usually have a web front-end). Time has been flying past, and it’s now just a month until the whole thing goes live. At this stage, I’m supporting the user acceptance testing and this goes some way to explaining my musical choices this week. Look closely at the titles – they’re all phrases or buzzwords used often during my working day at the moment ! If only I was allowed to listen to music as I worked, things would be so much more enjoyable…

Stainless – Break The Code
A nifty opener from this Danish band. The title’s something that the users try to do when testing, but hopefully I’ve built robust-enough code which can withstand their best efforts ! Buy the band’s “Two Faces” album here.
Stainless’ MySpace
Email Stainless

Yotokyo – Talk It Out
From the warmth of California comes this powerful stomper from Yotokyo. If we come across a problem which there’s some difficulty resolving, the cross-platform development team will get together to do this. Buy the band’s album on CDBaby.
Yotokyo’s MySpace
Email Yotokyo via their MySpace page

Id Guinness – Down To This / Negative
“It all comes down to this…” is a phrase that’s bandied about a lot; usually when someone’s trying to get their own way. If someone else contradicts them, then they’re being the title of Id’s second song. Pre-order the album or buy some individual tracks here. You won’t regret it and you’ll get all of the finished tracks sent to you by email as they’re ready (and quite a number are).
Id Guinness’s MySpace
Email Id Guinness

This week’s Scottish Expression is ‘bowfin’.

The soundbed was ‘Jade Garden (Instrumental Version)’ by Id Guinness.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

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Big props given out to:
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – March issue out now !

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2007 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

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It’s very hard when you’re given a stark reminder that life doesn’t go on forever, especially when you’ve not spoken to the person who’s gone for a number of years. One of those things you always say – “I’ll get back in touch with him sometime soon – it’ll be great to see what’s happened in the missing years !”. Then one day you find out you’ve left it too late. Even harder to comprehend is how someone so full of laughter and life could – in the time since you last spoke – have sunk to bottom of the deepest, blackest pit which they feel there’s only one escape from ? This one’s for Garry – forever sheltered from life’s storm.

Steve Adey – Shelter From The Storm
A melancholic yet emotionally strong cover of a Bob Dylan song from Steve which you’ll find on his “All Things Real” album.
Steve Adey’s MySpace
Email Steve Adey

Reach out to those you have left behind over the years. Let them know you care.

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Sometimes I just feel like putting a show together which is a blatant plug for great bands who, over time, have become great friends and supporters of Three From Leith. I do this for a reason though, and this time it’s because one has a great single out, one has one coming out and two of the three are playing a gig together ! Following me so far ? Good. Let’s just get stuck in…

eddyfink – Immuno
Cooler than a cucumber who’s gone skinnydipping in the Antarctic and a firm favourite here in TFL Towers for their incredibly catchy blend of rock and lyrical social commentary, eddyfink are a joy to hear and this is their new single which came out a few weeks ago. Grab it on iTunes or rush and see if there are any limited edition signed Cds left. Even if there aren’t and you like your physical copies of a band’s music, there’ll be some standard CDs
eddyfink’s MySpace
Email eddyfink

The Scottish Enlightenment – Eyes
How can you not like a band with such a great historical name ?! The original reason for this plugging show, they’re releasing this track as their new single on the 16th April (see their site for details) as well as playing a gig at Cabaret Voltaire in Edinburgh this Friday (2nd March) with Callel (see below). If you can’t wait until April, you could always rush over to moojuice records and buy their album, Volo Ut Sis !
The Scottish Enlightenment’s MySpace
Email The Scottish Enlightenment

Callel – The Garden Grows / Our Final Eight
Lovely, lovely, sparkly and refreshing stuff from Callel. Another of those bands who fell victim to my shamefully appalling memory after I forgot I was going to play them back in July 2006. Poor lads thought it was because I didn’t like them. Far from it – as David from moojuice says, they sound very different from anyone else in Scotland at the moment, and I agree totally. They’re headlining the Cabaret Voltaire gig on Friday 2nd, with The Scottish Enlightenment and The Debuts. All for £4 – incredible !
Callel’s MySpace
Email Callel

This week’s Scottish Expression is ‘toley’.

The soundbed was ‘Equinoxal’ by Incidental Fusion.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

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Big props given out to:
Tea With Hungry Lucy – for all of their love and plugging of TFL and TMIAP, and for sending Jasna and I some virtual snow.
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – February issue out now, and March issue imminent !

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2007 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

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There’s always something quite comforting about the sound of an acoustic guitar, and more specifically the tones of a steel-strung. Perhaps it’s because I associate it with younger, more innocent times when I began learning guitar by ear on an old thing my Grandad salvaged on his rounds driving the ‘Bucket Motor’ (Scots for the ‘garbage truck’). It all started with copying the opening tracks from Mike Oldfield’s “Platinum” LP…. So it was something of a delight when I received a number of tracks which were either totally acoustic or centred round an acoustic, as it meant I was able to put together a show which features this instrument I hold dear in my heart.

Steve Adey – Find The Way
This is biased slightly towards the piano, but there’s some sumptious strumming and sustained chords in here. A stunningly haunting, emotional track from Edinburgh-based Brummie ex-pay Steve – listen to this on a good pair of headphones with the lights down to really appreciate it, and afterwards go and place your order for a physical album or an iTunes download here.
Steve Adey’s MySpace
Email Steve Adey

Larry Guild – Morning Sun / Mrs Hook’s Brook
A Scottish singer-songwriter-guitarist in the finest traditional sense of the word, with some lovely fingerpicking, melodies and classic lyrics of violence, blasphemy and romance. With an appearance on BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Travelling Folk’ under his belt, Larry will be crossing the pond in October this year to play at the Windstar Festival in Aspen, Colorado. There’s a link on Larry’s MySpace to buy his previous CD – the tracks I played are from his ‘Juneau’s Interlude’ CD, which is a pre-cursor to a full-band recording that he hopes to release in the Autumn.
Larry Guild’s MySpace
Email Larry Guild via his MySpace

Roartrax – Everyone’s Iraq
Fine social commentary on the current situation from New Zealand’s Roartrax – the gentle melodies in stark contrast to the situation in Iraq. Both of the tracks I played tonight are available to download from the Roartrax MySpace page, so if you download them do remember and drop the man a note and tell him you liked them !
Roartrax’s MySpace
Email Roartrax via his MySpace page

This week’s Scottish Expression is: ‘the dry boak’

The soundbed was ‘Jacaranda Snow’ by Roartrax.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

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Big props given out to:
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – February issue out now and March coming soon !

Thank you for continuing to support the independent artists in 2007 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

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