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

I’m afraid that family commitments once again mean that this week’s show is slightly lighter on the chat, and consequently a little shorter than usual. Think of this situation as a pre-Christmas treat before I hit my stride on the Christmas show, fuelled by mulled wine and an overwhelming sense of demob-happiness. Come that time you’ll probably be wishing that I was a bit less waffly and a bit quieter ! In the meantime, enjoy the return of a recent favourite and two newcomers to Three From Leith !

Stereomovers – Love Is
The return of the Stereomovers, buoyed by the reaction of the podcasting community to their excellent music. Another excellent track from their debut EP, Stereomovers, which you can treat yourself to for the princely sum of roughly £3.70 on iTunes (depending on the exchange rate).
Stereomovers’ MySpace
Email the Stereomovers via MySpace

Au4 – Hit and Miss
Another track which was brought to my attention on the wonderful Well Made Music podcast, hosted by Neil and created about a mile and a half along the road from the TFL studios. Bands which can create these soaring, haunting, layered choral vocals are a rare treat – when I find them (like gold at the end of a rainbow), it’s real treasure. Grab some more gold from them here on CDBaby or Tower Records, or download via their site.
Au4’s MySpace
Email Au4

Seagull Strange – Sullas Return
A band who emailed me out of the blue with the request that anyone could forward on this free track to friends, family and acquaintances to help spread the word, Seagull Strange ride the sea breezes with a great hook and an instantly memorable melody. Posing in a smart bar for their publicity pic just adds to their classiness.
Seagull Strange’s MySpace
Email Seagull Strange

The soundbed was ‘Creamy Kittens’ by Ultra Deep Field.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Want to record a Christmas greeting for the show ? Click on the logo below !

Big props given out to:
The Sonic Spotlight – War-N and Christa from Hungry Lucy expand their interview podcast into a music show playing the bands they admire and often talk about on Tea With Hungry Lucy’s ‘OPM’ slot.
Old Wave Radio – New 80s Music – Step back in time whilst listening to new bands who sound like they’ve just emerged from an 80s time warp. An infrequent but excellent podcast from Dan ‘Bitterest Pill’ Klass.
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 2006 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

Technorati Tags: Ultra Deep Field, Three From Leith, computermusictutorials, The Sonic Spotlight, Old Wave Radio – New 80s Music, AMP’ed, podcast, podcastusermagazine

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

Much less talk this week due to family commitments, and very different shownotes as I’m playing tracks from the Ioda Promonet (hence the terrible pun in the show title). Very helpfully of them, they generate shownote data for podcasters – fantastic for me this week being very pushed for time.

It’s a very rock-filled show this week in contrast to the milder shows of the last few weeks – enjoy it and do let me know what you though of it via the shownotes or email.

“World At War”
from “New Dark Age Parade”
by Subhumans (Canada)
G7 Welcoming Committee Records

• Buy at iTunes Music Store

“Davy Jones”
from “The Veil”
by Echo Helstrom
MAH Records

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at eMusic

“Down To No. County”
from “Nicknames And Natives”
by The Antiques
Banter Records

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at eMusic

“The Church of Seduction”
from “The Frauds”
by The Frauds
High Wire Music

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

The soundbed was:
“Um, Circles and Squares”
from “The Lost Take”
by Dosh
anticon

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

Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
The Banburyshire Brolly – from the site of everything Banburyshire comes this podcast, which gave TFL an honourable mention recently.
The Electrical Language Podcast – Gabor’s first anniverary podcast is almost upon him !! The more of you I refer, the more money he owes me 😉 Drop him a note or send him an audio comment and tell him what your favourite track was from the last twelve months of TELP, and he’ll play it again just for you ! Keep my bribe money rolling in !!!
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 2006 by listening, feeding back and buying their music.

Technorati Tags: Three From Leith, computermusictutorials, The Banburyshire Brolly, The Electrical Language Podcast, AMP’ed, podcast, podcastusermagazine

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

Another week has passed, the highpoint of which was a wonderful meetup with my friend / Three From Leith listener / Podcast User Magazine editor Linda who kindly flew up from London after PodcastConUK on the 19th to spend the day with me. We had a great day, I was filled in with the goings-on at PCCUK, we blethered, we ate and Alastair from Dropkick and I made Linda try Irn Bru. It must have been a hit – the can’s now back in Philadelphia !

This week’s show came about through my observation that Blind Divine had a Kate Bush-ness about Paula’s vocals; after that I went through my collection and the web to find Kate-ness to bring you. Enjoy the results.

Blind Divine – Something Magical
Impressed by last week’s track, I just had to play another from the 3-CD box-set, ‘Melancholia’, which the band very kindly sent me over. This is the opening track from their 2005 release, ‘Devouring The Beautiful’, and beautiful is the word I’d use to describe it. Snap a CD up for Christmas here.
Blind Divine’s MySpace
Email Blind Divine

Lindsay Sugden – In This Life
Intelligent, talented multi-instrumentalist and singer with a hauntingly sensual voice, it’s Lindsay from Chocyamo and Flowers for Algernon. The e-bowed guitar lines in here make me just want to melt; I don’t know why, but they just do. Magical ! Buy the ‘When Lightening Strikes’ EP by clicking the PayPal logo here.
Lindsay’s MySpace
Email Lindsay

Alice Marie – Lipstick Diaries
Life-coach and sensual songstress Alice Marie’s song was hauntingly familiar, especially when I remembered it as ‘the dodgy stomach song’. You’ll hear why in the show; needless to say it’s a bit light-hearted and possibly slightly disrespectful to such an amazing song. Listen out for the vocal and guitar solo interplay at the end. It sends shivers up my spine; I love the emotional and physiological effects that great music can have on me. Buy the music here.
Alice Marie’s MySpace
Email Alice Marie

The soundbed was ‘Sad Sequence Part3 (edited)’ by Fumitaka Anzai.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
The Podcast Of Pointless Singing – top-class silliness as people submit those daft little tunes sing to themselves without realising.
The Electrical Language Podcast – Gabor’s first anniverary podcast is almost upon him !! The more of you I refer, the more money he owes me 😉 Drop him a note or send him an audio comment and tell him what your favourite track was from the last twelve months of TELP, and he’ll play it again just for you ! Keep my bribe money rolling in !!!
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – November issue out now & December issue out soon !

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

Technorati Tags: Leith, Blind Divine, Lindsay Sugden, Chocyamo, Flowers for Algernon, Alice Marie, Fumitaka Anzai, Three From Leith, computermusictutorials, The Podcast Of Pointless Singing, The Electrical Language Podcast, AMP’ed, podcast, podcastusermagazine

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

We had a lovely summer, and a very mild start to the autumn / winter here in sunny Leith. Every week since I can remember I’ve recorded the show whilst wearing slouch pants and a t-shirt, feeling warm and clean after my post-cycle shower and slumming about as the weekend began. This week there was a marked change – the TFL studio was really quite cold and my feet were like two blocks of ice, so the heating had to be turned back on again. Next week I’ll have to podcast wearing a warm fleece and proper legwear, and the usual recording garb will be put in storage until the warmth returns in the summer of 2007 ! Yes, as I said last week, time is really flying by….

Stephanie’s Id – Unmistakably Love
Bask in the warm glow of this beautiful song by the lovely Stephanie’s Id. It has hints of summer romance and a cheery hummability that will leave you clamouring for more. Huge thanks to Stephanie for getting the track to me, and hearty congratulations for her recent marriage to Chuck. If you’d like to hear more and buy their music, download them from iTunes or take a trip here for the phtsical CDs !
Stephanie’s Id’s MySpace
Email Stephanie’s Id via their MySpace page

Ledenhed – Same
Transplanted Canadian Ledenhed dropped me an email telling me about himself and pointing me to his music on the PMN. I clicked the link and really enjoyed what I heard; so much so that he instantly joined the tracklisting for this week’s show ! Psych-pop at its best, this track stood straight out and it’s a cracking winner. See if you agree. If you do, go and tell him so and vote with your wallet as you pick up his work.
Ledenhed’s MySpace
Email Ledenhed

Blind Divine – Find The Cure
Another last-minute approach from a band which led to me being so impressed that it was dropped into this week’s show, especially since it fitted the vibe so well. It was almost as if it was always meant to be here. To my ear a lovely melting-pot of Kate Bush, Delerium, Hungry Lucy which pours out a distinctive sound all of its own for Blind Divine. One to savour, so make sure you try (and buy) some more here.
Blind Divine’s MySpace
Email Blind Divine

The soundbed was ‘Sad Sequence Part1-2 (edited)’ by Fumitaka Anzai.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
The Electrical Language Podcast – Gabor’s first anniverary podcast is almost upon him !! The more of you I refer, the more money he owes me 😉 Drop him a note or send him an audio comment and tell him what your favourite track was from the last twelve months of TELP, and he’ll play it again just for you !
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – November issue out now & December issue out soon !

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

Technorati Tags: Leith, Stephanie’s Id, Ledenhed, Blind Divine, Fumitaka Anzai, Three From Leith, computermusictutorials, The Electrical Language Podcast, AMP’ed, podcast, podcastusermagazine

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

The weeks are just flying by now. I’m just realising that summer is really over now and before that’s sunk in I’ve been reminded that there are just 6 weeks left until Christmas. Argh !! It’s definitely an age thing – time speeds up as you get older, where once it crawled by during childhood. Similarly, the older Three From Leith gets, the quicker each week passes and the wiser I get. This week I learned that no matter HOW much you like a track, it’s wise to wait until you have a copy of it in your virtual hands before you record a show which includes it. That way you prevent that awful feeling of panic which grows as the publishing date gets nearer and you realise you might need to re-record a large segment of the show to include a completely different song ! I’ve only got myself (and MySpace) to blame. I now know that any tracks you get permission to download from there are encoded at 96kbps and sound dreadful on a show mixed down and encoded at 160kbps. Now sit back and enjoy the fruits of my panicked labours !

Impossible Songs – Let’s Make Pearls
With an innocence in the vocals reminiscent of Electrum, this duo from South Queensferry produce some sublime alt-pop which they describe as sounding like “a mixture of [their influences listed on their MySpace page] when falling out of a tumble dryer and not being picked up for a few days.” Whatever it is, I love it ! If you love it too, buy their CDs here or check out the impressive list of shops and download sites on their MySpace page.
Impossible Songs’ MySpace
Email Impossible Songs via their MySpace page

Sky Like Static – Nervous Enemy
The enigmatic Sky i (who I’ve identified as Andi Watson through the wonders of Google) is definitely an artist to watch for. This is a cracker. I’ve also learned (through a mysterious Mr X who learned of my request to play this track through channels I cannot explain) that there will be a band to tour the material and an album being launched in (hopefully) January 2007. It’s all getting a bit X-Files….
Sky Like Static’s MySpace
Email Sky Like Static via their MySpace page

The Lost Patrol – Orbit
Let me just quote a chunk from these New Yorkers’ MySpace: “…Such emotive range then and such diversity. Few bands can make you weep one moment and smile the next…The Lost Patrol are Badalamenti meets Morricone. Blue hotels and ghost highways…” This track also throws in a large smattering of influences from Pink Floyd’s “One Of These Days” and Dr Who. Marvellous ! Grab a stash of their wares here and revel in it.
The Lost Patrol’s MySpace
Email The Lost Patrol

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

Big props given out to:
The Electrical Language Podcast – Gabor’s first anniverary podcast is coming up soon. Drop him a note or send him an audio comment and tell him what your favourite track was from the last twelve months of TELP, and he’ll play it again just for you !
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.com – November issue out now !

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

Technorati Tags: Nick and Gerald, Three From Leith, computermusictutorials, The Electrical Language Podcast, AMP’ed, podcast, podcastusermagazine

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

It will come as no surprise to many – given the number of plays over the last year – that Phideaux Xavier is one of my all-time favourite independent artists. As a teen prog-lover, it comes as a breath of fresh air in my middle age that there are still musicians out there that love the genre and can provide a fresh, new angle that still sends the shivers down my spine when I listen.

It’s therefore with great pleasure that I present an interview with Phideaux, where I play and discuss three tracks from his latest CD, ‘The Great Leap’. Part one of a conceptual trilogy (part two – “Doomsday Afternoon” – will follow sometime later in the year) and named after Chairman Mao’s famously inept great leap forward’ campaign, it’s an album of “angry, scary, paranoid songs about life in an increasingly totalitarian society”.

Wake Up

Rainboy

Last

If you want to get hold of the CD (or any other Phideaux albums), you’ll find a list of vendors’ sites here. As the proud owner of every single one, I can safely say that each one is a gem in its own right and worth every penny / cent / dollar / pound.

Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
The Electrical Language Podcast – my good friend (and unofficial legal advisor) Gabor’s about to do another amazing job of hosting his second AMP’ed show in the space of so many months (see below). Go cheer him on !
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: Three From Leith, computermusictutorials, The Electrical Language Podcast, AMP’ed, podcast, podcastusermagazine

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

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: