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Show 50 – Lonely Seeds & Falling Satellites

Tuesday, August 1st, 2006

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

Slow montageSlow at Ashton Court

Show 50 already and I’ve no idea where the time has gone ! I’d almost decided to do a celebratory show but in the end I decided that since the first anniversary of Three From Leith is only a few more weeks away I save it until then. In the meantime, this week brings another selection of truly superb music from around the world. The titles of the tracks were almost poetic when considered together, hence the title of this week’s show which could almost be the title of the next Haruki Murakami novel.

Before I list who’s in there, I’d just like to say a very Happy Birthday to listener Brad Lau ! My first ever birthday greeting request and another chance to wheel out the mad attempt at singing that Jasna and I did some time back. But I defer to the professionals, who this week are:

Starfisher – Lonely
Some seriously good pop/rock/alt musicians from Arizona who had eaten too much cheese before bed the night they dreamt up their MySpace blurb ! They hooked me on Garageband a few years back with the feelgood slapback-echoing, almost arpeggiated guitar intro and it’s been on my must-play list for far too long, Now I’m remedying that by sharing it with everyone. If you like what you hear, you can get 11 free Starfisher tracks to play until you want to buy them to burn or move to your portable media player.
Starfisher’s MySpace
Email StarFisher via their MySpace page

Slow – Seeds
“The general intention of Slow is to make beautiful and thoughtful music…” and they think that “on the whole that the world would benefit from relaxing a bit more, and taking it easy”. Well, the track had me kicking off my hot sandals during the recording and leaning back in my chair, so it worked ! ‘Seeds’ is the title track from their new EP which was released to coincide with the Ashton Court Festival which they played at last week. Take a slow saunter over and buy it here, and make time in your life for relaxation.
Slow’s MySpace
Email Slow

The Eisenhowers – If Satellites Should Fall
Brimming with talent and overflowing with musical ideas that he needs to get out into the open, Raymond Weir is a seriously great guy who keenly supports podcasts as well as providing them with the fruits of his labours. From Gum to The Eisenhowers, he provides the music to fit. Get some free tracks here and then show your support back by buying some or all of the tracks here.
The Eisenhowers’ MySpace
Email The Eisenhowers via their MySpace page

The Scottish Expression is still taking a well-deserved sabbatical. It shall return !
The soundbed is ‘Air Miles’ by John Young.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
Hungry Lucy have a spankingly new EP out, “Before We Stand… We Crawl”. The link will take you to a preview / buy page. I’ll be playing some as soon as my CD arrives (thanks, War-N and Christa !)
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.comthe August issue is out now !


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

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PodcastUser Magazine podcast

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006

Get a podcast audio taster of what’s in the next issue of PodcastUser Magazine, available soon and for the princely sum of absolutely nothing ! Hear a disgusting sound in the middle of my piece, too. Go on, you know you’re tempted now…….. 😉

Show 49 – By Golly, it’s Obvious it’s Dropkick !

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006

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

Dropkick 01Dropkick 01

Hosted on Zooomr

Complete with Alastair’s cat, Goo, snoring away in the background (listen for the short whistling noises in the run up to ‘Dog & Cat’ and that’s her) and backing vocals by the local seagull population, I managed to nervously stumble my way through my first ever interview with Alastair Taylor of Edinburgh’s finest alt-country-power-popsters Dropkick.

In honour of the band’s latest album release, ‘Obvious’, I made my way to Dropkick Central HQ on a swelteringly hot evening and talked music, age, failed relationships, maturing, an ear for Eurovision, heavy metal and chimps in the convivial surroundings of the studio (aka the living room).

The band are now on tour, so if you live in Scotland (or are on holiday here in the coming months) there’s a chance that you may be able to catch them. Their website details the tour itinerary. You can also order the ‘Obvious’ CD from the site (or get it for a special price at gigs, as well as a very witty free ‘I Love Dripkock’ badge).

During the interview, you’ll hear the following tracks from the new album:

Freedom
Dog & Cat
Obvious
Did You Really ?

My huge thanks to Alastair for letting a stranger into his house to ask him some pretty strange questions and to Andrew, Ian and Stuart who I finally managed to chat with at the CD launch gig on Saturday. Andrew, you’re safe – Alastair didn’t say anything rude about you at all !

You can see more pictures of the gig here (with apologies to Slowjet, as the two shots I took of them were so bad they had to be deleted when I checked them on Sunday morning).

Finally, thanks also to The Sons (Ross Taylor from The Sundowns), Little Pebble and Slowjet for their amazing support slots on the night. Look out for more on them on Three From Leith in the near future.

Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.comissue 7 coming soon with my interview with Ed Rickard-Bell from the Whack My Bush podcast about how they became a subscription-only podcast and what it’s meant for the show !


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

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Show 48 – Lesson in Mythology

Tuesday, July 18th, 2006

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

The sun has been beating down on Leith, I’ve been back on the bike, it’s had its three month service and my spanky new Nokia N80 has arrived. Could life get any better than this ? Well, if a stunning millionairess was to sweep me off my feet and take me away from the daily grind of work and let me live the life of a carefree, international jetsetter…..

But I digress. This week I bring you artists who – between them – are in the Billboard Digital top 40, have toured with some of the biggest names in rock and have had their work appear on lots of TV programs. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present:

Sleepthief – Eurydice (featuring Jody Quine)
Attorney by day and master musician by night, Justin Elswick lives in Utah and has gathered a seriously brilliant set of the top female vocalists to turn his words into reality. A fabulous CD, Dreamseeker, is the result and it’s making waves in the US. Buy it here from Neurodisc !
Sleepthief’s MySpace
Email Sleepthief via his contact page

John Young – Underside (live)
A musician whose CV reads like a who’s-who of rock; John has worked with some of the biggest names in the business as well as being somewhat of a one-man music industry in himself. Not to be confused with John Young from behind the bar at the Dalkeith Masonic Lodge (who plays the big drum in a pipe band) as John was when he played there with Fish a few years ago ! You can buy John’s music here.
John’s MySpace
Email John

ID Guinness – The One That Got Away
A Vancouver-based musician who (amongst many other achievements) has won a West Coast Music Award and an Oxfam Canada Award for his work on a West Coast African famine relief benefit album, sung by a cast of many including kd lang. He has a full-length CD coming out later in the year, and you can buy (or find out where to download) his current EP, ‘Rising River’ here.
ID’s MySpace
Email ID

Watch out for next week’s special show: music from – and a special interview with – Dropkick about their new album, Obvious, which is released at a live launch on Sat 22nd July in Edinburgh. See their site for details and a link to pre-order the CD for only £6 (inc worldwide postage).

The Scottish Expression is taking a well-deserved sabbatical. It shall return !
The soundbed is ‘Air Miles’ by John Young.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
Electrical Language Podcast – my unofficial legal adviser and podcasting friend Gabor Kovacs’ excellent show, which comes with the TFL seal of approval for consistently excellent music. Makes my Monday complete. Plus he’s mounting a campaign to nominate me for a Podcasting Award (which I forgot to mention on the show) !!
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.comissue 6 is now out !

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Show 47 – Going senile, eh ?

Tuesday, July 11th, 2006

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

A show of apologies this week – I really do wonder about my memory sometimes. Is it really just bad, or is this a sign of early senility ? The show includes two tracks (yes, there’s an extra one this week) which I either thought I had played in an earlier show or had promised to play and then completely forgotten. My sincere apologies to the bands concerned. I’m grateful that they’re very easy going and very understanding, since they’re local and I’d have had to go around Leith in disguise for the next ten years if they weren’t so forgiving !!

On another matter, a few of you have asked to see photos of my scrapes or my scabby knee and elbow. In response, I’ve posted a set of rather manky shots here. Please don’t view them if you’re eating, easily offended or don’t like looking at oozing abrasions. On the other hand, feel free to rate my lovely legs and let me know the score 😉

The Des Moines Riot – Throw Your Hand
Any band which has a member who wears a “The People’s Republic Of Leith” t-shirt can’t escape being played on the show, even if I did imagine I’d already played them a few weeks back. They have a selection of their finest tracks from their debut EP to download here – ‘check them oot !’ as they’d say themselves.
TDMR’s MySpace
Email TDMR

Dirtywhite Fashion – Under A Cold Sun
This is another of those tracks I came across whilst browsing on Garageband, long before I began podcasting. It’s one of those standout tracks that stuck with me, and now it’s time to share these excellent New Yorkers with you. Make sure you dust down your wallet and pick up some Dirtywhite Fashion CDs from their online shop.
Dirtywhite Fashion’s MySpace
Email Dirtywhite Fashion

Sound Stripe – My Own Man Now
A new Mancunian band with a raw, rock/punk/indie sound with influences from across the musical spectrum. This track really perked me up after a stressful Friday at work, so play it loud and work off those workaday miseries ! You can download this track and others on their MySpace player.
Sound Stripe’s MySpace
Email Sound Stripe via their MySpace page

The Librarian Of Rock – This Isn’t Me (demo)
One of those tracks that oozes excellence even from the demo stage. I forgot to play this one a few weeks back, and since them Jon’s formed a new band, “…To The Rescue” to play this type of music, hence the double MySpace entry here.
The Librarian’s MySpace / …To The Rescue’s MySpace
Email The Librarian

The Scottish Expression is taking a well-deserved sabbatical. It shall return !
The soundbed is ‘Gronk Patrol’ by Derek K Miller on the PMN
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
Electrical Language Podcast – my unofficial legal adviser and podcasting friend Gabor Kovacs’ excellent show, which comes with the TFL seal of approval for consistently excellent music. Makes my Monday complete.
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.comissue 6 is now out !


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

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Show 46 – Nothing Scabby About This !

Tuesday, July 4th, 2006

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

Back on my own two feet with the dressings finally off (as I write this a few days after recording the show) I’m back to my usual self once again ! Showered and shaved after a week, I’m feeling fresh and funky. Thanks to everyone who sent messages of support and concern; they were really appreciated as I was, for quite a few days, feeling very ‘off’.

I’m now left with a number of very large scabs which are sooooooo tempting to pick away at. I’m leaving them alone as I know at least one listener who’s coming over from the US soon and will give me a sever ticking off if I don’t keep my fingernails clear of those inviting, crusty edges…….

There’s absolutely nothing scabby about the music this week, with amazing tracks from:

Figment – Shout To The Suburbs
To quote their site, “Figment are Sandy, Harvey and Chris: Bristol’s own glam stoner, punk version of The Stones.” To be honest, I’ve never seen the appeal of the Stones (gasp !) but Figment, on the other hand, are excellent ! There is so much excellent music coming out of Bristol, and these guys are up there with the best.
Figment’s MySpace
Email Figment

Lindsay Sugden – I Know It’s Odd
Intelligent, talented multi-instrumentalist and singer with a hauntingly sensual voice, it’s Lindsay from Chocyamo and Flowers for Algernon. Currently in the Himalayas studying glaciers, let’s hope she comes back brimming with inspiration from the top of the world for more gems like this. Buy the ‘When Lightening Strikes’ EP by clicking the PayPal logo here.
Lindsay’s MySpace
Email Lindsay (hopefully she can access it from the Himalayas !)

Kiddo – Live A Little
In existence for only a year (though they have been part of various bands, including ‘The Barry Scott Sex Injury’ (I’m going to posit the hypothesis that it was caused by a Cillit Bang!)). The boys are on tonight (4th July) at Cabaret Voltaire in Edinburgh, having moved through to the next round of the New Found Sound competition. Well done, Kiddo !! Go check them out if you (a) read this in time and (b) can get along.
Kiddo’s MySpace
Email Kiddo via their MySpace page

The Scottish Expression is taking a well-deserved sabbatical. It shall return !
The soundbed is ‘Sunlit Harbour’ by torchomatic on the PMN
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
Hungry Lucy – my favourite weekly cosy chat with two very funny, very talented musical people on Tea With Hungry Lucy.
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.comissue 6 is now out ! See the post below this one.


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

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Show 45 – Painful Progress

Tuesday, June 27th, 2006

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

Last Tuesday, whilst on another flying run home from work, I came off my bike and gave myself a darn good skinning in a few places, as well as knocking my knee a shot. Infection has since set in and I’m not feeling too hot. I put off recording the show until Monday, hoping I’d feel much better but I was a bit too optimistic…

I’m also not he only one suffering from some bad luck at the moment – my good friends Christa and War-N from the band Hungry Lucy had a construction truck crash through their bedroom wall. Was it “Bad Luck For Podcasters Week” last week ?!

This week, then, I’m not going to be talking much during the show and by way of making up for it I’m bringing you six great Scottish tracks (three of which are by artists new to the show). I’m sure you’ll all make them feel very welcome ! My apologies to the artists for not saying much about them during the show, but you’re all present and correct in the shownotes with a full compliment of links !

The Kays Lavelle – Tears
From their new EP, “I Can’t Believe You’re Here“, comes this stunning opener from this Edinburgh-based band. Hauntingly beautiful tracks and guitar-driven rock make this a must-buy at only a fiver. Just listen to the drums as this track gets underway…!!
The Kays Lavelle’s MySpace
Email The Kays Lavelle

Dropkick – Dog and Cat
The multi-instrumental (with the emphasis on ‘mental’, given some of their lyrics !!) Taylor brothers and their band are back with a new album, ‘Obvious’, launching on the 22nd July with a gig in Edinburgh’s Caledonian Backpackers. Support Mr Cockroach, Pretty Boy, Mr Pervert and Cousin Mike and buy the album when it reaches their internet shop soon.
Dropkick’s MySpace
Email Dropkick

Roy Henderson – The King Of Rock and Roll
Local man Roy doesn’t have a website, but there’s everything you’d need to know about him on MySpace. He has a regular slot at the Central Bar in Leith, which is part of the old Leith Central Station (as in “Trainspotting at Leith Central Station”, to give Irvine Welsh’s book its full title). He says it’s a much nicer place these days…!! A great little song, reminiscent of Mark Knopfler doing alt-country and a voice that I swear could almost be that of a certain Neil Diamond.
Roy’s MySpace
Email Roy via his MySpace page

Mike Allen featuring Lizi Trafford – If I Loved You
The man behind DoubtfulStarMusic, the new label promoting bands like Dropkick and The Dead Beat Club, this is a beautiful, heartfelt track from Mike and collaborator Lizi. Simple, tender and haunting. You can buy it (and many other tracks) from the Downloads page on Mike’s site.
Mike’s MySpace
Email Mike

The Boy Lacks Patience – Like Sugar
Another sublime track from the stunningly talented Chris’s fabulous ‘Ill Advised’ album which I urge you to grab hold of immediately.
The Boy Lacks Patience MySpace
Email Chris

David William – Outside The Window
Edinburgh singer-songwriter with a fantastic ear for melody and an amazing voice. This is another great track from his ‘One Way Ticket’ album. Buy it now!
David’s MySpace
Email David

This week’s Scottish Expression was cancelled due to illness. It’ll be back next week.
The soundbed is ‘Essence Of Dreams’ by Catherine Duc
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
Hungry Lucy – listen to their damaged wall story on their podcast, Tea With Hungry Lucy.
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.comissue 5 out now and issue 6 due in the first week of July !


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

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Show 44 – TFL Tuesday !

Tuesday, June 20th, 2006

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

Here we are again – it’s another fantastic TFL Tuesday (to misappropriate and mangle two well-known UK phrases). Last week’s mellow show seems to have been very well received, especially Ainslie Henderson (and not ‘Harrison’ as I repeatedly referred to him in the show and the notes..oops – sorry Ainslie !). I guess that we all enjoy the chance to lie back in sultry, languid temperatures and just let the music wash over us.

There will be another show along those lines in the not-too-distant future, but for now it’s back to picking up the pace with some great, thoughtful and intelligent music of the highest calibre.

Keep spreading the word as requested in last week’s show, and here’s the new line up to further whet the appetites of all new and existing listeners:

NON – Waking Down
Another fine Slovene band to kick of the show, this time singing in English. From the stunningly beautiful capital city, Ljubljana, which I know very well and long to visit again. The guys have no website of their own as yet, but drop them a line and hopefully they’ll be able to sell you a CD !
NON’s MySpace
Email NON (via MySpace)

Guantanamo Bay – Turning 45s
Alexis from the band contacted me ages ago and I made a note to play them in an upcoming show. Then, for some reason or another, I managed to bury the notes and shamefully forgot all about the track I had lined up. Now I’m making amends and bringing you this track; you’ll wonder how I could have forgotten them after hearing how good they are !
Guantanamo Bay’s MySpace
Email Guantanamo Bay

The 4th Parallel – Ultra Extra
Back with a lovely new website and some lovingly polished-up tracks, the boys are proving that they’re the writers of some killer tunes. Keep an eye out for their new EP which is due out soon; keep checking their website for details !
4th Parallel’s MySpace
Email the 4th Parallel

This week’s Scottish Expression is replaced by some Slovene expressions (from the BBC).
The soundbed is ‘Introvert2’ by Chronos on the PMN.
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.comissue 5 out now and issue 6 due in the first week of July !


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

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Show 43 – By Roger Appointment

Tuesday, June 13th, 2006

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

Another week, another lovely burst of summer weather. Phew ! It’s quite steamy and hot in the TFL Studio as I type these shownotes, but it’s hard to dissipate the stuffiness. It’s a top-floor, flat-roofed flat and the breeze is never blowing strongly enough to get the cool air in after the place has been baking in the direct sunlight all day. Maybe I should earn some extra cash renting Jasna’s room out as a sauna during the week when she’s not here 😉

The heat has made me terribly lethargic, so the music this week is very laid-back and relaxed. Perfect for easing you into the day or bringing you down after a stressful day at work. Sit back and enjoy the company of:

Charlie North – Flying Home
A beautifully chilled piece of music from electronica and dance music producer Charlie North’s latest release, Find Your Own Space. This man has engineered and remixed a variety of artists at London’s world famous Abbey Road Studios, so prepare to be impressed !
Charlie’s MySpace
Email Charlie

Ainslie Henderson – Daytrip
Fine solo piece from the very talented Mr Henderson of Edinburgh, who has a real website coming soon and an album in lovely red packaging being released in July. Oh, and he’s a secret childhood maypole dancer who discovered he had fousty pits ! (His MySpace blog will explain…)
Ainslie’s MySpace
Email Ainslie

Fischer Z – Over
One of those simple yet incredibly wistful songs that all-round top bloke and one of the UK’s greatest underappreciated singer/songwriter/poets John Watts does so well.
Fischer Z’s MySpace / John Watts’ MySpace
Email Fischer Z

Don’t forget the favour – I’m relying on you to help spread the word about Three From Leith and the fantastic bands and artists who make it all possible. In return for your weekly dose of great music, all I’m asking is that you ask two people to listen / give two people a CD onto which you’ve burnt a show or two / play the show when you have guests round / play it out loud at work…. I know that you’ll be creative ! New listeners who drop me a note telling me what they think of what they’ve heard will be entered into a draw for a top prize. Get promoting 🙂

This week’s Scottish Expression is “drookit”.
The soundbed is ‘Cebrella’ by Denis Kitchen
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
Daily Smalls Code – the wonderfully witty Roger Smalls’ blog and podcast; cheers for the review, Roger !
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.comissue 5 out now !


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

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Show 42 – Dobrodosli !!

Tuesday, June 6th, 2006

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

Kranjska Gora, Slovenia (c) G Mason 2003

“Dober Dan, Dober Vecer in Dobrodosli”, as David Frost might have said had he been born a Slovene national ! Feeling rather sad that I can’t afford a holiday again this year, I’m pining for Slovenia and all of my friends over there who I’ve got to know over the years; Ranko, Igor, Klemen, Sylvo, Majda, drinks under the stars at the Krcma II with the lovely female staff…. ahhh, memories ! Union Pivo !! Zlatorog Pivo !! Cynar on ice !! Cooling my hot feet after a day walking in the Julian Alps, sitting by Lake Jasna. Finding mountain huts selling freshly-cooked food and cold drinks at the end of the route.

Can you tell I really adore the place ? To help me relive my memories, tonight I’m bring you a double helping of the finest Slovene rock – and in future shows this summer I’ll be bringing you some other great Slovene musicians to stave off my Slovenia withdrawals !

(apologies for the slight drop-outs in the vocals during my Saturday story – I was acting out the situation and moving too far from the mic !!)


Day Out – Setreseze

A wonderful slab of Eastern European rock, with a chorus which sounds like there’s a Cossack choir doing backing vocals. Brilliant ! It just goes to prove that you don’t need to understand the lyrics to appreciate great rock music. Email the band and I’m sure they can arrange to sell you a CD or a t-shirt !
Day Out’s MySpace
Email Day Out

Bombing Run – At Least
These Scots get everywhere you know… the government, all over TV and now they’re muscling in on the music scene around Bristol with cracking, stomping wodges of catchiness like this track. Fifers – you can take them anywhere !!
Bombing Run’s MySpace
Email Bombing Run

Day Out – Y Veter

Buen Chico – Giving Your Gifts
A beauty, a beardy and the one with a scary big hairdo ! You can tell that this trio are going to be the next media darlings with spakingly lovely tracks like this, can’t you ? Well, you heard them here first !!
BuenChico’s MySpace
Email BuenChico

This week’s Scottish Expression is absent once again – it will return next week – but I do tell you a charming little tale of childhood literacy (almost a certificate 18, too !)
The soundbed is ‘Sunrise’ by torchomatic on the PMN
Three From Leith theme-tune by Alex Aitken

Big props given out to:
Slovenia – for being one of the world’s most beautiful countries
Faith & Hope records – for sending me the fantastic Buen Chico CD and for not being Eastern European fraudsters !!
AMP’ed podcast – subscribe with this feed
Subscribe by RSS Feed to the free www.podcastusermagazine.comissue 5 coming soon !


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

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