Scottish New Music Roundup: August 2024

Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this month, some of what we missed in July is worth committing to paper. Traversing genres, there were EPs from established acts like Robin Guthrie (Atlas) and newer artists like Samuel Nicholson (Further Listening) and Paque x Supermann on da Beat (DOT (Don’t Over Think)). Anna Meredith released the original soundtrack for Daina O. Pusić’s directorial debut, Tuesday, and singer-songwriter Peter Johnstone released his debut album Heart Felt. There were also excellent singles from Fourth Daughter (Look What You’ve Done), AiiTee (Rewind), Zoe Graham (Even Though I’m Scared), Citizen Papes (Unbelievable), Post Coal Prom Queen (Protomartyr), Kirsty Grant (Jupiter) and, well, the list goes on.

When it comes to August, if you turn back to our album review pages, you’ll find complimentary words on A Firmer Hand, the latest album from Edinburgh wordsmith and songwriter extraordinaire Hamish Hawk, who has landed in our Album of the Month top spot. There are also some very positive words on Ash Grey and the Gull Glides On, the debut collaborative effort from Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman.

Another record we’re loving this month is For the World, the new EP from Glasgow-based artist Tina Sandwich. Due for release on 8 August, World Moves gets things off on a calming first foot as seagull chatter and a vulnerable vocal set the next 15 minutes up beautifully; when the arpeggiated synths kick in, and Tilly O’Connor’s vocals become more pained and muscular, you want nothing more than to hear this live and in the flesh. I Want is a spiky pop-punk whirlwind that feels like going ten rounds with Mike Tyson; think Dream Wife meets Paramore with a sprinkling of Gwen Stefani vibrato as O’Connor takes aim at consumerism and complacency. Before long, 4TW strides into view, a peppy number that could easily have been included on the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack had it been released *coughs* 25 years ago… Closing out the EP, Joni is another exquisitely structured, coming-of-age delight. For the World is an exciting debut from Tina Sandwich, a piece worth sinking your teeth into.

The following week, Cromarty singer-songwriter Tamzene releases In Any Weather (16 Aug). Across the EP’s seven tracks, Tamzene expertly deals with experiences of work, youth, love and relationships, with heartbreak and heartache a recurring topic. Tamzene’s voice is pure and powerful, and when she blends her Jamaican and Irish heritage with her formative influences across R’n’B, reggae and soul, it’s a truly winning formula (see: opener What Sundays Are For). Elsewhere, her songwriting could give Adele a run for her money. Of course, that could be down to the influence of working with Adele collaborator and Ivor Novello Award-Winner Eg White on the record, alongside other big guns like Steph Marziano and Jimmy Hogarth.

Back at the top of the month, one of our favourite experimental ambient artists Alliyah Enyo returns. Originally conceived as part of an installation at the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop in 2022, her just shy of 22-minute vocal layered ambient work, Selkie Reflections, gets a limited vinyl and digital release via Somewhere Press on 2 August. Side A goes on a journey through 11 sections that hum and soar, stutter and stick. A hypnagogic loop at its midpoint is akin to a needle skipping, stuck in a groove; the only thing taking you out of this dreamlike glitch is the swelling hum that rises in the background. Side B takes on new shapes as Berlin artist Angel R plays with Enyo’s archival recordings, stretching them out and piecing them back together to create three distinctly different soundscapes. Selkie Reflections is eerie, otherworldly, ethereal, soothing and discombobulating.

On the same day, Edinburgh singer-songwriter Lewis McLaughlin releases A Hope In Fear via Monohands Records (2 Aug). Backed by a talented group of musicians – Euan McLaughlin, Donald Barker, Chloë Bryce, Finlay Johnston and Steven Stark – moments of full instrumentation create an infectious toe-tapping party that makes you feel like you’re down the local miners club of a small town, while on the less party-forward tracks, McLaughlin’s deeply introspective lyricism, unique and captivating vocal delivery truly shines. There’s an unmatched intimacy across this record, that no matter the song, it always feels like McLaughlin is singing just for you.

Elsewhere, Scottish quintet Modern Vikings (featuring Fergus McCreadie) are set to release their debut album Tales of the Skald. A week later, alt-rockers Twin Atlantic release their seventh album Meltdown, and The Raeburn Brothers release their debut EP, Household Names, while the 23rd brings Fawns, the latest EP from Hector Shaw. Singles-wise, on the 2nd there are new releases from Joe Hearty (Believe In Something) and Pommes Frites (Lady). The 9th brings new music from Constant Follower (Whole Be), Amy Papiransky (Isabella) and Gurry Wurry (Hairline), before mokusla releases Ghost (14 Aug) and Andrew J Brooks' Kernel (15 Aug). On the 23rd, Gates of Light release I Keep Reaching For the Sun and Brontës release the second of two August singles (Strange Town), before the end of the month brings latest single Big Bones (30 Aug) from Edinburgh riot grrrl duo The Twistettes.

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Listen to our Music Now: New Scottish Music playlist in the player above – follow on Spotify, updated every Friday