Rob St. John & Ian Humberstone - Split 7"

Split singles can be funny beasts. The Gerry Loves Records team have put out a trio of great ones, yet over in a box in the corner there's some shockers that I've clearly bought for just one of the bands. The Mogwai/Dweeb split seven particularly stands out.

This one though, this falls firmly into the "ace" category. The single features Rob St. John's Your Phantom Limb on one side, Ian Humberstone's House on the Hill on the other, neither artists that I'm as familiar with as I probably should be. Both songs have a haunted air about them that seems to make them particularly fitting to listen to as the rain batters off my bedroom window, but also a feeling of warmth that makes me glad I'm inside with them.

At a bit over two minutes each this is a quick listen, but a gorgeous one. Best sit near the record player to move the needle back to that start to listen again, and again, and again.

The split single is out now on Song, by Toad Records. The 7" is available from the Song, by Toad shop, and a download can be bought from iTunes and Amazon.

Rob St. John & Ian Humberstone Split 7" by Song, by Toad

New Release: The Moth and the Mirror - Honestly, This World

The last few weeks have been packed with good new records, and this one is no different.
A particularly fine album is Honestly, This World, the debut album from The Moth and the Mirror.

The band feature some familiar names, like Admiral Fallow's Louis Abbott, Make Model's Frightened Rabbit's Gordon Skene and Stacey Sievwright, who has played with the likes of Arab Strap and The Reindeer Section in the past. Along with a few other musicians they've taken a while to get around to an album, but it is one that has proven to be worth waiting for.

Since I'm particularly rubbish at reviews, as I'm sure you have noticed by now, I won't go into an awful lot of detail. Instead I'll just say it's really good, go and buy it.

Honestly, This World is released by Olive Grove Records, and available from Bandcamp, Amazon and iTunes.



There are a pair of launch gigs coming up for the album. The first is at Stereo in Glasgow on Wednesday October 12th, with support from Open Swimmer and Rick Redbeard. There's an instore at Fopp on Union Street in Glasgow at 1pm on Sunday October 16th, followed by another launch gig that night at Edinburgh's Cabaret Voltaire, with support again from Open Swimmer and an acoustic set from Endor..

The Moth and the Mirror: Website - Facebook

Numbers and Letters - Scottish Tour

Every now and then someone from outside Scotland gets in touch with me about bands. Half the time the info is useless, what am I meant to do with a list of tour dates around southern California? Other times I end up being introduced to a record I like, and more rarely I get an intro to a band that I quickly like and some useful information about them to share.

Numbers and Letters frontlady Katie Hasty ticked the last two boxes a few days ago when she emailed me to let me know that her band would be making their first trip to Scotland this week. A quick visit to Bandcamp to listen to them later I was hastily drawing up plans to see which of their gigs I could get to.
Numbers and Letters do the dark, folky Americana thing that I always tend to like, and Katie has a gorgeous voice too. Sold.

Numbers and Letters will be playing with Seattle musician James Apollo, and Kitty The Lion/Admiral Fallow's Joe Rattay at the following places around Scotland in the coming week:

Oct. 11: House show, Stirling
Oct. 12: Cafe Continental, Gourock
Oct. 13: *Surprise Show*, Glasgow (Once they tell me where, I'll tell you)
Oct. 14: Hootenanny, Inverness
Oct. 15: The Newmarket Bar, Thurso
Oct. 16: Brel, Glasgow

Go along, have a drink, clap and cheers and make Katie feel welcome. She might even give you a free CD in a hand made cover if you ask nicely. Facebook users can find gig details here.



Numbers and Letters: Website - Facebook - Bandcamp