Look and ye shall find. Whilst it might be true that I wasn’t actually looking, I did indeed find something and that something was a compilation called “Songs From The Lane” put together by Glasgow’s Anchor Lane studio of, presumably, their regular customers.
As with many compilations, this album mixes and matches musical styles with an intent that isn’t completely clear but that does not really detract from the music with the something for everyone approach perhaps bringing sounds to your attention that otherwise might have missed you at traffic lights of life.
So, with words at a premium, on to picking the best of the bunch. Right at the top of the pile is, of course, the truly cosmic Outblinker and “Kurt Gödel” is full of the mind expanding musical contrivances that make them a band of choice for the cognoscenti. The splendidly raucous Acid Cannibals dig up a collection of massively muscular riffs and set about bringing down the walls of Jericho with “Got The Life”. The Tomorrow Syndicate throw their beret into the ring with a trippy synth pop hybrid called “Stranger in Space” while the rather more traditional Nicolette MacLeod favours using a blend of folk, wistful vocals and piano to bring “1919” to your attention. And, of course, there is the mighty Order of the Toad who prove, with “Follow The Rye”, that they are capable of sending their particular brand of arthouse madness right into space.
Whilst perhaps not a shining example of something for everyone, “Songs From The Lane” highlights once more that there is plenty of musical talent left in Scotland.
Available from Bandcamp.