You turn your back for a minute and the cottage industry of record labels in central Scotland gains another member. This time it is Badger Stamp Records who have released a compilation of lo-fi inclined artists.
Some of the artists appearing on this album will - I hope - be familiar to you such as the Just Joans (giving us a version of the wry and wondrous "Bellshill Station") whilst the others will require the might of Google to identify. "45k" by John's Indie Disco proved to be an effective instrumental mood piece and made for a good opener. There was also an entertaining example of twee pop from "The Good Natured" and Bean Geese in Central Scotland sounded more like Japanese electronica than their name would suggest. However, Doog Cameron was seriously downbeat. So downbeat that you have to wonder if he even knows how to smile. I really don't know what the point of the BSR Collective's "Scotland's Alcohol Laws" was. Political commentary? Maybe. Moral guidance? Perhaps. Entertaining? No. On the other hand, Monomoy's contributions were actually quite enjoyable in a post industrial soundtrack kind of way.
As always, there is the problem of rating a compilation. It is unlikely that anyone will like all the tracks on this album and with such a variety of artists, there is not much consistency. Whilst no doubt well intentioned, you wonder what this album is meant to do for the artists involved. I have the benefit of a press release to give some background but the average punter does not. What these bands actually need is someone who can actually sell them to what is, after all, a largely disinterested general public.