While it lacked the crisp production of Halcyon Digest, spending some time with Bradford Cox’s latest release would turn out to be rewarding. There were howls of feedback throughout, but get past the dischordant noise and you’d uncover an bundle of lo-fi belters.
4. Algernon Doll – Citalo Pop
Beautifully measured guitar pop from Glasgow troubadeur Ewan Grant. At points both raucous and fractured, this was 2013’s overlooked gem.
3. Monoganon – F A M I L Y
Wow. Where the bloody hell did this come from??? While they initially looked like a low key signing to Lost Map and a surprising choice for a first release for the label, this left our minds utterly blown.
2. Local Natives – Hummingbird
We were pretty ‘meh’ about debut album Gorilla Manor at the time, but have now seen the error of our ways. This was a terrific follow-up – dreamy and summery with enough pop to make an impact on daytime radio.
1. The National – Trouble Will Find Me
Intriguingly this doesn’t seem to be scooping the same plaudits that 2010’s okay-but-not-amazing High Violet did. God knows why – this is absolutely majestic and in their considerable body of work only Boxer comes close. It’s been a delight to watch the band both grow and grow old and Matt Berninger has become one of rock’s most elegant, most characteristic frontmen. Tidal Wave hearts The National.
So we grabbed a word with NYC’s fi…..
No, not really. But we’re sure they’d appreciate the accolade, right?
Vicious slashes of guitar punctuated Jill O’Sullivan’s mid-Atlantic snarl throughout Sparrow’s third album. They’re nastier than you’d ever believe, but bloody good.
9. Foals – Holy Fire
Also know as the one where Foals went metal. Providence and Inhaler were enormous-sounding and a lightshow at dusk was the perfect accompaniment for the storming Latitude set.
8. Frightened Rabbit – Pedestrian Verse
All hail Frabbits! Back to their best after the middling Winter of Mixed Drinks, this was a joyous romp with some of Scott Hutchison’s finest writing to date. One of the finest bands Scotland have ever produced and concerns over a major label contract were needless.
7. Fuck Buttons – Slow Focus
Loud and oppressive, Slow Focus was never going to be a family favourite (‘difficult’ band name notwithstanding) but blasts of synthesised noise ticked the boxes round here.
6. These New Puritans – Field of Reeds
Awkward and contrary, few knew how to take this difficult third album from Jack Barnett and co. We’re delighted to be among the few that did – it’s incredible.
Just for clarification (in our eyes at least) an EP needs at least three songs (with seven being a max) – double AAs and ‘split’ EPs don’t count, although you’ll see we’ve offered a nod to one those at the end. These guys were doing shorty but goodies this year!
10. Queen of France – Thank You I’ll Have Several of Those
Power pop from the States, one of the best unsolicited emails we’ve had in a long time. A fun and engaging listen.
9. The Cherry Wave – Blush
We liked their first EP – this was four more songs that upped both the volume and power.
8. Mad Nurse – The Rip
If you can get past the band name this was an impressive opening gambit from the new band. Rocky, shoegaze-y and excellent.
7. Numbers are Futile – Numbers are Futile
A strange little curio, this. Not much is known about these guys but this was an interesting trio of songs that warrant further investigation.
6. Beat Mark – Beat Mark… Move On
Sugar-coated French guitar pop released on Soft Power. We’re expecting great things from these guys!
5. Great Thunder – Strange Kicks
One of Swearin’ + Ms Waxahatchee = EVEN MORE GREAT SONGS. With a 30 track album also bunged out in December, there is no sign of this rich pool of talent drying up.
4. Fightened Rabbit – The Woodpile
The sheer amount of songs Frabbits must have recorded for the Pedestrian Verse sessions is mind-boggling. Twelve on the album, three bonus tracks, four lobbed out last year to back State Hospital and another three here adding weight to the stunning title track. Busy boys.
3. Pixies – EP1
This came in for a bit of stick – after all, you surely can’t have Pixies without Kim, right. But if you moved on from the teeth-gnashing, this was an eye-catching release with Another Toe in the Ocean going right back to Trompe le Monde’s clean cut riffage.
2. Garden of Elks – Extended Play
Nasty, nasty, nasty. This was a gloriously noisy diy effort from the clattering three-piece who had plenty of positive things said about them in 2013. A bit more thought needed for the name, though?
1. Book Group – Homeward Sound
But of course. They’re practically Tidal Wave’s house band, and while we missed the apparently triumphant launch in May, their first proper release didn’t disappoint. Garage-y rock that had hooks seeping out of every pore. And yes, we know this video isn’t off the EP, but it’s irrestible.
Finally a word for the Song, by Toad split 12″ featuring Plastic Animals, Le Thug, Zed Penguin and Magic Eye. Not an EP as it was eight songs, and nor was its accompanying Barney’s beer spin-off featuring the same acts, again doing two songs each. Not everything on was brilliant, but there was lots to enjoy, not least this Plastic Animals number.
15. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Push the Sky Away
Eloquent and sinister as ever, Cave continues to impress at every turn. This was his best in years and the howling coda to Jubilee Street matches pretty much all his previous output.
14. Aracade Fire – Reflektor
Bit of a strange one, this. By no means their best, there was still enough going on here to elevate this to levels that few bands can reach. From the curveball title track to the fancy dress and to the subtle marketing this turned out to be a worthy return.
13. Waxahatchee – Cerulean Salt
See previous entry Swearin’ for the familiar links, this married abrasive guitars with genuine delicacy. And pretty, pretty vinyl.
12. Chvrches – The Bones of What You Believe
When this lot appeared out of nowhere, our cynicism got the better of us and we wrote them off until we were slowly, but surely, seduced by the music. Hugely impressive thumping synth pop.
11. Kid Canaveral – Now That You Are a Dancer
Accomplished, mature and bloody brilliant, Kid Canaveral’s second record set an early benchmark this year. In the amp-shredding A Compromise, they created something heavier than ever before and potentially their best song yet.
When reading over our list yesterday we realised that, to our absolute shame, WE MISSED ONE. It appears we forgot to write one down, so in the interests of making sure it doesn’t slip away we’re popping it in right away, at equal 20th which should be about fair. So, clue: it’s one of the next two! We’re sorry…
20 = Homework – 13 Towers
Thumping, beats-driven funk, it was fun, infectious and clever. Their album launch (boiler suits and all) was also one of the gigs of the year.
20 = Adam Stafford – Imaginary Walls Collapse
Last year’s Vanishing Tanks single was incredible and Stafford’s first release for Song, by Toad continued in the same vein. One of our most talented and unique performers.
19. Kurt Vile – Walkin on a Pretty Daze
Hazey stoner at it’s finest, Vile is carving a niche as one of this generation’s finest songwriters. He made you work for this though – three songs of eight minutes or more made it occasionally challenging.
18. Quickbeam – Quickbeam
The dream-like Glaswegians crafted something both heartfelt and emotional on their debut album, with echoes of Sigur Rós ebbing through their glacial veins.
17. eagleowl – This Silent Year
Eight silent years more like! The peerless eagleowl followed a handful of accomplished EPs with a long-awaited longer player. Worth the wait? Definitely.
16. Mogwai – Les Revenants
Jesus, this wasn’t even a ‘proper’ Mogwai album, but even when scoring someone else’s visuals they can cook up something sublime. The French drama was as creepy as hell and this was a fitting soundtrack.
The adorable former Tidal Wave gig stars excellent themselves on their first long player for the Fortuna Pop! label. Always fun live, this went some way to capturing their energy – and on cherry coke-coloured vinyl too!
24. Big Deal – June Gloom
Any friends of PAWS are friends of ours. This was a scintillating set of guitar pop anthems with huge hooks stacking up throughout.
23. Majical Cloudz – Impersonator
Dreamy loveliness; hitherto unknown to us but a damn near perfect set of laments. One of the biggest surprises of the year.
22. Youth Fathers – Tape Two
The Edinburgh hip hop troupe are finally starting to bloom. This short release on Anticon hit the spot in a depressing 2013 where Kanye West seemed to become the world’s biggest star.
21. Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest
A dramatic, impeccably marketed return fell just short of the classic department, but eight years away has evolved them into an even more sinister force. There were no tunes to be found here but the atmospherics were powerful.
Well hi there. Miss us? No? Fair enough. Let’s great straight to the point – here’s the first instalment of our annual Christmas countdown.
50. Trips and Falls – The Inevitable Consequences of Your Stupid Behaviour
Cutting lyrics and shonky guitar pop from Song, by Toad’s American imports.
49. Russian Circles – Memorial
Blistering, intricate riffs from monstrous Chicagoan three piece.
48. RM Hubbert – Breaks and Bone
It might not linger as long in the memory as Thirteen Lost and Found, but this was a fine effort.
47. Sigur Rós – Kveikur
A supremely dark set from Iceland’s greatest ever band.
46. When the Saints Go Machine – Infinity Pool
Snyths aren’t just for dancing to, a static thousand yard stare is just as appropriate according to these dreamy Danes.
45. Daughter – If You Leave
One of the UK’s biggest breakout bands of the year. Hugely melodic but with a dark undercurrent.
44. Suuns – Images du Futur
Eclectic Canadians. Serrated guitars bled into throbbing electro throughout this intriguing record.
43. Yo La Tengo – Fade
Comfortably their best record in years, a real mishmash of styles.
42. Laura Marling – Once I Was An Eagle
Fast becoming England’s national treasure. Possibly her best album yet.
41. Sweet Baboo – Ships
Super-cute quirk-pop from Wales. This was about a billion times better than that sounds.
40. Franz Ferdinand – Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action
It was looking like their best days were behind them, but this was like the paddles off a crashcart for their career. *CLEAR!*
39. Joanna Gruesome – Weird Sister
Pun-tastic fuzz-pop. By no means original but a big bag of fun nonetheless.
38. The Besnard Lakes – Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO
Two-minutes cheery, hook-laden melo….. oh wait. Sorry, we meant barely penetrable, spacey epics. We get easily confused here.
37. Public Service Broadcasting – Inform-Educate-Entertain
Built nicely on the cut-up sounds of their debut EP with more samples and pounding drums on their debut proper.
36. Pictish Trail – Secret Sounds Vol 2
Tours with metal bands and a new label made this an interesting year for Johnny Lynch but this is where his 2013 began. Rather well, too.
35. And So I Watch You From Afar – All Hail Bright Futures
Derry’s post rock experimentalists found their inner sunshine on this lively rollercoaster of an album.
34. PVT – Homosapien
Dark, pulsing techno from down under bore fruition on a record that matched their previous best.
33. Conquering Animal Sound – On Floating Bodies
Where Kammerspiel could sounds a little flimsy in retrospect, this cranked up the bass to floor-shaking levels. A real progression.
32. My Bloody Valentine – m b v
Undoubtedly an ‘event’ release and it will surely be a grower. Not quite into classic territory just yet though.
31. The History of Apple Pie – Out of View
2013 was overflowing with scuzzy guitar pop, but this was a genuine treat, awash with cracking hooks.
30. Dutch Uncles – Out of Touch in the Wild
Manchester’s musical boffins found critical and commercial acclaim, and rightfully so with the fully formed follow-up to Cadenza.
29. Rick Redbeard – No Selfish Heart
Who needs the Phantom Band, eh? Rick Anthony’s name was writ large as one of Scotland’s leading troubadours with this gentle near-classic.
28. Steve Mason – Monkey Minds in the Devil’s Time
The Beta Band are now surely long-forgotten. Mason’s legacy now lies as much with his solo material than the divisive Fence pioneers.
27. Swearin’ – Surfin’ Strange
A fine follow-up to last year’s self-titled debut. Commercial success also looms in the slipstream of Waxahatchee – but let’s be clear, Allison Crutchfield doesn’t need her sister’s help to make fine records.
26. Future of the Left – How to Stop Your Brain in an Accident
The abrasive Welsh shit-stirrers surpassed themselves here. Nasties lurked alongside pop nous to create some hissing evil.
The Tidal Wave of Indifference is going on long term hiatus.
To be honest it feels like I’m there already as this decision was taken a number of weeks ago, I just had plenty of content lined up for the summer which has meant blogging activity in recent months has been limited to spellchecking and publicising posts.
So why?
Well the reasons are all very personal to be honest. It’s like I had created this imaginary pressure on myself to create a couple of pieces a week and took my eye off the ball when it came to the important stuff – like my family, my friends, my actual job and being able to relax and have some time for myself.
I’m sure anyone who knows me personally will realise that I’m not somebody who needs any additional pressure in their life.
When the Tidal Wave of Indifference started in February 2010 it was meant to be a bit of fun, and now it’s almost as if it’s become a mechanical process. The passion for the bands I write about is still there but I know that’s not being borne out in my writing.
But all told, this has been an immensely fun few years. I’ve discovered some incredible bands, been to some awesome gigs and met some wonderful people. And just because I’m no longer writing, it doesn’t mean I’m withdrawing my keen ear, snarky demeanour and unique form of alcoholic indulgence from the Scottish music scene. You don’t get rid of me that easily.
The name Tidal Wave of Indifference is likely to crop up on the bill of an upcoming boutique festival, and as a written entity it may even return at some point. But I’m not fool enough to suggest when. It’ll be very different beast if it does.
So thanks to everyone who read. Looking back at the site’s figures, it turns out there were thousands of you which is rather lovely.
Thanks to everyone who got in touch, be they band member, PR or labelleer. All contact was appreciated.
Thanks especially to the bands that allowed me particular indulgences and put up with my borderline stalking. I guess I’ll have to actually BUY your records now. [JOKE!]
One third of FOUND – or more latterly one half, since Tommy Perman hung up his bass to concentrate on his new family – Ziggy Campbell has played under the name ‘Lomond’ Campbell before, but there’s not been much activity of late.
But with the band at a crossroads, but he and synths man Kev ‘River of Slime’ Sim are striking out on their own with new sounds. Campbell’s six track EP is Only A City Apart and should keep the FOUND fans happy with its mix of beats, jangly guitar and Campbell’s familiar textured vocals.
But this isn’t just a straight facsimile of his parent band, there’s a smidge of experimentation at play here, and whatever ends up happening to FOUND in the longer term, we can at least look forward the band producing sounds individually.
We caught up with Ziggy/Lomond to chat about the EP…
So who the hell are you?
Lomond Campbell, a pseudonym King Creosote coined after taking a photograph of me standing in front of the Lomond hills.
So Lomond’s not just your Sunday name then?
Maybe every second Sunday.
Describe your sound in ten words or less!
Creepy synthesisers, Scotch pop vocals and glottal stops beats.
How did you start out making music on your own?
When I was at art school I bought a Tascam four track tape recorder and a Boss SP 202 sampler from a student. Though I was studying sculpture I ended up doing most of my work on them. I obsessively recorded hundred of tapes worth of stuff and handed them in to be assessed at my degree show. I hope nobody listened to them.
Would you say you had any particular influences?
Easiest if I just list my last few purchases…
Agitation Free – proto Krautrock from the early 70s Ray Terrace – some boogaloo Beak> – oneofGeoffBarrow’sprojects (oh we know that one alright! – Ed) Haroumi Hosono – Japanese guy who did tons of stuff but I really love an album from 1984 called S.F.X
What inspired the songs on the EP?
‘How To Appear Attentive’ = daydreaming about sex at the least appropriate time, usually during a supposedly important meeting. ‘Another Chancer’ = when playful drunken banter becomes something more deadly. ‘Yesterday’s You & Me’ = the strain of living beyond your means.
How do you feel your solo endeavours differ from FOUND?
When on tour I don’t feel bitter about being the only one able to drive.
Have you any solo touring plans?
Not exactly any world tours but a few sporadic shows throughout the year.
And what’s next for FOUND do you think?
I’m doing a collaborative album with River of Slime (also FOUND) which is coming out under the name River of Slime & Lomond Campbell. It should be out later in the year on Chemikal Underground. Also, I just finished building a whisky tasting machine with Simon Kirby, also from the FOUND Collective.
Edinburgh’s Quiet as a Mouse seem to have built up ridiculous levels of interest in an incredibly short space of time. There’s only a couple of songs available but An Accident Waiting to Happen and Home is the Hardest Place to find have provoked some rather nice things to pour from the pens of those in the know.
Undeniably both songs show promise so, as they say, watch this space. We caught up with frontman Alex Moran for a blether.
So who the hell are you?
Quiet as a Mouse an emerging Edinburgh based Indie/Alternative group.
Describe your sound in ten words or less!
ROCK! Not really, we hope there is something for everyone.
How did you guys come together to make music?
I’ve been writing songs as a solo artist, with a backing band and with a previous group, but Quiet as a Mouse seemed like the first band name and project I truly felt happy and comfortable with. Kevin (bassist) and I have been playing music together for a couple of years and last August we met Graham (drums) and Steve (lead guitarist) and Quiet as a Mouse started to kick into gear.
Would you say you had any particular influences?
We try to keep it as vast and open-minded as possible. I’m currently listening to a number of American indie bands from the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s. Also, lyrical and emotive hip hop is great.
You claim to be as quiet as a mouse but are clearly not. Explain yourselves!!
Haha… I suppose one of the aims is to be diverse in the songwriting and musicianship but for all the material to sound like us. Hopefully people enjoy. Some songs are quiet, some are loud.
What inspired the songs you’ve put out so far?
Love. Heartbreak. Death. Hope. Woody Allen films and Nas.
Are you planning a full length release?
Yeah, we have pencilled in October for the release of our debut mini album.
What’s coming up on the live front?
We’ll have a small UK tour in August to coincide with the single’s release.
You can still catch the band at Edinburgh’s Liquid Rooms on August 31 and they’re supporting Electric Soft Parade at Glasgow’s King Tut’s on October 26.
The Tidal Wave of Indifference 