Top Ten - New Scottish Acts

Scotland: land of mist, heather and embarrassing guitar music.

From Nazareth to The Fratellis the kilt wearing Brigades of Scottish music have included more than their fair share of embarrassments. However, deep beneath the heather something is stirring.

...deep beneath the heather something is stirring

With a new Franz Ferdinand album finally shuffling onto the release schedules, and Glasvegas burning up more venues across the nation it’s clear that a new mood has taken hold of Scottish music. Where bands were once happy to churn out a few indie anthems and hold their hands out for the obligatory three album deal, it seems that a new wave of experimentation is breaking on the shores of Caledonia. Here’s our guide to the new Scottish gentry!

10. Attic Lights
Hailing from Glasgow, this band have clearly horded a few Teenage Fanclub singles in their attic. Debut album ‘Friday Night Lights’ is composed of a uniquely Scottish style of songwriting, with chiming guitars, sweet as honey harmonies and bitter as fuck lyrics. A band with huge ambition, unafraid to tackle the big subjects – they’ve even got a song called ‘God’.

9. Copy Haho
An Aberdeen based band, and one of the few unsigned members of this list. Nevertheless, Copy Haho’s stunning blend of skewed Pavement slacker rock and twee melodies has charmed anyone who cares to listen. A single on cult imprint ‘I Fly Spitfires’ is all they have to show for their troubles, but expect good things once a ceasefire is called on the bidding war.

8. Dananananaykroyd
Glasgow based sonic terrorists. Hardcore fans will tell you they haven’t been the same since they replaced the singer – bollocks, they’re still as much fan as slam dancing in a bouncy castle. Recent EP ‘Sissy Hits’ showed off their unique ‘fight pop’ style, and with a New York recording session on the horizon 2009 may well be their year. Best learn to spell their name now, then.

7. Errors
Signed to Mogwai’s influential Rock Action imprint, Errors combine ear-shredding rock, banging beats and a wicked sense of humour. Debut release was called ‘How Clean Is Your Acid House?’ showcasing an irreverent take on the legacy of the second summer of love. Their debut album ‘It’s Not Something But It Is Like Whatever’ is one of the best albums of 2008. In fact, why not vote for it here?

6. Twilight Sad
Probably the most familiar name on this list, Twilight Sad’s debut album ‘Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters’ was named as one of the albums of the year on its release in 2007. Combining the orchestral manoeuvres of Arcade Fire with an almost post-rock love of noise, the Twilight Sad’s celestial vision will surely see them dominate the charts.

...have left critics drooling all over their thesauruses

5. Findo Gask
Former Fifers, Findo Gask relocated to the bright lights of Glasgow to get acquainted with Buckfast flavoured bohemia. Hip club night Optimo snapped them up for their singles club, and since then life has been on fast-forward for the group. Named after a small town near Perth, all roads will soon lead to Findo Gask.

4. Isosceles
Hand picked by none other than Franz Ferdinand to support them, Isosceles represent the art school hipster inside of us all. Attitude packed debut single ‘Get Yours Hands Off” was backed by “Kitch Bitch” – a snarly rant at a girl who buys her clothes from Oxfam. The mothball scented harlot.

3. Frightened Rabbit
Along with fellow jock rockers The Twilight Sad, Frightened Rabbit have already released two celebrated albums through record label Fat Cat. Second LP ‘Midnight Organ Fight’ is the best, but get the debut anyway so it won’t feel lonely. Hailing from tiny Selkirk, Frightened Rabbit’s shrewd small town observations have left critics drooling all over their thesauruses.

2. Sergeant
Bouncing out of the not-so-desirable town of Glenrothes,Fife, Sergeant still manage to channel the spirit of Lee Mavers via Apple era Beatles and infuse it with enough melody to see their forthcoming debut set to rival The View's first offering when it lands next year. Anyone whose wrapped their lobes around single 'K OK' and forthcoming highlight 'Counting Down The Days' will know this band are set for big things in 09.

1. The Pictish Trail
Yet another act from Fife – what do they put in the water over their? The second in command at Fence records, Pictish Trail also backs King Creosote live. When not working his fingers to the bone for that slave driver, Pictish Trail records his own brand of lo-fi folk. By turns psychedelic and electronic, Pictish Trail is a genius trapped in his bedroom.