We Scots are proud of our musical heritage. Granted, we have unleashed some god-awful bands on an undeserving world. But for every Proclaimers we’ve given a Mogwai or Aereogramme, for every Del Amitri there has been a Primal Scream or Jesus & the Mary Chain – and you cannot blame us for Snow Patrol, they are Irish and just happened to re-locate to our land. Yes, we’ve given you Lulu, we’ve given you the abominations that are Darius Danesh and Marty Pellow, but we’re also responsible for Alex Harvey, Robin Guthrie and Frances McKee (Kurt Cobain’s idol no less). You say Sandi Thom, Amy McDonald and KT Tunstall and I’ll throw Ian Anderson, Boards of Canada and Bon Scott right back in your face.

You get the picture; Scottish music has helped shape and define numerous scenes and genres worldwide. From the C86 sounds of BMX Bandits and The Cocteau Twins ethereal shoegaze through to Alan McGee’s Britpop revolution and Mogwai’s classic quiet/loud post-rock formula. For such a small nation, Scotland’s output is nothing short of exceptional.

But what’s happening north of Hadrian’s Wall in 2009? Well, that’s what this article intends to bring you. The bands that are making all the waves, the biggest noise, the most unique sound. We intend to prove its not all about Haggis, Bagpipes, Whisky, Irn-Bru and kilts. Part 1 features five bands from different areas, spanning several genres that are currently making a splash. A new wave of brave, challenging Scottish musicians if you will.

On a side note to touring bands, there’s some 5,000,000 people in Scotland (yes really!) please start to include us in your tour intineries and grace us with your prescence in our top class venues once again and contribute to a thriving music scene.

Super Adventure Club

I caught this trio live supporting Volcano! late last year. At the moment they come across as a bit hit and miss, but their quirky Deerhoof meets Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci and dEUS sound can take an intoxicating hold. The music is often complex, occasionally haphazard and at times the male/female vocals are a little too cartoonish. Though tracks, such as ‘Tommy Sheridan’ eschew much of the child’s play in favour of something much more vitriolic. [sic] Mag suggests you keep an eye out for these two boys and one gal.

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Punch & the Apostles

A septet that works under the New Weird Caledonia banner, who are potential world-beaters to boot. They deal in rousing Balkan-Folk mixed with Van Der Graaf Generator influenced Prog-Rock. To some their bombastic sound may be too over-bearing, but to others this will hit you like a tonne of bricks. Frontman Paul Napier is a slightly built, precocious talent with a monumental voice, while the remaining members engage brass, accordion, fanfare percussion, guitar and bass to create such an infectious sound. “All The Nosey Bastards” is as cathartic as anything famous Scot Alex Harvey put his name to, “I’m A Hobo” will have fans of Arcade Fire and A Hawk and A Hacksaw eating out of their hands, while the funky “Can Of Beans” is a bona fide radio hit in the making. At the moment, one of Glasgow’s best kept secrets

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The Gothenburg Address

There are only two tracks currently doing the rounds from this Edinburgh-based quartet. But their streamlined atmospheric instrumental rock certainly hits the mark. These boys know how to write a tune, a factor often left out by other Post-Rock outfits, and while they’re not particularly innovative, they stamp their authority with panache. Radio acclaim from both BBC (‘Unsigned Heroes’) and XFM (‘Band of the Week’) proves they are set to continue their ascent, check the extremely melodic and hugely impressive “A Lesser Coming Home” for hard evidence.

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There Will Be Fireworks

Glasvegas, The Twilight Sad and Frightened Rabbit may have conquered the States with their Scottish romanticism but these boys have the potential to follow suit. Still unsigned, but it shouldn’t be for too long judging by tracks like “Foreign Thoughts” and “Midfield Maestro”. The latter, whose subject matter of Football, will likely go over the heads of many Yanks, but the lyrics sung in a thick Scots accent won’t – they simply cannot get enough of it. Of course, such a sound usually straddles the line between serious and twee precariously. There Will Be Fireworks pull it off with ease. Get in touch with them to recieve free mp3’s.

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Gasgiant

Seriously under-rated and ridiculously under-exposed instrumental rockers who first got together in 1991 (some 5 years ahead of Mogwai). Their particular brand shares more in common with 90’s bands like Sonic Youth and Sweredriver than any current trend. Throw in some Slo-core influences, with Codeine and The God Machine particularly coming to mind, and you’ve got Gasgiant. Their last record “An Uncertainty Principle” (only their second album to date) emanates with a real aura of vast, wide open spaces. The guitars are suitably stentorian, the percussion explosive and the songwriting absolutely narcotic. There’s no self-importance here just absolute quality from the slow-burning “Slo-Core” to the mesmeric “Opium”. A band that have passed under people’s radar’s for far too long.

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