DESCRIPTION:
Polymyth - Devil
Album: Steliograph (2008)

The Edinburgh trio, fronted by vocalist Miriam Remally, have spent almost three years crafting a collection of songs in their Leith studio. The result is an excellent album with a trip-hop exterior, fusing the fine voice of Remally with stripped down beats and minimal, but very effective, instrumentation. The song Voyeur's View -- our track of the month, is out on 7 April via Black Sugar records, a label owned by the indefatigable Mani Shoniwa, former bass player with 1980s Edinburgh band Win.

Click on the green button to hear the song Voyeur's View.

When not producing in his warren-like studio and running a label, he has also found time to manage the teenage Fife act B Raymond And The Voicettes [ www.myspace.com/braymondandthevoicettes]. Their song Old Man Marley is being used on a Brylcreem ad, and gives a taste of their cheerful, laid-back style.

• For many years guitarist Haftor Medbe has had a reputation as one of Scotland's leading jazz purists, thanks to his eponymous group. But for the past two years he has been working with musicians from other genres, including Scottish rapper Solareye [known to his mum as Dave]. At the same time he has been developing a hybrid label/online platform to promote and sell music. With a name reflecting Medbe's love of all things German, Fabrikant Records [www.fabrikant-records.net] already boasts a diverse roster of exciting acts including Solareye, NeWt, The Spontaniacs, Monosapiens and the Haftor Medbe Group. Expect a launch party featuring live performances at some point over the next few weeks, but in the meantime the excellent biographies on the acts are well worth a look. They read like fine wine summaries written by someone on mescaline.

• With the rise of both legal and illegal downloads, record shops have been feeling the pinch of late. Earlier this month a coalition of some of the best indie stores in the UK got together to see how they could increase support among labels and consumers. Participating Scottish shops are Avalanche [Glasgow and Edinburgh] and On Up in Aberdeen. It is hoped that in the coming months they will begin hosting special in-store shows as well as selling releases made available through their stores. Also being discussed is a tie-in with Record Store Day, which takes place across the US on 19 April. It is the brainchild of Henry Rollins and former Faith No More frontman Mike Patton.

• After three great years at The Street, Born To Be Wide moves to Edinburgh's Voodoo Rooms on 3 April and will mark the occasion with a seminar given by Martin Atkins who has drummed with Killing Joke, Nine Inch Nails, Public Image Limited and Pigface. These days he runs Invisible Records in Chicago and regularly lectures on touring, a subject about which he has also written a book. Atkins will be playing his favourite records along with The Skinny's music editor Dave Kerr and members of Lewis' finest, Our Lunar Activities.

• Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run Edinburgh's Born To Be Wide ( www.myspace.com/borntobewide) where bands and people involved in the music scene are invited to play their favourite records, as long as they are not by The Smiths or Joy Division. The night takes place monthly at The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh.








#triphop #downtempo #chillout #Polymyth