IT'S TARTAN TIME (PART 4)

Some of these you will know, others will be a bit more obscure, but further evidence from this handful of tunes that when it comes to great pop music, Scotland is a place that punches well above its weight.

song : Aztec Camera - The Boy Wonders
song : Idlewild - Roseability
song : Sons & Daughters - Rama Lama
song : U.N.P.O.C. - Amsterdam

Its quite astonishing to think that the Aztec Camera song was first heard away back in 1983 on the debut LP High Land Hard Rain and that Roddy Frame wasn't yet 19 years of age when it was recorded. There's many songs from the 80s that haven't aged well. Thankfully, this isn't one of them.

Idlewild are one of the most underated acts on the go right now. They're also an outstanding live act, and this was the song that kicked-off their set the last time I saw them in Glasgow late last year. I'm guessing it won't be too long now before their record label puts together a 'Best Of' (maybe in time for the upcoming Xmas market??). Meantime this can be found on 100 Broken Windows.

As for Sons & Daughters, most of the tunes on their two LPs feature lead vocal duties by the gorgeous and sexy Adele Bethel. However this song, taken from The Repulsion Box, is one in which the equally gorgeous and sexy Scott Paterson does the honours - albeit with some help from Adele. Methinks Nick Cave would have been proud to have put this on Murder Ballads.

The final act featured today is U.N.P.O.C. This is basically the name used by Scottish singer-songwriter Tom Bauchop, who is one of the lesser-known elements of the Fife-based Fence Collective.

I was lucky enough to see the first ever 'proper' gig (ie as a band rather than a solo act) by U.N.P.O.C. at King Tut's in December 2003 when they were first on stage in support of James Yorkston & The Athletes. The next act on was the equally impressive King Creosote. A quite magical night indeed.

This is from the LP Fifth Column which came out in late 2003. To the best of my knowledge, there has been no follow-up released as yet.

If you like any of these tracks, please go and buy the LPs. Thank You.