These Go to 11: interviewing California Snow Story

It has been a while since our last interview, but we are coming back big! Ladies and gents, it's our pleasure to have David Skirving, the man behind the great (and happily reactivated) California Snow Story answering our questionnaire. No time to waste, These Go to 11!

David Skirving, California Snow Story

Finally, we're heading back to California

Hailing from Glasgow, David Skirving formed California Snow Story after leaving our beloved Camera Obscura in 2001. Heavily influenced by Sarah Records (just check his answers below) the first release of his new, dreamy indie pop project, was the EP 'One Good Summer', out in 2002 by Shelflife, a year later appearing on the unmissable label's compilation 'You're Still Young At Heart'. On 2006, after a hiatus of three years, Skirving returned to action with a full band including Sandra Belda Martínez (Superété) on vocals, Madoka Fukushima on keyboards and Alan Skirving on drums. During a year the group worked on their first length, 'Close to the Ocean' released by Letterbox Records in 2007. The band vanished again, but out of the blue, David announced last year on social networks a new album was on the works (with exciting collaborators as my dear Mel Whittle from Hermit Crabs or Lupe from Amor de Días). Now we know the LP it's called 'Some other places' that will be out this May via Rallye Label and Shelflife and, judging by its first tune available, the gorgeous 'Motorway' the wait was worth it. But in the meantime, here we go!

The synth ballad of the 80s

1.First record that you bought (be honest)

Ultravox's 'Vienna' and Joe Dolce's 'Shaddap You Face'. Can’t remember which was first but they are both classics.

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)

New Order ('Technique' era), Roddy Frame (playing 'High Land Hard Rain'). Honestly!

Simple Minds, did you forget about them?

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)

Simple Minds.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)

Maybe some Sarah Records 7” singles like 'Crush the Flowers' by The Wake and 'Paris'/'Last September’s Farewell Kiss' by Northern Picture Library.

5.Favorite lyrics (not yours)
I was listening to Prefab Sprout last week and I’ve always liked 'Life’s not complete till your heart’s missed a beat' combined with the missed beat in the music. Clever!

Bobby Wratten, our hiding hero

6.Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Not sure I want to meet any more musicians but I’ve been lucky to talk online to three different artists from Sarah Records (Bobby Wratten, Caesar and Mary Wyer). They were very friendly and unassuming people and I’m sure I would enjoy meeting them. That label seemed to attract nice people – musicians and fans.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
When I was young I loved the 'Psychocandy' cover by The Jesus and Mary Chain. It seemed really strange when I first saw it and I didn’t understand it but it was striking and fitted the music. I saw where they nicked it from later but that’s art!

'Kokoro',  solitude's standing

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 
Books. I’d recommend ‘Kokoro’ by Natsume Soseki.

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of
Maybe ‘You’ll Go Places’ and ‘Outliers’ from the new album.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
That things don’t have to be crap and that you don’t have to go along with what’s in fashion. When I first heard ‘indie’ music it seemed like a door to a secret world where things were better.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 
Ready to release the third album (it usually takes a while).
                                                                     

 Zillion thanks David!

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 92

A constellation of stars gathered to please your ears is what we have prepared today in our TOP TEN Jukebox. Along with a couple of discoveries we have a line-up of most exciting comebacks and most promising new adventures from musicians we love: Beth Orton! Fear of Men! Rose Elinor Dougall as as a member of the Innerspace Orchestra! California Snow Story! Kate Jackson (remember the great Long Blondes, she's back)! Postal Blue! Sorry for the amount of exclamation marks but this weekend's playlist is mesmerizing, so what are you waiting for? And remember, all this songs are listed at our Soundcloud page (Join Us!)

Direct links to 2015 Jukebox playlists

Week 36  Week 37  Week 38   Week 39  Week 40  Week 41  Week 42 Week 43   Week 44  

Week 45  Week 46  Week 47   Week 48  Week 49   Week 50  Week 51   Week 52  Week 53   

Week 54   Week 55  Week 56   Week 57  Week 58  Week 59   Week 60 Week 61  Week 62 

Week 63  Week 64  Week 65  Week 66   Week 67   Week 68  Week 69   Week 70  Week 71  

Week 72   Week 73  Week 74   Week 75 Week 76   Week 77   Week 78  Week 79   Week 80

Week 81   Week 82   Week 83  Week 84  Week 85  Week 86   Week 87   Week 88  Week 89

Week 90   Week 91

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 85

It's been a strange, emotional and pretty intense week: (un)expected political movements in Catalonia (more absurd days awaiting us, folks), the terribly sad news of David Bowie's death, Robert Forster's gig plus important personal decisions to be made. A lot to digest. But there's always a soundtrack to our days, and we love to share it with you, so here's a new round of our TOP TEN Jukebox. This week with two Blog favourites, Basia Bulat and Courtney Barnett, as well as exciting new finds courtesy of indispensable labels like Discos de Kirlian or Cloudberry Records. And, for those who understand Spanish, we strongly recommend to enjoy the ace tune and check the lyrics of Nacho Vegas' 'Canción Para la PAH', accurate description of what's in stake in Spain. Remember, all these songs are available at our Soundcloud, so check it out (and follow us, if you feel inclined)!

Direct links to 2015 Jukebox playlists
Week 36  Week 37  Week 38   Week 39  Week 40  Week 41  Week 42 Week 43   Week 44  
Week 45  Week 46  Week 47   Week 48  Week 49   Week 50  Week 51   Week 52  Week 53   
Week 54   Week 55  Week 56   Week 57  Week 58  Week 59   Week 60 Week 61  Week 62 
Week 63  Week 64  Week 65  Week 66   Week 67   Week 68  Week 69   Week 70  Week 71  
Week 72   Week 73  Week 74   Week 75 Week 76   Week 77   Week 78  Week 79   Week 80
Week 81   Week 82   Week 83  Week 84

These Go to 11: interviewing The Hermit Crabs

Here comes another These Go to 11 interview series! This time I'm extremely honoured and happy to have the questionnaire completed by a wonderful musician, Melanie Whittle from the adorable The Hermit Crabs and Baffin Island, two personal favourites that make each of their (too few) releases an indiepop celebration. Enjoy!

Queen of the Indiepop Hermits

Melanie Whittle 
The Hermit Crabs / Baffin Island

After California Snow Story was put on hold, where she played drums, Melanie Whittle formed The Hermit Crabs in 2003. The Glaswegian band (Scottland of course, couldn't be any other way?) have released three flawless EPs to date, all available at the infallible Matinée Records; the debut "Feel Good Factor" (2006), "Correspondence Course" (2008), "Time Relentless" (2012), and one full-length; "Saw You Dancing" (2007). But Mel indiepop talents can also be found on the loveliest transcontinental collaboration ever: Baffin Island, where she joins forces with "our man", Jeremy Jensen, and Jake Hite from The Very Most. Here we go!

1. First record that you bought (be honest
Nena, "99 Red Balloons".

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)  

First: Madness at the age of 13. Last: Scottish proms in the park, Glasgow green

The "other" Michael

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
Oo, er….Michael Bublé!?

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Precious to me: Signed copy of Scottish band Win album. Perhaps precious to other people: Signed "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" B&S CD, promo copy of ‘Jonathan David’ by B&S.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours) You told me everything by saying nothing (Bloodbuzzed's note: maybe from Tuxedomoon's "In a Manner of Speaking"?, thanks for that Knut!!)

The real "Deal".

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too) 
I’ve met Kim Deal but would like to meet her again, the guy from Magnetic Fields (Stephen Merrit), Joey Santiago from The Pixies.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Dead Kennedys’ album, "Frankenchrist"

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
I know it’s perhaps an indie cliche but I love Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar", it’s so good on so many levels. Also Wally Lamb's "She’s come undone" and Salinger's "Franny and Zooey". Film: John Cassavettes, "A woman under the influence".

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of

"Closet Fan" from "Saw Your Dancing".

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Oh dear, I don’t know, the eternal question. Alternative, shoe-gazing.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Musically Speaking? – playing a bit of everything in a covers band – weddings, barmitzvahs etc. Hopefully playing the violin to a decent standard.

Zillion thanks Mel!