The Scotsman, Under the Radar, November 2014

Published In The Scotsman Newspaper: Monday 3 November 2014 | Words by Derick Mackinnon and Olaf Furniss

Miracle Glass Company, is a collaboration between troubadours William Douglas and Austen George, along with drummer Andy Duncan. All three are well-kent figures in the Edinburgh music scene and early live forays have gone down well with local audiences. Boasting a slightly psychedelic nod to the sixties, the individual band members all take turns at vocal duties, delivering some impressive harmonies. The band recorded ‘Turnaround’ – our Track of the Month – earlier this year and play Edinburgh’s Voodoo Rooms on 30 November. In January they go into the studio with veteran producer Owen Morris, whose credits include Oasis and The Verve. We look forward to the result. Visit www.miracleglasscompany.com Congratulations to Young Fathers our Track of the Month provider way back in February 2009, who last Wednesday added the prestigious Mercury Music Prize to their Scottish Album of the Year Award. One person likely to have celebrated almost as hard as the band, is Nick Stewart, owner of Edinburgh venue Sneaky Pete’s. His bet on the Edinburgh trio winning scooped him £850. Visit www.young-fathers.com Lost Map Records recently celebrated its first birthday and to mark the occasion has launched a special section on the label’s website. Given the name Clumps, it promises to offer a variety of digital goodies including podcasts, films, photo diaries and other “random stuff.” The section currently hosts a free sampler featuring tracks by Lost Map artists, as well as a short, music-based film on the Howlin’ Fling Festival on the Isle of Eigg, which is organised by the label’s founder Johnny Lynch [aka Pictish Trail]. Visit http://lostmap.com/clumps Meanwhile, Lynch’s erstwhile collaborator, King Creosote, also has news on the film front. From Scotland With Love, the excellent documentary for which he composed the soundtrack, has been nominated for a Scottish Bafta. See Visit www.fromscotlandwithlovethefilm.com Much-loved Edinburgh venue, La Belle Angele, reopened recently, 12 years after the building which housed it was destroyed by a fire. Rebuilt on the same spot on the Cowgate, it will host its first live gig in December and plans to resume its place on the touring circuit in the New Year. Visit www.facebook.com/LaBelleAngele The Dark Jokes (our track of the month providers in August), self-release their debut album Ekco Transmissions on the 24 November. The four-piece raised funds for the recording through a crowd-sourcing campaign and will be rewarding all those who pledged, with a secret gig in Leith on 22 November.The remaining tickets are available to the first people who email info@thedarkjokes.com with Free Launch Tickets in the subject line. Visit www.thedarkjokes.com for more details.Now in its 16th year, and a key fixture on the Scottish music calendar,The Tartan Clef Awards organised by music charity, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, takes place on 29 November at The Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow. Full info visit www.nordoffrobbinsscotland.org.uk Finally, fledgling label First Run Records continues in its quest to develop emerging talent across Scotland. Its latest releases include So Long Gone by Vukovi and Open Your Eyes by United Fruit. More info visit www.firstrunrecords.com •  Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run music event night, Born To Be Wide which next takes place on Thursday [6 November] at Edinburgh’s Electric Circus. Mark Ellen, founder of Q Magazine and former Smash Hits Editor, will be interviewed live and sign copies of his book Rock Stars Stole My Life. The evening also features a discussion panel about music journalism. For full info and tickets visit www.borntobewide.co.uk/events