SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – SOMETHING FOR THE LONGING – SCOTTISH INDEPENDENT POP 1985-1999

VARIOUS ARTISTS
SOMETHING FOR THE LONGING – SCOTTISH INDEPENDENT POP 1985-1999 
CHERRY RED RECORDS

Famed author and film director Grant McPhee (All Invisible Things, Postcards From Scotland) has assembled a three-CD set handpicking some gems from the Scottish Independent Scene from 1985 through to 1999. That 15-year span produced a great many bands, who were all on independent labels. The post-punk scene in Glasgow spawned many bands, and it is impossible to collect all of them in one place, but McPhee and Cherry Red have done an admirable job with this collection.

This set also demonstrates how the music and artists grew during this time. Going from the psychedelic-punk noise of Jesus and Mary Chain to the sparse, beautiful instrumental sounds of Mogwai is quite a distance in a short time (14 years is not long). In between you have the Britpop (sorry Scotland) sound of The Soup Dragons to the power pop sounds of Baby Lemonade to the chamber pop sounds of Belle and Sebastian. All of these bands (and the other 60) are represented by some of their finest songs.

Some lesser-known bands are represented as well, and this is what makes the set so wonderful. One can discover bands like Spare Snare (excellent post-punk), or the lo-fi music from The Golden Dawn or the classic rock sounds of The Luci Baines Band. There are previously unreleased tracks on the set as well.

Not only has McPhee gathered together an eclectic group of artists and bands to illustrate Scotland’s rich independent scene, but he has also put together a cohesive study into an era. His essay included with the set helps put everything in context and the end result is a brilliant compilation. It is an eye-opening excursion into a time and place, with a stunning soundtrack.

Cherry Red Records Links