Malcolm Middleton
Key tracks:
- Red Travelling Socks
- Kiss At The Station
- Beep Beep I Love You
Label: Full Time Hobby
Read Description:
Wonderfully well-crafted songs with wry reflective lyrics, that despite their seemingly bleak outlook, inspire hope.
He’s back and surprisingly he’s sounding happier than ever! Acclaimed singer-songwriter, half of Arab Strap and self-proclaimed Scottish miserablist, Malcolm Middleton seems to have turned a corner, he is on a mission to get to sunnier climes and he has grabbed our hand to take us with him. We’re not the only ones either, he has a relaxed Caledonian indie mafia with him too. Former Strap member Jenny Reeve and King Creosote (aka Kenny Anderson) provide beautiful vocals, while Barry Burns from apocalyptic post-rockers Mogwai tinkles the ivories.
This is an album choc-full of wonderfully well-crafted songs, even if some of the lyrics can seem bleak at times there is still a wry reflectiveness in them that inspires hope. Moreover the music is generally so upbeat, and the hooks so catchy that one or two listens will have you singing along to his punchy choruses. “Red Travelling Socks” feels like he has stepped into Springsteen’s shoes for a “Dancing In The Dark” melody with an epic anthemic feel that builds and drops at every turn. “Kiss At The Station” is another unexpected hit, a great singalong breakdown, an unbridled energy and immediacy and the wonderful sentiment of needing to race down the platform into the arms and lips of your loved one, sweet! If this album keeps getting the amount of airplay it has been receiving then it could be a real crossover hit.
If you need convincing further of Middleton’s status as one of the best songwriters of his generation also check out “Beep, Beep, I Love You” The joy of sending love letters via mobile phone – cue ad! “A Brighter Beat” is a stunning track, although the theme is lost love it is a real toe-tapping show-stopper with a rousing chorus! Don't ask me how - it just works!
INSTRUMENTALS AVAILABLE
Things to watch:
Releases we represent:
- A Brighter Beat | Album | Full Time Hobby | 2007
- Beep Beep, I Love You (Fuck It, I Love You) | Single | Full Time Hobby | 2007
- Fight Like The Night | Single | Full Time Hobby | 2007
- Waxing Gibbous | Album | Full Time Hobby | 2009
- Waxing Gibbous (Instrumentals) | Album | Full Time Hobby | 2009
Quotes:
On “Waxing Gibbous”
"As vital as ever...a man still bursting with ideas" 5/5 Album of The Week The Sunday Times
"A Career High" 4/5 The Times
“Once more, Middleton has made a reflective, charming and funny album” BBC Music
“To categorise this record would be folly; gentle folk clashes with hearty electronica and pulsing rock n roll – it seems Middleton is at his best without the constraints of genre.” Subba Cultcha
“An upbeat, affirmative record, full of insight, humour and good tunes.“ Music Omh
“An arresting and enjoyable record.” Music Week
"Good robust Scottish gloom served with a chaser of wry humour" The Observer
On "Kiss At The Station"
"When the song reaches it's exultant bridge passage the listener is swept along with the possibilities" Music Omh
On “A Brighter Beat”
“Without a weak song on it, this album is already one of the year’s highlights.” ***** The Times
“An invigorating pop album, full of wit, tunes and empathy for the bedsit nation. Time to wake up to him.” **** The Independent
"Middleton greows more interesting with each soo release" Mojo
“A spring-heeled, jet-black gem.” **** Observer Music Monthly
“The rhythms are faster, sweeter, more urgent, while the lyrics are as wonderfully dark as ever.” The Daily Telegraph
“Razor-sharp songs that do valiant justice to the desperate optimism of gutter-bound”dreamers “ Q
“Malcolm Middleton offers up a catchy indie electropop album worthy of all its communicative attention” Under the Radar
“'A Brighter Beat' is exactly that.” NME
Tracks included on the following samplers:
- Woodwork presents Full Time Hobby Download sampler here
- Songs About Love And Romance Vol. 1. Download sampler here
- School of Rock Download sampler here
- New Music Vol 6 Download sampler here
- Upbeat Indie Download sampler here
- Upbeat Indie Instrumentals Download sampler here
- Upbeat Indie USA Download sampler here
- Full Time Hobby: Hobbyism Download sampler here
