July 2011
2 posts
6 tags
Interview | Adam Stafford
If you have read my recent review of Build a Harbour Immediately, you should know how much I love this record. If you have listened to it, then chances are you love it as much as I do. The one and only person responsible for all this is Adam Stafford, who recently embarked on a solo adventure after ending the Y’all is Fantasy Island era.
As he prepares next month’s album launch gig...
6 tags
Plastic Animals - A Dark Spring
At some point in our lives we are all guilty of prentending to be inside a movie, perhaps as we are riding the bus and we let our head rest against the window, as we stare blankly outside in melodramatic fashion. In such occasions the only thing that would be missing is the music to give it that little extra bit of drama, but it can’t be just any sort of music.
Plastic Animals should...
June 2011
7 posts
8 tags
Interview | Love Inks
Austin’s best new band has recently released the excellent E.S.P. after pleasing many with their performance at SXSW. As they continue to tour North American with their appealing minimalistic indie-rock, Love Inks took the time to answer a few questions for Argos Barks.
If you’re yet to familiarise yourself with the Texan outfit, then what better time than this. Read on to discover...
4 tags
Adam Stafford - Build a Harbour Immediately
If there is a man that doesn’t need an introduction, that’s Falkirk’s Adam Stafford. This talented Scot has recently moved on from being part of Y’All Is Fantasy Island to working solo, and so with eagerness and bucket-loads of talent Mr. Stafford is about to release his debut album as a solo artist.
That he is talented is a fact that appears crystal clear as soon as you...
5 tags
Sherlock's Daughter - EP
There are times when music can evoke images and memories, provoking the mind to work as it’s tickled by the sound penetrating your ears. It’s in cases like this one that the strength of the lyrics combined with a certain spirituality in the music function as a work of literature or a motion picture might. It is definitely the case with this EP that despite its limited length, it...
7 tags
Interview | Black International
If you’re a reader of this blog, chances are you already know who Black International are. If you don’t, then you’re in for a treat. This Edinburgh trio almost came out of nowhere this year and released In Debt, a debut album that sounds much more than that, a debut.
Their pop-infused grunge rock is loud, dirty and stripped bare. Full of meaning and essence, In Debt proved...
7 tags
Sonar | Lady North
A few days ago I was lucky enough to attend Detour’s Wee Jaunt here in Edinburgh, an event that took a bunch of us on a tour of the capital making surprise stops here and there to watch perform live a hand-picked selection of local bands and artists.
As the day was nearing its end, we started walking towards the final destination of the night. The last performance took slightly longer...
5 tags
A Mixtape by Shambles Miller
If you’re still not aware of who Campbell Miller might be, well, it probably won’t be long until you will stumble upon some of his work. This talented Glaswegian doesn’t cease to work for a minute and is quickly becoming part of a new tribe of promising young Scottish folk musicians who have impressed many with their latest efforts.
Earlier this year, under the moniker of...
5 tags
King Post Kitsch - The Party's Over
Tiny giants Song, By Toad have once again released a precious little record that shall not escape the attention of the most attentive music listeners. Slightly straying away from the genres of previous releases, this record flies into a much more approachable territory, aiding itself with its many, many qualities.
We’re talking about Glasgow-based King Post Kitsch, a name that you may not...
May 2011
7 posts
8 tags
Doune the Rabbit Hole 2011
Strong winds in Edinburgh, volcanic ash clouds over Scotland, generally rubbish weather all around. Doesn’t exactly feel like summer might be approaching, unless you look past next week when, hopefully, the clouds will dissipate leaving for some warmer weather apt for such events as this one.
Doune the Rabbit Hole is fast approaching. Held in Dunblane from the 10th until the 12th of June,...
6 tags
Black International - In Debt
Some records – good records – may strike us from the very beginning and settle in our hearts straight away, others may take a few more dedicated listens in order to acquire that new taste. There is also the occasional third category of good records, the one that slaps you on the face repeatedly as if saying “here I am”, and you can do very little but beg for the slapping to continue.
Fairly odd...
7 tags
Love Inks - E.S.P.
From Austin, Texas comes this trio that have surprised all that thought they deserved a listen at this year’s SXSW – and no mistake was made. Love Inks are easily set to be one of the new big names to come, as their delicate blend of minimalism, dream-pop and rock collides.
E.S.P. is first and foremost a shockingly short album. Its ten songs that rarely make it over the three-minutes mark...
4 tags
Andrew Lindsay & the Coat Hooks - The Whittling
We’re well used to seeing members of legendary bands get together to form what the press tends to call a super-group, as may be the case with bands such as the recent Them Crooked Vultures that was formed by the elite of rock music of recent years. What we’re not so used to is seeing how a bunch of very promising young artist join forces at such an early stage.
What we have here can easily be...
5 tags
Dead Boy Robotics + The Machine Room split single...
Great things are happening in Edinburgh. With many great bands and artists waiting for their moment to shine, it can only be fantastic news the arrival of TAPE and their Singles Club. Far from being some sort of dating service, TAPE is a boutique recording studio with a list of gear that will simply make you faint. Their Singles Club is meant to release a split vinyl showcasing two rather...
7 tags
Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi - Rome
Once again, Danger Mouse returns to the scene with one of his endless one-off collaborations to prove his status as the King Midas of music production, turning into gold every record he touches.
Record after record, the man has had the chance to work and create some fine material with the likes of Sparklehorse, Cee Lo or James Mercer. This time, Danger Mouse teams up with Italian...
3 tags
Russian Red - Fuerteventura
In 2008 we saw the release of Russian Red’s debut album, I Love Your Glasses, a record that introduced us to a very special voice filled with promise. With one excellent track called Cigarettes, this Spaniard quickly managed to grab attention onto herself, and after a few years of work, she now returns with a brand new album.
Fuerteventura is the name of her new work, recorded in Glasgow...
February 2011
8 posts
2 tags
Neil Milton - Elements
How much do our surroundings influence what we do and the way we think? Artists, whatever their field of expertise may be, often spend a great deal of time trying to find a particular place where their minds feel rested, free, able to perform to the fullest of their capabilities.
I’m not sure whether Neil Milton left Scotland because he needed to see new horizons or for other motives, but...
9 tags
Mixtape #02 | Argos Sobs
Some might argue that February is the month of love and would therefore expect a mixtape filled with corny songs about love. Well, sorry to disappoint.
The second mixtape of the year is titled Argos Sobs, a collection of 10 tracks that will question your manliness. Whether it’s the music, the voice, the instrument or the lyrics, all of these songs possess the ability to put us in a...
6 tags
Conquering Animal Sound - Kammerspiel
Conquering Animal Sound have made me take pride in my intuition at the time of guessing which unknown band is going to be special. This duo now based in Glasgow has been showing tiny bits and bobs of their potential for months, promising an album quite unlike any other, and if I were to be entirely honest, there shouldn’t be much pride to take into thinking these two would make big things....
5 tags
Video | Kid Canaveral - You Only Went Out To Get...
I tend to avoid posting music videos, mainly because I don’t care much for them, but this time I couldn’t resist myself.
Those tiny indie-pop giants called Kid Canaveral are really rocking the boat with some stunner tracks, and they just complemented their latest with a rather excellent video.
Very aptly named for the aftermath of Valentine’s Day, You Only Went Out To Get...
4 tags
The Son(s) - The Son(s)
The Son(s) were three men in a band, in Edinburgh. One Son went to London, and made his fortune in the movies. Another Son went to Oxford and lives in a small commune there. The last Son eventually went back to the North East of Scotland to write and record these songs.
In a world of Gagas and Biebers, you simply can’t help but feel surprised when a new name arises but does all he can to...
5 tags
Tanera Heights - Cannons and Drums
Some bands seem to have the secret to making songs that are incredibly infectious since the first time you hear them. They possess originality, they avoid all the overused clichés of pop music but still sound familiar, like we were just waiting for them to appear in our playlist.
Meet Tanera Heights, a band that fits the description perfectly. Originally from North Inverness and now with one...
Dmitry Evgrafov - Lying On Your Shoulder
Music is more often than not such an abstract concept that escapes us without our consent. If we’re lucky, we may feel it or experience it, but to do anything more than that is simply not feasible. And yet, here I am, trying to do such a mad thing as writing about it.
To be entirely honest, I wasn’t quite sure what to think after discovering that this Muscovite composer is merely...
February's Edinburgh Gig Guide
January has now come to an end, which can only mean one thing. It is now February. Ready yourselves as the month isn’t looking half bad with a few decent gigs to go and a couple of them which really shouldn’t be missed.
Highlights of the month are Conquering Animal Sound, who will be launching their debut album, this boy and girl band is going to become pretty big so better see them...
January 2011
3 posts
Discover | This Silent Forest
Ladies and gents, please give a warm welcome to your new favourite Scottish band, This Silent Forest.
Hailing from the city of Glasgow, this sextet has found the perfect formula for combining epic post-rock compositions with delicate, classy Scottish folk. After spending the last months of 2010 to record their credentials, the band is now getting ready to present itself to the world with the...
Mixtape #01 | Argos Shivers
Throughout the year you will be able to find a brand new mixtape for each and every month, right here at Argos Barks.
Each mixtape will be dedicated to a particular theme, and we’re going to kick things off in the scariest possible way.
Argos Shivers is January’s mixtape, a collection of ten tracks that are meant to chill your bones and unsettle your nerves - it’s the...
Track-by-Track: Loch Awe - Artificial Life from a...
Argos, the lazy thing, has been sleeping for quite a while, but is happy to return and especially if he can do so with fantastic music such as this.
You may or may not have heard of Loch Awe, after all they are only a tiny, modest band from the beautiful city of Edinburgh who, amazingly enough, have released their debut album for the amazing price of 0.
Titled Artificial Life from a Digital...
November 2010
3 posts
Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi working together on...
Danger Mouse, he of Gnarls Barkley and Dark Night Of The Soul, and Italian composer Danielie Luppi are working together in a new project that sees the two artists trying to recreate the sound of movie soundtracks from 60s’ Italy.
The album, titled Rome, will also feature a couple of rather notable names such as one Jack White and a certain Norah Jones, all to complete a package of...
The Irrepressibles - Mirror Mirror
Mirror Mirror is hardly a new release; in fact, it was one of the very first of the year, with the album hitting stores in early January. It does seem a little late to be talking about this now but I feel I ought to. The Irrepressibles are a band quite unlike any other. It’s a 10-piece orchestra led by multifaceted Jamie McDermott, who attracts all the attention to himself in a very unique...
Hello, I'm Argos Barks!
My, it’s been quite a while since this place has seen some activity. Welcome back, to both you and me! Argos Barks is now ready to embark on a new journey, one which hopefully will have less unannounced breaks and more music. After all, music is all you need and all I know.
What can you expect? Starting from today you will find features, interviews, mixtapes and random barking about music....
September 2010
7 posts
Interview | Trapped In Kansas
Ayr’s Trapped In Kansas are one of a kind. They are math rockers with the power of a hurricane and the wisdom of a poet and they have already comfortably put themselves into all the existing lists on best and up-and-coming Scottish bands.
A wee listen to the few tracks they have released will dissipate any doubt that you might still have, and after you’ve done so, since there still...
Madlib - Madlib Medicine Show No.8 - Advanced Jazz
There was a time when, in my humble opinion, style and the pure definition of “cool” emanated from every pore of the streets of San Francisco, New Orleans, New York, etc… The first few decades of the latter half of the 20th century were hazy, rooms filled with smoke and the fumes of alcohol, and of course the magnificent sound of jazz. Sadly, everything and everyone who...
Steven Milne - Best Of Times
Best of Times is the name of the EP that comes from the mind of Mr. Milne. Four tracks that take Milne’s soothing vocals into different territories, from easy-listening pop to folk with a few electronic touches, it’s a short but sure taster of the man’s skills. Things being kicked off with Best of Times, the title track, it’s inevitable to get drawn into the mood and...
5 tags
Loch Awe - Artificial Life From A Digital Sea
There’s something about finding great music before anyone else, having the honour of being one of the firsts at sharing something you love with familiar faces and strangers alike. Then, there’s also the unexpected surprise, when the situation is reversed and it’s the music that finds you, rather than you finding it.
Fine, perhaps the compressed file containing the album...
4 tags
TOTD | The Kays Lavelle - Ten Times (The Japanese...
5 tags
Sonar | dems
From Edinburgh comes a new name that is set to shine in the near future. Now settled in London, dems is the project of one Dan Moss, who with barely two tracks has already proved to have something very special going on in that head of his, having attracted the attention of basically everyone in a very short span of time. Some time ago I had a brief chat with the man himself, who was kind enough...
3 tags
TOTD | Blockhead - Which One Of You Jerks Drank My...
July 2010
8 posts
Gerry Loves Records Presents: Trapped In Kansas...
That little great label that is Gerry Loves Records returns once again with a new split vinyl, featuring another couple of hand-picked artists who can claim to be of the very best of the current Scottish musical panorama.
After the successful release of the first split single with Conquering Animal Sound and Debutant, it is now time to move the spotlight on Trapped In Kansas and Yahweh, all...
Cancel The Astronauts - Funny For A Girl
If there was an award for Most Witty And Exquisitely Named Band and I was asked to hand out said award, I would with no doubt choose Edinburgh’s Cancel The Astronauts.
Sadly, such award doesn’t exist, or at least not yet, but that shouldn’t prevent you in any way to listen to the music done by this 5-piece. Their previous EP was the extremely enjoyable I Am The President Of...
Interview | Conquering Animal Sound
Their forthcoming debut album is one of the Scottish records who are causing the most expectation. Conquering Animal Sound is the genius work of James Scott and Anneke Kampman, who are set to stir things up quite a bit, after having already done so with the few tracks they have released so far.
They are set to perform live over the next few weeks in a variety of festivals in different...
TOTD | Seabear - Fire Dies Down
Sonar | Trapped in Kansas
While they still may be lacking an album, Scottish folks should already be aware of the talent that springs from this quartet from Ayr with funny hairdos. Those who, however, are yet to meet their sound, should be in for a treat, as this is one of those few bands who differentiate themselves by doing things genuinely well.
The press loves them, the critique wants them, the fans can’t get...
TOTD | Anoice - Liange
Anoice - Liange by Argos Barks
Interview | Euan McMeeken
Euan McMeeken is one of the hardest working musicians in Scotland, and that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, given the amount of projects he has his hands on. As frontman of emotional indie-folk group The Kays Lavelle, he recently launched their debut album and will be on tour later this year. He runs mini50 records and is preparing to launch some very promising records by some of the most...
TOTD | Identitate - Don't Worry
Identitate - Don’t Worry by Argos Barks
June 2010
17 posts
Sonar | Debutant
I have been on a quest for some time now, and the quest continues. Fascinated as I am with the Icelandic music scene, I simply cannot get enough of the sheer amount of quality coming from the isolated island. Just look at the absurd amount of bands who have the power to captivate you with their sound textures, their gently played acoustic guitars, the lulling violins, violas and cellos, the...
TOTD | Pantha Du Prince - Stick To My Side
Mayhew - Tinderbox
In Edinburgh’s emerging ecosystem of musicians, the genre that seems to be predominant so far is the one of alternative folk. From Broken Records to Meursault, the local music scene has always been slightly different than the rest of cities, always adding that layer of originality that makes most bands only for music fans, leaving the occasional listener a bit confused at times trying to...
Sonar | Euan McMeeken
These days it’s all about side projects and going solo, isn’t it? Well, not that I’m complaining, not when they do it right. The Kays Lavelle’s frontman seems to never content himself with his constant releases of projects and quality music, and is now getting ready to debut as a solo artist.
Euan McMeeken will be launching his debut solo album this summer, titled...
TOTD | Seekae - Wool (feat. Ivan Vizintih)