The Scratch Cast: The Alternative Music Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

It's been another long wait but we're back with a new episode of The Scratch Cast. Since we last met, Grant laid some slabs and became a Swifty, while Snedds witnessed a man's descent into madness during Dune: The Musical.

On our singles swap we’re discussing The Sink by indie folk duo hey, nothing and Danzig With Myself by your favourite specialists in car advert music The Dandy Warhols, featuring the legendary Frank Black.

We’ll talk about the gigs we’ve been to recently (including DVNE, Taylor Swift and James), the digital corkboard is back (including new music from Becca Starr) and finally, we’ve got our album reviews: Divine Accusations from Belfast-based rockers Black Opal, Can’t hate you forever from Dartmouth, Halifax four-piece Safeword, You’re Just Jealous from Leeds and York-based indie punks Crumbs, A Bolt From The Blue from post-hardcore punks MODERN SHAKES, and apricity from Brighton’s post-rock / progressive metal/post-hardcore quintet VOWER.

Listen here or via any of the links at the bottom of the page. Sit back, relax and listen to Episode 28: ”The Occasional Music Podcast”.

If you want to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/headscratcher

If you’re wondering what our review scores relate to, check out our rating system below:

1/10 - Destroy without listening

2/10 - Rancid bin juice (bathe afterwards)

3/10 - Hot garbage (avoid)

4/10 - Meh (not worth going back to)

5/10 - Forgettable (one or two good songs)

6/10 - Just OK (for fans of the genre)

7/10 - Good (quite like it)

8/10 - Very good (must listen)

9/10 - Exceptional (absolutely love it)

10/10 - Practically flawless (unmissable)

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :)

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo

Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA

Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH

TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur

& more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast

All music clips are used as teasers only and remain the property of the respective artists.

Peace.

#podcast #musicpodcast #indiepodcast #scottishpodcast #newmusic2024 #newmusicpodcast #thescratchcast #thealternativemusicpodcast #theheadscratcher #musicreviews #albumreviews #singlereviews #livemusicreviews

We're finally back with another new episode of The Scratch Cast: The Alternative Music Podcast. Did you miss us?

On this episode Grant talks a lot about Blackpool, we try to find Keanu Reeves, and we discuss the phenomenon of people our age looking a lot older in the 80s...

On our singles swap we discuss: "10 Mile Smile" by Elgin solo artist Jay Taulier and "Stand Up or Sit Down" by Glasgow's The Kidney Flowers.

We also talk about the gigs we’ve been to recently - including Bombay Bicycle Club, Dragged Up, Amateur Cult and Creeper - and last but not least we’ve got reviews of the following albums: "Boombap for Boomers" from alt/rock, hip-hop fusion-ista Lewca, "The Heartist" a visual album from Irish musician Galvo, "World Wide Willow" from Utrecht rockers Kaspar Baum, and "Take It Or Leave It" from Derry pop punks CHERYM.

Check out the episode below or via any of the links at the bottom of the page. Sit back, relax and listen to Episode 27: ”Blackpool, Keanu Reeves & Old Men Stinking of Pish”.

If you want to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/headscratcher

If you’re wondering what our review scores relate to, check out our rating system below:

1/10 - Destroy without listening

2/10 - Rancid bin juice (bathe afterwards)

3/10 - Hot garbage (avoid)

4/10 - Meh (not worth going back to)

5/10 - Forgettable (one or two good songs)

6/10 - Just OK (for fans of the genre)

7/10 - Good (quite like it)

8/10 - Very good (must listen)

9/10 - Exceptional (absolutely love it)

10/10 - Practically flawless (unmissable)

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :)

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo

Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA

Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH

TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur

& more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast

All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists.

Peace.

#podcast #musicpodcast #indiepodcast #scottishpodcast #newmusic2024 #newmusicpodcast #thescratchcast #thealternativemusicpodcast #theheadscratcher #musicreviews #albumreviews #singlereviews #livemusicreviews

It’s been ages since we last uploaded an episode of The Scratch Cast Podcast but this one’s a little bit special. To celebrate our second birthday (which rolled around back in September) we’re reviewing submissions from all the way back before the podcast was a thing, up until just a few months ago. We also discuss Snedds’ ongoing Sopranos obsession, what we thought of The Many Saints of Newark, Hidden Door Festival 2021, Stag and Dagger Festival 2021 and Kneecap live. Oh and Snedds does his best impression of Porky Pig…

On our singles swap this month we review “Violet” by The Zebecks and “Paranoia Party” by Frances Forever. On the next episode, we’ll be discussing “I Know I’m Not Easy To Like” by Pip Blom and “Working All The Time” by Xenia Rubinos.

We also review five submissions including “Uspeh”, progressive, dystopian metal from Bulgaria’s TDK, “Lined in Silver” the black metal, post-hardcore and metalcore infused opus from Breaths, “Golden Orb” the unbelievably weird experimental concoction of alt. rock, stoner metal and jazz from MUDDY, “Karma” the 90s inspired dance and electronic pop album from Huddersfield’s Equal Frequencies and finally, “You’ll Own Nothing and You’ll Be Happy”, the intriguing, ambient, psychedelic EP from Sugaar Pan.

Check out the episode below or via any of the links at the bottom of the page. Sit back, relax and listen to Episode 19: ”That’s All Folks”.

If you want to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/headscratcher

If you’re wondering what our review scores relate to, check out our rating system below:

1/10 - Destroy without listening

2/10 - Rancid bin juice (bathe afterwards)

3/10 - Hot garbage (avoid)

4/10 - Meh (not worth going back to)

5/10 - Forgettable (one or two good songs)

6/10 - Just OK (for fans of the genre)

7/10 - Good (quite like it)

8/10 - Very good (must listen)

9/10 - Exceptional (absolutely love it)

10/10 - Practically flawless (unmissable)

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :)

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo

Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA

Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH

TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur

& more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast

All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists.

Peace.

On this episode of The Scratch Cast Podcast, we have difficulty pronouncing the word “alchemical”, spoil the end of the Sopranos (SPOILER ALERT) and forget famous actors’ names from The Irishman. Generally, we just talk a lot of nonsense, intertwined with reviews of new music.

On our singles swap this month we review “Good 4 U” by Olivia Rodrigo (not Olivio Rodriguez!) and “Do You Mind?” by Orla Gartland. On the next episode, we’ll be discussing “Violet” by The Zebecks ” and “Paranoia Party” by Frances Forever.

On “submission corner” we’ve got more Scottish Hip-Hop with “K.O.T.H.” from West Lothian emcee Barz Fury. If you’ve got something you want us to hear then make sure you hit us up via the contact page, on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or via email at theheadscratcher@outlook.com.

We also review three more albums including “Megabear” the experimental 52-track non-linear album from bedroom-pop quartet “ME REX”, the instrumental, experimental jazz odyssey that is “Tri Magi” from The Lasso, Jordan Hamilton and The Saxsquatch and finally the dystopian electronic hip hop concept album “Music for Hypercapitalists” from Post Coal Prom Queen and friends.

Sit back, relax and listen as we commence ”Spoiling the Sopranos”.

If you want to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/headscratcher

If you’re wondering what our review scores relate to, check out our rating system below:

1/10 - Destroy without listening

2/10 - Rancid bin juice (bathe afterwards)

3/10 - Hot garbage (avoid)

4/10 - Meh (not worth going back to)

5/10 - Forgettable (one or two good songs)

6/10 - Just OK (for fans of the genre)

7/10 - Good (quite like it)

8/10 - Very good (must listen)

9/10 - Exceptional (absolutely love it)

10/10 - Practically flawless (unmissable)

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :)

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo

Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA

Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH

TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur

& more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast

All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists.

Peace.

On this episode of The Scratch Cast Podcast, Grant is denied a toilet break, your hosts awkwardly speak doric for two seconds and, as always, we review some (reasonably) new music…

On our singles swap this month we discuss “Omega Water” by Antwerp underground rockers “Lonewolves in Paradise” and “Unsmrt Lady” by the effortlessly cool “Dry Cleaning”. On the next episode, we’ll be discussing “good 4 u” by “Olivia Rodrigo” and “Do You Mind?" by “Orla Gartland”.

On “submission corner” we’ve got the monstrously diverse “Into The Hollow”, the debut album from “Mothman and the Thunderbirds”. If you’ve got something you want us to hear then make sure you hit us up via the contact page, on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or via email at theheadscratcher@outlook.com.

We also review three more debut albums including “if i could make it go quiet” by indie-pop sensation “girl in red”, the eponymous debut from self-proclaimed gay lover band “MAN ON MAN”, and the outrageous art school indie jazz of “Bright Green Field” by “Squid”.

Check out the episode below or via any of the links at the bottom of the page. Sit back, relax and listen to ”The 183rd Best Music Commentary Podcast in Denmark”.

If you want to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/headscratcher

Thanks to the nation of Denmark for your support.

If you’re wondering what our review scores relate to, check out our rating system below:

1/10 - Destroy without listening

2/10 - Rancid bin juice (bathe afterwards)

3/10 - Hot garbage (avoid)

4/10 - Meh (not worth going back to)

5/10 - Forgettable (one or two good songs)

6/10 - Just OK (for fans of the genre)

7/10 - Good (quite like it)

8/10 - Very good (must listen)

9/10 - Exceptional (absolutely love it)

10/10 - Practically flawless (unmissable)

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :)

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo

Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA

Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH

TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur

& more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast

All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists.

Peace.

The Scratch Cast - The Interviews

Episode 05 - Fiona Liddell

12th June 2021

On the fifth Scratch Cast interview, Grant and Snedds have the absolute pleasure of talking to Edinburgh-based musician Fiona Liddell.

Fiona talks about promoting Scottish music, explains how she manages to juggle her many, many musical endeavours, reveals the creative process behind her fantastic "Cover to Cover" compilation album (in aid of Scottish Women Inventing Music) and much, much more.

If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out "Cover to Cover", "Gefahrgeist" and "Fiona Liddell Music" at the links below: https://fionaliddell.bandcamp.com/album/cover-to-cover

https://gefahrgeist.bandcamp.com/ https://fionaliddell.bandcamp.com/

Check out our review of "Cover to Cover in Episode 16 of The Scratch Cast here: https://youtu.be/ZzKcWQQHens

The intro music, which will be stuck in your head for days, is taken from "Parkinson", an old British television chat show presented by Michael Parkinson - please don't sue us Parky!

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode.

Please leave a nice review :)

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2​

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj​

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy​

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo​

Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA​

Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH​

TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur​

& more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast

All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists.

Peace.

#covertocover #scottishwomeninventingmusic #SWIM #newmusic #scottishmusic #scottishmusicians #edinburgh

The Scratch Cast - The Alternative Music Podcast - Episode 16

“A Mixed Bag of Squits”

2nd June 2021

It's been a while since our last episode but Episode 16 of The Scratch Cast is finally here and with a slight re-brand. We’re now “The Alternative Music Podcast” which means we talk about nothing but music… a rule Snedds casually breaks before the episode is out.

In this episode, Grant treats himself to a whisky, Snedds makes yet another Jamie Lenman reference and talks about cardboard mazes and both discuss the finer points of drinking too much cordial… oh and of course we review some new music…

On our singles swap this month we subject ourselves to the experimental hardcore of “The Armed” and the apocalyptic acoustic folk of “Elliot Pullen”. In the next episode, we’ll be discussing “Omega Water” by “Lonewolves in Paradise” and “Unsmart Lady” by “Dry Cleaning”. On “submission corner” we cover two releases from Ripcord Records: “Kintsukuroi” from Chilean metal band “La Bestia De Gevaudan” and the “Anatomy EP” from Aberdeen’s own “Seas, Starry”. If you’ve got something you want us to hear then make sure you hit us up via the contact page, on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or via email at theheadscratcher@outlook.com.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, we also review music written by artificial intelligence with “Lost Tapes of The 27 Club”, the massive collaborative ska-punk extravaganza “The First One” from “Andy B & The World”, “Cover to Cover” the all-Scottish-all-female cover album curated by Edinburgh-based musician Fiona Liddell and “Haram” the latest, bewilderingly complex art-rap release from “Armand Hammer & The Alchemist”.

Sit back, relax and listen to “A Mixed Bag of Squits”.

If you want to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here.

Thanks to @sculpt.rebecca & @ellietype for the cover art found in Leith, Scotland. If you’re wondering what our review scores relate to, check out our rating system below:

1/10 - Destroy without listening

2/10 - Rancid bin juice (bathe afterwards)

3/10 - Hot garbage (avoid)

4/10 - Meh (not worth going back to)

5/10 - Forgettable (one or two good songs)

6/10 - Just OK (for fans of the genre)

7/10 - Good (quite like it)

8/10 - Very good (must listen)

9/10 - Exceptional (absolutely love it)

10/10 - Practically flawless (unmissable)

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :)

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo

Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA

Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH

TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur

& more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast

All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists.

Peace.

On the fourth Scratch Cast interview, Grant and Snedds discuss all things IKITAN with band members Luca, Enrico & Frik Et.

We ask about the concept behind their powerful new EP “Twenty Twenty”, the recording process, their influences, the music scene in Genoa and which bands they think we should be checking out.

We had a great time chatting with these guys and hope you enjoy the interview as much as we did!

If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out "Twenty Twenty" from IKITAN here: https://ikitan.bandcamp.com/

Check out our review of Twenty Twenty from Episode 14 of The Scratch Cast here: https://youtu.be/4ROFyXPNQ2I

Watch or listen to the interview below. The intro music, which will be stuck in your head for days, is taken from "Parkinson", an old British television chat show presented by Michael Parkinson - please don't sue us Parky!

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :)

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2​

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj​

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy​

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo​

Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA​

Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH​

TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur​

& more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast

All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists.

Peace.

A new episode of The Scratch Cast is here at last and we’ve got another jam-packed show for your listening pleasure.

On our singles swap this month we investigate the most mysterious song on the internet “The Most Mysterious Song On The Internet” and discuss “Mam” the latest single from Irish hip-hop trio KNEECAP (feat. DYRT). On the next episode, we’ll be discussing “The Pale Horse” by Elliot Pullen and “Average Death” by Anonymous hardcore punk outfit The Armed.

On “submission corner” we dive into “Postulated Substance Abuse” the new EP from Livingston rapper Slippery Trashmouf and we tackle yet another mammoth post-rock song “Too Late, Already It’s Too Late” from Yorkshire’s “Going Feral”. If you’ve got something you want us to hear then make sure you hit us up via the contact page, on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or via email at theheadscratcher@outlook.com.

But that’s not all! We also review “Emphatically No.”, the new album from Los Angeles rock trio Cheekface, “Collapsed In Sunbeams” the debut album from London singer-songwriter Arlo Parks, “Look Alive”, the 6th album from Canadian rock duo Black Pistol Fire and finally “High VIbrations” from multi-instrumentalist The John Michie Collective. Check out the episode below or via any of the links at the bottom of the page.

Sit back, relax and listen to “Arses For Faces”. If you want to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/headscratcher

If you’re wondering what our review scores relate to, check out our rating system below:

1/10 - Destroy without listening

2/10 - Rancid bin juice (bathe afterwards)

3/10 - Hot garbage (avoid)

4/10 - Meh (not worth going back to)

5/10 - Forgettable (one or two good songs)

6/10 - Just OK (for fans of the genre)

7/10 - Good (quite like it)

8/10 - Very good (must listen)

9/10 - Exceptional (absolutely love it)

10/10 - Practically flawless (unmissable)

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :)

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo

Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA

Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH TuneIn

Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur

& more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast

All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists.

Peace.

For the third Scratch Cast interview, Grant and Snedds have the pleasure of catching up with Jak and Welshy from the genre-bending punk band WACO.

We ask about the band’s brilliant new album Hope Rituals and Jak and Welshy open up on their interstellar idiosyncrasies and a whole host of other topics including their charity singles, how positivity influences their music, what they miss about gigs and whether we’re alone in the universe.

We had a proper laugh chatting to these guys and hope you enjoy the interview as much as we did!

If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out "Hope Rituals" and more music from WACO here: http://www.wacoband.co.uk/

If you're interested in learning more about the Raelian Religion, as discussed by Jak in the video, you can check out his article on the subject for Vice here: https://tinyurl.com/em453ctj

Check out our review of Hope Rituals from Episode 11 of The Scratch Cast here: https://youtu.be/NDZIZChJhZ0

The intro music, which will be stuck in your head for days, is taken from "Parkinson", an old British television chat show presented by Michael Parkinson - please don't sue us Parky!

Audio clips are featured as a taster only and remain the property of the individual artists.

Clips featured are as follows:

"Catbrain" - https://youtu.be/eAnrsxSTqpI

“Levenshulme Lover" - https://youtu.be/GMmSMl9-gU0

"Good Days" - https://youtu.be/AeR58yDN__Y

"Barracuda" - https://youtu.be/VzJMYo2TeSo

“Dark Before the Dawn” - https://youtu.be/B8rs5GFic9s “Busy Livin’” - https://youtu.be/vJhjVKz9vvM

“A New Future” - https://youtu.be/hVRGuVU3o0Y

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode.

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo

Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA

Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH

TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur

& more: https://pod.link/1480168617

Peace.