Label Releases 2022
Following on from a great debut year for Whanga Records, we go into 2022 with some great releases coming your way. Follow us on all the usual socials to let us know exactly what you think, or if you want to get involved or arrange a chat to discuss how we can work together, our details are on our Contact page.
TwinsTown -
Big Heart
Released 16/12/22
Purchase via Bandcamp shop here
Listen via your preferred streaming service here
Watch the music video here
Big tunes and a Big Heart! Twinstown have both in abundance!
Big Heart is their latest single, and first single with new recruits Aidan Stewart on bass and Keiran Gillespie on drums.
This is more than just another great indie rock n roll tune, it's a tribute to friends sadly lost. It also encourages friends and family to remember to look out for one another and to open up to each other.
'You've got a big heart, but you've no patience
Your pulse has done a runner on another palpitation''
So remember this Xmas to look out for your friends and turn Big Heart up loud!
TwinsTown - Johnny Depp
Released 12/8/22
Purchase via Bandcamp shop here
Listen via your preferred streaming service here
Watch the music video here
Written and recorded well before the infamous court case, Johnny Depp is 3 minutes and 3 seconds of laid back, chilled out indie pop. It starts off like The Kinks and the quirky feel grows as we’re treated to some tuneful backing vocals from Billy George and Ben Sharp, followed by a guitar solo from Stuart Mackay. BLOW ME LIKE YOU WOULD TO JOHNNY DEPP!
Mark Guyan’s keys feature prominently throughout but are always held back neatly as the song bubbles along nicely. This is not the power pop you might expect from TwinsTown.
This is more Belle and Sebastian than Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Mark isn’t banging it out here, like, say Steve Nieve, and his aggressive fingerwork firing Costello’s rant on Radio Radio. An angry rant directed against the BBC’s censorship of the Sex Pistols’ God Save the Queen. No, this is Mark cajoling the TwinsTown boys to play nice, straighten up and fly right.
It’s first class producing from Robin Wynn Evans at Tpot Studios, Path of Condie, and Johnny Depp is track 5 on the never-released TwinsTown debut album Brankholm Brae, completed in January 2021.
What have TwinsTown been doing for a year and a half you might ask. Trust me, you don't want to know. Suffice to say, it's just as well they don't have scissor hands, like Johnny's famous character Edward.
Birrell or Biscuit -
Shame
Released 02/09/22
The darkness is coming!
''If it was released in 1998, I have no doubt it would be on Radio 1's 'A' list and on TOTP. A top 20 single. such is life. An absolutely fantastic song.''
Our Sound Music
Birrell or Biscuit -
Wheelie Bin
Released 19/8/22
Wheelie Bin’ is the latest single from Scottish indie rockers, Birrell Or Biscuit, the brainchild of Craig Birrell. As with past BOB singles, the track offers an all too brutal view of life on the outside of society. Birrell does not dress up his situations for an easy palatable dish, instead he lays it and himself bare and open. The lyrics telling the tale of how life’s expectations and reality are sometimes miles apart. And how others condemn actions without knowing the reasoning behind them. All this played out over the psychedelic rock’n’roll backing track.
1/4 Chubz - Who's Next? (Re-mastered)
Released 10/6/22
Purchase via Bandcamp shop here
Listen via your preferred streaming service here
Listen to original tack from 2013 on Youtube here
Re-mastered and re-released for Callum's anniversary. This was a song first recorded in 2013 by the original line up of the 1/4 Chubz.
Callum - songwriter, rhythm guitar and lead vox
Andrew - lead guitar
John - bass guitar and backing vox
Barrett - drums
This is a song that instantly worked. One final rehearsal before our first ever gig at The Clubhouse in Dalgety Bay, supporting The Wingnuts, Callum came to rehearsal with this fully formed blast of indie punk perfection. It was a time when we were taking on the world together. It's a song that encapsulates the time and a song that was never given a release on streaming services like it deserves.
Callum was an incredible musician and frontman and on the 10th June 2022 this track will get the release it deserves.
1/4 Chubz - Salvation
Released 29/4/22
Purchase via Bandcamp shop here
Listen via your preferred streaming service here
Watch the music video here
''Chilling passion oozes from the new 1/4 Chubz single, opening with a guitar refrain to grace a Tarantino movie, a cauldron of angst, guitars, Celtic gritty vocals that build up to a wonderous chorus - Salvation, Denied, Temptation, Inside''. (A1M RECORDS)
A story of sorrow, sin, sinister solutions, Sambuca and ultimately salvation!…..save yourself!
Salvation is a song written by John when he was feeling at his lowest point in life.
It is a cry for help, and a realisation that seeking out someone to help you is human, but in the end you have to save yourself. It's easy to spiral towards the wrong things in life when you're feeling down but ultimately it's in you to take control and save yourself. Only you can do it! People can help you along the way but in the end you have to want it aswell.
This is the third single from the 1/4 Chubz return and all are unique in their style.
Until Me Meet Again announced the comeback - a ballad about the loss of our brother Callum.
Cut Me Down showed our angry anarchistic side.
Salvation mixes these two together and gives you jungle drums from hell with bluesy rock n roll from the soul and heartfelt lyrics.
TwinsTown - Spitfire
Released 25/3/22
Purchase via Bandcamp shop here
Listen via your preferred streaming service here
Watch the music video here
TwinsTown are back to invade our airwaves with their latest single Spitfire!
Air raid sirens flooding in signals the start of this explosive new track before an upbeat melody kicks in and a trademark lead guitar line.
However, this song is different from their previous singles. TwinsTown got angry! And it's brilliant!
This is a song with attitude. It's angry, it's beautiful, it's madness.
Quoting Winston Churchill's famous speech from World War 2, TwinsTown are kicking back at the world and mean business. You're either with them or you're in their way!
Birrell or Biscuit are back with another unique single. A softer sound this time, Birrell's singing is more composed and confessional to fit the sound of the song. 'Dinnerladies' portrays a feeling of admiration for unsung working class heroes. This is most on display in the chorus, which rings out an evocative 'Cause dinner ladies need happiness too.' This drives home the theme of observing an under celebrated member of the community going about their daily life and recognising that whilst they may not be the celebrated stars we see on TV, they're valued, essential and as the single suggests - they deserve happiness too. Despite the softer side to this song, the track starts with Birrell screaming 'All you are is an out of tune fucking idiot!' This introspective self anger is why the theme of the song is so important as people commonly turn anger and frustrations inward. The lyrics ring out at the end 'it's just another bump that's hanging more sadness for you' as the lead guitar starts back in to a wonderful riff heard at the very start, bring the song to a beautiful end.
Purchase via Bandcamp shop here
Listen via your preferred streaming service here
Watch the music video here
