From Glasgow based record label Saraseto Records comes compilation album number two, serving to showcase a wide variety of musicians and bands from across the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia, bravely and rather successfully bridging the rather wide gaps between some of the hottest local talent across the globe. Opening the record is Kathryn Calder, a young female musician from Victoria, British Columbia and her catchy 80s inspired dance pop number ‘Who Are You?’, quickly followed by the equally cheery ‘Superglue’ by Glasgow’s very own Aerials Up (Arcade Fire, anyone?)
The third track comes from Melbourne’s AXOLOTL and their cleverly produced cute pop gem ‘Garden Lane’. With a dark streak running through the chorus, it’s a real treat for the ears. Next is the only Edinburgh band to be featured on the comp, Blank Canvas with their 80s post-punk inspired song ‘Golden’, fuelled by twanging guitars, Curtis/McCulloch-esque vocals and some damn good fuzzy bass.
Toronto’s Elos Arma bring something a little bit different to the table, offering some electro funk pop rock in the form of their track ‘Walker’, whilst Glasgow alt rockers We’re Only Afraid Of NYC crank up the distortion on ‘We Lived Here’ (sadly the vocals aren’t really loud though). Massachusetts’ The Novel Idea offer up cute little indie number ‘On Fire’, one of those kind of songs that makes you want to dance with reckless abandon despite knowing all too well just how awful you are. Then things become a bit more atmospheric with the shoegaze-y ‘Nowhere Floating’ by Glasgow based Honey. Do you see a bit of a pattern beginning to form here?
Up next is some sweet folk rock noise from Boston kids Hands And Knees. Their ‘Throw Me From The Bridge Of Flowers’ will have you slapping your knees along to the beat with its wacky, reckless feel reminiscent of the likes of Neutral Milk Hotel’s ‘Holland 1945’. Folkestone’s Chutes deliver some weather forecasting indie pop in the delightful ‘Brighten Up’ but then it’s two more local Glasgow bands who bring the compilation to a close. Adding some more soft alt rock to the equation, Verse Metrics’ ‘Horoscopes’ sees intricate guitar melodies transform into a killer solo towards the end whilst Fiction Faction have their single ‘Malanky Lizards’ remixed by Glasgow based producer and techno genius TeKlo.
So what does ‘Everywhere You Are Vol. II’ prove for Saraseto Records? Well, for one, it proves, in general, that small indie labels are still pretty vital for local music scenes, especially within such an ever changing and often struggling music industry. It also proves that indie labels can be as ambitious and as versatile as they want. As well as exposing home grown talent, Saraseto Records go further afield, cherry picking their favourite acts from some of the most vibrant and flourishing local music scenes across the world, never sticking to just one genre (because where’s the fun in that?) And the result? A collection of weird and wonderful noisemakers, divided by miles, united by music.