I wanted to start a list off all the review, both the not so good and the good.....

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• Date: 1 November 2007
• Written by: David Pollock

Indie

At last! Scotland has its very own film star vanity project band, and - as is the unspoken tradition with such things - they're not quite as good as everyone might hope. To be fair, though, Billy Boyd's Beecake were playing an acoustic charity set for the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival in the corner of a packed Ashton Lane pub (and Norman Blake, on just before Boyd, was great), and everyone guffawing away over the other side of the bar just about got away with their rudeness this time. At least they didn't have to listen to the lyrics.

Legend has it that Boyd is one of the nicest men in the shallow pond of Scottish showbiz, but his music isn't quite so pleasant. Although his band's MySpace suggests they're a extremely passable post-grunge outfit, this stripped-down set - with the smartly waistcoated Boyd on vocals and guitar and Billy Johnston on guitar and keys - showed up the pub-rock poetry of songs like 'Lost Direction' and 'Soul Swimming'. It's like Fran Healy never got signed. (David Pollock)

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Thursday, December 06, 2007

Artist Review - Beecake As a former musician and recording-engineer, I've developed a certain 'wary cynicism' about lead-singers. It's too easy for the engineer to 'help out' with stuff in the studio. Use a harmonizer to fix bad notes and a de-esser to kill sibilance; record at slower tempos/lower keys to give a singer a higher and smoother range - it's an endless bag of tricks. So when the standout is the singer, I get suspicious and nervous, and I listen long and hard before I make my own opinion. I don't hear any tricks in this material. In my opinion, Mr. Billy Boyd is a reallygifted singer with huge innate talent and the chops to use his pipes like the instrument that they are. The backing band are no slouches either; they are a superb rhythm section on a mission to showcase their singer - and they succeed at it. Billy sings a warm, smooth, round tone that reminds me of the great crooner, Roy Orbison. He combines that silk with an ear for note choice that I haven't heard since Jon Anderson of YES. And I can hear 'the better' that is to come; his phrasing is great now and is just going to keep improving. The band - the band is right on. They play beautifully without overplaying, and always in support of the singer, the lyrics, and the essence of the song. Take a listen to the guitar solo in "Soul Swimming." It's a lesson in two subjects - how to reprise what the singer has already established, and how not to overplay. I can imagine earlier versions of that solo - keep pulling notes out, keep playing less until you have *only* what belongs. The result is pure craft, and a solo that you feel as you hear it. As a yank, I've never heard of a 'Beecake' and have no idea what it is. But the musician in me knows that "Beecake" is dessert, and I'm going to listen until I'm gorged. Music is the one love, DJBlue

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Review

French label M-tronic are quickly establishing themselves as one of the most high quality and interesting of electronic and industrial labels on the scene today. After excellent releases by Beecake, Mlada Fronta, Dither, Kaltesglas and Displacer, they now offer this split release by newcommers Ch District and Duuster. This is the first edition of an M-tronic series of split CDs entitled ''Chemical Elements'' and offer an innovative vision of industrial sounds that will appeal to fans of the Warp and Hymen labels. Ch District ( from Poland ) create very clear and succint industrial-idm music reminiscent of Beefcake, Gridlock or the more approachable and quieter moments of Venetian Snares. Crystal clear Stuttering Beats and clicks are combined with wonderful melody lines. Duuster ( from Holland ) produce very subtle industrial music where beautiful melodies and deep drones combine with complex beat patterns reminding of ''Amber'' period Autechre. The CD contains 5 tracks by each artist, a remix by each other and a collaborative track. Released in a splendid black digipak with silver ink and STRICTLY limited to 500 copies ! Recommended.

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http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/tv-showbiz-news/music-news/music-reviews/2008/01/13/gigs-78057-20284258/

BEECAKE *****

KING TUT'S, GLASGOW, JANUARY 3

For a gig by an unknown band, this show pulled a decent crowd of fans who were probably still nursing New Year hangovers.

That might have had something to do with Beecake's frontman Lord Of The Rings star Billy Boyd.

On this evidence he is not quite ready for rock stardom full-time just yet, though nor is the Scots actor wasting his time with a band who show plenty of potential.

They're a pretty decent mainstream rock band in the tradition of Glaswegian giants like Texas and Travis.

Songs like Soul Swimming, Rip It Up and Ball Of Earth are a decent standard of rocker and Boyd is clearly extremely passionate in his lyrics and delivery.

They delivered warm banter between songs and the guitarist summed up the show well when he congratulated Boyd on some "nice Status Quo action".

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http://falcondove.blogspo...ly-its-that-time-of.html

Beecake: Soul Swimming

Glorious Scottish roots, extremely strong songwriting, and the beautiful tenor of Billy Boyd (yes, Pippin from "The Lord of the Rings", also in "Trainspotting" among other Glaswegian films). What more could you ask for? "Soul Swimming", the title track of the new Beecake project (the long wait is over) is a powerful combination of melodies and styles. The band is solid as are the tunes. There isn't a weak song on the CD. What kind of style, you ask? Well, it's mixed. If you enjoy the music of The Beatles, Alan Parsons Project, early Genesis, and even some edgy stuff like LIVE, Nine Inch Nails, and Pearl Jam, you will probably love this CD. Boyd wrote every song (and co-wrote "Radio" with bassist Rick Martin), and it shows his range not only vocally, which is outstanding, but also his thematic attractions.

Falcon's personal favorites include the Alan Parson-esque "Lost Direction" including Billy on harmonica, the profoundly brash and stinging "Radio" that questions the capitalist culture, and my favorite, "This is Not an Exit", a pro-environment, anti-stupid, introspective examination of what makes us collectively queasy. "Rip It Up" has some of the strongest vocal stylizations on the project, there's a little Dean Martin on the track "Friends and Lovers" and "Boy" may be in the top ten for most emotional songs ever written, examining a parent's emotional turmoil after their adult child dies in war.

There are videos on You Tube of Beecake and on My Space:
www.myspace.com/beecakeband

Beecake is wonderful to see live. I was extremely lucky to see them at Tin Angel in Philadelphia, (where I got some lovely birthday gifts) a fantastic venue with yummy food (especially the tuna!). I have to say that I am working my way through their menu, and although half-way there, I have many more dinners to enjoy and awhile before I can get through their wonderful offerings.

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