#R.Aggs

[dustedmagazine]

Listed: Nightshift

Nightshift, from Glasgow, occupies the softer, dreamier end of the post-punk spectrum. The debut full-length, Zöe, got our attention in 2021 with its tight, pinging chords and airy ethereality. Jennifer Kelly wrote, “It is hardly a punk album at all on some levels, and yet it also is, just gauzier and more inferential.” The band has since expanded to a four-piece and produced a second album, Homosapien, which we liked as well, noting “a crisper, more rock-band-ish iteration of Nightshift’s dreamy, surreal punk.” Here the band members (Andrew Doig, Rob Alexander, Eothen Stearn and Chris White) describe some of their favorite things in music, books and film.

Andrew Doig

Bedmaker — S​/​t

My music choice is Bedmaker’s debut album on Dischord Records featuring the legendary Amanda MacKaye on vocals, some agitated and tight post punk with a classic Washington DC flavor.

Jeff Noon — Vurt

I have chosen the book Vurt by Jeff Noon cuz I love this Manchester influenced cyberpunk weirdness, it’s a refreshing northern England style take on Neuromancer type vibes.

Rob Alexander

Lily Paine — Between Silence and Speech

Between Silence and Speech is a brilliant and inspiring book of poetry and illustrations by Glasgow artist Lily Paine; I read it most days. There’s a really good film on YouTube (LILY - a medical documentary) by a medical student called Will Nutter about this artist.

L — Marilyn Monroe — All of Us

The debut album from Glasgow band L on Radical Documents is a jaw-dropping, mind-melted magic poetry rock virtuosos’ trip. They’ve got Jack Mellin, a legendary guitarist from Glasgow who has been part of the Nightshift at some point too.

R.Aggs

Our great friend Ray (R.Aggs) who contributed fiddle to Homosapien, fronts some amazing bands, Sacred Paws, Trash Kit and Shopping, and has two amazing solo records out that are uniquely uplifting and beautiful, each with banger following banger. I didn’t sleep well last night and woke up thinking that I didn’t like music anymore; listening to this has brought me back to life!

Eothen Stearn

Kai Cheng Thom — Falling Back in Love with Being Human

This book was recommended to me by a colleague who runs the anti-racist library at Woodlands Community. I had been discussing feelings of being overwhelmed and a desire to reconnect with the world, and she suggested this book. It’s an amazing collection, a mixture of short excerpts and vignettes, each accompanied by a small invitation. For instance, one might invite you to visit a place you’ve never been, or to write a letter to yourself. These invitations are often inward-facing, but some are like spells, encouraging reconnection with the world and finding small joys.

The author, a sex worker and trans woman, writes from a decolonizing perspective. The book is not just a series of stories; it’s interactive, with each short piece followed by an invitation, creating a rhythm almost like a metronome. I read it while on holiday, and it came at a perfect time. I’m grateful for its existence.

Grave Goods — Tuesday Nothing Exists

Manchester and Dublin power duo who take you on a journey. I’m really inspired by the sound and rhythms of the Grave Goods album. The lyrics are great, with a spoken word element and excellent timing. The music feels raw and exciting.

Robyn Rocket — Love EP

Some of you might be familiar with Robyn Rocket. Robyn, an instrumentalist who plays the trumpet, is a pioneer for neurodiverse musicians, being neurodiverse herself. She has been featured in The Wire magazine and is actively working to make spaces more accessible for neurodiverse individuals. Robyn is heavily involved with Heart n Soul in London, an amazing charity, and she also programs her night, Robyn Rocket, at Cafe OTO. She plays in various projects, including Dean Rodney Jr. and the Cowboys.

I love her collaborative approach, and her latest record features contributions from many people. Her work has a cosmic quality, both in her music and her illustrations. I’m thrilled that she’s receiving the recognition she deserves.

Chris White

Rob Churm — The Stone Tape — Posters 2001 – 2023

Rob Churm’s poster book is a great look at some of his art, featuring bands and venues from the past 20 years in Glasgow. It name-checks many of the venues and musicians I’ve seen since moving here in 2005 and features numerous previous bands that Nightshift members and contributors have been involved in. It’s a great one to look through, and the markings and colors look amazing. It also includes the first Nightshift gig poster, which has us on the bill with my next recommendation.

Alfred Bellman — Congregate

This is, for me, the sound and vibe of our last shared studio space, where Nightshift recorded most of our releases so far. For years, I’d show up at the door and hear this guy blasting out space-age psych jazz fusion — drones, drums, hymn-like verses, raps, and basslines. His first cassette album was put out by Doig on his Cusp label, the same label as our first Nightshift tape. This new one was put up on Bandcamp at the end of last year. He’s a multi-instrumentalist who plays trombone on our new album and drums in Rob’s other band, Radio Banter. His music is great and deserves more listeners, I reckon. Check it out!

[jacobwren]

Listen/purchase: //TAPE 1// by R.AGGS

[futuresandpasts]

Divorce proceedings from reality / Fabrications.

Download the show here. Stream at the link above.

Artist - Song Title - Album Title - Label

Glueams - Arsen - Mental EP - Static Age Pel Mel - Ipaneema Mon Amour - No Word From China 7" - Primate R.Aggs - Speeding - Tape 1 cassette - self-released Dog Faced Hermans - Big Pot - Humans Fly - Calculus The Sinatras - Happy Feeling - Happy Feeling 7" - Dining Out 3 Teens Kill 4 - Crime Drama - No Motive 12" - Point Black Gang 90 & Absurdettes - Jack Kerouac - Essa Tal de Gang 90 & Absurdettes - RCA Twang! - Every Home Should Have One - Kick & Complain EP - Ron Johnson Skinned Teen - Starch - Radio Session EP - Vague Absolutes EST - Yvonne is Out Again - V/A - Growing Pains - M Squared Tralala - Pubertät Vergeht - Das Mädchen Mit Den Roten Haaren 7" - Bachelor Wanda's - The Ideal - The Ideal - TAS The Homosexuals - Divorce Proceedings From Reality - The Homosexuals' Record - Recommended Joy - Rotting Crown - s/t EP - self-released Family Fodder - Wrong - Monkey Banana Kitchen - Fresh Six Minute War - Labelled - 33RPM 75p EP - self-released Gen Pop - My Apartment - PPM66 - Post Present Medium The Inhuman - We Will Build - We Will Build 7" - Lumpy Danger Bunny - New Ascension - V/A - George Romansic: Drumming in the '80s - Green Monkey Trotz Allem - Brutalo - s/t EP - Soilant Alarming Trends - Fabrications - You Make Me Live in a Trailer - Scorched Earth 100 Flowers - Let's Not - Drawing Fire 12" - Happy Squid Polio Club - Simple Man - s/t cassette - self-released God is My Co-Pilot - We Signify - Illusion of Secrecy 7" - Dark Beloved Cloud Astaron - As Time Joins In - s/t - Sealed Itchy Self - Here's the Rub - Here's the Rub 12" - Celluloid Lunch

[saturdayasylum]

August, 2021 Asylumcast

Courtney Barnett/Rae Street/Things Take Time, Take Time The War On Drugs/Living Proof/I Don’t Live Here Anymore Matt Berninger/I’m Waiting For The Man/I’ll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground The Heartless Bastards/Photograph/A Beautiful Life Torres/Hug From A Dinosaur/Thirstier Car Seat Headrest/Running Up That Hill/MADLO: Influences Twin Shadow/Alemania/Twin Shadow Half Waif/Orange Blossoms/Mythopoetics Avery Springer/Bored Man With A Knife/MP3 R.AGGS/Exuberance/ //TAPE1// Wet Leg/Chaise Lounge/Chaise Lounge The Linda Lindas/Oh! Amyl & The Sniffers/Guided By Angels/Comfort To Me Descendents/Ride The Wild/9th & Walnut Cloud Nothings/Am I Something/The Shadow I Remember Waaves/Sinking Feeling/Hideaway Low/Days Like These/HEY WHAT Molly Burch/Emotion (w/ Wild Nothing)/Romantic Images Ty Segall/Harmonizer/Harmonizer TY Segall/Jump Into The Fire/Segall Smeagol Cub Scout Bowling Pins/Sister Slam Dance/Clang Clang Ho Brainiac/Stealing Flowers/Attic Tapes