Swell To Great

Modern Studies to rockowo-folkowy zespół z Galsgow. No i … pięknie grają łącząc eksperymentalne pejzaże z pełnym fascynacji dźwiękiem.

"there is a calmness in its melancholy, a beauty in its blues. These are songs that see the mystical beyond the material, abstracted folk ballads awash in memory"

**** MOJO (Sept 2016)

"an understated joy building into a magical climax of quirky brilliance… we predict it will be a contender for next year’s Scottish Album of the Year Award"

The Scotsman

"this is a treasure trove of songs that embrace, and transcend, place and time"

**** The List

"the quartet present a rich tapestry of antiquated craft across their beautiful new album… a compelling and graceful meander"

Gold Flake Paint

Modern Studies are a chamber pop band from Glasgow-via-Yorkshire. Their quietly experimental landscape songs are played on analogue synths, cello, double bass, drums, guitars, a wine-glass orchestra and, at the creaking centre of things, a Victorian pedal harmonium.

The band came together in early 2015, when Glasgow songwriter Emily Scott recruited old pals and collaborators Pete Harvey (King Creosote, The Leg), Joe Smillie (boss of Glasgow’s The Glad Cafe) and Rob St. John.

Working throughout the year at Pumpkinfield – Pete’s rural Perthshire studio – the band shaped a set of Emily’s skeleton songs, drawing largely from the salt and spray of the sea. This communal arts-und-crafts-werk resulted in their debut LP ‘Swell to Great’ (named after a stop on the wheezing old harmonium), which will be released on Song, by Toad Records of Edinburgh, Scotland in September 2016.

The band also began an ongoing collaboration with London-based label Earth Recordings in 2015, contributing a Shirley Collins cover ‘The Bold Fisherman’ to the ‘Shirley Inspired’ tribute LP. More releases with Earth are planned for later in the year.

Arranged By, Producer – Modern Studies

Arranged By, Producer, Written By – Emily Scott

Cello, Piano, Vocals, Harmonium – Pete Harvey

Double Bass, Vocals, Harmonium, Piano – Emily Scott

Drums, Vocals, Percussion – Joe Smillie

Electric Bass, Guitar, Synth – Rob St John

Mastered By – Reuben Taylor

Percussion – Joe Smillie

Written-By – Emily Scott, Rob St John