Little Fire, 23rd December

Dec 23 2011 Ayrshire Post (main ed)

SO at the time of writing, I’ve got two woolly jumpers on and I’m looking forward to Christmas – it’s going to be ace!

I’ve just found out that I’ll be supporting Carly Connor on tour in February, which is great news.

Carly and Scottish stars The View are both managed by Brendan Moon, who also manages a young man by the name of Paolo Nutini.

www.facebook.com/carlyconnoruk

Invisibles is an international collective conceived by JP Reid of SucioPerro and Marmaduke Duke.

It is based on the idea that everyone is an artist and that there is magic to be found in the everyday.

Victory Hymns was written, performed, produced and mixed by JP and features contributions from fans around the world.

Work on the project began at the start of September 2011 and the album was completed and ready for release within three months.

Friends and followers were asked to send ambient sound recordings, music, art and photographs to JP via the internet – the only stipulation being that it was their own original work.

Contributions ranged from sound clips of daily life to art drawn by children to fully orchestrated and professionally recorded tracks.

Taking these submissions JP crafted songs and soundscapes around them and used the visual contributions to form the artwork, so that everyone who had contributed became both inspiration and part of the work itself.

The result is Victory Hymns, a truly original and innovative album.

Victory Hymns was released on December 9 and is available for purchase as a download through Bandcamp at invisiblesx.bandcamp.com

A limited CD edition is planned for early 2012.

JP Reid has had previous commercial success as a co-performer, co-writer and producer with Marmaduke Duke on the album Duke Pandemonium and the single Rubber Lover (14th Floor Records), both of which achieved a top 20 position in the UK singles and album charts.

Sucioperro are currently signed to leading independent label Xtra Mile.

More can be found on Invisibles, including future projects at www.facebook.com/invisiblesx

JP, who resides in Ayr, is certainly an industrious and highly creative artist and never one to sit on his laurels.

He’s created something very special in Victory Hymns, which truly defines the modern age for its combining of contributions from many others with JP’s ideas and creations to produce something truly new and original.

A very well thought out album and highly enjoyable from the first listen.

This Thursday, December 22, will see the fantastic Melisa Kelly and The Harmless Thieves, along with Tailend Charlie, perform at the South Beach Hotel in Troon. Certainly a great gig there.

KA Radio, an independent radio station based in Kilmarnock who are doing great things for Ayrshire music – in that half of all their output is music made by Ayrshire musicians – are currently looking for sponsors and donations in order to improve facilities at the station.

With a great team of inspired and passionate music fans from all walks of life operating and presenting KA Radio, Cheryl Scott has started something very special.

The fact that they give original music from Ayrshire musicians such priority is great.

To get in touch with KA Radio or to find out how you can help please contact the station on: www.ka-radio.co.uk/music@ka-radio.co.uk

So, until next week I would just like to wish you a very Merry Christmas indeed.

I hope Santa is good to you all! Stay warm and stay positive!

Next week I’ll be bringing you some best of the year lists for songs, albums and bands I enjoyed the most in 2011.