The Scratch Cast: The Alternative Music Podcast

The Head Scratcher
  • 5.0 (3)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • TWICE MONTHLY

Two ordinary Scottish guys chatting mostly about the best in alternative music. Tune in for reviews, discussions, interviews and the odd bit of humour. Scotland’s finest alternative podcast.

  1. 14/12/2024

    Interview: "The Scratch Cast x Becca Starr" - The Scratch Cast: The Interviews - Episode 07

    It’s been ages since our last interview, but we’re back and it’s a banger. On Episode 07 we’re graced by the presence of the inimitable Becca Starr ( @beccathebiznitch ) who somehow squeezed us into her busy schedule, just ahead of the launch of her new album Defixio (spoiler alert: Defixio is out now and it’s brilliant - go listen to it). We start with an extended Q&A followed by an in-depth discussion on Defixio (did I mention it’s brilliant? - go listen to it). Also, we asked Becca to give us one of her favourite albums to listen to and discuss. Her choice? Portishead’s “Dummy” - a trip hop classic to round out the show (it's also brilliant - go listen to it too). This is The Scratch Cast x Becca Starr, enjoy! The intro music, which will be stuck in your head for days, is taken from "Parkinson", an old British television chat show presented by Michael Parkinson. Please don't sue us, Parky! Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :) Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2​ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj​ Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy​ YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo​ Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA​ Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH​ TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur​ & more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists. Peace. #beccastarr #hiphop #rnb #soul #defixio #familystarrrecords #interview #indiepodcast #scottishpodcast #musicdiscussion #musicreview #podcast #thescratchcast #theheadscratcher #newmusic2024 #albumreview #portishead #dummy

    1h 52m

  2. 16/09/2024

    Episode 28: “The Occasional Music Podcast” - The Scratch Cast: The Alternative Music Podcast

    It's been another long wait but we're back with a new episode of The Scratch Cast. Since we last met, Grant laid some slabs and became a Swifty, while Snedds witnessed a man's descent into madness during Dune: The Musical. On our singles swap we’re discussing The Sink by indie folk duo hey, nothing and Danzig With Myself by your favourite specialists in car advert music The Dandy Warhols, featuring the legendary Frank Black. We’ll talk about the gigs we’ve been to recently (including DVNE, Taylor Swift and James), the digital corkboard is back (including new music from Becca Starr) and finally, we’ve got our album reviews: Divine Accusations from Belfast-based rockers Black Opal, Can’t hate you forever from Dartmouth, Halifax four-piece Safeword, You’re Just Jealous from Leeds and York-based indie punks Crumbs, A Bolt From The Blue from post-hardcore punks MODERN SHAKES, and apricity from Brighton’s post-rock / progressive metal/post-hardcore quintet VOWER. Listen here or via any of the links at the bottom of the page. Sit back, relax and listen to Episode 28: ”The Occasional Music Podcast”. If you want to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/headscratcher If you’re wondering what our review scores relate to, check out our rating system below: 1/10 - Destroy without listening 2/10 - Rancid bin juice (bathe afterwards) 3/10 - Hot garbage (avoid) 4/10 - Meh (not worth going back to) 5/10 - Forgettable (one or two good songs) 6/10 - Just OK (for fans of the genre) 7/10 - Good (quite like it) 8/10 - Very good (must listen) 9/10 - Exceptional (absolutely love it) 10/10 - Practically flawless (unmissable) Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :) Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur & more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast All music clips are used as teasers only and remain the property of the respective artists. Peace. #podcast #musicpodcast #indiepodcast #scottishpodcast #newmusic2024 #newmusicpodcast #thescratchcast #thealternativemusicpodcast #theheadscratcher #musicreviews #albumreviews #singlereviews #livemusicreviews

    2h 7m

  3. 14/05/2024

    Episode 27: “Blackpool, Keanu Reeves & Old Men Stinking of Pish”

    We're finally back with another new episode of The Scratch Cast: The Alternative Music Podcast. Did you miss us? On this episode Grant talks a lot about Blackpool, we try to find Keanu Reeves, and we discuss the phenomenon of people our age looking a lot older in the 80s... On our singles swap we discuss: "10 Mile Smile" by Elgin solo artist Jay Taulier and "Stand Up or Sit Down" by Glasgow's The Kidney Flowers. We also talk about the gigs we’ve been to recently - including Bombay Bicycle Club, Dragged Up, Amateur Cult and Creeper - and last but not least we’ve got reviews of the following albums: "Boombap for Boomers" from alt/rock, hip-hop fusion-ista Lewca, "The Heartist" a visual album from Irish musician Galvo, "World Wide Willow" from Utrecht rockers Kaspar Baum, and "Take It Or Leave It" from Derry pop punks CHERYM. Check out the episode below or via any of the links at the bottom of the page. Sit back, relax and listen to Episode 27: ”Blackpool, Keanu Reeves & Old Men Stinking of Pish”. If you want to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/headscratcher If you’re wondering what our review scores relate to, check out our rating system below: 1/10 - Destroy without listening 2/10 - Rancid bin juice (bathe afterwards) 3/10 - Hot garbage (avoid) 4/10 - Meh (not worth going back to) 5/10 - Forgettable (one or two good songs) 6/10 - Just OK (for fans of the genre) 7/10 - Good (quite like it) 8/10 - Very good (must listen) 9/10 - Exceptional (absolutely love it) 10/10 - Practically flawless (unmissable) Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :) Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur & more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists. Peace. #podcast #musicpodcast #indiepodcast #scottishpodcast #newmusic2024 #newmusicpodcast #thescratchcast #thealternativemusicpodcast #theheadscratcher #musicreviews #albumreviews #singlereviews #livemusicreviews

    2h 9m

  4. 04/02/2024

    Episode 26 - "No Ali G Shit" - The Scratch Cast: The Alternative Music Podcast

    This episode should have come out in August 2023. We had planned to record it, but I got sick and it was postponed. Then, life got busy with staggers, weddings (both hosts included), and honeymoons. It’s been over six months since our last episode - which is absolutely mental - but we’re finally back with loads of great new (ish) music to talk about! On our singles swap we’re discussing: Post-punk Experiment #3 (A Bigger Splash) by experimental indie weirdos The Wife Guys of Reddit, and You Can Be Mean by American-Brazilian singer-songwriter Indigo De Souza. Our album reviews for this episode are Doggerland, the third album from Glasgow’s musical wizard Rudi Zygadlo; the Black or White EP, the 18th record from Munich-based artist Cagri Raydemir; Standard Patter, the new album from Scottish rappers Fire Up The Sun; Restless Dreams, the latest EP from Livingston’s industrial electro-pop goths GRAVELLE; and finally, Nothing Clever, Just Feelings from Brighton-based, electro-punks CLT DRP. Sit back, relax and listen to Episode 26: ”No Ali G Shit”.

    1h 45m

  5. 17/06/2023

    Episode 25 - "A Lot Of Intense Frottage" - The Scratch Cast: The Alternative Music Podcast

    Episode 25: “A Lot Of Intense Frottage” - The Scratch Cast: The Alternative Music Podcast - 17th June 2023 There’s a lot of intense frottage on Episode 25 of The Scratch Cast! As usual, we’re a bit behind and this was recorded months ago, so a lot of our references to dates and times will be out of date. On this jam-packed episode, Snedds talks about Garth Marenghi’s Terrortome, the Chuun Spring Fling and Stag & Dagger 2023. We also chat about our mutual experience of Seas, Starry live at The Old Hairdressers in Glasgow. Basically, we got pished. On the digital corkboard, we recommend: the new EP from Jodie Langford, the latest EP from Mist & Wing, and the charity compilation “You Matter Part II” from Ripcord Records. On our singles swap we’re talking about "Hi Ren" by singer/songwriter, producer, rapper and multi-instrumentalist Ren and "A Definitive Guide To Easy Living" by Brighton indie-rock outfit Youth Sector. Finally… our album reviews are “Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time” the debut EP from DIY emo/punks Big Hug, “The Great Nothing” the debut album from cosmic alt. prog/rockers Magna Zero, “Galore” the new album from grungy hardcore punks The St Pierre Snake Invasion and finally “Third Side Of The Coin” from Edinburgh-based, nomadic songwriter Inkfields. Sit back, relax and listen to Episode 25: ”A Lot Of Intense Frottage”. If you want to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/headscratcher If you’re wondering what our review scores relate to, check out our rating system below: 1/10 - Destroy without listening 2/10 - Rancid bin juice (bathe afterwards) 3/10 - Hot garbage (avoid) 4/10 - Meh (not worth going back to) 5/10 - Forgettable (one or two good songs) 6/10 - Just OK (for fans of the genre) 7/10 - Good (quite like it) 8/10 - Very good (must listen) 9/10 - Exceptional (absolutely love it) 10/10 - Practically flawless (unmissable) Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :) Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur & more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists. Peace. #podcast #musicpodcast #indiepodcast #scottishpodcast #newmusic2023 #newmusicpodcast #thescratchcast #thealternativemusicpodcast #theheadscratcher #musicreviews #albumreviews #singlereviews #livemusicreviews

    1h 56m

  6. 12/03/2023

    Episode 24: "A Ten Out Of Ten Bonanza" - The Scratch Cast : The Alternative Music Podcast

    The Scratch Cast - The Alternative Music Podcast - Episode 24: “A Ten Out Of Ten Bonanza” 12th March 2023 It's a ten-out-of-ten bonanza on Episode 24 of The Scratch Cast! On our latest episode we give out our highest rating no less than four times - have we gone mental? Listen in to find out! First, we run through our ratings from 2022 to establish The Scratch Cast's Top 5 (ish) singles and albums of last year. Next, Grant hasn't been to any gigs this month, so Snedds gives the lowdown on Viagra Boys live at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow. On the digital corkboard, we discuss the new band Really Big Really Clever, the upcoming new album from TDK, and we recommend three very different music documentaries - Right Here, Right Now, The Kemps: All True and Punk Rock Vegan Movie. On our singles swap we discuss "Suicide" by Irish avante-garde punk producer Meryl Streek and "Fallout" by the veteran New Jersey indie rock band Yo La Tengo. And finally… our album reviews are “Night Terrors” the latest album from London-based DIY garage rockers The Fades, “Cans” the debut album from Brighton-based hardcore punks Regal Cheer, “Cocoon” the sophomore album from Polish gothic/doom merchants Give Up To Failure and last but not least, “Emerald Hummingbirds in Turquoise Sassafras 2.0933333334” the third album of uncategorisable weirdness from Bulgarian band MUDDY. Check out the episode below or via any of the links at the bottom of the page. Sit back, relax and listen to Episode 24: ”A Ten Out Of Ten Bonanza”. If you want to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here. If you’re wondering what our review scores relate to, check out our rating system below: 1/10 - Destroy without listening 2/10 - Rancid bin juice (bathe afterwards) 3/10 - Hot garbage (avoid) 4/10 - Meh (not worth going back to) 5/10 - Forgettable (one or two good songs) 6/10 - Just OK (for fans of the genre) 7/10 - Good (quite like it) 8/10 - Very good (must listen) 9/10 - Exceptional (absolutely love it) 10/10 - Practically flawless (unmissable) Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :) Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur & more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists. Peace.

    2 hr

  7. 13/01/2023

    Episode 23 - "The Biannual Music Podcast" - The Scratch Cast: The Alternative Music Podcast

    The Scratch Cast - The Alternative Music Podcast Episode 23 - “The Biannual Music Podcast” 13th January 2022 Our first podcast of 2023 is finally here! Full disclosure though, this episode was recorded way back in November, even before the WACO interview (which it took a back seat to). So… expect the digital corkboard and some of our references to specific days, weeks and months to be totally out of date… Given our relaxed release schedule over the course of the last year (something the episode title pokes fun at) this is another bumper submissions episode where we catch up with as much stuff as we can. On this episode, we almost avoid talking about piss, Snedds tells a pointless story about looking for a Post Coal Prom Queen tweet and Grant drops some quiz facts about the musical abilities of Bonnie and Clyde… The digital corkboard returns with releases from “Mothman and the Thunderbirds”, “Voldo” and “Equal Frequencies“. On our singles swap we discuss “Didn’t Care” by North Carolina’s folktronica duo “Sylvan Esso” and “Let The Lights On” from North London indie rockers “Sorry”. And for our bumper submissions episode we talk about “II/Infinity”, the debut album from experimental electronic pop artist “O-SHIN”, the self-titled EP from Norwegian surf-punk trio “The Bundy Bunch”, “Evidence of a Broken Mind”, the debut album from Utrecht quintet “Two and a Half Girl”, “Endure”, the latest single from Los Angeles psyche-rockers “Magna Zero”, the self-titled EP from Leeds rockers “Radio Aftermath”, and finally “Shadows”, the debut album from Genoese doom metal veterans ”ExpiatoriA”. Sit back, relax and listen to Episode 23: ”The Biannual Music Podcast”. If you want to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here. If you’re wondering what our review scores relate to, check out our rating system below: 1/10 - Destroy without listening 2/10 - Rancid bin juice (bathe afterwards) 3/10 - Hot garbage (avoid) 4/10 - Meh (not worth going back to) 5/10 - Forgettable (one or two good songs) 6/10 - Just OK (for fans of the genre) 7/10 - Good (quite like it) 8/10 - Very good (must listen) 9/10 - Exceptional (absolutely love it) 10/10 - Practically flawless (unmissable) Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :) Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur & more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists. Peace.

  8. 22/12/2022

    ""Well, well" Said The WACO Lads" - The Scratch Cast: The Interviews - Episode 06

    The Scratch Cast - The Interviews Episode 06 - ""Well, well" Said The WACO Lads" 22nd December 2022 A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of catching up with Jak and James from WACO. We asked them what they'd been up to since we last spoke and talked about their brilliant new album "Rock Spirit Absolute Joy" - out now on Venn Records! We also asked the lads to each pick an album for us to talk about - something that meant something to them - and we did the same. Jak picked "Victoria" by The Downtown Struts, James chose the "Grind Session" PS1 game soundtrack, Grant selected ""Well, Well" Said The Rocking Chair" by Dean Friedman, Snedds opted for "Virtue" by The Voidz and... ...we had an absolute blast discussing these albums! The intro music, which will be stuck in your head for days, is taken from "Parkinson", an old British television chat show presented by Michael Parkinson - please don't sue us Parky! Don’t forget to subscribe to The Scratch Cast on your favourite streaming/podcast service so you never miss an episode. Please leave a nice review :) Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KYNkI2​ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3082hBj​ Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2QXCohy​ YouTube: http://bit.ly/2QXtlxo​ Deezer: http://bit.ly/34sjqDA​ Castbox: http://bit.ly/34sEJoH​ TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/2QVt8ur​ & more: https://podfollow.com/the-scratch-cast-podcast All music clips are used as a teaser only and remain the property of the respective artists. Peace. #wacoband #punkmusic #rockmusic #newmusic #rockspiritabsolutejoy #vennrecords #interview #indiepodcast #scottishpodcast #musicdiscussion #musicreview #podcast #thesscratchcast #theheadscratcher #newmusic2022 #waco

    1h 22m
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    Ratings & Reviews

    5
    out of 5
    3 Ratings

    About

    Two ordinary Scottish guys chatting mostly about the best in alternative music. Tune in for reviews, discussions, interviews and the odd bit of humour. Scotland’s finest alternative podcast.

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