In what was a quite incredible year for Scottish music, against all the odds, we have managed to whittle our favourite releases down to a manageable and appropriate 20. Not all are albums, there’s a few EPs in there as well, but we’re all friends here so let’s not quibble. We hope you find something below to pique your interest, and if you do then please purchase directly from the artist or their record labels (all the linked titles will take you where you want to go) because

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali caught up with the composer and producer Paul McGeechan to talk about the latest Starless album Earthbound, out now with Last Night From Glasgow. Paul explains the origins behind Starless and how it has developed from the initial spark, through the recording of 2016’s Starless album, bringing it to the stage, how it has progressed into Earthbound, and the plans for the future. The two discuss the collaborative process, who else is involved – an

“January, sick and tired you’ve been hanging on me”, as Pilot sang back in 1974 – a genius lyric which just about says it all. But never fear as, appropriately, it’s music which is going to chase away the new year funk and January blues. This year we are spoiled with 432 Presents‘ excellent First Footing Showcases, and, from the 16th Jan – 2nd Feb, Celtic Connections, one of the world’s great music festivals, gets underway with another line-up which mixes and matches the loca

So much great new music, so little time! Over the last few weeks there has been a delightful deluge of damned good tunes in many styles, forms, shapes, and sizes. By the time we hit October you can usually start to tell how a year is going to be judged and 2019, against many odds, is turning out to be a brammer. This month we have songs from three of the finest albums of the year, one of the most intriguing and important EPs of any year, a new favourite who feels like an old