The Last Battle
Gig Seeker Pro

The Last Battle

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom | SELF

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom | SELF
Band Folk Rock

Calendar

Music

Press


"Springwell e.p: 4 Star Review"

The Last Battle’s latest EP offers an accidental word of warning for rollover Euromillions winners Chris and Colin Weir. “Spend, spend, spend… everything was all downhill from then” croons Scott Longmuir, with Flora McKay’s evocative cello supplementing the pathos.

The track in question is Viv Nicholson, a gorgeously simple ode to the housewife who won a bundle on the pools and lost the lot, and it makes for a splendid centrepiece. But there’s better in store in the form of The Last Dance, which nails a low-key anthem sound with the slenderest echo of Band Aid in its melody and a curious blend of lo and hi fi production, before seguing into miniature coda Lost, But Not Forever. - The Skinny


"Live Review"

Stepping in to fill the support act void with just one day's notice, The Last Battle kick off proceedings in the cavernous, unpretentious setting of Cellar 35.

Playing as a four-piece instead of the usual seven - presumably due to the last minute booking and limited space in the 'Toad van' - the Edinburgh folksters play some of the highlights from their outstanding debut album Heart of the Land, Soul of the Sea. 'Whisky' and 'Ruins' are both especially well received by the assembled crowd, while the assertive vocals of frontman Scott Longmuir contrast perfectly with the beautifully delicate voice of Arwen Duncan, especially on closing track 'Soul of the Sea'.

It is a polished, engaging performance which will only add to the clamour surrounding a band who have produced one of the finest Scottish albums of 2010. - The Scotsman


"The Last Battle : The Springwell E.P"

It’s remarkable how many bands have set down their distinctive roots in the fertile field that is Scottish indie-folk. Edinburgh sextet The Last Battle sit right on the hyphen in that genre definition, layering vocals that follow a more traditional line over music that has featured grungy bass, dark cello and chiming glockenspiel all at the same time. Indeed, their ambitious debut album, Heart Of The Land, Soul Of The Sea touches on Arab Strap as much as Frightened Rabbit or the post-Idlewild work of Roddy Woomble. This EP finds them putting their constituent parts to more commercial ends on lead songs Floored (with its punchy rhythmic attack and campfire chorus) and Ward 119 (with its sighing harmonies and galloping beat). Third track Viv Nicholson is a personal favourite, a lovely little portrait in song (and “cautionary tale for everyone”) of the 1960s pools winner and Smiths cover star. The rest of the EP falls into what would once have been dismissed as B-side territory, but The Last Battle have won the war long before then.

Alan Morrison
- Scottish Sunday Herald


Discography


'Ruins' - Single (17secrec) July 2010

'Heart Of The Land, Soul Of The Sea' - Album (17secrec) - Oct 2010

'Natures Glorious Rage' - Single (17secrec) Dec 2010

'The Springwell' - E.P (self released) July 2011

Photos

Bio

Formed in Edinburgh in late 2009 around a batch of songs written by singer/songwriter Scott Longmuir, this group of close knit friends and their indie alt-folk musings on love, loss, death and the sea, manifested themselves in lo-fi home recordings on both a debut album -2010's 'Heart Of The Land, Soul Of The Sea released on Scottish indie label 17 Seconds Records - and one self released E.P.

"The assertive vocals of frontman Scott Longmuir contrast perfectly with the beautifully delicate voice of Arwen Duncan. The Last Battle have produced one of the finest Scottish albums of 2010." - The Scotsman

The groups recorded output and live performances quickly began receiving glowing plaudits from the likes of The Scotsman and The Sunday Herald, as well as across the Scottish blogsphere.

"Should please fans of Fence Records babies Kid Canaveral and Fence papa (and Mercury Music Prize Nominee) King Creosote." - *** The List

"A low-key anthem sound with a curious blend of lo and hi fi production." - **** The Skinny

Playing as quiet as a whisper one minute, to an all out climatic cacophony the next, their formidability as a live band earned them tours and stages with the likes of King Creosote, Withered Hand, Peggy Sue, Slow Club, First Aid Kit, and invites to play events such as Fence Record's Home Game 2011 and numerous micro festivals up and down the country, whilst clocking up airplay on the likes of BBC Introducing In Scotland & BBC Radio Scotland.

"Their ambitious debut album, Heart Of The Land, Soul Of The Sea touches on Arab Strap as much as Frightened Rabbit or the post-Idlewild work of Roddy Woomble." - Alan Morrison, The Herald

Mid 2011 saw the group swap acoustic instrumentation for electric, and also the addition of violinist Jonathan (James Yorkston/Deaf Mutes), which brought about a sharp u-turn in their sound from their original alt-folk leanings.

January 2012 saw the group enter the studio to begin work on their as yet untitled second album.

A single is planned for release in June.