Malcolm Ross – Reviews

Update Magazine – October 2006

MALCOM ROSS - WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME

(RE-ACTION)

An active pillar of the Edinburgh indie scene since the late seventies, Malcom Ross originally formed Josef K with Paul Haig before joining Orange Juice and Aztec Camera. Very much like Edwyn Collins’ work, ‘Wrong
Place, Wrong Time’ (a compilation of Ross¹s solo material originally out on German imprint Marina) encapsulates well that fragile and seducing Scottish ‘savoir-faire’ where blue-eyed soul, white-funk and clean-cut rock’n’roll/country share the same stage.

Jerry Bouthier 5 out of 5

Uncut Magazine – November 2007
The Zelig of Postcard pop compiles 90s solo work.

This wryly-titled gathering of Ross’ recordings outside 27 years of sterling work with Josef K, Orange Juice, Nectarine No. 9 and other Scot subversives suggests he feels he’s unlucky. Certainly his timing has resulted in leaving/joining great bands at inopportune moments, and born two decades later he and peers may have packed stadiums like Franz Ferdinand, whose wit, literacy and sharp rhythms are evident throughout his dappled career. Focussing on two mid-90s albums part-produced by Edwyn Collins (and guesting a Postcard who’s-who), this confirms he can’t hide his talent forever. A cover of Gene Clark’s “Tried Too Hard” labours, but from the lovelorn (“Happy Boy”) to the pugnacious (“Round And Round”) it crackles with verve and brain. So right.

Chris Roberts 4 out of 5

Clash Magazine – November 2006

A welcome development in the wake of the new wave revival has been the re-release of music by short-lived 80’s bands like Fire Engines and Josef K. A recent compilation of the latter’s finest moments is followed by a collection of solo material from the band’s guitarist Malcolm Ross. Ross’ post Josef K career has included stints with Orange Juice and Aztec Camera, but it is his mid 90’s solo work that are the focus of attention here. His two albums were released on German label Marina and received scant attention in the UK. Listening to the songs now, you feel the title of this compilation could sum up why. Whether it’s the delicately discordant melodies of ‘Happy Boy’ or the hip-hop tinged blues of ‘Big Guitar’, Ross has little in common with the current crop of bands who have probably been influenced by his previous new wave incarnations, never mind the lad rock abounding a decade before. If the mature song writing of Richard Hawley is your thing, this album might be of interest.


Scotland On Sunday – November 2007

Cursed only by being one of the nicest men in rock and leaving the right bands (Orange Juice, Aztec Camera) when staying might have been a better option, this collection of the Josef K founder's solo material is most welcome. Most of these tracks were produced by Edwyn Collins during the Nineties and feature other alumni from Postcard Records heyday, but Malcolm's unassuming vocals and expertly economic guitar playing are the real joys to be found here. Happy Boy is wonderfully resonant and warm, while Heartbroken All Over Again is charmingly desolate.An extremely coherent compilation which should be compulsory listening from the Franz Ferdinand generation.

Colin Somerville 4 out of 5


Is This Music Magazine – November 2006

Malcolm has long been the jelly in the peanut butter sandwich that was Postcard Records. Having played with Josef K, then Orange Juice, then on Aztec Camera's 'Knife' tour his melodious guitar has acted as foil and filling for many headline acts. Always the bridesmaid never the bride - no chance! This is an album of oddities and highlights from the Marina solo albums of the 90s and some side projects including the High Bees and a brief liaison again with Paul Haig in 1999 whose Tom Verlaine, played to Malcom's Richard Lloyd (without the heroin, I may add) in Josef K. What 'Wrong Place, Wrong Time' does do is highlight how accomplished Mr Ross is, hence being the honey at the core of many a post-Postcard release. Some tracks sound very Orange Juice-esque, no bad thing. Other highlights include the low down and dirty 'Round and Round' and the guitar led 'Home Street' where his deeper singing register seems more comfortable. The eurocentric feel of 'My Avenger' suggests post war Franglaise Paris and is a perfect introduction to the Marina records catalogue - worth a 'google' in anybody's book.
This is a fine collection for fans of post punk jangly pop - it also fills a missing link in our musical history by illustrating what happened to the sound of young Scotland once we had all grown up. Even although the title of the album gives out a sense of resignation and regret, the content has plenty of drive, purpose and craft worthy of consideration.
Never mind, we know that the true originals never make it up to Rich Street. Still, I'd happily take Malky's musical taxi to wherever he wanted to go, cos you know that the soundtrack will be always be melodious, intelligent and a little bit groovy. Currently on tour with Barry Adamson - say no more.

4 out of 5


Americana UK Online Magazine
Ex Josef K man in metamorphosis

This is as good a time as any to look back on the solo career of a man who has appeared in not one but two hugely influential bands – Josef K and Orange Juice. After a stint in Aztec Camera Ross struck out on his own and these tracks are culled from a couple of solo records released on the German label Marina with some additional previously unreleased material. You can’t escape the heritage of these recordings; if Edwyn Collins had moved to Berlin with Iggy Pop and David Bowie, he would probably have ended up sounding like this. There’s the arch sophistication, the ambition, vocals that could be clearer and some sharp shards of guitar. Sometimes you can’t help but compare these songs to Josef K or Orange Juice and if you did they would suffer in comparison - taken on their own though and in context you are quite happy to welcome a more bucolic and mature approach. Sometimes on ‘Smiling Sweetly’ or ‘Cakeshop’ the songs just drift in and then fade without leaving much of an impression, but elsewhere the laconic approach works better - ‘Heavens Doors’ is full of charm, and when he melds the old spastic guitar with the smoother approach as on ‘Lowshot’ he’s onto something, the liberated guitars prowling around the song strings snapping at the lyrics and filling my ears with pleasure. ‘Happy Boy’ with vibes and woodblocks tapping out some svelte noise satisfies, while a country romp through Gene Clark’s ‘Tried So Hard’ and the melancholy piano of ‘Heartbroken All over Again’ brings a lump to the throat, great stuff.
 

David Cowling 6 out of 10