Vic Galloway’s Check Masses are innovators and new single Dripn Angel is melting pot of styles
CHECK MASSES
WHERE: Leith, Edinburgh.
WHO: ‘Philly’ Angelo Collins (vocals), Vic Galloway (guitar, vocals, bass, keys, melodica, percussion), Saleem Andrew McGroarty (beats, bass, keys, samples, percussion).
FOR FANS OF: Beck, Massive Attack, The Last Shadow Puppets.
JIM SAYS: Long before he made his name as a broadcaster, I first met Vic Galloway in the early 90s when his band Miraclehead were guests on my show in Aberdeen.
A few years ago, the BBC Radio Scotland stalwart told me about a new project he was working on.
His enthusiasm is never understated, but there was a glint in his eye when the gushed about what would emerge as Check Masses.
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The debut single Dripn Angel emerged at the start of the year. A melting pot of styles, I was hooked from the off. Vic has teamed up with two fellow innovators, each with a different musical story.
He told me: “I’m from a more garage rock ’n’ roll, indie and punk background. Andy has been DJing in clubs and making hip-hop for years. Philly made acoustic soul music and was signed to EMI, working on his own stuff, writing with Graham Gouldman of 10cc and singing backing vocals for Macy Gray. Although disparate and different, our backgrounds have actually prepared us all for this project.”
Back in 2016, Vic and Andy started collaborating on some tunes.
Vic added: “Philly got involved in 2017 and after a year or so we had around 18 tunes recorded. We were in no rush, but we realised we had something special and put 10 tracks together for the forthcoming album Nightlife. It’s probably the most- effortless musical collaboration I’ve ever been a part of. Egos are left at the door, and whatever sounds good is kept in regardless of style.”
The new single Lonesome Little Paradise is another gem. It sets things up nicely for the album, out at the end of next month through Fife label Triassic Tusk.
Vic is renowned for exposing exciting new sounds on the radio so no pressure in coming up with the goods himself then! If anything, he’s set a high bar to follow.
He said: “Some people will obviously have musical expectations. But I like to make art for art’s sake. The sheer joy of writing, recording, producing and performing music is the reason I’m doing it.”
Plans have changed for the band due to the Covid-19 pandemic, especially with live music on hold.
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Vic explained: “The timeline has gone awry due to the unprecedented times we’re living in. We’ve just had a load of gigs cancelled. But we’ll continue after everything is back to normal.”
Let’s hope we’ve not too long to wait to see Check Masses again in full effect.
More: www.facebook.com/checkmasses
l Jim presents a weekly showcase of New Music on Amazing Radio, Sundays 2-4pm.
PIC: Laura Meek
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