TwinsTown - Brankholm Brae

Introducing TwinsTown and The Greatest Album Never Released… until now!

A Clockwork Orange was withdrawn from British cinemas at the behest of director Stanley Kubrick after it inspired copycat crimes and a bit of the old ultra-violence. They stopped the Sex Pistols’ God Save The Queen from hitting number one in the Jubilee year. And, mid-song, when prudish Radio One DJ Mike Read realised what Relax was all about, he believed he had good reason to yank the Frankie Goes To Hollywood single off his turntable toot sweet. However, no one knows why The Greatest Album Never Released has been gathering dust in an attic somewhere on the outskirts of Rosyth… until now!

TwinsTown’s Brankholm Brae – the Cinderella stuck in the scullery missing her ball, the sleeping beauty never kissed, the debut album lost in the mists of time – has found a Prince Charming, a man who can make fairy tales come true… it’s Big Barrett of Whanga Records, Stuart to his parents, and he’s remembered that a record label needs records.

The supremely-talented song-writing sonic twins, Donald and Stuart Mackay, have remembered that they want to be rock stars, or indie pop playboys in Hollywood, or something with guitars.

Harry Dixon won’t thank me for reminding him that he worked his fingers to the bone devising and playing unflinchingly good bass lines at the magnificent Tpot Studios, Path of Condie.

Having worked with Manic Street Preachers and The View, top producer Robin Wynn Evans demands the best, the hit-maker recognised Harry’s talent and worked him ’til he dropped.

Unlike Harry (and me), universally acclaimed superstar drummer, Wayne Robertson, avoided the perils of Sailor Jerry, and drummed his heart out. Brave and selfless, Wayne returned to smash it on stage with TwinsTown recently, when new drummer, Keiran Gillespie, was unavailable.

Aiden Stewart, the other new member of TwinsTown, knows what he’s let himself in for. I remember Aiden doing an acoustic version of fan-favourite Wrath of the Rum ages ago at The Creepy Wee Pub jam sessions. That reminds me, we missed out on having the Brankholm Brae launch party at Tappie Toories, that would’ve been quite something to remember.

Welcome to TwinsTown, Keiran and Aiden.

Magnificent Mark Guyan is still in the band. With the patience of a saint this classically trained pianist takes the ever-catchy tunes to new heights. Fans say Mark “could be in a boyband” and he is most likely to look good in an Ainsley Harriott T.

Brilliant backing vocals from Ellie and Billy George alongside Ben Sharp complete the infectious sound.

I know the band would like me to thank you for buying the album and everyone who makes the live gigs so special. Thanks to everyone who helped along the way too (sorry I can’t mention everyone here) and special thanks to Billy George whose support and advice was, and still is, crucial.

The whole Brankholm Brae experience was amazing, a pleasure from start to finish, from all the days and weekends spent at the idyllic Tpot Studios to The Twa Tams in Perth, just after lockdown, where we heard the album played live to an adoring audience.

I still have flashbacks, slightly ironic for the photographer, to that magical night in Perth; taps aff Greco-Roman wrestling with a massive cuddly gorilla* and Hugh Reed of Hugh Reed and the Velvet Underpants. Hugh, who was left shocked when Diane drank both his drinks in Trainspotting, had not encountered TwinsTown. Well, he has now!

Danny Boyle, eat your heart out! In the TwinsTown video shot at Tpot, Hugh has a cameo role as Santa Claus. Releasing this album on Christmas Eve, I had to find an excuse to say…

Merry Christmas!

Words by Joe Graham, TwinsTown Photographer: www.getsetjoe.com

* please don’t ask me to name the gorilla, he’s very shy.