Scottish musician Ally McKenzie, known for his eclectic and cinematic approach to songwriting, is set to release the most daring Artillery Saints project yet. The upcoming album Glimpse—scheduled for a 2025 release—marks a pivotal moment in McKenzie’s ongoing evolution, building on a foundation of textured avant-pop with innovative electronic and natural soundscapes.
Emerging from a creative resurgence spurred by a chance encounter with a gleaming Epiphone guitar, McKenzie re-emerged on the music scene after a period of reflection brought on by the pandemic. Encouraged by a meaningful inheritance from his late mother, he reignited his passion for music, breaking new ground with the formation of Artillery Saints. This journey follows on from his earlier acts—‘90s indie band Fly and 2000s electronic project Cities People And Parks—demonstrating a persistent drive for musical experimentation.
The first preview of Glimpse comes in the form of its lead single, Control & The Cousins. The song offers a sharply satirical vignette of a fictional rock band’s misadventures as they navigate the challenges of the modern music industry. Notable for its pulsing bass, minimalist synths, biting guitar, and a chorus both hypnotic and unsettling, the track solidifies McKenzie’s blend of dark humour and surreal narrative—an approach that has become a hallmark of Artillery Saints’ output.
Glimpse builds on the blackly comic lyricism and twisted pop sensibility of Artillery Saints’ earlier works—Maneki-Neko and Fixed Grin Of A Wallpaper Star—while charting new territory. The album’s eleven tracks explore a spectrum that merges futuristic electronics, jazz motifs, and acoustic textures. The opening track, High-Rise Sun Tribe, sets the chamber-like mood without lyrics, while Jelly Legs weaves a sci-fi narrative amid skittering rhythms and saxophone. Tracks like Beauty Retreat and Hick In Suburbia juxtapose catchy melodies with incisive social commentary, while ambient compositions such as House Mother Console and Glister point towards a bold, experimental future.
Although fans of pioneers like Brian Eno, Roxy Music, Magazine, John Foxx, and Japan will detect echoes of those artists, Glimpse is unmistakably McKenzie’s vision—characterized by high production values and emotionally complex sound design. His songs navigate the intersection of the personal and political, blending wry humour with a nuanced take on modern anxieties.
Raised in Aberdeen amidst a family rooted in music and literature, McKenzie later channeled his creative leanings into the multidisciplinary Artillery Saints project. His academic background in English Literature and enduring fascination with visual arts, film, and nature are evident throughout Glimpse, both in sonic detail and narrative depth.
With Glimpse, Artillery Saints not only reinforce their status in the European avant-pop landscape but also signal a willingness to push boundaries, mixing technical prowess, vivid storytelling, and an unmistakable Scottish sensibility. The album promises to be one of 2025’s most intriguing releases—a must-listen for followers of leftfield pop and experimental music alike.
