This is music that sounds like it was recorded in a single take because the emotion was too volatile to hold onto for a second. It is characterized by frantic acoustic guitar strumming that borders on percussion, paired with a vocal delivery that retains the grit and urgency of the UK hardcore scene. There is no polish here, only the friction of steel strings and a voice pushed to its limit.
What sets this apart from typical singer-songwriter fare is the thematic darkness and the sheer velocity of the performance. While most acoustic acts aim for comfort, this Mike Scott (of Lay It On The Line) leans into discomfort, exploring concepts of mortality, historical true crime, and radical animal rights. It is folk music for people who grew up in mosh pits.
Start with '(Almost) Everything Else' to hear the bridge between his melodic sensibilities and his punk roots. It is the perfect entry point for anyone who values lyrical honesty and raw energy over studio perfection.
Mike Scott is the bassist of Phinius Gage and vocalist from Lay It On The Line. He had released three solo acoustic folk punk albums and writes for long running punk zine Punktastic. He has also been in Brighton Pop Punks River Jumpers and UK82 punks Anti-Establishment. He actively promotes animal rights and is vegan. Scott played his first solo show in 2007, after five years as bassist for Phinius Gage. He recorded a split 7-inch with Kevin Seconds of 7 Seconds and has recorded three solo albums. Since January 2012, Scott has also performed vocals in hardcore punk band Lay it on the Line and this has become his main project. The band are notable for their choice of subjects - releases are concepts based on murders and deaths of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries - including the murder of Scott's friend Ben Gardner in 2009, which is the subject of the band's song "Therapia Lane". They (and Mike in particular) have regularly chosen the Process Church of the Final Judgment as subject matter in the songs, too, including 2015 EP "A Prelude To The Process".
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