TwinsTown drops debut album ‘Brankholm Brae’

Hailing from from Dunfermline in Scotland, TwinsTown is an exciting new indie rock outfit that’s fronted by the identical twins Donald and Stuart Mackay. Previously the brothers cut their musical teeth in bands such as Wingnuts and Wölves, playing the iconic Glasgow rock venue The Barrowland and even heading over to Amsterdam to play live.

As TwinsTown, they first made an entrance in June 2021 with the debut single “Callum Paterson’s Broken Song.” Since then, they shared a string of singles over the following eighteen months as they rolled out their original sonic vision with the world.

More recently they ventured to Tpot Studios in Perthshire to record their debut full-length record, linking up with producer Robin Evans who worked on The View’s breakout first album Hats Off to the Buskers. Now they bring us their first LP, the twelve-track release titled Brankholm Brae which provides the perfect run through of the band’s creativity, slick musicianship and superb songwriting.

Opened by “Welcome to My World,” the album kicks off with a laid back rhythm propelled by a mellow drum beat as a blend of clean guitar backing, distorted lead twangs and fuzzy synth tones set up the backdrop for their vocals. Threading smooth lead melodies, the track builds to a chorus of instantly catchy lines as bright piano flutters and crunchy guitar flourishes collide beneath their split voices. After the final chorus, the song resurges with a reversed breakdown outro, crafting a unique backwards finale to the song.

“Spirfire” follows with a morse code style buzz as air raid sirens and plane engines ring out before a psychedelic rock and roll soundscape kicks off with uptempo energy and wah-drenched guitar leads. With lively vocals soaring above the buoyant arrangement, TwinsTown serves up a relentless psych rock anthem brimming with memorable writing and infectious energy.

With “Last Romance” they lay down a joyous retro rock sound full of bouncy rhythm, stabby piano chords, grooving guitar work and shuffling drums, capped by sing-along vocals. It’s a sensational display of their enduring songwriting craft and knack for bringing together a timeless sound to life in their own modern way.

Other highlights on the record include songs like “Johnny Depp” with its breezy acoustic guitar strums, stretching organ tones, punchy drum work and intricate guitars. With vibrant lead guitar licks rising the groove, it’s an upbeat jam full of stellar songwriting and the band’s distinct sonic charm.

“Dive In” bursts open with an uplifting, danceable energy as their catchy vocal layers overlap to provide the perfect taste of the TwinsTown sound. With a spirited fusion of guitars, piano, pulsing bass lines and splashy drums, “Dive In” delivers an intoxicating dose of classic upbeat rock and roll music.

The album closes with the title track “Brankholm Brae,” where smooth guitar plucks glide over soft acoustic guitar backing and warm organ texture. The gentle tap of drums ushers in the band’s dazzling vocal work, driven by the playful plinks of piano to form an exquisite finale to TwinsTown’s fantastic first full-length record. Brankholm Brae is also getting a physical release on limited edition white vinyl via Whanga Records, set to drop in March next year which you can pre-order here.

Listen to Brankholm Brae below