‘Seek them out…let this beguiling band be your friend’ Craig McLean 
--Word Magazine 

In the five years since we last heard a studio album from Trashcan Sinatras, things have been looking up. After more than two decades in the business the guys behind the 1990’s GO! Discs albums Cake, I’ve Seen Everything, A Happy Pocket and 2004’s Weightlifting have decided to throw caution to the wind and get happy. The result – new album In the Music is released on Hensley Records via EMI Music Services on 14 July 2009. 

“When Weightlifting came out, we toured it for two years, Europe, Japan, Australia and our favourite, the US of A - sold out the Bowery in NYC and the LA Troubadour 3 times in 2 nights, then on to the El Ray. Then we started coming back down to
earth. Mostly we’ve been just writing and playing.” says vocalist and rhythm guitarist John Douglas. The band has discovered that they’re not for the treadmill approach, or being tied to a label and a deal that demands an album every two years. 

These new love songs – full of relaxed harmonies, typical Trashcans – were set to arrangements in a back room in the South Side of Glasgow over the summer of 2007, and recorded in New York and Marthas Vineyard over a crisp, cold winter in 2007 /
8. At the heart is a studio process that’s new for the boys – of relying on instinct, getting into a groove and leaving the received structure of songwriting and recording behind. 

“The idea to record in New York came up, and it was brilliant. We love that town,” says Douglas. “The first time we went there we played CBGBs and it was fantastic. That would have been around 1990, when we were just wee boys. We hadn’t really toured in Scotland, just a few shows, and the record got played in the States so we went there to play to the college students.” 

Someone must have been smiling on In the Music. As an added, and somewhat unexpected sparkle, the iconic singer - songwriting legend Carly Simon heard the music and asked to sing on Should I Pray.
“I guess with Carly, Ali Smith and with an Eddi Reader co-write plus fellow writers Paul Livingston and Frank Reader in long term relationships with new partners, there is a bit of a feminine addition to this record,” he smiles. Guitarist Paul Livingston
married in 2007, singer Frank in 2008, both guys now living happily in LA; with John raising children and touring with partner Eddi Reader (Frank’s sister) and drummer Stephen busy doing charity work in Glasgow, the guys have moved into that late 30searly 40s realm of being happy with their lot. It comes across in this very relaxed album with songs about “love”. 

“When we play music together, it just seems special,” admits John Douglas. “None of us can leave this behind us for any period of time. With this album we gave ourselves space to be creative, and to have faith in what we were doing – and it’s totally
satisfying.” 

He grins. Eddi has just popped in to say “Hi”. “You know, there are no worries any more.”