Wednesday 5 December 2018

Harker Moon


Due to the circumstances outlined in the Significant Human section of Ralph's Life blog this has been the first musical review in quite some weeks but it's well worth waiting for as laid back, recently formed London Alt Rockers Harker Moon have released a debut single which has already attracted our attention!

It's the slow and bluesy Muma Says and it's quite the kick off for this nascent young band, who came together in Kentish Town in 2016 and have been creating quite the buzz before coming to our attention. 



Image may contain: one or more people, people on stage, crowd and indoor
Harker Moon playing The Crowndale
The band brings together the musical talents and styling of Tommy Down (who has been drawn to our attention previously with much interest), on vocal and rhythm guitar, Olly Jay guitar and Hall Briggs on Bass with Ben Philips on Drums and Elliot Linsey taking up lead guitar.

Harker Moon now have under their collective belt some critically acclaimed performances both venue-wise and at some of London's best festivals including the iconic Camden Rocks.



Bearing a clear-cut message – cherish the one you love – ‘Muma Says’, the debut single by young London quintet Harker Moon, is not only a song of beautiful intent but of beautiful execution too. This brassy indie-soul swinger finds a spacious, subtle union of piano, guitar and bass enveloping a hypnotic 6/8 drum groove, resulting in a track with the sultry ambience of a Sixties Stax classic, the pop nous of the Motown songbook and the climactic dynamics of a modern-day indie anthem.




Completing the picture is Tommy’s raw-throated and impassioned vocal, reminiscent of timeless soul stars including Al Green and Marvin Gaye, as well as more contemporary artists such as D’Angelo and Daniel Caesar. Though there is a certain melancholy in Tommy’s delivery that mirrors the emotive melody lines of piano and guitar, ‘Muma Says’ ultimately exudes positivity and hope, a belief in good times and better tomorrows. Tommy explains: “The happy and nostalgic themes of the song echo the temperamental world we live in but are intended to leave the listener feeling hopeful for the future.


And given the power of ‘Muma Says’, we’ve got the feeling that Harker Moon have every reason to feel hopeful for the future. It's a so laid back it's horizontal blues infused gem and we're dropping it a 9/10 for it's pure unabashed ability to lull you into a sense of musical relaxation and euphoria with it's shades of Randy Newman and Tom Waits.

Monday 22 October 2018

Brian's Indie Show on Radio KC - Replay from Sunday 4.11.18






Internet Radio on rkc.noip.me



REPLAY


Played in 174 countries 

Worldwide on 2 satellites


Ralph's Life Music Blog

The Indie Show REPLAY - click and play



21 August

PLAYLIST:
HANDS OFF GRETEL - Kiss Me Girl

THE KUT - Mind Games

BUGEYE - Is This Love

ME ME DETROIT - Churchside Inn

YOUNG FATHERS - Holy Ghost

SCOTT LLOYD - Down To Earth
BEERJACKET - Cord
EMNIBIS - Home
SEA GIRLS - Adored
HERO - FISHER - If I Die and Nothing Happens
BLACK DELTA MOVEMENT - King Mosquito
COCOA FUTURES - Circcus
NARCISSUS - The Window (Dark Matter Mix)
VIVE LA ROSE — Schiehallion
BOSSY LOVE - Whiplash

BERRIES - Discreetly
MAD ALICE - Vulture Tree
SPEAK, BROTHER - Man Of Honour
JACK PERRETT - Like A Fever
SOLAREYE - Mr Margins
THE RPMs - Let Things Happen
RIVAL BONES - The Great Divide
HEY GIGANTIC - Fools
POLAR STATES - Roads
THE BLINDERS - You're So Cold
REHEARSED LIVING - Vacuous State
SONS OF MOWGLI - Liberation In Fellowship
BROKEN BY ROCK - Picking Up The Pieces
PIQUED JACKS - Loner Vs Lover
IMPERIAL LEISURE - RRRRRolin'






Website: ralphslife.co.uk


REPLAY




Submissions: ralphslife@mail.com


Twitter: @fruitbatwalton


PLAYLIST : 



HANDS OFF GRETEL - Kiss Me Girl
THE KUT - Mind Games
BUGEYE - Is This Love
ME ME DETROIT - Churchside Inn
YOUNG FATHERS - Holy Ghost
SCOTT LLOYD - Down To Earth
BEERJACKET - Cord
EMNIBIS - Home
SEA GIRLS - Adored
HERO - FISHER - If I Die and Nothing Happens
BLACK DELTA MOVEMENT - King Mosquito
COCOA FUTURES - Circcus
NARCISSUS - The Window (Dark Matter Mix)
VIVE LA ROSE — Schiehallion
BOSSY LOVE - Whiplash
BERRIES - Discreetly


MAD ALICE - Vulture Tree
SPEAK, BROTHER - Man Of Honour
JACK PERRETT - Like A Fever
SOLAREYE - Mr Margins
THE RPMs - Let Things Happen
RIVAL BONES - The Great Divide
HEY GIGANTIC - Fools
POLAR STATES - Roads
THE BLINDERS - You're So Cold
REHEARSED LIVING - Vacuous State
SONS OF MOWGLI - Liberation In Fellowship
BROKEN BY ROCK - Picking Up The Pieces
PIQUED JACKS - Loner Vs Lover
IMPERIAL LEISURE - RRRRRolin




















Monday 15 October 2018

Brian's Video Of The Week - Cocoa Futures 'Circus'



Image result for cocoa futures circus

Brian's Video Of The Week commencing 15th October is the interestingly disturbing and highly compelling new one from the enigmatic London based Cocoa Futures, baby of Scottish singer songwriter par excellence Greg Sanderson..

Directed by Danny Nellis and Wesley Gonzales Cocoa Futures - Circus. Released on Lost in the Manor Records.

Stream Circus on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0BFEUv...




Image result for cocoa futures circus

Stream on Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cir...


Website: http://www.cocoafuturesband.com YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/cocoafut Twitter: http://twitter.com/cocoafuture Instagram: http://instagram.com/cocoafutures Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cocoafutures










Wednesday 12 September 2018

Beerjacket


Image may contain: drawing

Cord is the first track to be taken from Beerjacket's most ambitious musical project to date – an album and corresponding book Silver Cords. 

Accompanying the 12 songs on the album are a collection of 12 short
stories; intertwined with the music, intended for consumption alongside it. Of the project Peter Kelly says, 

“At some point in the writing of Silver Cords, I decided the record would live in a book and that each song would be
accompanied by a short story inspired 
by its lyrics.”









Image may contain: 2 people, nightThe tenderness of the music ebbs and flows, conveyed perfectly with lead single Cord. Refreshing in its
simplistic truth, the track is an elucidation of why Beerjacket has become the cult figure, despite his modesty,within Scottish music that he is.

The accompanying short story, Shoots of Life, focuses on that one connection
in your life that holds everything together. The cord that connects everything.

“I’ve always believed that as people, the threads that tie us together don't just connect us to each other, they
connect us to ourselves and define the ‘selves’ that we claim as ours. 




No automatic alt text available.The decisions we make are seldom made alone and we are seldom alone, even on our own.” – Excerpt from Shoots of Life.

The combination of sound and print is something unique to Silver Cords. Having released five albums in the traditional manner, PeterKelly was keen to release something special. 

Instead he's produced something exceptional in my opinion,something constant that won't be cast adrift on a shelf in favour of a digital imprint. 




No automatic alt text available.
This pairing creates an ethereal tone which binds the stories with a dreamlike, magic realism quality, and certain recurring themes of isolation, now-ness,  association, loss and fear. Peter Kelly started writing the album in 2015 and its completion has taken 3 years, but it's well worth the wait, although the only thing missing for me is vinyl but that doesn't deter an all star 5 star award.. 

“Story by story the songs’  siblings entered the room. My imagination superimposing details on the real-life buildings that inspired settings and, the stories play out almost interminably now on three to five minute loops.”  Cord will be released digitally on 7th September 2018 via indie Scottish Fiction records.






Silver Cords Book + CD main photo

The track is imbued with poignant Americana-esque Bonnie Prince Billie stylee vocal (no higher compliment can I pay) as Beerjacket draws the listener in with his subtle engaging tones.

Therefor Cord is as true a musical gem as I've drooled over after listening to recently and his back-catalogue is a must do to search for you and get the headphones on like I did. You will not be disappointed. Ican't wait to give it a spin soon on Brian's Radio KC Sunday Indie Show!

Just click the red link! How many hints do you need? Go!!!

Tuesday 11 September 2018

Scott Lloyd


We've covered Scott Lloyd's releases previously and regularly playlisted on our weekly Sunday radio show on Radio KC. No wonder with quality releases like his new Single Down To Earth which we've had on repeat here all week and now of course Living In The Dark playlisted right away for the Indie Show of Sunday 16th November, so tune in via Internet Radio on the following link: radiokc.fm at 5pm UK Time.

Scott Lloyd is producing his own brand of Americana to a quality way beyond his years since we last featured him and no wonder. Born in Middlesbrough, has previously released six EP's independently and played live in venues across the UK and America from San Francisco to Vancouver, Canada, as well as appearing at Glastonbury in 2015 and live on BBC Intro. 

His widening experience shows through in his increasingly mature and eminently listenable music. It's 9/10 for us.






Last year, in 2017 Scott sold out Jimmy’s venue in Manchester to release his EP In the Garden, a former Ralph's Life Video Of The Week,which was recorded with a full backing band. With roots firmly planted in the North East Scott also wrote songs for his Ironopolis EP, which were inspired by his hometown of Middlesbrough and the EP immediately reached number 12 in iTunes Singer Songwriter charts in 2015. 

After graduating from a degree in music at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2010, Scott listened to Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Simon and Garfunkel and Bruce Springsteen for their songwriting and inspired, Scott set out to record his first EP Long Live You in 2013.



Trust A FoxScott’s first single released via the fiercly independent Aardvark Records,Looking Out To Sea, gained over 1000 plays on Apple music within a few weeks of release.
Scott’s new single ‘Down To Earth’ goes on sale on Friday 7th September on digital music retail and streaming sites. Aardvark Records have also pressed some CDs. The song was recorded at Red Sand Studio, Chorlton, Manchester and produced by Mathieu Garcia.
For more information about Scott Lloyd please visit his website without delay on www.scottlloydmusic.co.uk to find links to videos and his previous EPs and upcoming gigs. 

More info you will need as you discover the burgeoning strength of his songwriting and musicianship. His creative maturity is pushing his writing to new levels and who knows what heights the next release will bring. 

Pretty certain I do and it's all good. Can't wait for more from this charming young man! Bring it on!

Monday 3 September 2018

Brian's Indie Show on Radio KC from Sunday 16th September - REPLAY



Brian's Indie Show Replay:

As played Sunday 11.11.18 on 

Radio KC:

From 5-7pm UK Time:

Apologies for a previous technical blip...the correct replay is available now below today as played on Radio KC 5-7pm on 11.11.18:

Enjoy! 






Tracks by:



Bryony Sier - We’re All Sinners
Milo Seabird - Lullaby
Graingerboy - I Wanted To Mess Up
Sisteray - Wannabees
Candy Opera - What A Way To Travel
Bloody Knees - Reel
The Wombats - Bee-Sting
Lee Christian - The Dreamstealers (Fever Dream Mix)
Jimmy Lee Morris - It Aint Me Babe (Dylan Cover)
Bobby Motherwell - Skylight
Fiona Ross - That Moment
Clark Twain - Try Too Hard
Mickey 9s - Planet
The RPMs - Let Things Happen
Ishani - Dark Angel
The Neville Staple Band - Roadblock
Lyerr - Taking Over
The Neville Staple Band - Roadblock
Lyerr - Taking Over
Brass Phantoms - City Of Wolves
Who Killed Nancy Johnson - Dark Horse
The Blinders - Murder At The Ballet
The Pitchforks - Waste Of A Day
Himalayas - Thank God I’m Not You
Wylderness - Sunography
Hey Bulldog - Al Lupo
Katalina Kicks - Waterfall
Me Me Detroit - Get Down On With Me
The Jade assembly - Nothing Changes
The Kut - Mind Games
The Mutineers - Couldn’t Get Over You
True Dat - Sunshine
Hey Gigantic - Fools
Young Fathers - Holy Ghost