Saturday 26 April 2014

Ralph's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - 27.4.14

Visit Ralph's profile on Pinterest.

Ralph's Pinterest
                                                

                                                    OK bands you know the score.....

the more hits your blog gets by the fans..... 

the higher you go.....

So Tweet it, Facebook it.....

and generally expose yourself.....






Now Mr Snuggles and me have been sitting with our heads down counting the hits on each bands blog to see who's got which place.  

So here it is.....

The Top Ten Blogged Band Chart .....








No 1.....The Phantoms 







The Phantoms are Colin Simpson on Vocals and Rhythm Guitar, Colin McKillop on Lead Guitar, Peter Stewart on Bass and Backing Vocals with Brad Young on Drums. They began with local gigs in their home town of Broxburn, and have since branched out into Edinburgh and Glasgow, landing gigs at venues such as Cab Vol, The Electric Circus, The Liquid Rooms, Maggie Mays, Sneaky Petes and Pivo Pivo, getting them noticed on the way by Jim Gellatly et al.





No 2.....The Darlingtons


THE DARLINGTONS - Rotations
Now it's no secret that Ralph's a fan of Sheffield band The Darlingtons so it's with no small amount of glee that I heard they've just released their second single as an autonomous unit and it's another gem. 'Rotations' bursts into guitar driven loveliness as they bring us more of their well conceived, lyrically strong, Indie music.







No 3..... Thumpers 



Ralph normally concentrates on unsigned UK Indie however when he heard London Alt Pop Duo Thumpers (Marcus Pepperell on vocal, guitar, keyboards and John Hamson Jr. on vocal, bass, drums) are going to be playing just round the corner from the kennel at Central Library, St Helens in May it was time to take a look and a listen. They announced the release of their debut album 'Galore' on Sub Pop records and it's been receiving no small amount of critical acclaim and heavy airplay (yes Ralph's given them a spin on Radio KC) including on Radio 1's Huw Stephens show.




No 4.... The Sons






Ralph's played Derby band The Sons single 'Death Love Money' on his Radio KC Indie Show a couple of times so it's about time he took a listen to the recently released album 'Heading Into Land' funded by fans and friends. It's a well crafted slice of alt-folk which leans on a variety of musical styles.







No 5.....Hector Bizerk



It's just over a year since Ralph did a fascinating Q & A with Louie of Hector Bizerk and a lot's happened in the interim including Audrey being nominated in Hit Like A Girl, winning Best Hip Hop in the Scottish Alternative Music Awards and jetting off to debut in New York!






No 6.....Fatherson



Third of the Scottish bands featured this week (Tijuana Bibles on Monday and Laykiller Caterpillar on Tuesday - do pay attention) is the increasingly impressive Fatherson. With the long awaited, much vaunted album about to be released (7th April) they're embarking on a UK album release tour and only this morning have released a video for one of the new tracks - 'I Like Not Knowing'. The good news for me is I've had a listen to the album on the QT and I can assure you the hype is not without merit - the bad news for you is, the wait 'til April 7th!





No 7.....KynchinLay


The new KynchinLay EP (launch night May 9th) has just dropped into the kennel, giving Ralph the chance to have a listen in advance. The Liverpool trio have been working hard to provide a bigger sound and with this excellently produced EP ('Dogfathers' and 'Leave Me Alone' were mixed at Motor Museum) they've achieved that.






No 8....Ian Roland




IAN ROLAND - Never Be Lost

It's no secret that despite his penchent for Indie rock music, Ralph's fond of a bit of Alt-Folk too. So when the new EP 'Helicopter' by Ian Roland dropped into the inbox it was on with the headphones















28.03.14


Following the release of their single 'Svengali Says' in December of last year, Duke and The Darlings have now put together an EP of Alt-Pop songs for our delectation and launched it in the hallowed halls of the Blackjack Brewery, Manchester.








No 10....Wullae Wright





Wullae Wright is capturing the same raw intensity of vocals that an early Robert Plant did.  Not only that his almost psychadelic guitar on the track also has the same haunting tones found on early Zep tracks.  An old rock soul in a young body.




Wednesday 23 April 2014

Book Group - Tantrums





It's been a hectic time in the kennel for new tunes and it was with great interest that news of the new EP by Book Group (due for release may 17th) appeared in the inbox. Ralph took a look last year when they released the excellent debut EP Homeward Sound and a review of the EP's launch party was forthcoming. Book Group are Graeme Anderson (vocal, guitar & synth), Andrew Brodie (drums), Scott Finnigan (backing vocal and bass) and Michael Morrison (guitars).




Formed in 2012, Book Group came together from the ashes of several Edinburgh bands. They inject thundering drums and feed-backing guitars into pop sensibilities, carried by frontman Graeme Anderson’s quirky, story-driven lyrics; with harmonies and humming synths underlying it all. Live, they opened Fence's inaugural (and final) Gnomegame and Aberfeldy Festival in 2013 (and received glowing reviews for their sweat-soaked appearance at Wickerman), and hosted the aforementioned and sold out release party in Pilrig St Paul's Church hall for the début EP, Homeward Sound in May of last year.




They followed that with a limited edition (blue vinyl) double A-side single on Gerry Loves Records which saw both tracks - Victory Lap/The Lowdown of a LOUD Sound - receive national radio play. Both Homeward Sound and the single ended up top in several end of year polls. 

Tantrums is the second EP and it marks a step up in the band's confidence as songwriters. Produced by Bruce Rintoul, the 4-song EP flows from fuzz-pop to howling feedback, vocoders and pounding rhythms and electronics.






 Here Is Too Near by Book Group   





Lead track on Tantrums - 'Hear Is Too Near' - is reminiscent of early Deacon Blue with shades of Prefab Sprout injected through it so I'm happy and it'll be getting a spin on Ralph's Indie Show this Sunday (27th May) on Radio KC. It's single material and demands a video to accompany it. The EP on the whole is Alt Poppier than Admiral Fallow and not as Alt Rocky as Biffy Clyro but that's no bad thing. Lyrically well crafted ('I was in the Boy's Brigade - Never ever got me laid') melodic songs that stick in your head are the order of the day. That plus their solid musicality should see them getting regular airplay by the likes of Jim Gellatly on his new XFM Scotland show.







2 MAY - POOR THINGS ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY - STEREO, GLASGOW. 


17 MAY - ‘TANTRUMS’ EP LAUNCH PARTY, THE HALLS (EDINBURGH), 
With: FRIENDS IN AMERICA, PRONTO MAMA, LIVE FROM THE LATIN QUARTER DJS + MORE. 






Monday 21 April 2014

KynchinLay - 'Drink Me'




The new KynchinLay EP (launch night May 9th) has just dropped into the kennel, giving Ralph the chance to have a listen in advance. The Liverpool trio have been working hard to provide a bigger sound and with this excellently produced EP ('Dogfathers' and 'Leave Me Alone' were mixed at Motor Museum) they've achieved that.





Lead track 'Leave Me Alone' has a Radiohead feel to it and KynchinLay seem to be reveling in the darker almost psych punk style.  It has the same mean, moody lyrics and throbbing beat of third track, 'Public Execution'. Solid musicality and well crafted songwriting are a constant, showing maturity and sustained effort.





'Public Execution' is definitely one for the grown ups with it's slow menacing intro building to a crescendo, breaking into even more menacing vocal and guitar work in the style of Killing Joke.  With Mal William's bass the glue that holds it together it's a proper anthem for their fans at the EP's launch gig in Liverpool's Sound Food and Drink on Duke Street, May 9th.





KynchinLay show their lighter side on the soulful and harmonious 'Live Free or Die', but with 'Dogfathers' they take a body swerve towards ska whilst maintaining the darker lyrics and vocal.  It's almost creepy in the style of The Specials 'Ghost Town' mixed with a touch of SAHB (I can pay it no finer compliment) and would work well as a single. Final track My Heart' rounds of the EP nicely with its strong bassline and guitar...'Drink Me' is a must have for your collection!


Saturday 19 April 2014

Ralph's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - 19.4.14

Visit Ralph's profile on Pinterest.

Ralph's Pinterest
                                                

                                                    OK bands you know the score.....

the more hits your blog gets by the fans..... 

the higher you go.....

So Tweet it, Facebook it.....

and generally expose yourself.....






Now Mr Snuggles and me have been sitting with our heads down counting the hits on each bands blog to see who's got which place.  

So here it is.....

The Top Ten Blogged Band Chart .....










No 1.....The Phantoms 







The Phantoms are Colin Simpson on Vocals and Rhythm Guitar, Colin McKillop on Lead Guitar, Peter Stewart on Bass and Backing Vocals with Brad Young on Drums. They began with local gigs in their home town of Broxburn, and have since branched out into Edinburgh and Glasgow, landing gigs at venues such as Cab Vol, The Electric Circus, The Liquid Rooms, Maggie Mays, Sneaky Petes and Pivo Pivo, getting them noticed on the way by Jim Gellatly et al.






No 2.... The Sons






Ralph's played Derby band The Sons single 'Death Love Money' on his Radio KC Indie Show a couple of times so it's about time he took a listen to the recently released album 'Heading Into Land' funded by fans and friends. It's a well crafted slice of alt-folk which leans on a variety of musical styles.








No 3.....The Darlingtons


THE DARLINGTONS - Rotations
Now it's no secret that Ralph's a fan of Sheffield band The Darlingtons so it's with no small amount of glee that I heard they've just released their second single as an autonomous unit and it's another gem. 'Rotations' bursts into guitar driven loveliness as they bring us more of their well conceived, lyrically strong, Indie music.







No 4.....Hector Bizerk



It's just over a year since Ralph did a fascinating Q & A with Louie of Hector Bizerk and a lot's happened in the interim including Audrey being nominated in Hit Like A Girl, winning Best Hip Hop in the Scottish Alternative Music Awards and jetting off to debut in New York!






No 5.....Fatherson




Third of the Scottish bands featured this week (Tijuana Bibles on Monday and Laykiller Caterpillar on Tuesday - do pay attention) is the increasingly impressive Fatherson. With the long awaited, much vaunted album about to be released (7th April) they're embarking on a UK album release tour and only this morning have released a video for one of the new tracks - 'I Like Not Knowing'. The good news for me is I've had a listen to the album on the QT and I can assure you the hype is not without merit - the bad news for you is, the wait 'til April 7th!







No 6....Ian Roland




IAN ROLAND - Never Be Lost

It's no secret that despite his penchent for Indie rock music, Ralph's fond of a bit of Alt-Folk too. So when the new EP 'Helicopter' by Ian Roland dropped into the inbox it was on with the headphones















28.03.14


Following the release of their single 'Svengali Says' in December of last year, Duke and The Darlings have now put together an EP of Alt-Pop songs for our delectation and launched it in the hallowed halls of the Blackjack Brewery, Manchester.





No 8..... Thumpers 



Ralph normally concentrates on unsigned UK Indie however when he heard London Alt Pop Duo Thumpers (Marcus Pepperell on vocal, guitar, keyboards and John Hamson Jr. on vocal, bass, drums) are going to be playing just round the corner from the kennel at Central Library, St Helens in May it was time to take a look and a listen. They announced the release of their debut album 'Galore' on Sub Pop records and it's been receiving no small amount of critical acclaim and heavy airplay (yes Ralph's given them a spin on Radio KC) including on Radio 1's Huw Stephens show.







Photo by r@ymond.biz

Formed in 2013 from various Scottish bands, Ladykiller Caterpillar have just released an eponymous EP which should see them take their place at the forefront of the burgeoning Scottish Indie scene. Jacob and Neil (bass and guitar) played in several bands together, mainly in Edinburgh. Jani (guitar) from Troon is also veteran of the Edinburgh scene with Raymond (drums) having started in Dundee then playing in many well known venues.





No 10.....Moscow



Stoke band Moscow return with their second release, the Pack Animals EP. Following on from 2013’s well-received Hell Fire EP, Pack Animals maintains the same gritty, post-punk direction but this time mixing it with a heavier, raucous edge and with lead track 'Pack Animals' weighs in as a heavier version of Killing Joke.