Monday 30 March 2015

The Slow Readers Club



Well feted after the release of their debut album The Slow Readers Club now bring us their second offering Cavalcade with it's 12 tracks of indie pop infused electro goodness. 

Strong  song writing and vocals overlaid on consumate musicality will see this album push them even further to the fore.

The Slow Readers Club seem to be on the cusp of being the next big musical Manchester thing as this album flows from potential single to potential single with Ralph already having played Start Again many a time on his Radio KC Indie Show.






But it's not just Ralph that's featured The Slow Readers Club regularly as the band's previous four singles have enjoyed extensive airplay on BBC 6 Music and Don't Mind was selected for a coveted slot on Steve Lamacq's Round Table which saw the single awarded a very respectable 7/10 from each guest on the panel.





Playlisted twice on Xfm, featured three times as the station's Shock of the New and with their single Forever In Your Debt selected as one of the top 5 singles of the week in December 2014, it seems that journalist and musician John Robb was absolutely right to predict that 2015 will see The Slow Readers Club breaking through to become one of the most important bands to emerge from Manchester's music scene in recent years.





The Slow Readers Club regularly receive rave reviews for their live shows and 2014's highlights include a sold out show at Manchester’s Night and Day and appearances at Tramlines Festival, Party in the Pines and Blackthorn Festival together with support slots for Catfish & The Bottlemen, The Struts, Reverend and the Makers and The Sunshine Underground.  

The band will be  touring Cavalcade throughout April 2015 and I'd advise you to catch a show near you!









TUESDAY 31ST MARCH
THE MACBETH - LONDON
The Macbeth, 70 Hoxton Street, London N1 6LP
Tickets £5 Click here to buy
FRIDAY 3RD APRIL
THE ABACUS - SCUNTHORPE
The Abacus, 177-195 High Street, Scunthorpe,
North Lincolnshire DN15 6LN

FREE ENTRY
FRIDAY 17TH APRIL
VERVE - LEEDS
Verve, 16 Merrion Street, City Centre, Leeds LS1 6PQ
FREE ENTRY
SATURDAY 18TH APRIL
ACADEMY 3 - MANCHESTER
Manchester Academy 3, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PR
Tickets £8 Click here to buy
THURSDAY 23RD APRIL
THE ROCKING CHAIR - SHEFFIELD
The Rocking Chair, 23 Furnival Gate, Sheffield S1 4QR
Tickets £5 Click here to buy

Saturday 28 March 2015

Ralph's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - 28.3.15


OK bands you know the score .....

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

the higher you go .....

So Tweet it, Facebook it .....

Generally expose yourself .....






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



The Top Ten Blogged Band Chart is played every Sunday 5-7pm on Radio KC as part of Ralph's Indie Show.














Working on a debut album, The Phantom Sound aka Californian born (now living in London) Marisa Schlussel strives to create honest, powerful and emotional songs, drawing on diverse influences from the late 70's and 80's including BowieBlondieThe Ramones and Duran Duran and giving them a contemporary feel.













No 2...Lost Embers




The Borders of Winter -Signed and Personalized CD

Having played guitar and written music since an early age, playing in a number of bands around the Welsh valleys, the next logical step was to perform as a solo artist so Lost Embers was formed in 2013. Since then songs have been written and recorded with important thought to location and space. These recordings gave way to the first full length album The Borders of Winter. 






No 3...Sisteray







Sisteray have been making big waves in the indie/garage rock scene since forming in 2012 however 2014 was a breakthrough year for the London four-piece and 2015 looks to continue in that vein. They're big favourites here in the kennel and regulars on Ralph's Indie Show on Radio KC.









No 4...Kidsmoke








The last time Ralph had a sniff at Manchester based Kidsmoke was on the release of their debut EP Higher back in September of 2013. Well at the time I was hooked by their infectious 80's guitar and remain so with the advent of The Reason I Jump, just released as a single from the up-coming EP So Long, Emptiness.








No 5..Affairs










Ralph's played tracks by Affairs regularly on his Radio KC Indie Show since hearing their single Cressida nearly two years ago.  Now they're releasing a new single Blood Science on Monday 15th March so it's time to renew acquaintances.


From scattered English Counties, the band members of Affairs met at Hull University, drawn together by their mutual appreciation of 80’s music, art, slick hair, tight jeans and loose hips.








No 6...The Phantoms






Ralph's been a big fan of Edinburgh band The Phantoms since he covered them back in April last year after they played a set at the Ralph's Life CD Launch in Electric Circus for the Rethink Mental Illness charity. They've since played a succession of gigs including the one and only King Tut's in Glasgow.














No 7...Blair Jollands






Ralph's not averse to a bit of mean and moody vocalising and he's found it in spades with the release of the four track EP Stars Will Descend by Blair Jollands

New Zealand born and now based in London, Blair's style has been previously compared to Nick Cave or Rufus Wainright and I'm getting shades of a funky Leonard Cohen. 












EP cover The Ones That Left TownNow it's no secret that despite the volume of US rappers knocking at the kennel door, Ralph has no great love of hippety hop - however - the self styled 'Barely Rappers' Outside Your House bring a quirky lo-fi feel to the table in a crossover stylee between Ceiling DemonsTo Have Is To Hold and a snippet of Snippet.

The release of The Ones That Left Town EP by duo Outside Your House is the proverbial breath of fresh air in what can be an extremely stale musical genre. 












No 9...1000 Mexicans






Why Do We Take This?

If you've reformed a band that nearly made it in the 80's what's new that you can bring to the table now? In 1000 Mexicans case it's quality grown up music like their new single Why Do We Take This. Ralph's already given it a spin on his Radio KC Indie Show.











No 10...Fold








Fold - Press Photo - WideThe flow of music into the kennel this week culminated in the forceful and yet funky double A side release by Leeds based trip-hoppers Fold

The two tracks use vocal samples backed by their slick groove fuelled beats to mesmerise the listener. it certanly worked on me when I played them on Radio KC.





Thursday 26 March 2015

1000 Mexicans


Why Do We Take This?

If you've reformed a band that nearly made it in the 80's what's new that you can bring to the table now? In 1000 Mexicans case it's quality grown up music like their new single Why Do We Take This. Ralph's already given it a spin on his Radio KC Indie Show.

1000 Mexicans were one of the most innovative and creative British independent bands of the 1980s, combining quality songwriting, rhythmic and harmonic richness with their unique touches of experimentalism.








Despite success in Europe, indie chart placings, Radio 1 daytime airplay, a video shown on BBC 2’s Whistle Test, and consistent critical acclaim including front cover features in Sounds and Melody Maker, the band found themselves in a tangle of bad business deals that strangled their creative momentum and finally their will to live, leaving 1000 Mexicans to sadly go their separate ways in 1986.









Founder members Michael and Andrew have now reanimated 1000 Mexicans as a duo and have been writing and recording new material to supplement their catalogue of 80s favourites. 

The new single Why Do We Take This builds from a hypnotic guitar riff through a slide-topped bridge into a chorus that that packs a musical punch and a lyrical twist, proving a favourite in their lean mean 21st century live set.



The EP contains 3 remixes and the remixers  are...

Train Of Thought cover art

The Garwin Project's contemporary electronica draws inspiration from many sources,
including Sheffield's rich musical heritage and the Berlin School of electronic composition. 

With two acclaimed albums and a third on the way, 2015 continues with further remix projects and bespoke soundtracks for movies and online gaming.





Dark Harmonics are a 4 piece production ensemble based in Sheffield. Originally forming at a dubstep event in 2009 the crew gradually moved to music production as
they were introduced to Ableton's production software.

In 2012 they became residents at ROOTS in Sheffield - a regular event celebrating soundsystem culture – and released songs in 2014 on labels including Mindstep Music and FatKidOnFire.

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Blair Jollands


Ralph's not averse to a bit of mean and moody vocalising and he's found it in spades with the release of the four track EP Stars Will Descend by Blair Jollands

New Zealand born and now based in London, Blair's style has been previously compared to Nick Cave or Rufus Wainright and I'm getting shades of a funky Leonard Cohen. 

The EP is a precursor to Blair Jollands eagerly awaited album Half Life which is due for release later this year.












Such is the critical acclaim Blair Jollands has already recieved it's probably not that surprising that his fanbase includes Boy George and David Bowie!

Blair Jollands has had a number of successful compositions in the world of film including the Golden Globe nominated Pride and recently had work included on the highly acclaimed Sky Atlantic series Fortitude.










Lead track Stars Will Descend sees Blair Jollands doing what he does best, pulling on the listeners heartstrings with a simple melody and plaintive vocal, not surprising it's single material. 

The more uplifting Carve It Up is no less listenable overlaid with some delightful sax whilst the deliciously dark and decadent My Way Home is my favourite of the four tracks. It's what every self-respecting serial killer should have on his ipod and I'll be giving it a spin on the Radio KC Indie Show this Sunday.

Blood From A Stone finishes off this quartet of almost malevolent tracks with more edgy almost dystopian musicality. It's music to drink red wine to on a stormy night with the headphones on.











APR
16
7:30 PM

RABBIT HOLE, HAMPSTEAD, LONDON.

  •   
  • Duke Of Hamilton 
This will be an intimate gig downstairs at the Duke Of Hamilton in Hampstead village. 

Its an amazing venue - limited seating.

Also on the night featuring Adam White who will performing before hand as part of his EP release.

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Kidsmoke


The last time Ralph had a sniff at Manchester based Kidsmoke was on the release of their debut EP Higher back in September of 2013. Well at the time I was hooked by their infectious 80's guitar and remain so with the advent of The Reason I Jump, just released as a single from the up-coming EP So Long, Emptiness.

Originally from Wrexham, Kidsmoke are consistently producing contemporary garage-popesque melodies which delight. Eminantly listenable and worthy of repeat. The choppy Roddy Frame guitar influence is on show again in this single and it's backed by smooth vocalising.









Needless to say Ralph's giving the track a spin on his Radio KC Indie Show and it's also been looked upon favourably by Adam Walton of BBC Radio Wales and Amazing Radio. Hardly surprising as The Reason I Jump is perfect air wave material, and I look forward to the release of the EP on April 3rd. 

Kidsmoke are Lance Williams, James Stickels, Chris Kennedy and Chris Trow.


They've backed the single with a suitably psychedelic video (with a dog in) and live-wise they're playing the following dates...


Date  Location   
 Tickets
Mar 28The CompassChester, UkTickets
Apr 03UnDegUnWrexham, United KingdomTickets
Apr 04FuelManchester, United KingdomFree
Apr 24Central StationWrexham, United KingdomTickets