Kidsmoke

Since Ralph last checked out Kidsmoke last year they released the immaculate Cut Yourself Loose which has racked up over 20,000 plays on Soundcloud, Spotify and other sources. Now, the Welsh Indie-Pop outfit have announced Heartache as their second single of 2016. Recorded by Ben Trow and mixed by Darren Lawson.

Described as having "Ethereal vocals and delicate guitars float over a hypnotic bass and drum template on new single Heartache. Combining heavy rhythms and compulsive hooks in equal measure". All this makes for yet another enduring Kidsmoke release.

Heartache will be looking to take the interest that the band garnered with Cut Yourself Loose and build upon it. 

Sounding like a more rounded version of Beach Fossils with Heartache they're now producing consistently stronger, radio-friendly Indie-Pop songs and increasingly in their own stylee.

The artwork for the two singles was designed specifically by local artist Mike Payne for Kidsmoke. After being given the two tracks to listen to he ran with his ideas. A theme of night and day emerged from his depiction of them, the perfection summation of the different feels and influences the tracks gave him.

Heartache will be available physically as part of a limited edition run on 8th of April. As well as including Cut Yourself Loose as a b-side, the release will also include some hand-written lyrics. The CD is available to pre-order and will also be available at the band’s upcoming shows. Ralph is playing it on his Radio KC Indie Show this Sunday (6th April).

Kidsmoke will be playing the following live dates, these are the first set of shows that have been announced for 2016.

There will be more to come but the dates booked so far are as follows...

Ralph's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - 26.3.16

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 .....


ralphslife.co.uk

                                         

Click here for the Ralph's Life website

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

Tracks from the Top Ten Blogged Bands are played 
every Sunday 5-7pm on Radio KC as part of 
Ralph's Indie Show.

No 1: The Phantoms

Formed in Edinburgh in 2012 by four school friends, ThePhantoms released their debut EP This Is How It Should Be in December 2013 and followed this up with a short UK tour.

They are influenced by the likes of Kasabian and Simple Minds and are Colin Simpson on guitar and vocals, Colin Mckillop on lead guitar, Zach Tarimo Goodhur on bass and Blair Cullen on drums. 

No 2 New York Tourists

Ralph's been spinning tracks on his Radio KC Indie Show on a regular basis by Blackburn band New York Tourists who are interestingly described as QOTSA meets Foals.

Their debut EP received rave reviews from some of the UK's most respected music media outlets and Chew Me Up, Spit Me Out was selected as one of BBC Intro's top 10 tracks of 2013. Support slots followed, with the band bagging appearances alongside the likes of The Subways, The View, The Sunshine Underground and The Buzzcocks plus a headline slot on the Alt Stage at Blackburn Festival.

No 3: Clay Gods

Following on from the release of their Stone Asylum EP back in 2014 and prior to the release of the upcoming Shadows And Noise album next year, Gloucestershire based Clay Gods have decided to celebrate the addition of drummer Max Ganderton to the band with the release of a double A Side single.

The hard-driving Cabin Fever in particular and the slightly lighter Looking For Jerusalem are the epitomy of doom-laden rock, lyrically and musically in the style of Liverpool's excellent Kynchinlay. 

No 4: James Holt

James Holt is a singer/songwriter from Manchester and he is receiving widespread attention for his unique blend of alternative rock and folk. 

The twenty-two year old has produced a collection of songs which belies his age. This is a solo record in the truest sense of the phrase, with James Holt having composed the songs, played all of the instruments and recorded and mixed the EP. James has already garnered the attention of world-renowned producer Brian Eno who described his music as “Brisk, funny, exciting. Great drumming....fresh and exciting to listen to”.

No 5: Daniel Peterson

In order to try and keep Ralph's burgeoning International readership happy whilst maintining the UK unsigned integrity, we're featuring The Velvet Rope, a gem of a new single release by Daniel Peterson whose heritage is Antipodean but current location is London.

He's also recorded a debut album about the restoration of friendly relations; interestingly entitled, Welcome To My House Bumblebee. 

No 6: Bloch Eyot

The story of Danish born but UK living Nikolaj Bloch who now performs under the pseudonym of Bloch Eyot is as strange and tangential as it is fascinating and absorbing. It leads us to his current incarnation which he describes as, "A new musical journey."

Born in Denmark, his mother taught him Danish political folk songs on guitar from the age of 6. he then trained in classical piano at college, and when he left school he joined a touring blues band.

No 7: Jess Kemp

Ralph has been a fan of the supremely talented Jess Kemp for a while now having played her tracks on his Radio KC Indie show regularly over the last two years. 

In that time, her star has very much come into its ascendancy, especially with her video of Stars (one of the Videos Of The Week on ralphslife.co.uk last year) which was one of the musical highlights of 2015. All the more blatantly obvious due to the release of her debut EP Camden which is being launched in Manchester's Academy 3 on the 29th of April.

No 8 Alkanes

With their debut EP A Different Kind Of Perfect lined up for release on March 18th it's looking like 2016 will be a good year for Aberdeen based outfit Alkanes.

Following the demise of Inverness band Purple Divide in 2013, guitarist Dale looked to challenge himself with a new project. After experimenting with his song writing, he set his sights on a project a little heavier than Purple Divide.

No 9: Skellums

The EP Clarion Call by Skellums, received worldwide airplay; including of course, Ralph's Indie Show on Radio KC and was championed by BBC 6 Music's Steve Lamacq. 

Following its success, Skellums return with a double A side single Art of Dying Young / Do Me Wrong. Both tracks boast sharp, dextrous lyrics delivered with passion and personality, and accompanied by strong, ridiculously catchy melodies.

No 10: Roman Nose

The last time Ralph checked out Roman Nose and gave them a spin on the Radio KC Indie Show was back when they did a collaboration with SAMA Best Electro winner Plum. They've been quiet of late, but I can assure you they're back with a bang in the form of the excellent new Jacked Up On Mercy EP to be released on Monday 28th March. The EP will be out on the band's own label Badly Built Records and will be available as a download.

Roman Nose

The last time Ralph checked out Roman Nose and gave them a spin on the Radio KC Indie Show was back when they did a collaboration with SAMA Best Electro winner Plum. They've been quiet of late, but I can assure you they're back with a bang in the form of the excellent new Jacked Up On Mercy EP to be released on Monday 28th March. The EP will be out on the band's own label Badly Built Records and will be available as a download.

It kicks off with the hugely atmospheric and massively addictive Bloodstains which will be getting a spin on Ralph's Indie Show Sunday 3rd April. 




The year and a half hiatus Roman Nose have had has paid off big time as they've come back with a more egalitarian sound whilst holding firm to their full-on, bass-rich and deliciously dark electro roots.

Agoraphobic is a burgeoning beast of a track which should prove to be an absolute favourite live on their up-coming UK and European tour. Third track in Black Pope is probably as 'commercial' as Roman Nose are ever likely to get. 




It's lighter almost synth-popesque to kick off with before getting bass-heavy and will probably prove to be the most radio-friendly track on the EP. 

Final track Solid Gold is exactly that as it aggressively attacks your aural synapses with the musical equivelant of a baseball bat. Performed live in the usual Roman Nose style it'll be a killer and if you're at Brew At The Bog in Inverness on June 4th, you'll get a chance to see and hear them in the flesh.

Ralph's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - 19.3.16

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 .....


ralphslife.co.uk

                                         

Click here for the Ralph's Life website

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

Tracks from the Top Ten Blogged Bands are played 
every Sunday 5-7pm on Radio KC as part of 
Ralph's Indie Show.

No 1: James Holt

James Holt is a singer/songwriter from Manchester and he is receiving widespread attention for his unique blend of alternative rock and folk. 

The twenty-two year old has produced a collection of songs which belies his age. This is a solo record in the truest sense of the phrase, with James Holt having composed the songs, played all of the instruments and recorded and mixed the EP. James has already garnered the attention of world-renowned producer Brian Eno who described his music as “Brisk, funny, exciting. Great drumming....fresh and exciting to listen to”.

No 2: Jess Kemp

Ralph has been a fan of the supremely talented Jess Kemp for a while now having played her tracks on his Radio KC Indie show regularly over the last two years. 

In that time, her star has very much come into its ascendancy, especially with her video of Stars (one of the Videos Of The Week on ralphslife.co.uk last year) which was one of the musical highlights of 2015. All the more blatantly obvious due to the release of her debut EP Camden which is being launched in Manchester's Academy 3 on the 29th of April.

No 3: Clay Gods

Following on from the release of their Stone Asylum EP back in 2014 and prior to the release of the upcoming Shadows And Noise album next year, Gloucestershire based Clay Gods have decided to celebrate the addition of drummer Max Ganderton to the band with the release of a double A Side single.

The hard-driving Cabin Fever in particular and the slightly lighter Looking For Jerusalem are the epitomy of doom-laden rock, lyrically and musically in the style of Liverpool's excellent Kynchinlay. 

No 4: The Phantoms

Formed in Edinburgh in 2012 by four school friends, ThePhantoms released their debut EP This Is How It Should Be in December 2013 and followed this up with a short UK tour.

They are influenced by the likes of Kasabian and Simple Minds and are Colin Simpson on guitar and vocals, Colin Mckillop on lead guitar, Zach Tarimo Goodhur on bass and Blair Cullen on drums. 

No 5: Mildred's Dairy

Mildred's Dairy have the feel of a grown-up Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and Deacon Blue throughout this release with well-crafted, well-written tracks immaculately played and produced. Then there's the relatively tongue-in-cheek nature of the sleeve notes and the band's ambiguously anonymous bio. Possibly self-explanatory when you think more about the album's title which is based on The Helsinki Bus Station Theory. 

No 6 New York Tourists

Ralph's been spinning tracks on his Radio KC Indie Show on a regular basis by Blackburn band New York Tourists who are interestingly described as QOTSA meets Foals.

Their debut EP received rave reviews from some of the UK's most respected music media outlets and Chew Me Up, Spit Me Out was selected as one of BBC Intro's top 10 tracks of 2013. Support slots followed, with the band bagging appearances alongside the likes of The Subways, The View, The Sunshine Underground and The Buzzcocks plus a headline slot on the Alt Stage at Blackburn Festival.

No 7: Daniel Peterson

In order to try and keep Ralph's burgeoning International readership happy whilst maintining the UK unsigned integrity, we're featuring The Velvet Rope, a gem of a new single release by Daniel Peterson whose heritage is Antipodean but current location is London.

He's also recorded a debut album about the restoration of friendly relations; interestingly entitled, Welcome To My House Bumblebee. 

No 8: Bloch Eyot

The story of Danish born but UK living Nikolaj Bloch who now performs under the pseudonym of Bloch Eyot is as strange and tangential as it is fascinating and absorbing. It leads us to his current incarnation which he describes as, "A new musical journey."

Born in Denmark, his mother taught him Danish political folk songs on guitar from the age of 6. he then trained in classical piano at college, and when he left school he joined a touring blues band.

No 9 Alkanes

With their debut EP A Different Kind Of Perfect lined up for release on March 18th it's looking like 2016 will be a good year for Aberdeen based outfit Alkanes.

Following the demise of Inverness band Purple Divide in 2013, guitarist Dale looked to challenge himself with a new project. After experimenting with his song writing, he set his sights on a project a little heavier than Purple Divide.

No 10: Skellums

The EP Clarion Call by Skellums, received worldwide airplay; including of course, Ralph's Indie Show on Radio KC and was championed by BBC 6 Music's Steve Lamacq. 

Following its success, Skellums return with a double A side single Art of Dying Young / Do Me Wrong. Both tracks boast sharp, dextrous lyrics delivered with passion and personality, and accompanied by strong, ridiculously catchy melodies.