SHEAFS

SHEAFS are a five-piece indie rock band from Sheffield, which formed in the later end of 2015 comprise Lawrence Feenstra (lead vocals), Chris Goodacre (guitar/backing vocals), Charles Mellor (guitar), Callum Wright (bass/backing vocals), Charlie Eastap (drums).

Following on from the legacy of breakthrough single, This Is Not A Protest, new track, Shock Machine is a bold step up in both power of performance and size of hooks used.




Working with producer Thomas Mitchener (Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes) Shock Machine showcases a harder, faster side to the band yet still gives the listener a riotous sing along chorus and a break down to end all breakdown. 

As with the previous release, be afraid, be very afraid, this song will get stuck in your head.

SHEAFS live sound has earned them a consistent place in This Feeling tour book as well as slots on the Isle of Wight, Reading Festival bills and their largest show to date in front of a 2000 strong crowd at Y Not Festival. SHEAFS debut headline tour in support of Shock Machine runs across the UK this February and March.

SHEAFS are another band high on our 'ones to watch' list and Brian's giving Shock Machine a spin a week on Sunday's Radio KC Indie Show so tune in from 5-7pm GMT on the 11th of February. They're going to be mahoosive!!!

Brian's Indie Show REPLAY - as played on Radio KC - 28.1.18

Ralph's Indie Show Replay

As played on Radio KC

Internet Radio on rkc.noip.me

Played in 174 countries 

worldwide on 2 satellites

Website: ralphslife.co.uk

Music Blog: fruitbatwalton.blogspot.co.uk

Submissions: ralphslife@mail.com

Twitter: @fruitbatwalton

PLAYLIST :

Click the band's name to follow them if they're on on Facebook:

Who Killed Nancy Johnson? - Dark Horse
Megalomatic - Direction
DMS - Sheep
Wylderness - Peripheral Vision
The Wired - Stay Here
The Ringards - Stay Where You Stand
The Rogue Network - This Is Reality
To Kill A King - Spiritual Dark Age
The Battles Of Winter - Wrong Port
The Quicks - Starts With A Bang
Red Telephone - Kookly Rose
Dead Man Fall - What's The Point
The Creature Comfort - What We Want (Power Corruption And Lies)
COAST - Thundersnow
FØNX - Don't Feel Like Lovin'
HVNTER - Ghost
John MOuse - Gladiator Contender
Onr. - 5 Years Time
DENNIS McCALMONT - L.O.S.T.
Matty Lamb - Sit At Home
The Harriets - The Hangers On
Fruity Water- Rules
Demons of Ruby Mae - To Be Adored
Hydrocele - Content With Concise
Emma and the Fragments - Silently
Bad Mannequins - Double Denim

Speak, Brother

Speak, Brother are regaling us once more with their lush vocal harmonies, rustic instrumentation and contagious heartfelt lyrics with the release of their latest single Magnesium Burn prior to the debut album Young & Brave out this week and is accompanied by a UK headline tour, hopefully as a precursor to them taking their rightful place on a stage in a stadium near you soon.

Brian will be spinning Magnesium Burn on the Radio KC Indie Show a week this Sunday and it's well worth tuning in for as they soar to new musical heights with this latest offering.

They're high on our 'ones to watch' list for 2018 so if you get the chance I suggest you don't miss a gig near you on the upcoming tour. 

Speak, Brother frontman James Herring had this to say about Magnesium Burn...

"This song comes from a deep well of frustration in my life. Fear has kept me contained and depression has weighed me down. I've been distracted from what's real, worrying what's behind the corner. I've not done things, said things, loved people just because I'm not sure what would happen.

  Every day it's better to just autonomously play it safe, stay afloat and hope something one day changes.  There is this deep longing to just run. Run into the dark places. Like a child into the fields. I think it's at those places when we're most uncomfortable and just a about out of control of the outcome, where we really live, grow and become free."

Granfalloon

Granfalloon is the musical moniker of Richard Lomax and his folktronica group based in Manchester. Folktronica is a mixture of folk and electronica. Instruments include Omnichords, acoustic guitars, Casio keyboards, and 80's drum machines. 






Their new single Ambulance is out on Manchester label The Dogan on 23rd February 2018. Ambulance is a song about those self imposed rituals that we use to keep ourselves mentally healthy. It features the Omnichord (an electronic autoharp) over a loving combination of acoustic guitar, synths, samples, and a four to the floor backbeat verse that melts into a dreamlike chorus. 

The chorus line is inspired by a rhyme uttered by singer Lomax’s grandmother upon seeing an ambulance pass by: “Touch your head and touch your toes/If you don’t want to go in one of those.” Lomax says: “My grandparents write most of my best lyrics.”

Granfalloon uses lo-fi bedroom recording techniques which point to a revelry in beautiful imperfection and a desire to create something very special. There is a real commitment to detail which involved patiently distilling the soundscapes until the elements of electronics, delicate acoustic guitar, and the mixture of lo-fi, folk & psych all fell into place.

​

The track was mixed by Sydney based Jack Prest (AKA Future Love Hangover) who has most recently worked on Jonti's 2017 album 'Tokorats'. 

It's a delightfully laid back slice of addictive lo-fi electronic goodness which is lyrically both poignant and amusing. Brian will be spinning Ambulance on the Radio KC Indie Show on Sunday 4th of February so tune in!

Wozniak - Video Of The Week

Brian's favourite video this week is Ghosting by Edinburgh band Wozniak which is taken from their critically acclaimed Colour Reels album released in April last year.

Wozniak purvey atmospheric shoe-gaze of the highest quality and that's evident in this latest offering from the album. Go seek it out.

The track also features on Hemispheres: Volume 2 which is a compilation album of current post-rock from around the world which was released last week on A Thousand Arms, an independent record label.

Brian's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - as played on Radio KC - 28.1.18

Click here for the Ralph's Life website

Tracks from the Top Ten Blogged Bands are played 

every Sunday after 5-7pm on Radio KC as part of 

Brian's Indie Show.

LISTEN TO THE TOP 10 HERE

AS PLAYED ON RADIO KC - 28.12.17

RALPH'S BRAND NEW TOP 10 CHART 

Published on 27.1.18 and as played after 

BRIAN'S INDIE SHOW on RADIO KC - 28.1.18 - from 5-7pm

No 1: The White Lakes

Brian's Video Of The week for Ralph's Life is Call Me Up by young Oxford indie guitar band The White Lakes. Their bouncy new single is available to download now on iTunes and Spotify.

The White Lakes are...

Matt on Rhythm guitar and vocals.

Alex on lead guitar and vocals.

Charlie on bass guitar and backing vocals.

Kyle on drums.

No 2: The Pitchforks

Brian has taken up his responsibilities for Ralph's Life from today and has picked his first Video Of The Week. It is Afflictions by young Welsh band The Pitchforks.

Afflictions, written and performed by The Pitchforks.

Recorded and produced by Steffan Pringle at Musicbox Studios, Cardiff.

No 3: The Boston Shakers

Brian's fist ever choice of a favourite video in 2018 for Ralph's Life is Best Things by The Boston Shakers which was filmed in Liverpool venue EBGBS. 

"What do you get when you mix Fun Lovin' Criminals with Tijuana Bibles and stir in a bit of John Mayall and Dr Feelgood? Liverpool six-piece The Boston Shakers of course.

No 4: Pyramid Park

Winter 2017 saw Cambridge based artist Pete McCallen a.k.a. PYRAMID PARK release the second single Born To Be Brave from his wonderfully crafted debut album Vulnerability.

Recorded in Glasgow at Gloworm Studio’s with producer Iain Hutchison, the alt-pop artist and Hutchison created an album based on their mutual faith. References are as broad as Phoria, Two Door Cinema Club and Gabriel Khane.

No 5: Luna Rosa

Luna Rosa are an Alt-Psych Indie four piece hailing from Corby.They profess to playing, "drums and bass that shake the cranium, guitars that wail like a banshee, anthemic lyrics that will have the masses bellowing from the utmost top of their lungs as they are forced to move by the wall of sound that now induces them. Brash and raucous scenes held on a plethora of euphoria as Luna Rosa have taken to the stage."

No 6: Equinox ft: Nat Lyon

We are delighted here on Ralph's Life to be premiering the video to accompany Mule, a track from the album It's Hard to Be Happy When Your Heart Is Full Of Sin by Equinox. Ralph reviewed the book a year ago almost to the day, followed by a feature on the album prior to its release earlier this year to a raft of critical acclaim.

The video for Mule sees the starkly disturbing spoken word of Equinox overlaid on an exquisitely simple soundscape by American musician Nat Lyon. 

No 7: Tiger Lilly

Tiger Lilly is a multi award winning indie pop artist from the suburbs of London hailed for her raw and emotive 'heart on her sleeve' lyrics and captivating live performances.

2017 was a rollercoaster of success for Tiger Lilly with her last singe Broken Glass
winning an award for 'Best Pop Song' from the Akademia Music Awards in LA, performing at Tom Kerridges Pub in The Park, opening the family stage PRIDE in London and taking to the main stage at ATLAS Festival supporting the likes of Reef, Toploader, GLC, The Tribe and Fatman Scoop.

No 8: Who Killed Nancy Johnson?

Brian's favourite video this week is Dark Horse by Who Killed Nancy Johnson?

Dark Horse is a single release from their forthcoming Flat Earth Theory EP and the song was written by Anthony, Ball, Moulton, Wren.

Recorded November and December 2017 at Creative Control Studio in Bracknell by Al Heslop. Mastered by Pete Maher. Released 2018 on Slip Skin Records.

No 9: Norquay 

When the muse comes a calling they say there's no stopping her inspiration; just ask songwriter/musician Andrew Norquay. 

After years away from music due to commitments as a commercial diver, the creative roar within Andrew has erupted, bringing a new energy and adventure for his alt rock sound.

No 10: The Gravity Drive

Ralph's favourite video this week is Shooting Star by The Gravity Drive. They are the hugely talented husband and wife duo Elijah and Eva  Wolf whose music never fails to garner critical acclaim.

Pre-order: itunes.apple.com/gb/album

Website: thegravitydrive.com

Twitter: @TheGravityDrive

Written and performed by The Gravity Drive.