Bent Cousin.....Shiny, bright young things.....

Twins Amelia and Pat aka Bent Cousin are hitting the studios.....hooray say I, coz I can't wait for the Cuz to give us more of the musical niceness they're producing!  

Having watched them from a distance (OK not like a stalker) these last couple of months I've watched them grow in musical confidence and they're now putting out tunes worthy of some heavy airplay.

To prove the improving point.....first up is 'Dizzy'.....a nice enough little pop tune that makes me think of The Cure but with a female vocalist.....endorsing the 'cutecore' tag they've acquired or as I like to refer to them.....shiny bright young things.

Next up comes the cleverly lyrical 'I Think I Like Your Girlfriend More Than You'.  It's a catchy, snazzy acoustic guitar driven track with Amelia's vocals very much the star of the show.  Mellow and perfect for the radio......as evidenced by Ralph's favourite Auntie BeeB presenter Tom Robinson giving them some airtime on his BBC Radio 6 show.

Now 'F.O.R.G.E.T.' is very much of a coming of age for the dynamic duo with it's choppy Orange Juice - esque guitar intro (Uncle Edwyn's influence rubbing off) and quirky lyric will be a guaranteed get up and get down on the dance floor winner.  They're infectious, make sure you catch them!  I hope to have news of 
some dates for you soon.....

Turrentine Jones.....New Single...New gigs!

So someone's had their dad's old vinyl out and learned a valuable lesson.....Manchester band Turrentine Jones are producing 'authentic', old school thrashing guitar, sleazy vocalising organ thumping tunes.  



No surprises they cite The Animals and The Doors as influences (you only have to scroll down their Facebook page to see them pay homage to some of the late and greats of music) and the good news is they're putting out material on a par with any of their illustrious predecessors.  Proper tunes which, if you're old enough to remember The Sixties and the resurgence of Jazz/Rhythm & Blues you'll love it.....or if you're a shiny, bright young thing, you'll love it.....result!

 


The three-piece consist of lead singer and guitarist Julian Neville, drummer Chris Carcamo and Hammond organist Thomas Scotson and have spent the last 6 months creating their next release, only it’s not one release, it’s six.

Julian's thought's on it are.....“We want our music to be accessible, easy to digest. We want people talking about us all year and listening to us all year. It’s easier to share a track between friends than it is an album. Instead of releasing an album we will release a track every 2 months. It’s exciting. Our fans can get new material from us all year”.  

The first of these is “Show Me Mercy”, a coursing, edging number that permeates a sexual yearning, accompanied by sadness, which has become the nature of Turrentine Jones songs and Neville’s lyrical writings.  There's shades of early Manfred Mann and Spencer Davies there too all of which will lend to the across the board appeal of the track when it's released early November.

Le Debut's release found its place in the charts after its February 2012 release. The single 'Slam the Door' reached No. 13 on the Australian Music Charts, and was televised after the band performed live on Channel 4’s Hit the Road Jack . It's an organ driven track with hint's of Booker T and the MG's Green Onions and as sleazy as you like.  

More good things happening too with the band signing an endorsement deal with clothing brand OK Now and inking a deal with touring agency Spoilt Kid, which already houses the likes of Mike Joyce (The

Smiths), Clint Boon (Inspiral Carpets), Bez (Happy Mondays) and Drew McConnell (Babyshambles) who recently did a stint with The Vaccines and I'll be taking a look at another of their acts, Gun Club Cemetery just shortly.

“There aren’t too many bands in Manchester with that kind of street cred at the moment.” - Sam Walker BBC Radio Manchester

Turrentine Jones now return with the next single ‘Show Me Mercy’, to be released on CD and 7" through one of Manchester’s most exciting new labels Spoilt Kid. Having been tipped as ones to watch for 2012, the new single sees the Manchester threesome carry on their rich vein of form. Drawing on their flaring, sultry blues reference points such as The Animals, The Doors and Booker T & The MGs' the sleazy nature of earlier single ‘Candy Snake’ is stripped back just enough to reveal a rough sense of yearning.

'Show Me Mercy' was again recorded using analogue tape lending to their gutsy sound and will be available 2nd November.  Ralph's had a sneak peak and it's mean and moody, down and dirty.....you're gonna love it!

The boys will be performing around the single's release date as follows:

	Feb 02	Night and Day	Manchester, United Kingdom		RSVP	Share
	Feb 28	Secret Show	Manchester, United Kingdom		RSVP	Share
	Mar 02	Roadhouse	Manchester, United Kingdom		RSVP	Share
	Mar 09	Wheelbarrow	Camden, United Kingdom		RSVP	Share
	Mar 15	Jacksons Pit	Oldham, United Kingdom		RSVP	Share
	Apr 19	Academy 3	Manchester, United Kingdom		RSVP	Share

Panda Su.....The A to Z

After blogging Panda Su last year when she released the single 'The Alphabet Song' which was heard by worldwide cinema audiences as it's the background music to Jennifer Lawrence's first on screen kiss in the film 'House At The End Of The Street'.  







To mark the occasion Su released a video of 'The Alphabet Song' directed by the extremely talented camera pointing person, Mr Dylan Drummond.  The song was single of the month in The List and she was named as 'one of the top ten Scottish artists you should discover in 2012' by Q Magazine on their website.

So big news is today she's released a new single 'MAPS' and it's a bit of a tangent as she marries her sultry vocals with light, airy electronica to delight our ears.  The single is available on all the usual formats including i-tunes and Amazon.


Also just announced, she'll be playing Doune The Rabbit Hole Festival on Saturday 24th August and there's news of a UK tour to follow soon.

The video that accompanies the single is reminiscent of early Pet Shop Boys where a stony faced Chris Lowe would scowl over Neil Tennants shoulder.....but there the similarity ends and Panda Su lures you in with her sensual vocals.

Cheshire band a41 looking to win big!

Just come to Ralph's attention via that wonderment of musical promotion that is Twitter is a41, a four piece Alt/Indie Rock band from Ellesmere Port in Cheshire and they are one of the final 28 bands who performed at the Indig02 which was held in the 02 Arena on Saturday 29^th September for this years Surface Festival!

They've played at a variety of venues over the past few months such as Jabez Clegg, Ralph's favourite Dry Live & The Academy 3 in Manchester, competing against other bands from all over the North West. A combination of text votes, audience votes and in the later stages scores from a judging panel have allowed a number of bands to progress to play bigger and better venues and further themselves in the competition.

First up for a listen is the softly softly 'Sons and Daughters' with nice lyrics and even nicer guitar.  Guaranteed to steal your heart away.....

On September the 1^st a41 played at the Academy 3  for the Regional Showcase, securing themselves a place in the International Showcase in London. 15 bands played over the Friday & Saturday night but just 5 made it through to the final.  Word from the band was... 

“We were so excited when they read out our name as one of the bands who'd be going to the 02, we couldn't believe it! We've worked hard over the past year, recording, writing & playing as many shows as possible. Surface Festival is the the biggest gig of our lives so far!”  

'Don't Brake' is a proper rock it out number with punchy guitar and lyrics guaranteed to get the fans jumping at their gigs. Proper tune.....look out for it on the radio.....

The Surface Festival is a European live music event held throughout Europe in aid of discovering and promoting new talent. There are around 15,000 applications every year from bands wanting to take part in the festival. In 2012 events have been held in cities throughout the U.K. and Europe. For bands and artists that reach the final stages of the Festival, both Surface Festival and their sponsors will award prizes and opportunities in excess of £100,000, including festival & tour slots, music equipment, recording time, photo shoots, sales & marketing promotion plus much more!

'Curtain Call' is another rock it out, rasping vocals, thumping drums and thrashing guitar crowd pleaser.....this is the kind of song that'll impress the judges and the fans alike.....

a41  played in front of a capacity crowd and judging panel at the London 02's Indig02 on September 29^th along with 27 other finalists from around the UK and Europe. This years judging panel comprised of Jon Brookes, the founder and drummer of The Charlatans, Alex Baker of Kerrang Radio and Lynsy Wallace, the head of marketing at Universal Music. Bands scores were made up from the judging panel's points plus text votes each band receives from the general public. Awards were then given to the top 3 bands on the day.  Here's the full set from the Indig02 in London for the 2012 Surface Festival International Showcase!

After some technical issues, Matt pulling his cable out twice & playing 2nd out of 28 of the best bands from throughout the UK & Europe, they were positioned 9th out of an initial 11,000 applicants! They'd like to thank all their fans, family & friends for supporting them and helping to get them to the final.



Don't Brake, Sons and Daughters & 3 Second Rule - You can download all 3 of their singles from iTunes for just £0.79 each! 


http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/a41/id492350390

'Three Second Rule' lulls you into a false sense of security with a gentle first line which runs into a thumping bass followed by frantic geetar.....a great up tempo number for live gigs.....

Something For The Weekend...This weeks blogged band chart

C'mon Snuggles Stanley Odd 
can't complain they've been
in the chart for weeks.....

OK bands you know the score by now....

the more hits your blog gets by the fans, the higher up the chart you go.....so Tweet it, Facebook it.....and generally expose yourself.....

From No. 3 to the top spot with some aggressive Twittering, Manchester band...

1. Transition Baby



Another band straight in the chart and playing HJC London Rocks...

2. The Verdict



Last weeks No. 1 but down two places, Scottish band...

3. The Whispery Club



No one can shift them from the No. 4 spot, it's the ever popular London band...

4. The Bedroom Hour



Another London band just blogged but straight in the chart this week...

5. The Cornerstones



A lot of interest this week with lots of gig news and loads of Tweeting...

6 Holy Pistol Club



Down a couple of places but a long time chart favourite...

7. Plum



Hanging on to the same place and playing EH1 LIVE this weekend, Fife band...

8. Boot Magna



Just blogged two days ago but in the chart with a song in support of HJC campaign...

9. The New Caldera



No. 2 last week but dropping to this weeks bottom spot...

10. The Hazy Eyed Smiles

The New Caldera.....but not old hat.....

After blogging The Verdict who are performing at the Hillsborough Justice Campaign London Rocks gig I thought it only fair to draw your attention to another Liverpool band on the bill, The New Caldera .  They came to my attention when I blogged the West Derby Festival back in July so I had a listen in and I put them on the 'to do' list.

'She don't like Rock n Roll' is a laid back, but catchy tune that gets the toes tapping and features some nifty guitar work.....

The New Caldera are very much a band for their local community playing,  raising money and  awareness for causes like The Liverpool Women's New Born Baby Appeal and The Clatterbridge Hospital.  They've also been favourites on the local summer festival circuit playing The Resurrection Festival, Stanley Park Festival, Wirral Festival of Firsts, Croxteth Park Festival, West Derby Festival and latterly The Mathew Street Fringe Festival in Liverpool city centre.

'When You See Yourself' has an almost late sixties West Coast US mellow feel, with more classy guitar work and gentle lyrics.

They see themselves as less of a band, more a musical collective, brewed in the back-street watering holes of Anfield.  Led by Peter Shewell and Anthony Hart the band has featured many of their like-minded friends both live and in the studio showcasing the cream of Liverpool's 'underground' music world.

They've been constantly trying to gain support and awareness for the Hillsbrough Justice Campaign with the song 'Don't Buy The Sun' and have been invited to play it live at the HJC London Rocks event at the Monto Water Rats Theatre.  I'm certain that today's news that the release of documents by the enquiry which has vindicated the fans will be proof that their song and especially the efforts of everyone involved in the campaign has played a vital part in bringing the truth to the fore.  Time for justice.....

Enough of the politics though, back to the music and what better track to listen to than 'Jezzabel'.  It's a foot tappin' head noddin' country/bloozy number that had this Jack Russell swayin' accordingly.