The End Of The Year Blog

Having listened to an almost insurmountable amount of music this year both for the blog and to playlist for Ralph's Indie Show on Radio KC, it would be very easy to just close the kennel's jukebox on 2015 without looking back and doing any kind of 'Best Of' as is the norm for your day-to-day music blogger. 

However this year has seen some wonderful contributions to the musical soundscape that is Ralph's Life, and as Ralph's no day-to-day muso, here's a but few more than honourable mentions. 

One highlight in Ralph's Life this year was the release of SAMA nominated The Ballads Of Peckham Rye by Blue Rose Code. With this album Ross Wilson has signed his name firmly on the musical songwriting firmament with this almost painfully introverted lyrically, and yet musically delightful insight into the man himself.

The oncoming year will see great things from this truly gifted young man both in further releases and live performances, I can hardly wait!

It's been a year for introverted delights and another notable mention was the release of the single, Black Tie by Glasgow band Nieves is a wonderfully honest, seemingly introverted and extremely emotional piece which explores the turmoil within a family who are faced with making the decision to turn off a loved ones life support machine.

The narrative comes from the perspective of the oldest son, who finds himself unable to cope with the lingering doubt in the aftermath of the choice he has made.

The year couldn't end without mentioning another supremely talented singer/songwriter David Logan who goes under the nom de plume of Officer. Mid 2015 saw the release of his album Myriads. It's a complex collection of songs that traps your heart and mind with thoughtful lyrics and comforting melodies.

Having him perform live at an event I organised in July was one of the highlights of this year and I feel more than privileged to now count this gifted young man as a friend. He's as skilful in his manipulation of a live audience as he is in putting pen to paper.

So there you briefly have it, a snippet of Ralph's musical life that will remain forever etched on the vinyl that is my heart. Following on there are videos from some other notable mentions by ladies that have helped make this year special.

Don't be upset if you're not included...it's been a long year and there's only so much time left before New Years Eve!

Happy New Year everyone...see you in 2016!






Fiona Soe Paing 

The Phantom Sound

Millie Manders

Ralph's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - 12.7.14

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                                                    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 Bordellos

The Bordellos are the kind of quirky, lower than lo-fi band that John Peel would have featured and their current offerings, like the sultry 'Between Forget and Neglect' (think Morrissey on Prozac) leading in to the subtly funky 'Elastic Band Man' would probably have seen them playlisted on a regular basis.

No 2..... Wullae Wright

Ralph's previously blogged Wullae Wright and it's proved to be the most well read of any over the last couple of years. Needless to say it was good news when Wullae Wright got in touch to say he was releasing 'Superhero' as a single. The story of the song is no less poignant than Wullae Wright's plaintive vocal which, overlaid on subtle acoustic guitar with an orchestral background is just as heart wrenching as the single's message. 

No 3.....Snippet

Snippet aka Johnno Casson is the quintessential English musician.  Prolific, diverse, entertaining, clever, wistful and whimsical (no more so on his previously released mini-album 'DIY' and the track 'Let's Talk About Us' on which he comments on his winkle (and he isn't introducing us to his pet mollusc Bria

No 4....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.

No 5.....Cormac O'Caoimh

It's second time round for Ralph having a listen to Irish singer/songwriter Cormac O'Caoimh. A year ago he'd released his second solo album since leaving The Citadels called 'A New Season For Love' and this time round it's 'The Moon Looses It's Memory' and he's bringing us 14 tracks of love and regret, hopes and dreams, cars and girls, (OK, OK,  I've run out of descriptive song titles). Speaking of 'Love and Regret' and 'Cars and Girls I'm getting hints of...

No 6..... Millie Manders 

Having met the effervescent Millie Manders at the Ralph's Life All Day Charity gig in Proud Camden it seemed like the release of 'Little Big Mouth' was as good a time as any to ask a few questions and see how and why her music matches her outgoing personality.

No 7.....The Holy Orders 

It's almost exactly a year since Ralph first checked out Hull band The Holy Orders and the good news is that The Holy Orders announce the release of their brand new single, the 3 minute feel good 3 minute summer pop song: The New Asbestos on August 4th.  Well, it's a cynical, pessimistic, feel good summer pop song but anyone who is already familiar with last year’s debut album For the Ears of Dogs to Come from Ralph's blog, will expect nothing less.

No 8....The Actions

Normally Ralph only blogs unsigned UK Indie, but now and again some mainstream goodness drops in the kennel that peaks his interest and when 'Indefensible', the new EP by London based Alt/Rockers The Actions arrived it was time for some rule bending (Their first album 'Real' was licensed to Nikita Music, a Brazilian record label and released in Latin America).

No 9... The Backhanders

It's always nice when a hard copy of someones latest release drops through the letterbox, as is the case when; courtesy of the enigmatic Mr Peeps, the niftily designed CD just out by The Backhanders in the style 

No 10.....Book Group

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 

Millie Manders

The latest piece of musical goodness to find its way into the kennel is the new release and video by Singer/Songwriter and Ukulele player extraordinaire Millie Manders. 

Having met the effervescent Millie Manders at the Ralph's Life All Day Charity gig in Proud Camden it seemed like the release of 'Little Big Mouth' was as good a time as any to ask a few questions and see how and why her music matches her outgoing personality.

Ralph: The new video is catchy, quirky and in your face...how much does that reflect your personality?

Millie: I think it reflects me well. I've never been the one to 'fit in'. Apparently I've been carving my own crazy paving path since I could walk- according to my parents any way!

Ralph: You've always got earphones on...what's the current listening and does it influence what you're writing now?

Millie: Music is a continual influence. I write reviews for The Punk Archive so I always have something new in my head. My preferences are underground hip hop and punk genres but I listen to anything. I've just reviewed an amazing nu punk band called Riskee and the Ridicule but I also recently pledged for the new K-Flay album (awesome indie/hip hop) and I am really enjoying Dan Le sac vs Scroobius Pip's latest record.

Ralph: How much does past/present experiences influence your songwriting?

Millie: Yes all the time. Being hurt is a wonderful motivation for music so a lot of my bad experiences are in my lyrics - I use it as a therapy. I also use people watching, politics and other things too though. I love to "write what I see" as well as what I feel.

Ralph: Why the ukulele?

Millie: I wanted to expand my musical experience. I started on instruments, and I often get frustrated by being able to sing a melody but not relate it back to chord sequences, so Uke was a good choice for me. I've been able to translate the skills to the guitar, it's really good for ska and calypso songs, diversifies my sound and ticks the boxes for song writing too.

Ralph: Live performance or video/studio?

Millie: Live! Live live live!! I love being on stage. Recording is great because I get to reach more of my friends and fans who can't get to gigs, but there is nothing like feeding off of and giving back energy to your band, your audience and your soul! I love bouncing around and relating the emotions of each song out into the ether. Seeing people enjoying it with you, singing along, feeling your pain/joy/frustration... Nothing beats that.

Ralph: Burger or Pizza?

Millie: Neither. Ha ha! I very rarely touch food like that. I'm a raw vegetables and fruit fiend. Sugar snap peas are one o the most awesome things on God's green earth! If I really crave naughty stuff it's usually chocolate, biscuits or crisps.

Ralph: Your shows seem to be London oriented, any plans for world domination?

Millie: I'm playing a fair amount outside of London too - I try to hit a different town once a month, so in the next few I've got Kent, Manchester, Wales and Norwich... Looking at another return to Birmingham soon too! Truth be told the place I really want to get to is America. Warped Tour is like the ultimate dream....

Ralph: Now you've put out the 'Demon' EP to critical acclaim last year, any plans for an album?

Millie:  I am definitely looking at an album. Funding can be a huge problem in this game, but with careful planning I'm hoping to get an album out at the beginning of next year. Prior to that I'll be looking to get a full band demo out as a give-away/promo tool.

 

Ralph: Band or solo?

 Millie: BAND! More fun, more energy, more ROAR!!

Ralph: Wimbledon or The World Cup?

Millie: Neither. Sorry, I'd rather pull my eyes out. Sports to me is like paint drying only the workers are over paid.

Ralph: Is keeping true to your 'Indie' roots important or would you do the X Factor?

Millie: I actually got headhunted for X Factor 2013. I followed it through to really see how it worked from the inside.  It's not something i ever would have pursued without being asked but it was good to see if my suspicions were true. 

I hated it before. I loathe it now. I'll never do it again. There's so many musicians, myself included, that work so hard to perfect their skills, hone their style and deliver quality, unique music. 






All those shows want are quick fix, R'n'B or Pop one hit wonders to line the pockets of the creators and work the "artists" to the bone for almost minimum wage. It's an ugly price to pay for minimal amounts of time in a very dodgy, contrived spot light.... Now let me tell you how I really feel, yeah?







Upcoming dates.....

18th July: “Come To The Cabaret”, Orchard Spot, Maidstone, Kent

20th July: Old Queens Head, Angel, London – Ukulele solo gig

25th July: The Red Lion, Aspley, Watford

27th July: Greater Manchester Fringe Festival, The Kings Arms, Salford, Manchester

2nd August: Rhondda Rocks Festival, Wales

2nd August: The Golden Lion Hotel, Carmarthen, Wales

8th August: Boom Town Fair – Guest vocal. TBA!

6th September: The Finsbury, Manor House, London – FULL BAND