The Holy Orders

It's been a while in the making, but well worth it. Hull four piece and long-time Ralph's Life favourites The Holy Orders have released a new single on the indie Mono Sound Records and it's a corker.

Recorded at Mountain Sound Recording Studio in Hull with Patrick Tobin and mixed by Mark Osborne-Lawn, The Deuce Of Hearts sees The Holy Orders taking their uncompromising guitar sound into new territory.

This dark tale of heartache, gambling and excess captures all the energy and vibrant melody that The Holy Orders have been acclaimed for.






Vocalist Matt Edible said - "The Deuce Of Hearts fell together with a few lost chords and a story of heartbreak and excess that revolves around card playing metaphors." 

"I've wanted to write a song with a timeless shanty feel for a long time and this gave The Holy Orders the opportunity to get the whole band singing along together."







The video adds an extra edge to The Deuce Of Hearts with it's brash, flash almost psychadelic vibe which is based around a live set in a pub. The track itself; taken from their forthcoming The Worst Day Since Records Began EP, is all driving guitars and raucous vocals, what's not to like!

The Holy Orders have a busy August coming up gig-wise and with an anthem like The Deuce Of Hearts up their sleeve (see what I did there) they'll be whipping audiences up into a proverbial frenzy. 

Live Shows in AUGUST

1st – Humber Street Sesh, Hull

8th – The Owl Sanctuary, Norwich

15th – Rewind, Wrexham

21st – The Hop, Wakefield

28th – Verve Bar, Leeds

29th – Music Lounge, Stockton

Ralph's Chart 16.3.13

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 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..... Plum

Back in July last year I acquired a taste for fine female voices after listening to Kathryn Marsh so I turned my nose in the direction of Plum, the alter ego of Edinburgh based Shona Maguire.

So what's the latest...well she's just been and gone and won the Best Electronic category of The Scottish Alternative Music Awards 2013.....

No 2..... The Travelling Band

The Travelling Band return with a new EP 'Hands Up' and have embarked on a mammoth 24-date UK tour, before releasing their new album which is produced by multi-platinum selling producer Iestyn Polson.  The tour was preceded by a live session on Marc Riley's BBC 6 Music show on and the ‘'Hands Up'’ EP is available on a 'pay what you want' basis prior to the session here..... http://thetravellingband.bandcamp.com

No 3..... The Holy Ghosts

One of the advantages of paying so much attention to the Scottish Alternative Music Awards over the last few weeks has been the discovery of The Holy Ghosts who were nominated for Best Newcomer and which they duly won at last Friday's Awards ceremony in Garage Glasgow.

No 4..... Steve Heron







What's the connection between Johnny Marr and Edinburgh singer/songwriter Steve Heron I hear you ask?  Well I'll tell you...They both play guitar and Steve Heron likes Johnny Marr who's just brought out a solo record and a video after 25 years and Steve's about to release his new single 'Picturesque' and a video at a launch party in Edinburgh's Sneaky Pete's on the 29th of March...what's the chances?

No 5..... Sonnic Image

Ralph recently reviewed the Online Festival's first compilation album 'Indievidual' and one of the tracks on the album was by local band Sonnic Image from Warrington.  After giving the track 'Sunday Sofa Sister' a play on The  Indie Mix Show on Radio KC and having a bit chat at the same time on Twitter with Mark from the band, Ralph decided to have a word and find out what's going on with Sonnic Image.

No 6..... The Folk Remedy

Getting tired of Mumford and Sons churning out the same ole same ole? Then do what I did and take a look at The Folk Remedy from Manchester whose diversity and musicality is as refreshing as it is highly listenable.  These three musicians have merged their own different musical backgrounds into one sound, which brings out their individual personalities whilst staying true to their folk roots.




No 7..... Deadbeat Echoes


Deadbeat Echoes are Jack Fearon - vocals/guitar, Andy Brown - vocals/guitar, Mike Newton - bass and Tom Webster - vocals/drums.  They've got some cracking gigs coming up so don't miss a chance to catch them perform 'No Bones' live.  The previous single 'Surge Of Youth' was a real 100 miles an hour proper rock 'n' rolla and a guaranteed crowd pleaser.....another reason to go see them at one of the following dates....

No 8..... Tingle In The Netherlands

After checking out Scottish Electronica producers Plum and Fiona Soe Paing Ralph thought it was time to turn his attention to some electro/pop a bit nearer to home so here's Tingle In The Netherlands from Manchester.  If you're expecting doom 'n' gloom heavy synths think again.  

No 9..... Monolife

Mono Sound is a highly addictive track with it's heavy beat pulsing throughout the track, accentuating the lighter almost dance-floor electronica and it has featured recently on local BBC Introducing.  

If this taster EP with superb remixes by Endoflevelbaddie, AbeZilla, Cat Sized Panda and Sham Getz is a reflection of the debut album due out later this year, we're in for a real treat.  Jen and Ally on BBC 1 Introducing were so impressed they gave Mono Life a spin on their show recently.

No 10..... Wullae Wright

Everybody likes to make a comparison about artistes and Ralph's old man is no exception. He heard Wullae Wright's 'Halo Effect' playing on my laptop and next thing he was wiping the dust of his collection of vinyl, dug out Led Zeppelin I and stuck it under my nose muttering....."Babe I'm Gonna Leave You".  Chance would be a fine thing some would say, however I had a listen and low and behold Wullae Wright is capturing the same raw intensity of vocals that an early Robert Plant did. 

Mono Life

Now Ralph always likes to check out a band or artist with their very own rock dog and Mono Life (aka musician/DJ/producer Mark Osborne) from Hull fits the bill with the very lovely Beryl who's looking a bit mean and moody in the picture, kind of like her old man's brand of synth based, heavy beats.  These are well represented by the 'Mono Sound' EP due to be released 11th April.

Mono Sound is a highly addictive track with it's heavy beat pulsing throughout the track, accentuating the lighter almost dance-floor electronica and it has featured recently on local BBC Introducing.  

If this taster EP with superb remixes by Endoflevelbaddie, AbeZilla, Cat Sized Panda and Sham Getz is a reflection of the debut album due out later this year, we're in for a real treat.  Jen and Ally on BBC 1 Introducing were so impressed they gave Mono Life a spin on their show recently.




Here's a fascinating collaboration with fellow east coast producer Cat Sized Panda with Mono Life doing a 'Deep Space Remix' of Panda's track 'Seraphim'.  Self-styled knob twiddler Cat Sized Panda aka John Sorensen-Jones has also been the subject of some interest BBC Intro-wise with the release of a debut single and album.







Mono Life's sound was born in the 90's with diverse influences such as Orbital, Leftfield and DJ Shadow combining to bring to you a unique and often sci-fi infused sound, well represented by a track like 'Dark Star Theory' with its 'Blade Runner'-esque narrative.  Such is the quality of the track it managed to sneak its way onto BBC Radio 6's Tom Robinson 'Extra gems' track listing last week.







There's going to be launch party for the EP in @Fruit (62-63 Humber Street, Kingston-on-Hull) 8th March with a live performance by Mono Life and DJ sets by Robbo, Pete Robinson and Sizzle Sisters.  Get in there and get on the dance floor!

After that 'The Skull' will be playing The Urban Bar in London's Whitechapel with Abezilla on the 30th March.