Now you know Ralph's a fan of unsigned Indie and that's mainly all he writes about. However he does indulge himself now and again when a truly classic piece of songwriting finds it's way into the kennel.
Sheffield's The Clear and their latest single America which is fresh, yet nostalgic and beautifully channels classic West Coast Pop is just such an example.
America is a slice of classic songwriting, harking back to that golden age of perfectly-crafted pop songs which Ralph's playing on Radio KC next Sunday
Never let it be said that Ralph doesn't have a softer side - and the Alex Highton follow-up album to the highly acclaimed Woodditton Wives Club appeals to just that. The Liverpool born singer songwriter has just released Nobody Knows Anything and it's an introverted collection of diverse musical gems.
As a kid his time was split between his native Liverpool and Florence, Italy. It was there that his musical education began, as he took in everything from Talking Heads or Penguin Cafe Orchestra to The Band and David Ackles.
He lost his twenties to bad decisions and train-wreck relationships and it was only after meeting his future wife that he started to take songwriting seriously. The songs he wrote (part therapy/part love letter his new life) formed the basis of his debut album Woodditton Wives Club, a record replete with tales of rural S&M, mental, emotional and economic collapse, and ultimately salvation through love and family.
Nobody Knows Anything seems a more personal inwards journey delightfully rendered in a North Western stylee.
From the melodious You Don't Own This Life to the quirkier It Falls Together you're immediately drawn into his introversy and the compulsive Panic makes sure you'll stay. There definitely must be something in the water in Liverpool that consistently produces songwriters of quality, whether it's Lennon and McCartney of yore or Ali Ingle currently and Alex Highton is floating towards the top of that musical H2o.
I won't go through the whole album on here but I will say that the eponymous Nobody Knows Anything is a highlight and Mephisto an understated classic with it's moody horns and jangly guitar. As enjoyable to listen to as Richard Hawley or Robert Wyatt - I can pay no higher compliment.
Get yourself copy of Alex Highton Nobody Knows Anything, out officially December 1st on Gare Du Nord Records, pour yourself a glass of wine and stick the headphones on, you won't be sorry.
Ralph doesn't do marks out of 10 however he's playing You Don't Own This Life on Radio KC this Sunday - which is nice...
There's a bit of a trend for Indie folk/rock a la James Taylor/Neil Young (no bad thing) at the moment and one of the finest exponents currently is the Sheffield singer/songwriter Neil McSweeney. Despite his relatively low profile, he's worked with leading lights right across the Sheffield music scene.
Neil McSweeney has toured with Richard Hawley, written and recorded with drummer and producer Ross Orton (Jarvis Cocker, Arctic Monkeys), attracted album contributions from Dean Honer (All Seeing I, I Monster, Human League) and most-recently, collaborated with the shiny bright young things of the city’s traditional folk scene.
After a spell without releasing any music Neil McSweeney brings us 'The Seventeen EP' with four tracks showing him at his musical and lyrical best. His first release since Shoreline in 2009, this EP is a precursor to an active summer of gigs and festival performances. The EP, recorded by leading trad-folk producer Andy Bell is a taster for Neil's third full album 'Cargo' due for release in September.
Lead track 'We Are Here' showcases typical lyrical flair deployed in a stirring tune, bringing to mind the likes of Jim O'Rourke, whilst the tracks 'In A Dream', a cover of Townes Van Zandt's 'To Live Is To Fly' and title track 'Seventeen' highlight his musicality completes a summer set that's initially available only as a limited physical release of 300 CD's.
Live support for the release includes shows with his full band which features leading lights from the UK and US scenes - Sam Sweeney, Lucy Farrell, Andy Seward.
Tour Dates are.....
18th May - Electric Circus, Edinburgh
23rd May - Grand Ole Opry, Glasgow
24th May - Puzzle Hall, Sowerby Bridge
26th May - Queens Social Club, Sheffield
6th June - Green Note, London
9th June - Kings Arms, Manchester
Festival Dates are.....
7-9th June - Long Division
5-7th July - Ymuno
19th -21st July - Tramlines
25th - 27th July - Cloudspotting
23rd - 25th August - Shrewsbury
Colin Elliot (producer of fellow Sheffield star Richard Hawley) heard The Clear and their songs so after working with Kylie Minogue at Abbey Road Studios he invited them to his own studio to capture their warm & glossy sound. A fruitful session followed out of which the tracks America and Sunlight 
