Ralph's Life Indie Music Blog: album

Showing posts with label album. Show all posts

Wednesday, 12 September 2018

Beerjacket

Cord is the first track to be taken from Beerjacket's most ambitious musical project to date – an album and corresponding book Silver Cords.

Accompanying the 12 songs on the album are a collection of 12 short
stories; intertwined with the music, intended for consumption alongside it. Of the project Peter Kelly says,

“At some point in the writing of Silver Cords, I decided the record would live in a book and that each song would be
accompanied by a short story inspired
by its lyrics.”

The tenderness of the music ebbs and flows, conveyed perfectly with lead single Cord. Refreshing in its
simplistic truth, the track is an elucidation of why Beerjacket has become the cult figure, despite his modesty,within Scottish music that he is.

The accompanying short story, Shoots of Life, focuses on that one connection
in your life that holds everything together. The cord that connects everything.

“I’ve always believed that as people, the threads that tie us together don't just connect us to each other, they
connect us to ourselves and define the ‘selves’ that we claim as ours.

The decisions we make are seldom made alone and we are seldom alone, even on our own.” – Excerpt from Shoots of Life.

The combination of sound and print is something unique to Silver Cords. Having released five albums in the traditional manner, PeterKelly was keen to release something special.

Instead he's produced something exceptional in my opinion,something constant that won't be cast adrift on a shelf in favour of a digital imprint.

This pairing creates an ethereal tone which binds the stories with a dreamlike, magic realism quality, and certain recurring themes of isolation, now-ness, association, loss and fear. Peter Kelly started writing the album in 2015 and its completion has taken 3 years, but it's well worth the wait, although the only thing missing for me is vinyl but that doesn't deter an all star 5 star award..

“Story by story the songs’ siblings entered the room. My imagination superimposing details on the real-life buildings that inspired settings and, the stories play out almost interminably now on three to five minute loops.” Cord will be released digitally on 7th September 2018 via indie Scottish Fiction records.

The track is imbued with poignant Americana-esque Bonnie Prince Billie stylee vocal (no higher compliment can I pay) as Beerjacket draws the listener in with his subtle engaging tones.

Therefor Cord is as true a musical gem as I've drooled over after listening to recently and his back-catalogue is a must do to search for you and get the headphones on like I did. You will not be disappointed. Ican't wait to give it a spin soon on Brian's Radio KC Sunday Indie Show!

Just click the red link! How many hints do you need? Go!!!

Wednesday, 29 August 2018

Tom Lumley

Cambridgeshire native Tom Lumley is set to release his new single 'Crawling' on September 14 via North Acre Records and it's a proper Rock 'n' Rolla which we love. Yes it's shades of Big Country (Nae bad thing) but with a fresh in your face feel.

Leaving the usual singer-songwriter sound in his wake, Tom Lumley and his band are gaining a reputation for taking to the stage with monumental energy that’s felt from the front row to the back of the room. His debut 'Dream City EP', released in 2017 charted at No.2 in the iTunes Rock Charts, with lead singles 'Dream City' and ‘Running From Our Lives’ gaining press support from reputable music journalists and of course now Brian.

Following on from the success of his debut EP, the 22 year old returns with infectious indie rock anthem 'Crawling' and the track is about being trapped in a chemical relationship, to the extent where it’s almost an addiction. Even though you know it’s nothing but bad for you, you just keep going back.

Speaking about the track, Lumley said, “I feel it reflects a lot of modern day relationships. I feel my generation are very insecure in themselves and in their relationships due to social media and only sharing the “highlight reel”. Everyone shows off the good stuff, but no one ever sees the discord that is often happening behind the scenes in these relationships.”

Photo Credit - Isabelle Ingham

Tom Lumley and his band have supported some of the UK’s hottest bands, including The Hunna, The Sherlocks, Coasts and Airways but that's going to change very quickly as his star is very much in the ascendancy of the rock firmament and it'll be the other way around without a mistake!.

Photo Credit - Isabelle Ingham

He also took to the stage last year to play the very last Secret Garden Party for BBC Introducing, as well as playing Dot To Dot, Splendour and Green Meadow festivals.

Having sold out The Portland Arms in Cambridge this year already, Tom looks to continue the pace and spread his sound across the country.

Airplay support, Huw Stephens, BBC Radio 1; John Kennedy, Radio X; Tom Simkins, BBC Introducing Cambridgeshire; Charlie Ashcroft, big Jim Gellatly, Josh Hannen, Amazing Radio; Playlisting, Soundlab Evening Experiment & Playlisting syndicated show and of course upcoming airplay on Brian's Indie Show on Radio KC from Sunday Sept 2nd.

Wednesday, 18 April 2018

The Bordellos

If you're looking for some honest music you need look no further than the Debt Sounds album by St Helens band The Bordellos who have embraced the brutalist ideal with this latest release, gripping on to their non-conformist honesty with a vice-like grip.

The Bordellos could be described as the Howard Hughes of the music world with live performances like hens teeth, however I can announce with no small degree of delight that they will be performing for a second time in support of Musicians Against Homelessness.

At the humble behest of Ralph's Life on May 19th in the Ruskins Sports and Social Club, St Helens along with another 12 bands and artistes they take the stage with all monies raised going to homelessness charities.

Image may contain: one or more people, people on stage, night and indoor

Their idea behind the Debt Sounds album was to get back to basics, so Brian Shea informs us that he set down these ground rules:

1. All recorded on old tape 4 track, using microphones and recording equipment bought from pound shops and cash convertors for under £5.

2. All tracks recorded on 4 tracks only no overdubs.

3. All vocal tracks would be first take only even if disaster struck whilst recording ,so a lot of these songs have only ever been sang once.

4. All songs recorded would have been written that week . so the rest of the band would never have heard them before recording.

5. every song started would be completed that night so no going back.

Image may contain: 1 person, playing a musical instrument, sitting, guitar and indoor

Brian further elucidated: "It was recorded over 10 consecutive Friday nights during that 10 weeks. There were two romantic break ups (the two ex girlfriends actually sang on some of the tracks to add to the spice), and only just before the start a marriage had also broken up. There was lots of alcohol consumed lots of madness. It is the sound of four people going out of their minds."

"Looking back, I wonder how Dan managed as he only turned 17 during the recording of this album, but his teenage angst mixed with our midlife crises made for a very dark work of art.

This was supposed to be our third Brutarian Records release, but a label that boasted in its bumph as releasing noncommercial uncompromising music refused to release it as it was too uncompromising and noncommercial."

"I have very fond memories of this LP; recording it was an experience that was only matched in madness when recording our Ronco Revival Sound LP."

The Velvet Hands

The Velvet Hands have long time been favourites for plays on the Ralph's Life Indie Show on Radio KC over the last few years and with the imminent release of a debut album on limited edition blue vinyl for Record Store Day and general release May 5th it would be rude not to check it out here on the blog.

We'll be featuring Sick Of Living on Brian's Indie Show on Radio KC Sunday 29th April as a pre-release spin of a track from the album Party's Over.

Party's Over by The Velvet Hands is a glorious guitar driven joy and a must have for any serious vinyl lovers collection. They're going to be THE go-to band for this years small festival season and these bouncy southern rockers have to be destined for bigger stages.

Image may contain: 2 people, people on stage and indoor

Also released on the same day is the fifth single Gimme Some Time by The Velvet Hands. ‘Gimme Some Time’ follows previous releases, I Don’t Mind, Only Blame Myself, Games and last year's Record Store day release Sick Of Living. Gimme Some Time will be available via #rsd2018 Record Store Day on blue vinyl April 21st.

That's followed by a non-limited vinyl version and standard CD version of the album on both dropping May 4th.

On the achievement of their debut album co-singer Toby commented: “We're really excited to finally be able to share what we have been working towards since we started the band. Our debut album is a collection of songs that we wrote over the last couple of years and we're very proud to share them with you all. It's been great to see our hard work pay off, and we can't wait for more of the same in the future!”

Co-frontman Dan Able said of the up-coming single release: Gimme Some Time is about self destruction, coming to terms with one’s own morals and the questioning of what one believes in. Just needing some time to get away from it all to think but being under pressure to come up with the answers.”

The Velvet Hands are the latest band to emerge from Cornwall’s blistering garage-rock 'Kernow Wave' scene. The ambitious, Stones and Strokes tinged quartet formed in 2015 at Truro College and already have released a string of standout DIY singles. The Velvet Hands are renowned for blistering live sets, with two frontmen Dan Able and Toby Mitchell wrestling for the mic, have seen them booked for a run of big name gigs including headline shows for BBC Introducing at Boardmaster Festival and stand out gigs at The 100 Club and The Water Rats. Gimme Some Time was recorded at Troubadour Studios, Falmouth and produced by Ben Woods (ex -Lost Dawn/The Golden Dregs). The Velvet Hands are Toby Mitchell, Dan Able, Ben Woods and Sam Hilder and feature as the chosen support act for opening leg of The Bluetones May 2018 Tour.

April 21st - Jimmy’s, Manchester #rsd2018 Album Launch

May 2nd – Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms w/The Bluetones

May 4th – Exeter, Lemon grove w/The Bluetones

May 5th – Bristol, SWX w/The Bluetones

May 7th – Oxford, O2 Academy w/The Bluetones

May 12th – Mother’s Ruin, Bristol

May 17th – Manchester, Northern Exposure

May 19th – Brighton, The Alternative Great Escape

May 25th – London, Notting Hill Arts Club

May 26th – Plymouth, Underground

Thursday, 12 April 2018

Spring Break

Image may contain: 3 people, people standing, plant, sunglasses, flower, beard and outdoor

Spring Break are a three-piece hip hop collective who invite us to join them on their journey of ambitious diversity whilst they explore a broad palette of influences that they've marinaded in a melting pot of multiple genres. The result is one of the best albums I've had on repeat so far this year.

They cleverly fuse those influences into the delicious Tropicaledonia album in a Ralph's Life favourites Stanley Odd stylee who they've previously toured with and it will provide the soundtrack of my summer.

Photography by Project 246

A nascent Spring Break evolved at Belladrum 2014 where the band were organically assembled to play on the Burke and Hair stage. A winter in Thelonious Rumpus' studio birthed the spring time release of 2015's Departure Lounge EP.

A hectic summer of festival appearances, with national press coverage, radio and tv appearances and an advert for Bowers and Wilkins speakers.

A busy year was jubilantly capped off with a SAMA award for Best Hip Hop act.

Tropicaledonia artwork buy Calum Carr www.facebook.com/CalumbaInk

For the last year Spring Break have been working on their debut album Tropicaledonia; a fusion of many styles, drawing influence from a rich palette of folk, funk, blues and jazz whilst all the while steeped in the cut and paste traditions of hip hop.

Spring Break hope the musical diversity of the record will appeal to a wide range of tastes as it draws from the varied backgrounds of all the band members and collaborators.

Lyrically it's a highland reportage on the human condition; detailing daily stresses, mental health, drinking culture and addiction, small town mentality, lampooning back stabbers and the foibles of the industry and pointing a clown gloved finger at toxic masculinity.

Photography Project 246

Live dates for 2018 include; 13th April playing with Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 at The Loft in Forres, 14th April Album Launch Party in Inverness.

1st June in Glasgow playing with the Twistettes in Machullis, 16th June at Wildwoodz festival, July 21st at Audiosoup festival, 3rd August at Belladrum festival and August 31st at Lindisfarne Festival and November 9th at The Ironworks in Inverness with Urban Voodoo Machine.

More dates to be added as they come in.

Monday, 26 March 2018

Percival Elliot - Video Of The Week

Brian's favourite video this week is Betty by Percival Elliott.

Percival Elliott are an indie rock duo from the south coast of England. Olly Hite and Samuel Carter-Brazier united and have since been captivating listeners at sold-out shows across the UK.

Titled in memory of Hite’s great grandfather, Percival Elliott, born in 1883 was an inventor who created one of the first ice-cream emporiums in Brighton. After discovering a dusty box of trinkets in the back of Hite’s family attic, the revelation of long-forgotten treasures became embedded within the duo’s imagination and musical creativity and thus Percival Elliott was re-animated.

Shot and directed by Mark Hamilton at HOTEL PELIROCCO

Staring Martynna Madej as Betty

Available on Spotify: spoti.fi/2oGYGWb

Image may contain: 2 people, people sitting and text

Betty bursts with energy, featuring infectious melodies, gritty guitars and powerful dynamics, heightening to a climatic resolution. Betty showcases the versatility of the duo, with a much bolder and statement sound, to the previous Percival Elliott single Forever.

Thematically the single focuses on how a life of fame, fortune and stardom can leave you feeling broken and alone. It’s a reminder to those, that success is not measured by levels of prosperity and how the media can distort reality.

“This track holds a black mirror to society and reflects on how we all dress ourselves up to the world and pretend to be ok when deep down we’re not”, reveals Carter-Brazier.

Image may contain: one or more people, beard and close-up

The duo are known for their signature style of hard hitting piano melodies, rhythmic guitars and retro vocal harmonies, all underpinned by a string quartet.

The success of Percival Elliott to date includes a national tour with numerous UK charting artists, as well as collaborating with the likes of Fatboy Slim.

The duo have recently been causing a stir in the media, gaining the attention of high profile outlets such as Clash and The Huffington Post. Their highly anticipated album Save Your Soul is due soon.

Thursday, 22 March 2018

The Kut

Image may contain: 1 person, on stage and text

Rock category Finalist of the UK Songwriting Contest 2017 and Semi-Finalist of the USA led International Songwriting Competition, The Kut have announced a World Wide Record Deal with Cargo Records for their long-awaited debut album Valley of Thorns. Known for bringing some of the best independent albums to the fore, including those by The White Stripes, The Black Keys and Jonny Rotten’s Public Image Limited, Cargo Records have now put pen to paper and added The Kut to a long list of UK indie musicians to join their worldwide roster.

The album, produced by James Le Rock (Skindred / Def Leppard / White Zombie / My Vitriol) releases on April 13th. The single; Mind Games, is the first new offering from the album, and that releases March 30th.

John Dryland at Cargo Records spoke of the record deal, noting that

“it’s great to be working with such a hardworking, stellar artistes as The Kut on their debut album.”

Active on the UK and European alt.rock scene, The Kut, is the alter-ego of multi-instrumentalist, Princess Maha.

Photo by Jeroen Jacobs
With Princess Maha Diana Bartmann Jennifer Sanin.

The Kut live outfit has seen many guises, with the most recent line up featuring Diana Bartmann (drums) and Stella Vie (bass / bvs).

Festival performances include Download, Camden Rocks Festival, Rebellion Festival, Hard Rock Hell, Glastonbudget, Nice N Sleazy and Strummercamp and more. Tours have spanned the UK, Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Voted into the winning spots of the MTV Brand New Unsigned Poll for 2014, subsequent EP releases and tours have gained The Kut support from - deep breath - BBC Introducing Lancashire, Kerrang! Radio, Planet Rock, The Guardian, Metro, Scuzz TV, Kerrang! Magazine, Big Cheese, Metal Hammer, Q and Classic Rock, AXS TV, MTV-U USA and many credible independents.

Maha announced that “It’s an absolute dream come true to sign with Cargo. They are super passionate about their artists - truly one of the UK’s finest. The debut has been a long time coming, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it”.

The summer of 2017 saw The Kut playing 21 UK mainland dates, and the year ended with the band claiming the Number 1 Spot in the Beyond 50 Promotions Top 50 Under the Radar UK Bands. Announcements for 2018 have included The Kut being added to the line ups of Camden Rocks Festival, Amplified Festival, Strummercamp Festival, Nice and Sleazy and Rebellion.

Image may contain: one or more people, crowd, night and indoor

Photo by Jeroen Jacobs Photo Projects