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!!!

Van Tastik

Van Tastik is an impassioned one-man-blues-band mixing American Blues and Folk with hypnotic rhythms; far-out instruments and raw vocals in a Nick Cave stylee.

Whether Van Tastik is delivering a visceral A Capella number, a heavy garage-rock, blues or a sweet, fluttering Appalachian and Bluegrass melody, he will capture and hold the attention of his audiences with his unique musical stylings.

The Van Tastic voice and looks will take you back and pull you south to the Delta where the blues began, but with his own modern twist on the old-fashioned.

After a hugely successful run of festival appearances at Kelburn Garden Party, Eden Festival, ButeFest BlueGrassmarket, Sofar Sounds Edinburgh and a live performance on the Janice Forsyth show for the BBC at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he won over fans throughout 2017.

He has released an excellent two-track single, Drag Me To Hell which Brian is playing on the Radio KC Indie Show on March 11th. Look out for Van Tastik live in the UK, Germany, France and Holland following a short tour of New Zealand plus the release of his first album later this year.

May 17th      Van Tastik    Thurs 19:30

Edinburgh Blues Club

Martin Stephenson & The Daintees

Album cover artwork by Phoebe Stephenson

Just in time for Christmas the ever-prolific Martin Stephenson accompanied by The Daintees have come along with an album that will have any party up on it's collective feet and dancing; whether it's having a knees-up or waltzing the night away.

It kicks off with a rockabilly-esque The Whisky and I'm not sure if it's an advert for the benefits of Uisge-Beatha (The Water Of Life) or a dire warning. But one thing is for sure, it's a rollicking start to a quality collection of tuneage.

Title track Bayswater Road is a tune that will wriggle its way inside your head and you'll be singing it all day before Secret Crush has you bop shoo bopping along to some classic Daintees stylee old school musical perfection.



High Sierra Snow mixes Americana with Latina as it pleasantly meanders along, which leads you nicely into Lord Lead Us and sees Martin competing with Cliff Richard for a potential Christmas hit as he explores his gospel side.

The folksier Every Kind Of Heaven is more resonant of the earliest incarnation of The Daintees and that's followed by Shoot with it's similarly familiar Daintees vibe from 'back in the day'; like a cosy old favourite jumper saving you from a cold winters day.

Thorn From A Rose is a moodier, reflective joy with smatterings of Johnny Cash; possibly my favourite track on the album, but then again I'm an old softy. The album rounds of with the countrified Elaine and finishes off in fine style with She Rides Horses, which is a delight.

Ralph's playing a track from Bayswater Road on the Radio KC Indie Show, but you'll have to tune in on November 26th to find out which one. For now I suggest you go out and acquire a copy of the album (on repeat here in 'the kennel' all last week) as its a must have for any serious music lovers collection.

You can download a copy of the album Bayswater Road by clicking HERE

Ralph's Indie Show REPLAY - 5.3.17

Ralph's Indie Show Replay

As played on Radio KC

Sunday 5th March 5-7pm GMT

Internet Radio on rkc.noip.me

Played in 158 countries 

Worldwide on 2 satellites

Website: ralphslife.co.uk

Ralph's Life Music Blog: fruitbatwalton.blogspot.co.uk

Submissions: ralphslife@mail.com

Twitter: @fruitbatwalton



Just click on their name to go to their Facebook page:

Playlist for 5.3.17:

Glass Phantoms - Funeral Song
My Forever - Cure
Lional - Lonely So Long
Green Circles - Linitless
Echo Beach - Athena
MIR - Dirty Water
Harry & The Howlers - Magic 8 Ball
Véloniños - Hey Véloniño!
Ian Roland - Gravity Inside
Graham Marshall - Mr Complicated
Yakima - Gut Milk
The Lightning Year - Endless Memory
FAMILY FRIENDS - I'm Like You
Palms and Pelicans - Drowzy
Cold Summer - Waiting
Palomino Party - Run Palomino
BLACK LIME - Fight Or Flight
The Boston Shakers - All Out
Sam Jefferson - Too Much For You
CAMPFIRE SOCIAL — Nothing, Nowhere, Never, Now
Are We Static - Don't Know Why
John Nicholas - What Love Is
Sophia Dady - The Eclipse
The Clear - The Planets
Campbell L Sangster - Odds Are Stacked
De La Soul - Snoopies

Ian Roland & Simon Yapp

On Ralph's Radio KC Indie Show next Sunday (March 5th) we'll be featuring a few a few Americana styled tracks so it was very timeous when Day Became You, the new EP from Ian Roland & Simon Yapp was dropped off via the good offices of the postal service.

Produced by Nigel Stonier (Thea Gilmore, The Waterboys, Joan Baez, Martha Wainwright, Fairport Convention et al), the EP is the new release by Folk, Americana duo Ian Roland & Simon Yapp.

Released January 2017 it includes new songs, Day Became You and Gravity Inside, as well as a new recording of the excellent Shooting Star. 



Ranging from the reflective and infectious title track Day Became You, through the delightfully melodious love song Shooting Star that follows and into the bouncy foot-stomper that is Gravity Inside, Ian Roland & Simon Yapp have given us a multi-faceted Americana gem from which we'll be featuring a track on the Radio KC Indie Show on March 5th.

Recorded at Airtight Productions Recording Studios, Manchester, UK, with Séadna McPhail engineering and Alan Lowles mastering the final release, the EP has Nigel Stonier also providing multi-instrumental parts, as well as Séadna adding percussion and Richard Young on drums.

Scott Swain

Scott Swain has been playing in bands for almost a decade, and has achieved relative success with this: from supporting Biffy Clyro back in the day, to being featured in Kerrang! Magazine.

However it wasn't until his main band took a hiatus in 2016 that Scott decided to launch a solo project. Influenced by the likes of Elliot Smith, Mark Lanegan, and cult cinema, Scott's music aims to combine haunting harmonies with provocative melodies, disarming listeners along the way.

Live Scot Swain is raw: just vocals and an acoustic guitar. In the studio, however, he recruits a small band of 'reprobates' to add some serious colour and angst to the songs he records with them.

Scott Swain also performs with two bands, How to Dress a Monster and Fire at Night. He is therefore likely to be playing live at least a few times a month and always happy to meet new people and chat about bands, music, and/or films.

With regard to his latest single, Scott says: "Oil! is heavily inspired by the film There Will be Blood. Lyrically, I wanted to examine the relationship between wanting to be ambitious and the things which can be sacrificed in the process."

"Also, I want to highlight how miserable it can make you if you let working be the thing which defines you as a human being. I think Daniel Day Lewis’ character painfully personifies both of these ideas in the film.

As the story behind the film is set in the Wild-West of America it seemed only fitting to have a Country style to the song, and nobody does Country with more attitude than the legendary Johnny Cash; so the song is also a homage to him."




As a homage to Mr Cash Oil! is indeed a fitting tribute. From it's thumping drum/acoustic guitar intro to the gritty lyric and soundscape it's very much in the style of 'The Man In Black', embracing both his Rockabilly/Americana feel musically but with a rockier more contemporary vocal by Scott.

Ralph's already given Oil! a spin on his Radio KC Indie Show and it's a fair bet it'll be getting a replay soon. Remember to tune in every Sunday 5-7pm UK time on rkc.noip.me.

Sam Simmons

The lead singer of popular Cleethorpes band The Loving Memory (who are coming over to St Helens on September 17th to play Ralph's Musicians Against Homelessness gig) Sam Simmons is flexing his solo muscles and releasing More Than Yesterday, Less Than Tomorrow; an album of his own work, on Saturday August 6th.

The album kicks off in fine style with Closest Thing To Heaven with its Americana-esque lyric overlaid on some nifty guitar work in the stylee of the late great Stuart Adamson. He slows the pace with the melodious and poignant Guess before How Can I Move You pulls on the heart strings a little more.

There's an almost country feel to Long Long Time and one's left wondering how introspective the writing is. The atmospheric Rain continues the reflective feel of the previous tracks although with a more anthemic feel.





Sam gets back on the Indie train with Real Rebecca and for me, it's a fair bet as a single release from More Than Yesterday, Less Than Tomorrow. Follow on track Recall has a Jackson Browne feel to it as Sam again shows his Americana-esque side, whilst Say has a bouncier Brit Pop vibe.

Possibly my favourite track on the album is Secretly which takes the listener on a delightful musical journey. It's a well crafted song that's a delight. Penultimate track Wheel on the other hand is a bit 'samey' to some of the earlier tracks although showcases Sam Simmons immaculate acoustic guitar-play.

Closing with When The Lights Were Dim and Sam's on form again indie-wise, another tip for a single from this accomplished album for one so relatively young.

With More Than Yesterday, Less Than Tomorrow he has made a more deliberate effort to write infectious songs presented alongside bright and driven yet sometimes delicate arrangements. 

The albums lyrics deal primarily with relationships, with how difficult yet rewarding they can be. Many of the albums lyrics are very positive in nature, some are much more reflective. 

The album contains mostly new songs alongside some reworked pieces from the past. It took a year and a half to record and was recorded and co-produced by Sam Carlton who plays guitar in Sam's band. It's released first on CD available via his Facebook followed by a full online release September 2nd.  

Chris Tavener

Ralph's never averse to a bit of quirkyness and young Manchester based singer songwriter Chris Tavener has imbued his new EP i'm sorrdy b'im drunnk with no small amount of it. If you're old enough remember the unique stylings of the inimitable Jake Thackry you'll understand...no? Just me then.

It's four tracks of lyrically clever musical goodness that's a delight to listen to. Kicking off with the single release from the EP Super Cool Sadie with it's satirical look at unrequited love and it's a lyrical hoot.









Likewise Chris Tavener gives folky hat tip to the young lovers of today, Modern Romance (She's So Drunk) is as cleverly written and incisive as it is listenable.

Next up Apocalypse Prediction is a short, sharp and highly amusing Americana-esque look at the end of the world.

He finishes off with some cynical skiffle-like fun in the shape of Boy I'm Better Than You which is getting a spin on Ralph's Radio KC Indie Show this Sunday (5th June) from 5-7pm. Tune in for a lyrical treat from Chris Tavener, you won't be sorry! Failing that just download the EP from christavener.bandcamp.com 
and listen at your leisure.

Tony Steele and The Massacre

Needless to say, it's nice to be on the guest-list for a Cast gig however, Ralph's primary mission was to check out the support act on the evening Tony Steele and The Massacre whose new single was previewed on the blog late last year. let's face it, Cast are hardly going to be struggling for reviews.

They are currently embarking on a 20th-anniversary tour and this evening they were taking The Citadel Theatre in St Helens by storm. Not too difficult a task that being said as the audience was mainly made up of gentlemen of a certain age who were long time fans (some probably from John Power's Las' days) and had spent most of the evening previously in the bar. 



To their detriment as it happens, as Tony Steele and The Massacre played an immaculate set of well-crafted songs, some Americana-esque some just plain rockin' it out. Whilst the pre-Cast crowd was relatively small they quickly warmed to the band and Tony in particular, as he put every ounce of his energy into the set.

Kicking off with the slightly psychedelic Americana-style Feel Love they showed that they'd formed a well drilled, tight unit. Tony's rough-edged vocal bringing the song to life. It was quickly followed by a slightly countrified track called A Ballad Of Dead Love which bounced into a skiffle vibe that Lonnie Donnegan would have been proud of.

With thanks to @BazzaMills for the photograph

I'm Back Home was reminiscent of early Faces tracks around the time of the classic Long Player album and again Tony's vocal carried it to a higher level and that was carried through into the more upbeat, crowd-pleasing One More Chance with its folky, rebel song vibe.

Next up, Along The Right Track had a feel of The Animals to it before turning into a real foot-stomper and the band proving they were committed to their craft with solid musicality throughout. 





Penultimate track Fake Love had a cross-over Americana feel again, with shades of The Eagles brought up to date by being infused with Daughtry-like guitar and drums.

Finishing with a bit of a rock 'n' rolla Tony's strong, individual vocalising brought Bound to Collide to life and left me wondering how long it will be before Tony Steele and The Massacre take their rightful place as the headline act on a bigger stage.