Dream Nails - Video Of The Week

Ralph's favourite video this week is Tourist by London feminist 'punk witches' Dream Nails.

It's on their recently released EP Dare To Care which I'd highly recommend whether you're a punk fan or not.

Dream Nails video directed by Jade Jackman. Tourist is available on Spotify, Bandcamp and iTunes:


Ralph's playing Tourist on the Radio KC Indie Show this Sunday from 5-7pm GMT.

Image by - Claudia Moroni

Bandcamp: dreamnails.bandcamp.com/album

Spotify: open.spotify.com

iTunes: itunes.apple.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourdreamnails

Instagram: instagram.com/dreamnailsband

Twitter: twitter.com/yourdreamnails

Equinox ft: Feral Five - Video Of The Week

Ralph's favourite video this week is Kiss by Equinox ft: Feral Five.

Taken from the album It's Hard To Be Happy When Your Head Is Full Of Sin available from Bandcamp.

The album features collaborations with:

Vince Clarke
Ashley Reaks 
Feral Five 
Dementio13 
Ceiling Demons 
Rosie Bans 
Snippet 
Radio Europa 
Nat Lyon 
Pulco 
Jay Stansfield 
Deux Furieuses 
Superhand 
Will Harris

Camera, lighting, editing and production by Jay Stansfield.

They Called Him Zone

It's nearly a year since Ralph played the lead track Miami from the eponymous debut EP by Bradford's dark and mysterious electro-pop outfit They Called Him Zone on his Radio KC Indie Show.


OK, OK, they're not that mysterious as I can tell you the band are - Mik Davies on Vocals, Drone and Production, Steve Maloney on Vocals, Guitar and Production plus John Bradford on Keys and percussion when playing live.

The good news is that They Called Him Zone have a mini album on the way (Out on February 20th) and as an introduction are releasing tracks Waste You and Devil Dying by way of a taster.

What can the world expect from their latest offering I hear you ask? 

Well, they describe Crow Swan Wolf as...

"haunting, atmospheric, sexy, driving, psychedelic, gothic, dark-wave/ new-wave mayhem which casts shadows and blows tobacco smoke across an amber lit dystopian skyline".

"Somewhere between a blood-thirsty vampire driving a convertible in Miami and a Berlin cabaret bar. Darker than a graveyard at midnight. Mashed up guitars, synths, electro beats and infectious melodies".



The tracks are available from their Bandcamp page on a 'pay-as-you-like' basis and are an excellent lead into the synth infused, bass-heavy world of They Called Him Zone. Just Fall blends a bouncy electro-pop soundscape with gloomy vocal to great effect and Devil Dying is just as enticing with a mean and moody percussive backbone drawing together a slightly lighter, very radio-friendly 'Euro-Pop' track.

Dopesickfly

Ralph's favourite video this week is Barriers by Dopesickfly. 

Founded in the summer 2015 in Glasgow Scotland having busked the streets of Glasgow, the band evolved there sound into a Neo Soul, Rock, Hip Hop, Acid Jazz fusion with just the right amount of Funk. 

The lyrically explosive, musically diverse, Funk Rock Hybrid known as Dopesickfly emanate an upbeat feel good vibe inviting everyone to join in with catchy hooks and dance their heart out! There encouraging & sing of life connecting to all ages of people- making music for people!




Barriers (Official Music Video) Filmed & Edited by- ChilledAffinity Featuring April Granelli The album DOPESICKFLY is available now:

Bandcamp: dopesickfly.bandcamp.com/album iTunes:
itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/dopesickfly Spotify:
spotify.com/artist/6WfSpX8qP9BxeuUn



Follow Dopesickfly
Website: dopesickfly.com Facebook: facebook.com/DOPESICKFLY Instagram: instagram.com/DOPESICKFLY/
Twitter: twitter.com/DOPESICKFLY/

Snippet

Long time Ralph's Life favourite Johnno Casson, prior to releasing the third album by his alter ego Snippet has regaled us with a collection of tracks that detail the last ten years of that particular musical incarnation. Here he gives us an insight into that nascent period...

"In late 2004 I tentatively started planning to record a new solo project and back then there was no Soundcloud, no Bandcamp and no iTunes.

MySpace was about to kick in however, there was an online platform where some like-minded DIY musicians were sharing their musical creations called Grooveplay." 






"With no gear outboard gear to record on other than a trusty yet beaten up Yamaha acoustic, a bunch of samples, a shit microphone and a half dead PC in a tiny corner of our already very full flat - Snippet was born."

What follows is a delightful trip through his self-styled 'Wonky Pop', from the psychedelically dreamy The Digital Yes to the trippy 50 Pounds Each it makes you smile and makes you groove in equal degrees.

He cut his musical teeth as the lead singer of trip hop pioneers Deep Joy, working with the likes of Primal Scream's Andrew Weatherall, James Lavelle of Mo’ Wax/UNKLE fame and Adrian Sherwood of On-U-Sound plus touring extensively; including with The Farm.

"After being in Deep Joy and having had a wonderful break starting a family I needed a new outlet for my creative juices and so it came to pass that 2005 was the birth of Snippet on grooveplay dot com. 

These wonky sound collages were never released. To celebrate 10 years of Snippet they are out in all their dirty glory. Lo-fi and proud they're available as a pay-what-you-want to anyone who fancies a journey down the memory lane which gave birth to Snippet." 

Graham Domain

As it's getting near Christmas Ralph thought he'd spread some charitable thoughts with you as well as bringing you news of some great music.  

Manchester singer/songwriter Graham Domain is releasing a new single this week which is aptly called Snowfall and all profits from its sale will be going to a Manchester City Centre homeless charity.



It's a quirky mix of synths, beats and off-edge vocals that; If they'd ever made a Christmas single, is evocative of Devo. As the colder weather approaches what better time to buy this release that's aimed at helping the homeless at Christmas and beyond.

Graham Domain has been gigging throughout Greater Manchester area including a support slot with Ralph's Life favourites Multiplier and a number of other local acts.




It's been released in a limited edition CD format and a downloadable digital version on Bandcamp available by clicking on this link: grahamdomain.bandcamp.com and Ralph will be giving it a spin on his Christmas Show on Radio KC.

So in keeping with the spirit of goodwill to all men, dip in your pocket and buy a copy of the single to help the homeless.

No One Sun

It's not often that an album is released without having played any gigs, but No One Sun have done just that! Back in 2011 Nick Noone and Jamie Hewson met in a practice room in Manchester. They hit it off and, both having done some songwriting found that they worked well as a team. Whilst gigging in covers bands they worked hard on putting together an album and the result is  'All We Rely On Is Stolen'. In order to bring the album to a live audience they called on the services of drummer Craig Warburton, bass player Nick Moulden and guitarist Gary Falkener to complete the line-up. 

The 11 track album is a well crafted slice of Indie Alt/Pop which doesn't rely on the obvious infusing of their influences, but is a collection of original sounding, anthemic, guitar driven tracks that would grace any festival stage and guaranteed to bring them a solid fanbase and regular airplay. The lead track 'California' is a classic example. Driving drums into choppy guitar and a gritty vocal No One Sun have ticked all the Indie boxes.







As the pictures attest No One Sun have since played some gigs including Manchester's Dry Bar and there's more to come. So some lucky people have been treated to one of the highlights of the album 'You've Changed Your Mind Again'. 

 

Again I'm pleased to say it doesn't lean on any established band for it's influences.  The guitar's infectious and the chorus will stick in your head, all ready to shout out at your first No One Sun gig.  They've carved out their own niche and we'll be hearing a lot more from the highly focused No One Sun soon.  The album and individual tracks are available now on Bandcamp or iTunes.  It'll be one of the best £7.99's you've spent all year!





  

Upcoming gigs are...

Saturday 21st September - The White Hart, Warrington
Thursday 26th September - Night & Day Cafe, Manchester
Saturday 28th September - Barca Live, Manchester