Dean Owens - Video Of The Week

Brian's favourite video this week is Southern Wind by Dean Owens.

Hailed as "Scotland's most engaging and haunting singer-songwriter" by Irvine Welsh no less, Dean Owens has just released a gritty new video to accompany his latest single Southern Wind from the album of the same name; which is due for release on the 16th of February.

The album was recorded at Mr Lemons Studio in Nashville by Neilson Hubbard and will be available via At The Helm Records.

Now I'm not one for making comparisons; however, Dean Owens is Scotland's answer to Bonnie Prince Billy and the album should be a must have for any serious music listeners collection.

Available NOW as a download single via...

iTunes itunes.apple.com

Google play.google.com

Deezer deezer.com

Filmed and directed by Ruth Barrie and Dylan Matthew of Waltzer films waltzerfilms.com

Song by Dean Owens/Will Kimbrough

© Dean Owens 2018 deanowens.com

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

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.  

The Roscoes

Some old school rocking it out is on the way from Liverpool band The Roscoes.

They release a double A-side single on Friday and Skin/The Wall is a full on assault on your aural sensibilities. The two tracks have been produced by Pete Robertson, The Vaccines drummer, and mastered by Russell Cottier of the Grammy award winning Parr Street Studios.

Skin has a sleazy bluesy feel with an immaculate vocal and guitar solos reminiscent of early Free. The Wall is in your face from note one. Pounding drums and punchy vocal backed up by more of that spectacular guitar musicality from The Roscoes.





Not difficult to understand when The Roscoes cite influences ranging from soul legends Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and James Carr to country rock bands such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Neil Young and Little Feat to rock legends including Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple and Bruce Springsteen.

The Roscoes are, Edd Barlow - Lead Vocal & Guitar, James Cudworth - Bass & Vocals, Bill Gelling - lead Guitar & Vocals and Brad Malbon on Drums.

You can also look forward to two quality videos for the tracks filmed by Dom Brooks and Matt Lee (Neptune Aerial Works & TableTop). Set your new music alarm clock to 25.2.16 for some proper rock 'n' roll.

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.

Jane Allison

It's no secret Ralph's a fan of crowdfunding and when he heard that Welsh singer songwriter and actress Jane Allison Stanness would be releasing her debut solo Americana album “Just Another Girl” under the name Jane Allison using Kickstarter it was time to investigate.

The album 'Just Another Girl' was conceived in Berlin in 2011 while Jane was living there amidst the soft lit, subterranean, demiurgic world of artists, misfits & poets.

Thanks to John Morgan for the pics

Recorded & produced in 2013 by Alonza Bevan, at Kula Shaker's studio’s deep in the heart of the Ardennes in Belgium & finished off with some sweet country, bar room licks in the hub of Bristol’s Country roots scene by Mark Legassick of Howlin Lord fame and Country Dave Caven with the help of Massive Attack producer Stew Jackson.

Thanks to John Morgan for the pics

'Just Another Girl' has a down home Country vibe, coloured with a flavor of Jane Allison's childhood influences such as Neil Young, Leonard Cohen & Joan Baez. Telling tales of secret passion, longing, loss and redemption her songs and voice alike betray substance, thoughtfulness and vulnerability delivered with an authenticity that is both captivating and memorable, she's left no box unticked.

Thanks to John Morgan for the pics

It's not often Ralph shells out his hard earned Bonio allowance for countrified music, however, having heard the impeccable stylings of Jane Allison when checking out the successful crowdfunding campaign to produce 'Just Another Girl' he was moved to pledge in order to help ensure her crystal clear 'Americana' vocals would be available to all.

Thanks to John Morgan for the pics

It's easy to compare Jane Allison to Rosanne Cash or Kelly Willis but she's not 'Just Another Girl', producing some well written tunes in what's very much her own fusion of UK Country/Americana and I'm certain we'll be hearing much more of this talented singer/songwriter in the lead up to the album's release in September.

The Sons

Ralph's played Derby band The Sons single 'Death Love Money' on his Radio KC Indie Show a couple of times so it's about time he took a listen to the recently released album 'Heading Into Land' funded by fans and friends. It's a well crafted slice of alt-folk which leans on a variety of musical styles.

Lead track 'Right Colour Makeup' is a perfect example of this as The Sons fuse Americana guitar stylings with slightly Alt-Pop vocals. The track released as a single 'Death Love Money' is even more entrenched in the Americana stylee, shades of The Eagles or the more contemporary Daughtry.




'Crowd Went Wild' on the other hand with it's infectious drum beat throughout is rockier has a more Indie feel and The Sons follow it with a jollier 'When I Want To' where they're showing shades of The Beatles in their influences. They've lost me a bit with 'I'm Not Happy' with its lightweight Caribbean stylee beat but beef it up on 'Relic' with a McCartney 'Maybe I'm Amazed' vibe to it.


  Heading Into Land by TheSonsTheBand


'On The Corner' is more Alt-Folk' with a gentle lyric and delightful musicality whilst on the following track 'Flash And Bang' they show their heavier side with some nasty base and staccato vocal.

'Hard Life' with its Country style lyric looses me again, a bit lightweight for me as is 'Down Sometimes' but these tracks by The Sons will be a hit live with their target audience (fans of Wilco will love them). Highlight of the album for me is the title track 'Heading Into Land' as it swings between a less gravelly Tom Waits style crossed with that of the inimitable Randy Newman.

They're in the process of booking more gig...in the meantime...

APR10

   The Sons (Acoustic)

Thursday, April 10 @ 8:00 PM 

Jam Cafe, Heathcote Street, Nottingham

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MAY31

   Hucknall Fake Festival

Saturday, May 31 @ 3:00 PM

Titchfield Park, Hucknall

Buy Tickets Share

MAY31

   Summer Gathering

Saturday, May 31 @ 8:00 PM

The Lion, 44 Mosley Street, New Basford

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Scott Lloyd

The latest sounds gracing Ralph's kennel are some lo-fi tunes courtesy of Middlesborough born Scott Lloyd whose new EP The Northern Gate is due for release on March 10th. Now living in Manchester, Scott's laid back alternative country/folk feel is expressed in five well composed, mainly reflective tunes, delivered with a Jackson Browne or James Taylor vibe but with a modern twist and a northern accent. 






That's to the fore in the lead track on the EP 'Lock The Door' with a track that could have been written by Johnny Cash but sung like he'd been born in the North West (of England) with it's 70's Americana vocal overlaid with Mancunian inflection and infectious hand-clapping.


Second track in 'Morning Light' is more shades of Jim Croce, with a more laid back acoustic guitar, reflective lyric and harmonious melody and is followed by 'Somewhere' which is pure Scott Lloyd, probably the most contemporary track on the EP for me.






Fourth track, 'The Northern Gate' maintains the contemporary feel although lends itself to Jackson Browne. Final track 'Stay With Me' is stripped back, reflective and reminds me of his James Taylor influence (no bad thing). All in all it's a very accomplished EP for one so young and if you're looking for an antidote to Jake Bugg...Scott Lloyd's your man.




Upcoming gigs are...

FRI 14th February – Castle Hotel, Manchester – supporting Bourbon Street Beat
SUN 9th March – The Castle Hotel, Manchester
FRI 28th March – Eagle Inn, Salford


Streets Are The Colours by Scott Lloyd

Scott’s debut EP,’Long Live You EP’, is out now. You can get a CD edition or a digital download from these places.

CD EDITION:

scottlloydmusic.bigcartel.com

DOWNLOADS:

itunes.apple.com

Nina Baker

What's the best way to get Ralph to sit up and take notice?  Be in possession of a unique voice, write cleverly crafted songs and send him a CD of your immaculately produced new album.  That's exactly what happened when singer/songwriter Nina Baker's latest album 'Quite Frankly' slipped through the letter box last week.

Influenced by the smooth tones of Ella Fitzgerald & Nina Simone, the technical brilliance of Lang Lang and the creativity of Tori Amos, Kate Bush and Amy Winehouse, Nina Baker is a fusion musical styles all interwoven with piano riffs, emotive lyrics and an original vocal quality.  All of the above are displayed to excellent effect in the 'Quite Frankly' album. Tracks on the album range from whimsical to introspective and humourous ('Little Fibs' for a single?) to poignant.

Nina was hand-picked by BBC Introducing to attend their 2013 Master Class and came runner-up in MTV's Brand New for 2013 unsigned competition, beating over 500 acts to reach the final and the MTV select panel stated that "Nina brought something really unique to the competition, a mixture of light and dark makes her songs stand out”. 





In less than 3 years she has grown her fan base and profile across the UK and Europe through printed, online and broadcasted media, and with her dynamic live show - performing at venues such as The o2 Academy & The Norwich Waterfront and at festivals such as Latitude & Godiva Festival. 

For 18 months Nina has been writing and recording her debut album with a range of prominent music-makers. It's an album of two halves. The core of the album was recorded at Rockfield Studios Monmouth, under the stewardship of Nick Brine. Sessions at Red Kite Studios with Martin Levan (Iron Maiden, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Sarah Brightman), Andrew Griffiths in Swansea and with the Ebbw Vale Male Voice Choir only adds to the heavy Welsh influence. 




The other side of the album is distinctly a London affair. From The Kings Gospel Choir to the inspirational John Themis (Boy George, Kylie Minogue, Stevie Wonder, Sir Elton John) to string arrangements by Andy Bell and Sam Sweeney, the album will be one of the last made at The Church Studios in Crouch End. Mixed by Tristan Ivemy (Frank Turner, The Holloways, Billy Lockett) and mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios, the album titled “Quite Frankly” (dedicated to her late grandfather Frank Baker) is a big-scale, uncompromising production. A roller-coaster of rhythm, soaring highs and wallowing lows, it is due for digital release on 6th January 2014.