Mildred's Dairy

Second of the Glasgow bands with new albums out featured by Ralph this week is Mildred's Dairy and their quirkily named offering The Helsinki Bus Station Theory. In keeping with the retro feel of the album's packaging (niftily designed by Alf Button) slightly 80's vibed tunes and faux record effect, it would be all the more impressive served up as a vinyl platter.




Mildred's Dairy have the feel of a grown-up Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and Deacon Blue throughout this release with well-crafted, well-written tracks immaculately played and produced. Then there's the relatively tongue-in-cheek nature of the sleeve notes and the band's ambiguously anonymous bio. Possibly self-explanatory when you think more about the album's title which is based on The Helsinki Bus Station Theory. 

First outlined in a 2004 graduation speech by Finnish-American photographer Arno Mikkinen, the theory claims that the secret to a creatively fulfilling career lies in understanding the operations of Helsinki's main bus station. With that in mind this offering may be a Mildred's Dairy Last Train To Glasgow Central.

This album is infectious to listen to, with some extremely radio friendly tracks. Ralph's already played Evergreen on his Radio KC Indie Show and they've featured on Tom Robinson's Fresh On The Net program recently. They will also lend themselves very well to live performances. 

It's on the cards that the band will be gigging with increasing frequency throughout 2016 and with tracks like Fools Rush In they'll quickly get the crowds on-side and grooving along.

Zurich

Oxford based Zurich have just released their eagerly awaited debut EP Small Wars and Ralph was quick to give the single release from it, Alone a spin on his Radio KC Indie Show recently. 

They're described as post-punk with more than a smattering of eighties electro, which I feel they've managed to give a fresh twist.

Zurich is comprised of, Adrian Banks on Bass/Vocals, Chris Gillett on Guitar/Vocals and Leigh Taylor on Drums/Samples

Alone has already drawn Zurich to the attention of Fresh On The Net with Tom Robinson drawing the conclusion that they're the result of Simple Minds having consumed Big Country and Echo and The Bunnymen. 

For my part, I'm getting shades of Depeche Mode overshadowed with New Order and Tears For Fears.

It's a very assured piece of work for a debut EP but hardly surprising as Zurich have had award winning producer Gary Stevenson working with them.




Upcoming gigs:

Aug 29 Woodstock Live Woodstock, United Kingdom  
Aug 30 Vestival Banbury, United Kingdom  
Sep 18 ALSO KNOWN AS Banbury, United Kingdom  
Sep 19 The BullingdonOxford, United Kingdom Tickets
Sep 22 Rye WaxLondon, United Kingdom  
Sep 27 Homegrown Ox And Bucks Festival Oxford, United Kingdom 
Sep 29 Wild Boar Warwick, United Kingdom 
Oct 02 Verve Bar Leeds, United Kingdom  
Oct 05 Bannermans Oxford, United Kingdom  
Oct 07 Lancaster Uni Lancaster, United Kingdom  
Oct 08 Dublin Castle London, United Kingdom  
Oct 10 Dog And Parrot Newcastle, Australia  
Oct 14 White Bear Barnsley, United Kingdom  
Oct 17 South Sea Sheffield, United Kingdom 

Snippet

Snippet aka Johnno Casson is the quintessential English musician.  Prolific, diverse, entertaining, clever, wistful and whimsical (no more so on his previously released mini-album 'DIY' and the track 'Let's Talk About Us' on which he comments on his winkle (and he isn't introducing us to his pet mollusc Brian). Prolific as ever Snippet has released an EP of tracks that should be on everyones 'Summer Playlist' and it's called, appropriately enough, 'The Sunshine EP'.




Previously Ralph's referred to Snippet as being all things to all listeners bringing you everything from funk to electro. If you haven't already been introduced to his inimitable stylings then this is the perfect lead in...go and seek out his back catalogue or even better check him out live...I think you'll find he's one of the nicest blokes you'll ever meet, as was proved when he kicked off the Ralph's Life CD all-dayer in London's Proud Camden earlier this year.





The EP was performed, recorded, produced and mixed by the man himself and mastered by Wim Oudijk. Snippet was quoted as saying "the EP is six unique nuggets of sunshine 'SnipHop' that are big on bounce, low on fat (but always 'phat') & full of technicolor loveliness."

Following on from the previously mentioned and critically acclaimed D.I.Y Album, Snippet takes it up a notch with a batch of killer songs cloaked in sweet layers of retro synths & hand crafted loops, topped off with vocal hooks to die for...music to lift your spirits & put a spring in your step.





From the first bars of the lead track 'We Luv The Sunshine' the lyrics are uplifting and the whistling infectiously cheerful. Second track in and the instrumental 'This Way Up' with an Ivor Cutler harmonium vibe leads you into the optimistic and bouncy 'Can I Luv You'. 

'Misplaced Youth' is a more soulful, reflective track whilst 'Run For Your Life' moves up a gear again with a 'SnipHop' vibe, finishing off with the quirky 'fLIP' showing just how versatile Snippet can be.




We Luv The Sunshine by Snippet

If you don't believe me then... 

“Snippet: A National Indie Treasure…The most played artist ever on BBC Introducing - Fresh On The Net” 
Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music

The Actions

Normally Ralph only blogs unsigned UK Indie, but now and again some mainstream goodness drops in the kennel that peaks his interest and when 'Indefensible', the new EP by London based Alt/Rockers The Actions arrived it was time for some rule bending (Their first album 'Real' was licensed to Nikita Music, a Brazilian record label and released in Latin America).

Comprised of five tracks that range from the EP's dark and brooding eponymous 'Indefensible' to the light almost La Roux-esque synth pop vocal of lead track 'The Echo' (Ralph's giving that a spin on Radio KC this Sunday) with its inbuilt, choppy 80's pop guitar al la Haircut 100 and Marta's consistently impeccable vocals.

There's almost a 'Manchester bands' feel leading into 'Counting All Days' but the second track on the EP continues in an 'all things to all men' vein, drawing from different genres to make one complete whole as The Actions drift into dreampopiness.

By way of an update and in the good news vein is, as of December 9th 'The Echo' will be released as a single via Niteo Records and will include the original plus a bonus 5 remixes Should be interesting as the remixes cover Dub, Electro and most things in between!






'So Still' reaffirms the darker side of the band that previous track 'Indefensible' brought to the table, with an ethereal vocal sprinkled between some driving guitar with menacing drums and bass creating an almost psychedelic dreamscape.


The Actions change a gear slightly on the trip-hoppier instrumental fifth track 'Clouding Over Pt 1' and it's an almost prog rock concept album hat tilt which personally I love and have on repeat.

Check out their immaculate live performance of 'Indefensible' at London's Proud Camden - where Ralph recently held the Ralph's Life CD all-day charity gig...

Brynovsky

The new album from Brynovsky is the aptly titled 'Time Is Now' as it's bringing a classic yet fresh Reggae sound into 2014 melding the smooth tones of Jah (Leroy Jones) Dave with those of Scottish songstress Idana (the name picked for the Edinburgh singer by the seminal Reggae producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry). 

With songwriter/producer Tim Brynovsky they've produced a perfect match of well written, chilled out reggae/dub/funk with a sprinkling of soul throughout the tracks and 'Time Is Now' is currently on repeat in Ralph's kennel.






Leroy (aka Jah Dave) was an original member of roots reggae band The Congos and has worked with artists like Gregory Isaacs, Horace Andy, Johnny Clarke and Dub Syndicate. He joined Brynovsky in 2012 after Tim's band had supported The Congos back in 2011. 





He's proper 'old school' and his pedigree shines through. Backed up by Idana's jazz based alto vocalising and Tim's musicality, their sound guarantees a pleasurable, mellow listening experience.





This is the second studio album from Brynovsky and it's already garnered no small amount of critical acclaim from the likes of Fresh On The Net contributor Johnno Casson and of course Tom Robinson himself. Hardly surprising with the sublime vocal harmonies of Jah Dave and Idana bringing out the best in 12 well crafted musical gems from Tim. 




If I was being picky, there's no stand out track, but for me that's no bad thing as the whole album melds together to provide just shy of an hours perfect chill out listening. 

OK...OK...if you're going to push me 'Freedom For The People' is my favourite! I'll be keeping an eye open for them heading south of the border, but in the meantime up-coming Brynovsky gigs are...

2014

29th January - MacSorley's, Glasgow, Scotland

Reggae Burns Night and Time is Now album launch - FREE Entry after 9pm.
With DJs Hectorrr, Harri & Dirtsman (aka BassWarrior).
Private seated dinner 7pm - 9pm (enquiries call 0141 248 8581).

1st February - Glencairn Institute, Moniaive, Scotland

Time is Now album launch with DJs including Sunny Govan's DJ Hectorrr.
8pm - 2am. £5.00 on the door.