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

Mothers Finest

Given Ralph's love of all things Indie and interest in Crowd Funding projects, his attention was grabbed when he heard legendary US funksters Mother's Finest were eschewing record companies and self-financing their first release in 10 years using Kickstarter, effectively making their fans their record company!







In-keeping with Kickstarter campaigns once you make your contribution, you get exclusive access to everything (depending on your contribution) that goes on behind-the-scenes – hear the actual song demos, watch videos of the live recording sessions, see fun photos, and get updates on how the process is going. 

You will see how it all happens, from the very beginning to the very end. Mother's Finest offer incentives like rarely seen video, private conversations with the band, backstage access, personal items, and lots of other unique creations.

The group has created a sound they describe as a fusion of Funk, Rock, Gospel, R&B Metal and Jazz, taken directly from the street to the stage to the studio, that is Afro-Euro Mosaic Soulful and Electric, transcending musical division, and negative stereotyping.

Back in the day, this kind of fusion music was rare to say the least, but the versatility and originality of Mother's Finest, brought down many barriers.  Mother's Finest is Joyce Kennedy, Glenn Murdock, lead vocals, Jerry "Wyzard" Seay, Bass, Gary "Mo" Moore, lead guitar, John Hayes, lead guitar, Dion Murdock, drummer.

Known internationally, they are incomparable and unique in their ability to bring it in concert and now after several year's quiet, they're still one of the best live bands anywhere in the world.

Take this unique chance to get involved with the band, become part of their story and in the process claim your reward by pledging to help them produce the album and spread their infectious funk worldwide. 

Datz Dem v Random Impulse.....

Datz Dem

Random Impulse

OK it's America v Britain as Ralph does a comparison between new US Hip Hop duo Datz Dem from across the pond and our very own new kid on the UK Hip Hop block Random Impulse.  Two more different styles you couldn't hope to find as Datz Dem are putting out smooth Hip Hop style in an almost retro stylee (Think Warren G and Nate Dog) while Random Impulse is giving it large rapping his own self penned songs and playing a mean electric guitar (kinda modern day rapping Lenny Kravitz).


Joshua Houston, aka ILL SON and Edward Porter aka FOCIST P are self-styled multi-talented entertainers from Niagara Falls, NY and ATLANTA,GA respectively.  Known to the world as DATZ DEM they're artists, producers, song-writers and actors. 

They've been recording for several years, and they consider their student mentality allow them to continuously grow and create great music .  No denying their pedigree as they've performed with the likes of Black Eyed Peas, Dr. Shirley Caesar, Montel Jordan and Isaac Carree to name but a few. 

Their talent also crosses over into film and television and they've several popular productions to their credit including US hit shows Tyler Perry's 'Meet the Browns' and 'Vampire Diaries' and have product endorsements with General Electric and Adidas.  DATZ DEM are all things to all people, embracing all aspects of entertainment to stamp their brand on multimedia entertainment.







Random Impulse is being acclaimed as the innovator of an exciting, vibrant new sound set to push forward the boundaries of modern music, Jovel Walker, better known as Random Impulse is quickly becoming one of the most talked about acts by both music fans and industry alike. Backed by a drummer, bassist and secondary guitarist, Random Impulse raps his self-written songs whilst playing electric guitar, in a live show notorious for leaving his audience amazed, ecstatic and screaming for more. 

He has performed support slots for acts such as 3oh3, Tinchy Stryder, The Wombats, Professor Green, & Ed Sheeran, along with features in MTV, Maxim, RWD, The Huffington Post, The Sun & BBC 2 all tipping him as the UK’s next superstar.  

Although Random Impulse is currently working with producers such as Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams), Future Cut, (Lily Allen, Nicole Scherzinger, Kate Nash), Semothy Jones (Little Boots, Professor Green/Lily Allen, Plan B) and Brian West (K’naan, Nelly Furtato) he is very much producer and writer in his own right, having written and produced for Lupe Fiasco and having songs featured in hit TV shows including HBO’s Bones and CBS’s NCIS: Los Angeles.






There are similarities with these two acts.....ambition, talent, musicality and diversity.  They both know what they've got and exactly where they want to go with it.....to the top.....and given the quality of the music they're producing they're well on their way.  




An example of Datz Dem's style I've chosen is the Gospel Rap 'WWJD' (What Would Jesus do).....it's Marvin Gaye meets Blackstreet.....the lyrics express their Christian faith and a condemnation of evil.  “The devil is a lie, that’s why people be killing,” - “Robbing and stealing sometimes for no reason/Cutting down trees in the Garden of Eden/The Snake got you eatin’ forbidden fruit/So the question is for you/What would Jesus do.”

The Random Implulse selection is the hard hitting, guitar thrashing, lyrical punching 'On A Roll'.  Completely different from the Hip Hop norm, it's an Indie/Punk/Rock track with Rap thrown in and it's got hit written all over it.  He's been heavily tipped as this years next big thing and some serious air play should see him follow Example's.....example.  Not sure if he's Grime's answer to Punk or Punk's answer to Grime but he lives up to the hype.






Me.....I'm off to listen to ma home boy Snoop Dawgee.....word up..... 

No, no Snuggles 

I said Tom Elias sounded 
 like Tom Waits but without 
  the cigs and whisky not that 
    he should drink and smoke....

OK bands you know the score by now....

the more hits your blog gets by the fans, the higher up the chart you go.....so Tweet it, Facebook it.....and generally expose yourself.....

Top spot this week for Hollywood sound tracked 'TheAlphabet Song' fae Fife it's.....


1. Panda Su

With the news they're playing Audio Glasgow in November, what a difference a re-blog makes......


2. We Came From the Sea

Loads of interest this week due to their big gig in London tomorrow with ex Stone Roses guitarist Aziz Ibrahim.....



3. The Cornerstones

Top spot last week but down three places it's popular Manchester band.....


4. Stolen Haven

Down one place for another Manchester band.....


5. Transition Baby

News of their being Surface Festival finalists is spreading, up from last weeks Number 8 spot.....


6. a41

Staying put this week and becoming a real chart favourite.....


7. Whispery Club

A Liverpool band that won the Houses of Parliament Rock the House competition.....


8. The Verdict

Another Liverpool band still popular with their song Don't Buy The Sun.....


9. The New Caldera

Only just blogged this morning but with news of his first album released in October.....


10. Tom Elias

Tom Elias.....Tom Waits meets Paulo Nutini?

T.G Elias is a prolific writer and performer whose distinctive, subtle and powerful voice holds audiences spellbound with his mesmerizing performances. Drawing from his deeply rooted relationship with Gospel, Country and Blues, the result is a collection of candid tales and life stories, served up by a journeyman with an understated raw emotion.

OK now obviously as a Jack Russell I didn't write that but apart from the fact it uses a lot of big words in a music journo stylee it pretty much sums up what this young man's music is about.  His voice is Tom Waits with less bourbon and cigarettes mixed up with a bit of Paulo Nutini in a Neil Young and Jim James way.  

Ball and Chain is a bluesy, mournful, pluck at your heart strings track written and sung by a young man reaching way beyond his years to make the listener feel his pain.

It's on his debut album T.G.Elias and the good news is you wont have to wait long to grab yourself some of this musical niceness.

He releases the album 'T.G.Elias' through Liverpool based Viper Label/SRD Distribution on the 22nd October 2012 and will be gigging accordingly.  

First off on Thursday 11th October he's playing The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge, quickly followed by an album launch on Friday 19th October in the intimate surroundings of The Black Room in the Ducie Bridge, Manchester followed by Sunday 21st October at The Shipping Forecast in Liverpool.

The Dulcie Bridge.....
Home of The Black Room

Finally he's doing 'Pull Up Roots' at The Slaughtered Lamb in London on the 22nd October.  3rd November he's in Bangor at a venue to be confirmed and finally on the 17th November it's The Blue Rooms, Huddersfield. 

" We don't normally review 'Folk', but this isn't just Folk'. It's something devastatingly refreshing. T.G. Elias is creating quite a stir. Listen to his record now!- fRoots

Now I'm guessing I've not heard of this young man previously because he's not what you'd consider 'mainstream' but if the contents of this album are anything to go by everyone will be hearing a lot more of him very soon.  I for one will be pointing those lovely people at Folk Radio UK his direction and I suggest you do the same.....