Hanging Valleys - Video Of The Week

Brian's favourite video this week is Fortaleza by Hanging Valleys.

Hanging Valleys is an alternative band founded in 2016, comprising of Thom Byles (acoustic guitar, vocals), Mike Phillips (electric guitar, vocals) and Alexis Meridol (beats, synthesizer).

Hanging Valleys music is centred around soaring falsetto vocal harmonies accompanied by ethereal atmospheric phrasing on electric and acoustic guitars, which combine to create a rich shifting soundscape. An unusual percussive playing style on the acoustic is blended with percussion and self-produced samples to create pulsing rhythms with captivating crescendos. 

Out now:
Spotify: spoti.fi/2EdlIcS
iTunes: apple.co/2nStCkJ
Official site: hangingvalleys.com Facebook: facebook.com/hangingvalleys Twitter: twitter.com/hangingvalleys Instagram: instagram.com/hangingvalleys

Granfalloon

Granfalloon is the musical moniker of Richard Lomax and his folktronica group based in Manchester. Folktronica is a mixture of folk and electronica. Instruments include Omnichords, acoustic guitars, Casio keyboards, and 80's drum machines. 






Their new single Ambulance is out on Manchester label The Dogan on 23rd February 2018. Ambulance is a song about those self imposed rituals that we use to keep ourselves mentally healthy. It features the Omnichord (an electronic autoharp) over a loving combination of acoustic guitar, synths, samples, and a four to the floor backbeat verse that melts into a dreamlike chorus. 

The chorus line is inspired by a rhyme uttered by singer Lomax’s grandmother upon seeing an ambulance pass by: “Touch your head and touch your toes/If you don’t want to go in one of those.” Lomax says: “My grandparents write most of my best lyrics.”

Granfalloon uses lo-fi bedroom recording techniques which point to a revelry in beautiful imperfection and a desire to create something very special. There is a real commitment to detail which involved patiently distilling the soundscapes until the elements of electronics, delicate acoustic guitar, and the mixture of lo-fi, folk & psych all fell into place.

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The track was mixed by Sydney based Jack Prest (AKA Future Love Hangover) who has most recently worked on Jonti's 2017 album 'Tokorats'. 

It's a delightfully laid back slice of addictive lo-fi electronic goodness which is lyrically both poignant and amusing. Brian will be spinning Ambulance on the Radio KC Indie Show on Sunday 4th of February so tune in!

Michael Jablonka

Michael Jablonka is a musician so prolific that you may think he devotes every waking hour to his art and, if the fantastical nature of many of his songs are anything to go by, several hours of his dreams as well.
In addition to performing as Michael Kiwanuka’s chosen guitarist; a role that has found him touring arenas and festivals worldwide this summer. He has been fine-tuning his own powerful 21st-century take on bluesy alt-funk and soulful indie-rock. Michael Jablonka’s gifted, intricate guitar skills bely the no-frills anthemic intent of his rootsy songcraft.

Born and bred in the capital, 27-year-old Michael Jablonka has been gigging since the tender age of 14 as an in-demand guitarist for hire. Those to have enjoyed his dextrous services include Charlie Brown, Stooshe, Shakka and Delta Maid before fellow North Londoner and Brit-soul sensation Michael Kiwanuka came calling.

Around the same time, he decided it was time to blaze his own trail as a bandleader and songwriter, collating a set of crack musicians and intense yet universal alt-rock’n’soul tunes that scream for wider appreciation.

I Found You was one of the first tunes he wrote as a solo artist though it took a while to manifest - "I had writers block" - he explained - "and a chorus with nothing much else. I imagined the verses to be a constant build up and wanted the chorus to be that break free moment."

We'll be playing I Found You on Ralph's Radio KC Indie Show on Sunday 17th December so remember to tune in from 5-7pm on rkc.noip.me Internet Radio playing in 162 countries worldwide.

The Velvet Hands

The Velvet Hands release their second single, Games on September 8th via Easy Action Records and across all digital formats.

The Velvet Hands are the latest band to emerge from Cornwall’s blistering garage-rock scene. The ambitious, Stones x Strokes tinged quartet formed in 2015 at Truro College (and are still in their teens) and already have released a string of standout DIY singles.

Their blistering live sets, with two front-men Dan Able and Toby Mitchell wrestling for the mic, has seen them booked for a run of big name gigs, and support slots with the likes of The Bluetones, Yak and Wild Smiles. Games follows their #RSD2017 release Sick Of Living and is the 2nd single taken from their debut album, Party's Over due for release in 2018.

Games was recorded by The Velvet Hands at Troubadour Studios, Falmouth and produced by Ben Woods (ex -Lost Dawn/The Golden Dregs).

It's filled to the brim with charisma and swagger that the band effortlessly exude. It's louche vocal reminds me of The Buzzcocks at their height, however; for those whose memory doesn't stretch that far back, their Garage-esque, punky and punchy guitar driven new single is deemed to be reminiscent of the best of early 2000s guitar bands and a rousing two fingered salute to freedom, youth and a defiance in doing your own thing within the confines of relationships.

Ralph is giving the track a spin on this Sunday's Radio KC Indie show (5-7pm GMT) and they're high on his Ones to Watch list.


The Velvet Hands are Toby Mitchell, Dan Able, Louis Willbourne and Sam Hilder.

LIVE

July 27th: Port Eliot Festival

July 28th: Leopolooza Festival - Mono Stage

July 30th: Leopolooza Festival - BBC Introducing Stage

August 10th: The New Inn,  Tywardreath

August 11-13th: Boardmasters Festival - Headlining BBC Introducing Stage

October 1st: Looe Festival

Sacrifice & Bliss

Photo courtesy of  Samantha Regen

Infectiously catchy experimental Rock duo, Sacrifice & Bliss release their outrageously good new single Kyrie, out Friday 28th April 2017. Ralph gave it a pre-release spin on the Radio KC Indie Show last Sunday and the Electro-Rock innovators from London are set to hit the ground running this spring, touring alongside fellow Indie-Rock tastemakers Dantevilles.

Sacrifice & Bliss are inventive and enigmatic, with all instruments spiking excitingly throughout Kyrie providing a glorious tickle on the balls of your eardrum (yes, they exist – it’s science). This huge synth-laden Rock banger combines light and darkness to great effect with medieval & gothic influences triumphantly merged with rampantly upbeat electro synths. 

Unbelievably, with such a vast array of influences from Sly and The Family Stone to Radiohead, Sacrifice & Bliss have created something truly original whilst providing a curiously fulfilling helping of familiarity.


Kyrie is packed full of the now trademarked and contagiously addictive riffs that fans have come to expect from guitar genius John K Lucy. Adapted from a Gregorian chant and with lyrics throughout Kyrie sung in part Greek, part Italian and part English, the distinctive vocals of co-songwriter and bassist Roger Hany put him as the front-runner for your new favourite frontman with soaring highs that Matt Bellamy of Muse would be jealous of.




Frontman Roger Hany explains that Kyrie was written about “the giving of yourself to that which is bigger or greater than yourself”.

Capturing the attention of the masses with sold out shows supporting the likes of 90’s Britpop icons My Life Story, 60’s Rock icon Arthur Brown and Folk Rock favourite’s Blackbeard’s Tea Party, it’s no wonder the duo have already been picked up by BBC Introducing and 6 Music with previous single Hit Me achieving multiple track of the week status’ across 40+ radio stations.



Sacrifice & Bliss live dates as follows...

18/03 Watford, Flag Supporting Dantevilles
23/03 Liverpool, Shipping Forecast Supporting Dantevilles
24/03 Glasgow, McChuills Supporting Dantevilles
26/03 Birmingham, Sunflower Lounge Supporting Dantevilles
27/03 London, Servant Jazz Quarters Supporting Dantevilles
28/03 Bristol, Louisiana Supporting Dantevilles
30/03 Stowmarket, John Peel Centre Supporting Dantevilles
01/04 Southampton, Joiners Supporting Dantevilles

Áine Duffy & TheHypnotyst

Ralph is pleased and proud to be able to premiere GRIT the new single from Áine Duffy & The Hypnotyst.  The two combined forces last April, attempting to create a revolutionary new sound unheard of in the music industry. 

Cultivating influences from nearly every genre, with a heavy electronic leaning, electric guitar and big vocals. 

With GRIT Áine Duffy & The Hypnotyst flirts with dance, rock and funk to innovatively combine genres and moods, creating their own individual sound which is designed to get concert venues rocking and the dance floors moving.

Photo copyright Murphy Kie 2016

Grit is a swirling soundscape of Áine's raunchy vocal overlaid on a funky electronic beat laid down by The Hypnotyst and not only is it being premiered here in the UK on this blog, but it gets a first time spin on Ralph's Radio KC Indie Show this Sunday (20th November) and is Video Of The Week on ralphslife.co.uk from tomorrow.

With an album in the offing for 2017 and their music being mixed by three time Grammy nominated Emily Lazar (The Prodigy, Sia, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Moby and David Bowie) it's exciting times ahead for Cork born Áine Duffy and composer/producer The Hypnotyst.

December 1st:          The Harbour Bar     Bray, Ireland                 Tickets & More

December 3rd:          Madame Claude     Berlin, Germany            Tickets & More

December 17th:        Hackett's Bar          Skibbereen, Ireland       Tickets & More

Hunter and The Bear

Ralph has given tracks from Hunter and The Bear a spin on his Radio KC Indie Show previously, so it was good to hear that they've got a new single planned for release on August 5th. Considered to be one of the UK's most exciting, upcoming bands, the release of Renegade will only help to reinforce that claim.

Hunter and The Bear are a four-piece whose combination of melodic sensibility with riff-heavy tunes puts them to the fore of the burgeoning guitar-driven music that is currently prevalent. 


The bands ethos is that the song is king and that is certainly the case with Renegade where it's well-crafted melodies and anthemic soundscape showcase their studio pedigree as well as acting as a tempter to catch their live act. It's rock 'n' roll for the modern world. Of late they have set crowds alight at the UK's major summer festivals such as Leeds and Reading whilst also embarking on critically acclaimed headline tours of Spain and here in the UK as well as supporting guitar legend Eric Clapton on his most recent arena tour.

This summer sees Hunter and The Bear setting out on an exciting and highly ambitious project. Anticipating their first full lenght record in early 2017, the band will release on single a month giving audiences a teasing insight into their work as they develop an increasingly mature and compelling sound.





Renegade is the first single and it's a fast-paced pumping track from the first note that bears all the hallmarks of a powerful, modern-day rock anthem. Ralph will be giving it a spin on the Radio KC Indie Show on Sunday July 10th so make sure you tune in from 5-7pm UK time.

Catch Hunter and The Bear at a gig listed below...

1st July

Connaught Studio

Worthing

7th July

The Underbelly

Hoxton, London (Compass Tour)

8th July

The Pavilions

Teignmouth, Devon

9th July

Samphire Festival

Somerset

15th July

HebCelt Festival

Outer Hebrides, Scotland

30th July

Speyfest

Scotland

31st July

Hemelvaart Bier Cafe

Ayton, Berwickshire

11th August

Paradise

Kensal Green, London (Compass Tour)

27th August

Camping Be Cider Festival

Dorset

18th September

River Cottage Festival

Devon

23rd September

Salisbury City Hall

Salisbury

25th September

Cornucopia Festival

Yorkshire