Jess Kemp

Ralph has been a fan of the supremely talented Jess Kemp for a while now having played her tracks on his Radio KC Indie show regularly over the last two years. 

In that time, her star has very much come into its ascendancy, especially with her video of Stars (one of the Videos Of The Week on ralphslife.co.uk last year) which was one of the musical highlights of 2015. All the more blatantly obvious due to the release of her debut EP Camden which is being launched in Manchester's Academy 3 on the 29th of April.

The Camden EP is Jess Kemp at her strongest with four varied and very radio-friendly tracks which will also go down well at gigs.







With a strong track like Killer Shoes (which Ralph's spinning on his Indie Show on February 28th) with its choppy guitar and punchy vocal or the more delightfully subtle Stars; which she released as a debut single, with its uplifting lyrics and pop-esque soundscape, what's not to like.

There's many an artist that would be glad to produce material like this at the height of their career, never mind as a debut EP. Jess Kemp is getting it spot on right from the off!

KynchinLay - 'Drink Me'

The new KynchinLay EP (launch night May 9th) has just dropped into the kennel, giving Ralph the chance to have a listen in advance. The Liverpool trio have been working hard to provide a bigger sound and with this excellently produced EP ('Dogfathers' and 'Leave Me Alone' were mixed at Motor Museum) they've achieved that.





Lead track 'Leave Me Alone' has a Radiohead feel to it and KynchinLay seem to be reveling in the darker almost psych punk style.  It has the same mean, moody lyrics and throbbing beat of third track, 'Public Execution'. Solid musicality and well crafted songwriting are a constant, showing maturity and sustained effort.





'Public Execution' is definitely one for the grown ups with it's slow menacing intro building to a crescendo, breaking into even more menacing vocal and guitar work in the style of Killing Joke.  With Mal William's bass the glue that holds it together it's a proper anthem for their fans at the EP's launch gig in Liverpool's Sound Food and Drink on Duke Street, May 9th.





KynchinLay show their lighter side on the soulful and harmonious 'Live Free or Die', but with 'Dogfathers' they take a body swerve towards ska whilst maintaining the darker lyrics and vocal.  It's almost creepy in the style of The Specials 'Ghost Town' mixed with a touch of SAHB (I can pay it no finer compliment) and would work well as a single. Final track My Heart' rounds of the EP nicely with its strong bassline and guitar...'Drink Me' is a must have for your collection!