Ralph has featured singer/songwriters Chris Tavener and Scott Dean in the last two blogs and to complete the set of three, we're featuring the debut album release by Borrowed Body aka Niall Hill this week. London-based, Niall has put The Rising Sea out via indie record label Screamlite and it's a collection of seven highly listenable, emotive Alt-Folk tracks which are evocative of Nick Drake or on a more contemporary level Bon Iver. Borrowed Body kicks off the the album in fine style with the meaningful soundscape of Over The Garden Wall. The poignant vocal backed by simple melody is a delight.
This is an album for a balmy night in the garden with the headphones on and a glass of wine in hand. Blissfully unaware of the comings and goings of the world and getting lost as Borrowed Body lulls you with his lush vocal. OK - OK that's as muso as I get and you really need to go and grab a copy of the album yourself to see what I mean. It's as strong a debut release as I've heard in a long time despite of, or in fact due to, it's subtle tones. Ralph will be featuring the excellent Antennas on his Radio KC Indie Show (Sunday 26th June from 5-7pm) in a week's time.
Bucking the trend for raucous Indie thrashings Ralph's been playing the Lumin Bells track 'Somehow The Same' with reasonable regularity on his Radio KC Sunday Show these last few weeks. It's a gentle, reflective tune with hints of the early Moody Blues (I'm trying to avoid the obvious Nick Drake comparisons) or the subtle vocalisations of America and it's been received with no small amount of favourable feedback. None more so than by Janice Long on BBC Radio 2 after they took the 'Ones To Watch' category at the Liverpool Music Awards at the weekend. Liverpool six-piece Lumin Bells are - Nico Hercules, Mick Dolan, Danny Poole, Austin Murphy, Nick Henman and Colin Lamont. The band formed after Nico found a creative collaborator in Mick Dolan through an advert placed in the music press. The duo immediately bonded over a mutual love of artists such as Brian Wilson, Nick Drake, Neil Young, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Byrds. Their first release 'Hold You Inside' immediately found critical acclaim both by music bloggers and the likes of Tom Robinson. It's a sensitive, wistful and soothing track with immaculate musicality and vocals. Many bands strive for years to grasp what Lumin Bells have crafted on their debut. They're currently in Track Studios with Steve Powell putting the finishing touches to their debut album 'The Hidden Room', scheduled for release later in the year. They're playing a gig with Red Sails and This Morning Call at LEAF in Liverpool's Bold Street on the 13th September and Ralph's been invited along by Tilt Shift Music and will bring you a live review.
