The Clear

Now you know Ralph's a fan of unsigned Indie and that's mainly all he writes about. However he does indulge himself now and again when a truly classic piece of songwriting finds it's way into the kennel.

Sheffield's The Clear and their latest single America which is fresh, yet nostalgic and beautifully channels classic West Coast Pop is just such an example. 

America is a slice of classic songwriting, harking back to that golden age of perfectly-crafted pop songs which Ralph's playing on Radio KC next Sunday

Colin Elliot (producer of fellow Sheffield star Richard Hawley) heard The Clear and their songs so after working with Kylie Minogue at Abbey Road Studios he invited them to his own studio to capture their warm & glossy sound. A fruitful session followed out of which the tracks America and Sunlight were born.

The debut single was released a while back and DJs Gary Crowley, Tom Robinson, Janice Long and top tastemaker Simon Raymonde rushed to play it on this shows. Gary went as far as naming Sunlight one of his “favourite songs of the summer.” 

Since Sunlight the band have been signed by the inimitable Lance Freed to Rondor Music and America is the new single to be released this summer by The Clear as part of the build up towards their debut album. 

Personally, I can't wait!

Glass Harbours

Ralph's played Halifax based Glass Harbours on his Radio KC Indie Show recently so it was about time he introduced their self-financed EP release History Trails via the blog.

Drawing on influences like Shellac and Slint they've created two stylish Math Rocky instrumentals which will be available for download on May 5th.

The re-named Glass Harbours had reformed in 2014 after a ten year hiatus from their previous incarnation as Herrod to no small amount of critical acclaim and have featured on Simon Raymonde's Amazing Radio Show and Under The Radar.





Glass Harbours consider this to be their best work to date and Ralph's inclined to agree with them. They describe the EP's lead track Falling/Horizons as featuring - "Paranoid guitars and epic rock riffs with a stunning Post-Rock coda." Very much in the style of an early Wishbone Ash around the time of Pilgrimage in the early 70's.




Should Glass Harbours continue to showcase such impeccable musicality then future releases can be looked forward to especially if you're a fan of guitar based melodic Indie.

Glass Harbours are...

Richard Westwood - guitar/bass/keys
James Whipp - guitar/bass
Pete Bush - drums/guitar/bass/keyboards.

Sisteray

Sisteray have been making big waves in the indie/garage rock scene since forming in 2012 however 2014 was a breakthrough year for the London four-piece and 2015 looks to continue in that vein. They're big favourites here in the kennel and regulars on Ralph's Indie Show on Radio KC.






Previously, working with producer Michael Smith (12 Dirty Bullets) at RnR Studios, the Sisteray debut EP She Likes The Drama was released on digital format back in February 2014, with praise from Ralph, Jim Gellatly, This Feeling, Music Week, XFM, RTE Radio, Louder Than War, Merc Clothing, Time Out and The Londonist. 








The EP followed a successful debut Double A side single by Sisteray, Take It Away / Happy Endings back in August 2013, which was championed by the likes of Gary Crowley of BBC London 94.9 fame.

Well big news just announced by Sisteray is the release of No Escape on Monday 16th of March. It's a no nonsense look life in modern day London for your working class 'twenty-something'. 

It's dystopian lyrics are juxtaposed with a poppy, guitar driven soundtrack that's been co-produced by Brian O'Shaugnessey and Andrew Winters. The video was filmed and directed by BFI award winner William De Ritter.





No surprise then that this catchy 'poptastic' offering has already been played by Simon Raymonde and Jim Gellatly on Amazing Radio as well as XFM, Radio London 94.9 and Fred Perry Subculture.

Unlike the hapless hero of the No Escape video these shiny bright young things are most certainly going places!

     Live Dates:

        11/03 - Talking Head - Southampton

    17/03 - The Fat Fox - Portsmouth

21/03 - Old Brown Jug - Stoke

      28/03 - Billericay Town FC - Essex

 1/04 - Club Kamikaze - London