The Cut Throat Razors

Ralph's just blogged SAMA winners Colonel Mustard and The Dijon 5 and having dug his disco ball out of the shed, Ralph thought it was about time he further investigated Scotland's burgeoningly manic and funky 'disco-tastic' ska scene.  

Where better to start than with The Cut Throat Razors and the release of their latest EP Motown's Lost It's Soul which is due out on November 27th. Having recently played their track Jessica Rose on the Radio KC Indie Show to some excellent feedback it was with great anticipation that the turntable was spun for this new release.









The Cut Throat Razors are a funktabulous 11 piece with a reputation for tearing up the stage with a fun-filled musical extravaganza to delight their fans during live shows. The release of the Motown's Lost It's Soul EP see's them add some new tricks to their repertoire. 

First track up is the eponymous Motown's Lost It's Soul and the lyrics were inspired by the Julien Temple documentary Requiem for Detroit about the disembowelment of that once great city. The de-industrialisation and societal chaos that accompanied it chimed loudly with vocalist Scott Crawford's own experience of growing up in Paisley.

It's got a moody Stax-like groove with choppy guitar and sexy horns in abundance. It's probably outside its time and place, but who cares...you could almost believe you were walking down Seedhill Road wearing a big pink fedora, checked strides and a fur collared coat.




Losing My Mind is ascribed by The Cut Throat Razors as 'What is it about lust that can turn otherwise sane people just a little bit bonkers. It's not just people either, in the animal world it could be argued that it's even worse. Take hares for instance, they're normally very happy to get chased around a dog track by half a dozen pre-rescue greyhounds but come the month of March they take up boxing and can be found knocking lumps out of each other in farmers' fields everywhere and all for a little bit of nooky'.

Whilst, for me, it's not the strongest track on the EP it's got an infectious synthi-ness going on that's hard to stop going back for.



She's My Baby, on the other hand is a groovy tune no self-respecting Mod or Modette would pass up the chance of sashaying to on the dance floor. Great horns and Sixties vibe that'll see The Cut Throat Razors fans bouncing at gigs.

A Beautiful Day seems to have a more introspective vibe with more of a story tell. It's got shades of the B52s interspersed with The Rezillos...what's not to like!





You can catch The Cut Throat Razors (Winners of The Sunday Herald 'Best Unsigned Band' 2014) live on the 14th of November if you're lucky enough to be at The Big One Festival in Dorset or at the EP launch in Stereo, Glasgow on November 27th ably supported by another Ralph's Life favourite, Supa and Da Kryptonites (of whom more later).

Kynchinlay

The last time I wrote about Liverpool band Kynchinlay was last year on the release of their Drink Me EP when I 'accused' them of sounding like SAHB (no bad thing says I) and exploring their darker side.  Well these post punkers have released another five track EP and it's no surprise that it's called Dark Age.

Kynchinlay continue their ominous industrial assault on our ears as lead track I Be Hopin batters them before quirkily walking on the wild side with a slightly Lou Reed-esque (complete with 'the coloured girls going' oooh oooh) vocalising. The mood darkens again as they bring in mean and moody bass and guitar.

It's a slightly more stripped back but no less ominous Kynchinlay that features on second track Wide Awake with its introspective lyric, whilst Back To What She Knows is almost like the soundtrack to a David Lynch movie with it's thumping bass and swirling guitar overlaid with mean and moody vocal.

Fourth track in BatJazz and it's the spirit of Alex Harvey influenced Kynchinlay we're getting with this ska-like batshit crazy track. My personal favourite on the Dark Age EP.

They finish of with Shudder and once again their blend of guitar and bass is immaculate. Kynchinlay have fused together classic rock 'n' roll with their own brand of psych punk to give their fans a guaranteed live favourite which has already featured on Radio KC.