Factory Acts

Ralph's long been a fan of Factory Acts who are a Salford post-punk electro duo who live on the edge of the analogue-digital divide, sometimes dreaming, always dancing.

After garnering copious amounts of critical acclaim with their debut EP Thirst in 2014, Salford's underground, post-punk maestros Factory Acts return with their highly anticipated sophomore release Second Amendment which is available on official release April 21st.

It is powerful, haunting electronica awash with synth leads that swirl icily over driving bass lines and looming electronic beats which I'm sure Uncle John Peel would have highly approved of and played repetitively. 







Each of the four tracks are laced with Factory Acts' signature lyrical honesty, integrity and rawness - this is music with a message that is deeply personal:

In their own words...

"Our second 4-track EP has a fuller sound and more up-tempo beats but maintains the dark heart of the first. The songs speak of hope in an increasingly fractured world. Dancing out despair is the desire."




Outside of the studio it's been a busy couple of years for Factory Acts. One of the most prolific live bands in the North West of England; the band have performed alongside the likes of Brix and the Extricated, 1919, Ralph's life favourites Empathy Test and Skeletal Family at live shows and festivals across the UK and Ireland.

Factory Acts are, Susan O'Shea on vocals, synths and analogue digital devices and Matt Davies on bass, beats and 'magical' mixes. Ralph will be spinning the excellent Leave The World To Us on this Sunday's (March 19th) Indie Show on Radio KC.

Cowards

Cowards was born in and around Blueprint Studios, Manchester by three musicians disillusioned with the local gig scene but still in love with making music. Picking themselves up from the ashes of previous bands and united in a mission to create something meaningful and beautiful, determining to make an album before ever playing a gig.

From their inception in 2013, the band abided by one rule, they would not compromise their sound and what followed was a year in which they begged, stole and borrowed; vintage synths, field recordings, a whole brass section. If the creative process demanded it, they resolutely delivered it.

Armed with Mike Charles' electronic sketches, the trio found an ally in their producer turned band member Dave Woodhead, who helped perform open heart surgery on the songs and found the album's heartbeat. Finally, whilst in the pub between recording sessions, Cowards found singer and pianist Esther Maylor, completing the band's line up which includes founding members Grant Tildsley and Iwan Jones.

With debut album Teeth finished, 2016 saw Cowards begin the complicated process of translating the album in order to play live. 



They had created an album out of subdued falsettos, acoustic guitars, industrial electro, undulating pastoral soundscapes - and a subconscious obsession with bones and body parts - using a brass band, field recordings, ad-hoc choirs, guest musicians, and vintage synths they didn’t own. Overcoming these limitations and re-inventing the songs was no easy task, however the process has resulted in the band arriving at a point where they're ready for live performance. 

With that in mind, Cowards will launch Teeth at their debut gig on April 15th 2017 at Manchester's Deaf Institute and Ralph will be featuring them on the Radio KC Indie Show on February 26th.


The album is a joy, with nine tracks that  bring a different something to the table for all. They're channelling everyone from Lou Reed and Depeche Mode to Joy Division and CHVRCHES, all wrapped up in their own unique and innovative groove. The thumping Industrial electricity of Polar Bear leads you into the unexpectedly synthy, bouncy indie poppiness of The Cut. 

I could go on at length but that would be unfair as you should get the chance to be surprised by the diversity of Teeth in the comfort of your own headphones. 

It's as good as debut albums get.

Empathy Test

If there was an actual empathy test other than in the dystopian future of Blade Runner, then the new double A side single: Demons/Seeing Stars, by London based electro popsters of the same name passes with flying colours. 

The soon-to-be released Empathy Test track Demons shines bright in the musical firmament as they explore the nature of jealousy in the human condition. It's available on September 9th and is a precursor to their much vaunted and eagerly awaited debut album.

It's swirling synths and infectious beats create an understated anthemic electro soundscape and Empathy Test further lure the listener in with a cleverly written web of evocative lyrics that tells of passion and infatuation.

“and now she wakes up, every day and she invites, all of my demons to play.”

Isaac Howlett and Adam Relf formed Empathy Test after discovering a mutual love of eighties sci-fi soundtracks, nineties guitar bands and underground dance music. With echoes of CHVRCHES and Purity Ring, their sound has been described as Future Pop, Dark Wave and numerous other variations along similar themes.