Ceiling Demons

Ralph has followed the musical progression of North Yorkshire based dark hip-hoppers (it's grim up north) Ceiling Demons with increasing interest as they develop their unique soundscape. 

Never shy about capturing the frailties of the human state after initially getting together to pay tribute to a lost friend and then through their musical practice addressing mental health issues; Ceiling Demons have, with the release of their new single March Forward attained a new level of not just retrospective sadness but optimism and aspiration.

Driven by the warm sound of brass, March Forward marks the transition of the seasons as the death of winter is reborn into spring. The track sees twin siblings Psy Ceiling and Dan Demon go through an emotive journey of loss and acceptance. The recognition of our mortality and inner struggles is interspersed with an uplifting message which offers a sense of hope.

Since the release of their experimental EP, Belly Of The Hopeless and the stand-alone split 7" Lost The Way on Come Play With Me late last year, Ceiling Demons have been crafting a fresh body of work which will be released later this year via Durham-based DIY label Win Big Records. 

March Forward is an addictive and emotive insight into this new oeuvre, and the first track to be released from the album. The project is once again produced by Beat Demon and features instrumentation from their live band.

Ralph will be playing March Forward again via the Radio KC Indie Show on Sunday May 28th, so tune in from 5-7pm.

LIVE DATES:

Friday June 16th - 360 Club at The Library  Leeds

Living Dead Girl

London duo Living Dead Girl are purveyors of dark poppy electronica conveyed through the musical talents of multi-instrumentalists Jonno Lloyd and Jessica English. 

Their self-styled sound, "combines a distinctive fusion of ethereal vocals, electronic rhythms and unique compelling instrumentation".

Both growing up in a creative atmosphere, Jessica was classically trained in piano and vocals, while Jonno took guitar into industrial rock groups such as Ventenner. 

The two would work together for the first time in 2014, finding common ground somewhere between trip-hop, rock and electronic music. 

This unlikely meeting of styles would lead to the creation of Living Dead Girl's dark yet accessible pop music, delivered with themes that move between fantastical escapism and pained reflection, leaving a classically haunting aftertaste.




The Living Dead Girl debut single Skylines is haunting, almost chilling with Jessica's other-worldly vocal a delight overlaid on off-world, doom-laden synths and percussion, similar in style to long-time Ralph's Life favourite Fiona Soe Paing.

Skylines dystopian soundscape enthrals the listener with its eerieness and it's accompanied by a similarly dark and almost disturbing video. Seek out Living Dead Girl if you dare...Ralph will be spinning them on his Radio KC Indie Show again very soon.

Desert Ships

Musical news for today comes in the form of a dreamy EP release by Desert Ships called Skyliner. 

Desert Ships are composed of Mikey on vocals and guitar, Daniel on bass and vocals with Claude on drums and vocals and forming in 2012 then releasing their debut album Doll Skin Flag in the same year.  The album, produced by acclaimed musician and producer Mark Gardener formerly of seminal shoegaze band Ride was met with huge critical acclaim.







Alan McGee, founder of Creation Records described the band as having “some great fucking songs” and Mark Gardener described his time working with Desert Ships as “a total pleasure, a total trip.”

The London based trip-tonic Desert Ships describe their sound as heavily cinematic. Haunting guitar loops and hypnotic grooves allow the dream-like melodies to weave in and amongst each other, while the three-part vocal harmonies bring a spacey, ambient tint to the eclectic mix.  Comparisons have been drawn with the likes of Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala, and at times even the rousing film scores of John Barry.  Lead singer Mikey describes the band’s music as “a reverb drenched apocalyptic experience”.

Desert Ships have played numerous festivals since the release of Doll Skin Flag, and toured with the likes of The Prodigy, Band of Skulls, Babyshambles and The Rifles as well as radio airplay from XFM's John Kennedy, BBC 6 Music's Steve Lamacq and BBC Radio London Calling's Gary Crowley.  They consistently receive radio play on local stations in the UK, US, Europe and South America.









The Skyliner EP is trip-tastic and Desert Ships are psychedelic as you can get, kicking of with the shoegazy title track Skyliner which drifts dreamily into the excellent Shell Shock. They follow that up with Heart Beats which has shades of Rubberbear, before finishing with the more industrial and edgy Ausgang, my favourite on the EP and for me it's a 9/10.




Gigs

Sat 8th Nov

 EP Launch: Cherry Cola club night at The Purple Turtle, Camden, London.