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).

Ralph's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - 24.10.15

OK bands you know the score .....

the more hits your blog gets by the fans ..... 

the higher you go .....

So Tweet it, Facebook it .....

Generally expose yourself .....

                                                 ralphslife.co.uk

Follow Ralph's Life Indie Music Blog on Pinterest.

Now Mr Snuggles and I have been sitting with our heads down counting the hits on each blog to see which band's got what place.

The Top Ten Blogged Band Chart is played every Sunday 5-7pm on Radio KC as part of Ralph's Indie Show.

No 1...Bella and The Bear

If you casually scan down Bella and The Bear's Facebook you'll see them modestly proclaim that they're 'really proud of this wee chapter' - if you listen to this delightfully well crafted EP which was produced by SAY Award nominated Hector Bizerk drummer Audrey Tait you'll be enchanted by this 'wee chapter' called A Girl Called Bella.

The Bizerk influences are there with hip hop-esque interjections making a track like Skeleton with Lauren Gilmour's sometime tender, some time soaring vocal breaking into spoken word.

No 2... Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5

Along with the 'B' Side Whisky Going Free, the tracks are from the most excellent new album Rocket Out Of London which has been recieving rave reviews from all the usual suspects and featured as a Steve Lamacq BBC6 Music Recommend. 

Lead track I Hate School is Alice Cooper meets The Stones with a soupçon of Sex Pistols and it's deeee-liciously manic rock 'n' roll by Damn Vandals.

No 3...Ramisco Maki Maki

As unique musical artists go they don't come any more individual and talented than the artist formerly known as Ray McCartney and now referred to as The Ramisco Maki Maki Rocking Horse, accompanied by The Wat Wat Kings. He's as indie-vidual and alternative as you can get and we love him dearly here in the kennel and on Radio KC.

No 4...Bud Sugar


Ralph's doing a quick check on what's hot and what's not on the East Coast (not New York obviously) and in the hot category comes the new release Blinkin' Thinkin' from Hull band Bud Sugar.

In their home city, Bud Sugar are as famous for their guerilla marketing tactics as they are for their music itself. Their latest adventure involved a collaboration with Stagecoach in which they boarded buses and played live to surprised and delighted commuters!








No 5...Hyena Kill




IRalph's not averse to rocking it out and there's few better rocking it out duos on the unsigned circuit than Manchester's Hyena Kill (Steven Dobb on vocal/guitars and Lorna Blundell on drums) who are crowdfunding part of the release of their debut album.

The idea behind the crowdfunding project on pledgemusic.com is to allow the fans to become involved and help them finish this debut album, which they've managed to fund themselves up to this point.

No 6...Token Joker

Ralph's not averse to rocking it out, so when the new Token Joker single Green hit the turntable whilst making up the playlist for his Indie Show on Radio KC last week it was volume up to 11 and time to check them out more closely for the blog.

The single (taken from their Just Part Of The System EP out earlier this year) is brash, ballsy, sexy, down right dirty and in your face, old school, guitar thrashing (and breathe) rock 'n' roll.

No 7..Jimmy Brewer

It seems like Jimmy Brewer has been possessed by the artistic soul of James Taylor during the early Sweet Baby James years with the release of  Strangers, a follow-up to his highly acclaimed debut album As Time Stands Still two years ago. 

Jimmy Brewer exudes songwriting of the highest and most emotive quality for one so young and no surprise he's supported the likes of Joan Armatrading prior to embarking on a headlining tour to promote the release of Strangers. 

No 8...Governor's Luck

As aficionados of Ralph's Life will know we're a sucker for a good Crowdfunder, so it was with great interest that word of a campaign by Governor's Luck to fund their debut album hit the kennels inbox.

Following five years of relentless gigging and the release of The Rumour Mill EP Governor's Luck released an album Drop Everything earlier this year. It's now their intention to use crowdfunding to finance the production of a limited edition on vinyl plus a UK tour.

No 9...All The King's Men

Manchester band All The King's Men have released a new EP called Making My Escape and it's another step up in their attempt to establish themselves as one of the top rocking it out Indie bands in the North West.

Lead track Fever is very much in the rocking it out vain and guaranteed to be a live favourite, whilst Someday has a more laid back psychedelic feel. It's one for a lazy Sunday's listening pleasure.









No 10...The Pacers



The Pacers draw their influences from the sixties Psych/Garage scene, mixing it up with their own unique ideas to create unforgettable and  energetic live performances in the same vein as The Stooges and The Stones, with a healthy 

Colonel Mustard and The Dijon 5

Picture courtesy of Julian Bailey Photography

Now they don't come much funkier than Scotland's Colonel Mustard and The Dijon 5 and that point was proved recently when they won the coveted Scottish Alternative Music Award for Best Live Act, much to the delight of their faithful followers who comprise the legions that are the 6th Dijon.






Colonel Mustard and The Dijon 5 are a manic assemblage of musical mayhem, much loved by their growing throng of fans. They throw the party and the 6th Dijon are always invited to join in the craziness that ensues.

They released a CD Single called These Are Not The Drugs (You Are Looking For) which was their self-styled 'anthem for Summer and Festivals' and it's a disco-tastic blend of psychedelic beats and funky ass Scottish hip hopping. If The Cuban Brothers and Primal Scream were to conceive a bastard child, then Colonel Mustard and The Dijon 5 would be the result.

Hyena Kill

Ralph's not averse to rocking it out and there's few better rocking it out duos on the unsigned circuit than Manchester's Hyena Kill (Steven Dobb on vocal/guitars and Lorna Blundell on drums) who are crowdfunding part of the release of their debut album.

The idea behind the crowdfunding project on pledgemusic.com is to allow the fans to become involved and help them finish this debut album, which they've managed to fund themselves up to this point.

Hyena Kill have spent the last six months writing, recording and mixing the album, pouring their heart and souls into the project in order to give their fans the highest quality recording possible.

Donations will go towards the final steps of producing the album which include professional mastering and CD production along with original artwork. 

Plus 3% of funds raised will be donated by Hyena Kill to help The Christie Hospital in Manchester which is mainly involved in the treatment of cancer-related illnesses.





Hyena Kill have an amazing fanbase who they love and appreciate so have come up with some outstanding exclusives in return for pledges which can also be bundled together to create a unique and unforgettable package.





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Original album artwork prints + AccessPass

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Original prints of our album artwork designed by award winning illustrator Ben Tallon. Includes P&P.

Signed CD + AccessPass

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A Signed copy of the album. Includes P&P.

Signed lyric sheet +AccessPass

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€22 EUR (aprox.)

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Signed, hand written lyric sheet of a song of your choice, or new song from the album. Includes P&P.

Original album artwork prints + AccessPass

£17

€23 EUR (aprox.)

Available

Original prints of our album artwork designed by award winning illustrator Ben Tallon. Includes P&P.

Signed CD + AccessPass

£17

€23 EUR (aprox.)

Available

A Signed copy of the album. Includes P&P.

Signed lyric sheet +AccessPass

£16

€22 EUR (aprox.)

Available

Signed, hand written lyric sheet of a song of your choice, or new song from the album. Includes P&P.

Original album artwork prints + AccessPass

£17

€23 EUR (aprox.)

Available

Original prints of our album artwork designed by award winning illustrator Ben Tallon. Includes P&P.

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Jimmy Brewer

It seems like Jimmy Brewer has been possessed by the artistic soul of James Taylor during the early Sweet Baby James years with the release of  Strangers, a follow-up to his highly acclaimed debut album As Time Stands Still two years ago. 

Jimmy Brewer exudes songwriting of the highest and most emotive quality for one so young and no surprise he's supported the likes of Joan Armatrading prior to embarking on a headlining tour to promote the release of Strangers. 

With thanks to Michael Brewer

Originally from Lincolnshire Jimmy Brewer was bored by his rural surroundings and the manufactured pop music of the day so the 8 year old Jimmy Brewer found refuge in a cupboard under the stairs where, housed within was his parents’ record collection.








For hours, often skipping school, he would sit there with his Argos catalogue guitar trying to mimic the sounds he heard. The Everley Brothers, Buddy Holly, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley all helped to develop his love of a good melodic pop song.

All of the above 'usual suspects' and more are reflected in this fine collection of songs by Jimmy Brewer, ranging from the likes of the reflective, Americana-tinged almost CSNY-esque Back To School In September to the bouncier Van Morrison styleed Back Street Girl or the aforementioned James Taylor with the delightful You And Me.












Next live date is in Banbury on November 4th so, if you're in the vicinity why not take the chance to hear Jimmy Brewer perform some of the tracks from Strangers up close and personal.

You can download the album from the following pink link...

Jimmy Brewer - Strangers

All The King's Men

Manchester band All The King's Men have released a new EP called Making My Escape and it's another step up in their attempt to establish themselves as one of the top rocking it out Indie bands in the North West.

Lead track Fever is very much in the rocking it out vain and guaranteed to be a live favourite, whilst Someday has a more laid back psychedelic feel. It's one for a lazy Sunday's listening pleasure.




Third track in City Lights sees All The King's Men going back to a raunchier rock track with shades of the Small Faces and it's closely followed by a moodier My Mother's Son with it's swooping guitar riffs. The EP finishes with the eponymous Making My Escape, which is a more thoughtful, reflective alt/rock track.

All The King's Men are a fairly recently formed band comprising of Matt Holland (guitar/vocals), Tino Caine (bass) and Ben Robinson on drums but have developed a very tight sound that is rapidly gaining them a faithful local following and with that in mind they'll be playing a number of gigs including the Launch Night at Marley Music Studio on Oct 23d, a headliner in The Live Room, Manchester on the 21st November before spreading their wings and playing Drummonds in Aberdeen on the 4th December with Alias Kid.


The EP Making My Escape is available by clicking on this iTunes link