The Undivided

It's always nice to see a band with a bit of heart and soul and there's none more so than Welsh four-piece The Undivided as their new single and accompanying video Invincible highlights the need for organ donors and compassionately outlining the issues of gain and loss involved.

Formed in 2009 The Undivided have made quite an impact on the South Wales musical landscape and now their anthemic brand of alt rock is reaching further afield.  They're impressive live and have a growing, dedicated fanbase.  


One of their fans shared her personal story regarding organ donorship.

"...What happened within the next few hours was nothing less than a miracle. A heart had become available and mum was on the top of the list.The timing was a miracle, the fact it matched was a miracle, her being healthy for the op was a miracle, and everything that happened in those few hours seemed crazy.

I can't describe to anyone the emotions that run through you when you hear a donor has been found and your loved one is being prepped for their transplant.

It’s like electric currents sparking different feelings through your body, excitement, fear, concern, love, sadness, utter joy, guilt, exhilaration, all mixed in with knowing that for my mum to have her new heart someone else didn't need it anymore.

She concluded - 'They didn't just save one life that night, they saved my whole family.  Every organ donor can save 8 lives, that is 8 families who are given hope, 8 families who don't have to grieve, 8 families whose lives are changed."

Over the last couple of years The Undivided have gigged extensively over the UK, supported bands such as Ash and Excerts, played live sessions for BBC Wales and received great reviews for their live shows. They're currently working in the studios to produce a new body of work for 2016.

Invincible carries on very much in the 'anthemic' nature of the band with its well concieved and meaningful vocal overlaid on soaring guitar and driving percussion.  Ralph has already given it a spin on his Radio KC Indie Show to great feedback and it'll feature on the station's main rotation.

Ralph's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - 31.10.15

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 .....

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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... 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 2...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 3...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 4...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 5...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 6...Official Burnt Toast

Anyone that follows Ralph on Twitter will know he's partial to a bit of toast, preferably charred around the edges, so it's no surprise there was a bit of excitement here in the kennel when the soon to be released (November 2nd) Money As Debt Double A Side Single by Official Burnt Toast hit the turntable. With flip side Hi Time it's a great intro to their Tubs 'n Tongue-Fu album on Sonskrif.

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...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 9...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.

No 10...Black Cat Bone

Ralph has been giving Edinburgh band Black Cat Bone the odd spin on his Radio KC Indie Show recently due to their intensely likeable bluesy sound, so it's with great pleasure that we can announce the release of their debut album Growl on the 31st October.  Ralph has had a sneak preview and I can tell you now their alt rock bluesy style is shining through with this release.

From the moody John The Revelator to the gritty Canned Heat-esque (think On The Road Again) eponymously titled lead track Growl Black Cat Bone are laying out their musical stall...

Black Cat Bone

Ralph has been giving Edinburgh band Black Cat Bone the odd spin on his Radio KC Indie Show recently due to their intensely likeable bluesy sound, so it's with great pleasure that we can announce the release of their debut album Growl on the 31st October.  Ralph has had a sneak preview and I can tell you now their alt rock bluesy style is shining through with this release.


From the moody John The Revelator to the gritty Canned Heat-esque (think On The Road Again) eponymously titled lead track Growl Black Cat Bone are laying out their musical stall with forceful intent. Growl is a ten track album of which I've been lucky enough to have a meaty five track taster.



 


Piece Of Mind is a foot stompin' guitar-driven gem, perfect for a single and bound to be a live favourite. Shades of John Mayall with a bit of Jeff Beck geetar and some mean harmonica thrown in for good measure.

Illicit Thrill is a real killer from note one, with its proper bluesy, hair up on the back of your neck harmonica, get down and dirty strings, kick you in the nuts throaty vocal. It's sleazy and greasy, don't want it to stop blues music at its best.

I'm not giving away anymore here...go and find out for yourself, you will not be sorry! 

Catch Black Cat Bone live in The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh on Friday, October 30th for the album launch if you can!

29 OCT

Black Cat Bone - Inverness Album Launch

Mad Hatters

30 OCT

Black Cat Bone - Edinburgh Album Launch

The Voodoo Rooms

01 NOV

Black Cat Bone - Dundee Album Launch

Dundee

Diane Charlemagne

It's with great sadness that this blog is brought to you as it brings news of the passing of Diane Charlemagne earlier today; surrounded by her family, after her brave battle with cancer.

The release of her last record It's In Your Eyes featuring Andy Rourke of The Smiths and remixed by Youth, will go ahead on November 20th planned, with the proceeds going to Diane's family.

It's In Your Eyes is a slice of sophisticated urban soul featuring iconic Moss Side singer Diane Charlemagne (Moby, Urban Cookie Collective, Goldie) and Simon Wolstencroft, long term member of The Fall and Ian Brown's drummer making it a real Mancunian tour de force.




Elia Rulli...a tribute.

"I know a lot of my friends saw and met Diane Charlemagne at various gigs of mine, particularly back in the Bodrum Cafe days so I wanted to tell you that Diane passed away this morning. Diane battled cancer with all the positivity and amazing energy she created music with. It has been inspiring and instructive to watch.

As anyone who has heard her or seen her perform knows, Diane is (her music remains with us) one of the Greats (and I mean that literally), an extraordinary talent and voice with the ability to directly reach the listener's emotions. It has been an absolute honour to work and perform with her and a blessing to have her friendship in my life. Whether she was on stadium tours or doing festival main stages, she remained humble (too humble, I always thought) and as loyal a friend 
as one could hope for. 
Diane, rest in light."

Official Burnt Toast

Anyone that follows Ralph on Twitter will know he's partial to a bit of toast, preferably charred around the edges, so it's no surprise there was a bit of excitement here in the kennel when the soon to be released (November 2nd) Money As Debt Double A Side Single by Official Burnt Toast hit the turntable. With flip side Hi Time it's a great intro to their Tubs 'n Tongue-Fu album on Sonskrif.

The sociopolitically incisive brand of jazzy, spoken-word hip-hop stylings they purvey are reminiscent of Arrested Development or A Tribe Called Quest but the message Official Burnt Toast bring on this Double A Side Single is germane to what's happening around us today.

Official Burnt Toast are Adrian Lawrence, Patrick Luke and Abrar Hafiz. Based in East London with their version of spoken-word, hip-hop and punk variously described as:

"an infectious cocktail of American paranoia, Canadian objectivity and a very English obsession of introspection and the fly on the wall documentary with the warmth of an accessible sound”.




Official Burnt Toast were featured in The Observer, where respected fashion photographer Perou is quoted as saying:

“I always shoot to music except when we’re being filmed for TV shows and we’re not allowed. My fave band at the moment is Official Burnt Toast. Their music is between spoken word and rap. It’s very funky, but with English sentiment”.

Known for their electric live performances, The band cite Glastonbury where they played the Green Peace stage to a capacity crowd as, “one of the best gigs we’ve done to date”. Needless to say Ralph's already given Official Burnt Toast a spin on his Radio KC Indie Show and it's no surprise they'll be featuring regularly in the future.