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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: Drewford Alabama
Now you know Ralph, always happy to write about and promote unsigned bands and artists, however, every now and again something fascinating comes along that piques his interest. Just such a case is the story of Drewford Alabama
At the start of 2015 Jamie Morrison (Noisettes, Stereophonics) presented to the world the fascinating story of Drewford Alabama
No 2: Fighting Caravans
First of the Ralph's Life blogs after the excesses of the Festive Season is aimed at calming things down with news of the release of Exec. Style as a single by Fighting Caravans. They're a Leeds Based Alt Rock band that have been smouldering away since their formation in 2014 and variously described as 'recording political and spiritual disdain with Americana/Blues overtones'.No 3: The Deadline Shakes
Ralph has given The Deadline Shakes a spin on the Radio KC Indie Show a few times now so it's no surprise he was relishing the release of their album Zealots.
From the lead track, the bright and bouncy Bad Spot In A Bad Year to the closer Boy they've created a beautiful soundscape of sonorific light and shade. It's like a squidgy mix of Prefab Sprout and Deacon Blue, but with a sometimes quirkier, more contemporary feel as The Deadline Shakes plough their own furrow.
No 4: Girobabies
Glasgow band the Girobabies are following up the successful release of two mini EP's with the release of a much vaunted 300 copy, translucent, milky white LP, Who Took Utopia? on the fiercely indie-pendent Grebo Records which follows its digital debut.It seems a bit of an epiphany for the band as within the 10 tracks they're achieving a sense of 'all things to all men' and generating a more general soundscape, seemingly drawing on a number of influences ranging from The B52's SAHB and The Rezillos through shades of Velvet Underground and Talking Heads
No 5: Noiiises
When it comes to bands committed to providing an honest musical soundscape with a message, Coventry's Noiiises are heading for the top of the pile.
Their brand of ambient, synth-infused electronica with melodic vocals and meaningful lyrics sets them apart from other more generic bands of that ilk.
Noiiises are composed of Swiss born singer/songwriter Ludovic Merkelbach, Johnny Catt on guitar, Sarah Ransley on bass/synth and Joe Morris on drums/SPD-S and their debut EP View Top To Ocean is set to cause a bit of a stir.
No 6: The Social Order
It's a new year, so here's a new sound from Ralph to tickle your ears. Edinburgh Alt/Rock band The Social Order recently released a three track EP Dark As Day. The lead track's fairly mean and moody before leading to the surprisingly lighter, alt-folkier sounding Deja Vu Vegas, before reverting to some more; decidedly heavier, mean and moodiness in GWCThe Social Order are; in no particular order, Dave Bellingham, Sam Morris, Richmond Taylor and Billy Stag and they'll be playing Edinburgh's Hard Rock Cafe on January 29th, go check them out if you get the chance!
No 7: Ferno
Every now and again Ralph likes to explore other genres outside his normal Indie comfort zone. On this occasion, it's the ever so slightly mysterious London hip-hop artist FƎRИO. Now I say hip-hop, but FƎRИO prides himself on having created his own musical genre, the self-styled ESH Music which is released on indie label Ai Recordings
No 8: Snippet
Long time Ralph's Life favourite Johnno Casson, prior to releasing the third album by his alter ego Snippet has regaled us with a collection of tracks that detail the last ten years of that particular musical incarnation.
What follows is a delightful trip through his self-styled 'Wonky Pop', from the psychedelically dreamy The Digital Yes to the trippy 50 Pounds Each it makes you smile and makes you groove in equal degrees.
No 9: Phoenix Calling
No surprises then that they're releasing Hold On To Glory, a stand-out track from Forget Your Ghosts, as a single to kick off 2016.
No 10: Hey Bulldog
Manchester's self-styled psychedelic, blues, rock band Hey Bulldog have just released a single on the decidedly indie Blak Hand Records as a follow up to Makin' Friends Not Millionaires which saw no small amount of critical acclaim from mainstream and indie reviewers plus a generous amount of airplay including Uncle Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 6 Music.The previous single was more laid back, grungy and bluesy. Under My Spell is high-octane, punk-fuelled guitar driven goodness. Hey Bulldog are Tame Impala-esque with much bigger cojones if you will.
