Disco Inferno - ‘The 5 Eps’ Limited Edition Release

Disco Inferno were a British experimental rock band, harking back to the late 1980's.  

Their use of sampling, combined with the use of traditional instruments, especially on songs like “A Rock to Cling to” and “The Last Dance” have led many experts to accept that DI has been a major influence on the evolution of modern post-punk music. And it is now well established that the band were pioneers of sonic plausibility ... further extending the boundaries of what had ever been dared before.  

One Little Indian Records have now released a compilation called ‘The 5 EPs’, as a luxury limited edition gate-fold double vinyl (also available as a CD album) featuring tracks from all five now out-of-print Disco Inferno EPs - released between 1992 and 1995. The compilations had previously been available as a bootlegs.

 Track-listed chronologically, the first tune of this 15 track compilation, ‘Summers Last Sound’ - (first released in 1992 ) is an honest rub-down that soon spirals into a labyrinth of its own modeling. Shimmering pools of light reflect a lyrical pattern, so subtly drawn, it demands a closer listen. The melody tends to rise and shine, especially when close to it’s own reflection. If the purpose of this piece is to describe the undeveloped potential of a summer’s separation, then this piece is compelling.

‘Love Stepping Out’ has tiny tendrils of dewy fronds that leech out of the tubular structure. Calamitous gaps yawn and gape grotesquely. When a bass finally bounces in, the truth and beauty of those simple strokes is courageously revealed.

 “A Rock to Cling to” has church bells of salvation ringing out over the green and pleasant hills. But the repeated peel does not slake the pain, nor cry, of the beast in your midst. This song feels like you are just holding on, before sinking into the depths of a brothing mess.

‘The Last Dance’ has cardboardy percussive influences and the direction of travel is only strictured by the lazy peregrinations of the verses. Fizzy interludes lift the song so that it is dazzling, light and airy.

‘DI Go Pop’ is reason enough to go buy this compilation. The refreshing use of sampled sounds that constantly crash against the stony storm-walls created by the strong, low, loaded images, creates a kind of paranoia. Waves of sound constantly grope around, trying to wear your reserves down. The tumult and savagery has to be experienced at first hand to be believed.

Disco Inferno’s final single, “It’s a Kid’s World” is also on this collection - and this track includes the sampled the drumbeat from Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life”. Imagine a flock of nursery school children parading through the house playing a variety of pots and pans, and you get the picture. But this song also uncovers a maturity found beyond it’s feel good clatter. A joy filled bean-bag of colours and images.

Clink, clink - it’s ‘A Night On the Tiles’ - this is a picturesque image of a squishy night in town. If you can see through the green mist, you will see dancers, gangsters lurking in the shadows, streetwalkers plying their wares, cops chasing bad guys along the way, bouncers hiding the broads ... and all sorts of nightlife.

This is an impressive creation and a collection worth seeking out and enjoying.

– © Neil_Mach July 2012 –

Link: http://www.indian.co.uk/

Shadows Chasing Ghosts - 'Lessons' Album Review

Since their origins in 2008, London band ‘Shadows Chasing Ghosts’ have been plotting a revolution. Their mix of razor sharp guitar work and anthemic melodies has seen them attracting more and more devotees.

SCG has embraced the true DIY work ethic, and achieved an amazing amount in just four short years. They have got in the van and lived on the road, working on numerous lengthy UK & European tours and even a run of Australian dates.

They have played headline shows to sold out venues up and down the UK, and have played with the likes of Glamour Of The Kill , Polar and Bury Tomorrow.

They have just released their album ‘Lessons’. Here’s what we thought:

The startling inception to the album ‘Lessons’ is the stunning track ‘Splinter’ with those zig-zagging guitars and a fiery crucible of heat that is the vocal mix. A bass guitar gestures rudely at you from the background - but it is those fanfaring vocals - bursting out of the machine to smash you in the face - that you will remember.

‘Now or Never’ has a gloriously spirited chorus. Supremely constructed riffs harness the resplendent voice to the whole contraption - and then it flies. The drumming (from Danny) is way beyond your wildest expectations - leaving you breathless and panting. This is one hellishly addictive ride!

‘Rest Easy’ is furnished with appealing vocals and brims with effusions of total, ear-damaging, power. This song thrives on the beating beast-heart at it’s core. You will quake. And you will shiver. But you will also dance and shout your love. Oh yes.

Monster track ‘Again and Again’ is a masterpiece of musical engineering. Fiendish guitars scrabble to try to cling on to the furious percussive elements within this exemplary piece. Those enlightened harmonies offer some peace - when reached, they are plateaus of peace and calm - but the rampage soon begins again, descending into a swirling hellish soup raging angrily below.

Title track ‘Lessons’ is an adventuresome trek across a fairly churned up landscape. The trademark and superbly melodic vocals are always nearby- but now an elongated zithering guitar snakes in and out of the ruts, causing some consternation.

‘The Lighthouse’ is a quiet thing. Arrangements are glossy and the voice of Trey rises like an eagle in the wind. A sluggish bass rumbles along agreeably. When the sensational chorus comes in - resplendent with shining and painfully beautiful guitars - you will sigh with a deep satisfaction. Possibly one for the girls- and so you can get your breath back.

‘The Winter’ is another amazing epic. A rich abundance of flowing guitars and quirky vocals create harmonic waves of majesty and glory. Heroic.

 Shadows Chasing Ghosts headline the GOZIBE introducing Stage at REDFEST at 9pm on Friday 20th JULY. Make sure you check them out.

– © Neil_Mach July 2012 –

Link: http://www.facebook.com/ShadowsChasingGhosts

Raw Ramp REDFEST Special Edition

We are pleased to announce that the Raw Ramp Red Fest 2012 Special is now available. This is your indispensable Festival Guide to the amazing artists at this years amazing REDFEST

 Raw Ramp Music Mag REDFEST Special Edition

Front Cover: SUBSOURCE (plus the Feature Article)

Album Reviews Billy Vincent, Foreign Beggars, Deaf Havana Missing Andy, The Skints , Sonic Boom Six

Features, Gig Reviews and Profiles Aimee, CROWNS, Loose Lips , New Ivory, Attention Thieves, Kal Lavelle, Missing Andy Proxies, Borderline:FIRE  

PLUS In Depth Interviews with: Light Falls Forward, Alice Dale, Taygan Paxton

 CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MAG NOW >> http://issuu.com/rawramp/docs/rr_rf_jul09_final_edition

Or Browse a copy here: http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/411116

Jay James Picton - Live in Concert

It’s about time that this country produced a male equivalent of Adele or Amy. I know, I know... but I may as well say it now, because everyone will be saying it in a few months time (mark my words)... we have now discovered a (Welsh) male Winehouse- and he is called Jay James Picton. And long may he live.

Jazzy, soulful and so utterly pleasurable that his voice will make you weep. One moment his smoky tongue creates a tension that seems to be so insecure and so near to breaking point that you wonder how he manages to hold back the tears - but the next moment his voice becomes so uplifting and joyful that your heart will bounce off the moon.

Full of fiery passion and exhilarating rapture, he also demonstrates some grunt and growl that you will not find in any female vocalist. The celebration of finding the ‘God Particle’ should be put on hold, because now we have discovered the ‘Voice of the Universe’. Whoever urged Jay James to pick up a microphone and perform for us should be awarded a Nobel prize for services to popular music.

Backed by a slick and skillful band of utter professionals, Jay James launched into his sparkling set in front of a select gathering of family friends, longtime admirers and excited new fans at the Borderline this Thursday evening. Oodles of passion greeted the loving audience. He seemed like a man possessed - possessed by a stimulus to grow ever stronger and to create ever more soulful and moving sounds - as he lifted the crowd up as high as he could manage to take them.

‘Long May They Roll’ has an insistent beat that creates such unbelievable tension that you start to tremble. The long, low notes start to scratch your soul and, just when you feel that you will not ever recover from the darkness, the chorus begins to elevate you. Yes, there will be tears. But they will be tears of joy in place of sadness.

Finishing off with the powerful second single taken from his debut album entitled ‘Play It By Heart’, (which will be released on 10th September) this impassioned song grabs your heart-strings and doesn’t let them go until they’re threadbare. And he pulls no punches. He says it just the way it is. The lyrics are meaningful and street-wise. This is all about apportioning blame and creating a hard shell of defence when your heart is broken. And when he sings out in agony, we all know how it feels. And how much it hurts.

An incredible performance by a consummate artist who will, no doubt, take on the world and start to make it shine. © Neil_Mach July 2012

Links:
 http://www.jayjamespicton.com
http://www.facebook.com/jayjamespictonofficial

Jay James Picton - 'Long May They Roll'

Heads Vs Hearts (Part 2: LONG MAY THEY ROLL) - JAY JAMES PICTON

His voice will make you shudder. Created out of brick dust and tears. His voice is like a smoking gun. Dangerous, unpredictable and effortlessly powerful.

Oh lordy! We are glad that we discovered this guy!

Five years ago the Welsh born JAMES JAY PICTON had never sung or played a note in his life. Today, Booker T Jones, Roger Daltrey, Hal David and John Legend are among the many admirers of his uniquely soulful voice - a voice that was discovered entirely by chance.

LONG MAY THEY ROLL - the second single taken from Jay’s debut album entitled: ‘Play It By Heart’, will be released on 10th September. The album was recorded between Brooklyn (NYC) and Los Angeles with a stellar group of session musicians from the hip hop and soul scenes, co-produced by Jay James, Mike Peden and Malay.

With a nervously pounding rhythm that will remind you of Adele, the voltage and tension is gradually increased - as that magnificent voice whiskers into view. The voice dips into coal-bunker depths at times, but then glimpses up to surprise you.

And the ‘Long May They Roll...” chorus spills out, longing for air and light. And after that maddeningly catchy chorus is repeated nervously, you are treated to a chugging verse that could lighten any load. Splendid and unforgettable.

Links: http://www.jayjamespicton.com

 http://www.facebook.com/jayjamespictonofficial

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73v6FyjUR-U]

On Monday we saw Kal Lavelle headline a charity show at The Boiler Room, Guildford in aid of Tuk Tuk Travels.

Tuk Tuk Travels is an educational charity (tuktuktravels.com), promoting Education for All and raising money for development education along the way.

Kal is a stunning Irish born singer songwriter, now living in London. Her songs are instantly captivating, with a voice that generously oozes each mouthful. Kal began playing guitar after winning a thousand pounds in a Mars Bar when she was 10 yrs old. With that money, she bought her mother a washing machine and for herself, her very first guitar.

Her single ‘Breakfast At Tiffanys’ was recently chosen as ‘Single of the Week’ on iTunes, which in turn, saw her debut EP ‘Shivers’ climb to #5 in the iTunes Singer/Songwriter album chart. The iTunes US & Japanese stores also featured her in the ‘New & Noteworthy’ section.

Three of her tracks have featured on Tom Robinson’s BBC RADIO 6 show & her song ‘Downstairs’ was selected for the BBC Introducing Podcast. She was recently asked as a special guest on the show, which was broadcast Nationwide.

Kal spent last year supporting her friend & last year’s REDFEST artist Ed Sheeran.

Here are our favourite Kal Lavelle songs:

‘Shivers’ spirals downwards like a whirl-y-gig out-of-control. Then faint thunderclaps of power and energy loom onto the horizon and the ‘Don’t Let Go Of Me...” lyric becomes nightmarishly real. This song (and this girl) may appear, upon the surface, to be fragile... but be warned, they have backbones of steel.

‘Downstairs’ trembles like a faltering candle. Vocals are redolent of the kind of fragrant nostalgia employed, perhaps, by Lana Del Rey. The gentlest of notes pick out the route for the dainty steps of each meaningfully sung word.

‘Gypsy Blood’ - sighs and breathes a veil of harrowing misty anxiety around you. The aura of this simply beautiful song gently grows until it fills a room.

‘Disaster’ has a heart of despair beneath the black robes of its own making. ‘We don’t even touch .... anymore’. Loss and emptiness is drawn in charcoal and uncomplicated repetition of symbols and ideas.

We urge you to seek out KAL LAVELLE as soon as you can.

 She will be headlining this year’s Acoustic Stage at Redfest

© Neil_Mach July 2012

Links:
http://www.facebook.com/kallavellemusic

http://www.facebook.com/RedfestUK

LeeFest 2012 Review

It was a gray, wet Friday morning when we met Lee over by the merch tent. “We have arranged for the sun,” he said, “But it is taking a little longer than we expected to be delivered .... but do not worry, it will be here soon.” And as you know, what Lee wants - he gets.

And so a weak sun broke through the clouds racing over Higham’s Hill Farm, and shone meekly down onto the joyful South London festival crowd during Friday and Saturday.

By Sunday afternoon - when the revellers had all but gone- and the site was closing down ... that familiar soggy darkness we have come to expect in 2012 once again descended.

First band to play the weekend were local lads ‘Colour Clouds’ in the Lava Lounge tent. Sounding like ‘The Smiths’, laced with lavish guitars graced with oodles of style and ingenuity, Adam’s vocals were charming and melodic . Other highlights in the big tent included the lusty and truly elastic vocal range, and gentle yet grand compositions of 'Dan Shears' who managed to squeeze in a very welcome main stage appearance... just a little after his magnificent Lava Lounge set.

The faintly pre-raphaelite charms of kookie, yet punky Norwich based (slightly naughty) band ‘The Brownies’ were followed by the Dublin based ‘Grand Pocket Orchestra’ whose weirdly random ‘chongo pop’ sounds were nutty and quite brilliant in equal measures ... huge, huge fun.

Bringing her own radiance to the day was sophisticated art rocker ‘Foe’. And she was followed by ‘Seye’ - with his powerful guitars and raging, unlimited expressionism. Seye was an immense festival success- with a truly barnstorming pop set.

The first day of LeeFest was magnificently topped off by ‘Slow Club’ and ‘Jakwob’ on the main stage.

Saturday brought Bromley’s own poetic and slightly geeky rock-orchestra - the frolicking joy of the ‘Van Susans’ to the stage.

Then someone pushed the power button - and turned on the pulsating heat of the ‘Santiago Street Machine’. This unbridled Manchester band got things moving and got the slightly sluggish crowd to their feet.

Those highly acclaimed rockers ‘Bwani Junction’ were followed by the most exciting and totally monster act of the festival. ‘Man Like Me’. This Camden duo (Johnny Langer and Peter Duffy) brought along their own brand of hi energy carnival fun. From crazy stunts to bold chants. This is what festival going is all about. Noisy, bouncing and beat-a-licious bravado. This band has once again demonstrated why they are known as ‘best damn live act in the UK.’ (Loud & Quiet). And they totally wowed everyone.




Boisterous dance-pop act ‘BIGkids’ were similarly lively - and were my personal favourite band of the festival. Brash, in-your-face pomp with huge glugs of oozy sex appeal. Brilliant. ‘Bastille’ and ‘Mystery Jets’ headlined this most amazingly friendly boutique festival.

Big big thanks go out to all who made LeeFest 2012 such a huge success. Thanks to the musical acts - for putting in the maximum effort - and it’s all for charity. Thanks to the sound people and the stage managers for getting timings and sound more-or-less ‘spot on’. Thanks to all the side-show people, the lounges, the cafes and the chill-out zones- for extending the party atmosphere way into the small hours. And thanks to all the revellers for keeping the weekend on the ‘safe side’ of fun filled sonic-fuelled chaos.

Thanks to all the organizers and planners, we know that it takes months to prepare for something like this.

But special thanks must go to Lee. Thank you for creating this. And thank you for organizing the sun.

© Neil_Mach July 2012