Raw Ramp Special Redfest Edition 2014 by NEIL MACH

SKINTS

SKINDRED

A PLASTIC ROSE . VUKOVI . CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN . LEWIS WATSON TOY . TREE HOUSE FIRE . RUN YOUNG LOVERS . POLAR

AL SPECI

REDFEST EDITION

RedFest - proud of its reputation - Image Neil Mach ©

Where is it? “It’s In the Surrey countryside...” Image Neil Mach ©

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RedFest 2014 Now in its seventh year, Redfest remains staunchly independent with no major sponsorships and works hard to keep the tickets as affordable as possible. It is also proud of its reputation for championing new, emerging bands, solo artists and DJs. In 2007 the festival hosted little known singer songwriters: Newton Faulkner and Laura Marling. Over the years, the festival has staged the likes of Enter Shikari, Modestep and Brit award winning Ed Sheeran, who took to the main stage in 2010 for a performance still cherished by all present. Redfest is a 2 day music festival - only 30 minutes from London - set in the heart of the beautiful Surrey countryside near Redhill. Website

http://www.redfest.co.uk

RAW RAMP MUSIC MAG WWW.RAWRAMP.ME RAW RAMP is a connoisseurs guide to ravishing new music We are based in the United Kingdom (West London) We create a monthly music magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and also the accompanying on-line blogs. We specialize in bringing fresh, bright stories and interesting articles and reviews to the attention of dedicated music enthusiasts world-wide. We focus on new musical artists from across a wide range of popular musical genres. EMAIL: sue@rawramp.com Reader Line: 020 8133 7084 Editor: 0208 144 3657 Submissions: editor at rawramp dot com Raw Ramp Music Mag 2014 All Rights Reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without express permission of the publisher. All information contined within this publication is for information and entertainment only. As far as we are aware all information is correct at time of going to press.

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A Plastic Rose - the oven-hot clay chorus made us scream with joy

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A Plastic Rose The Belfast based rock band ‘A Plastic Rose’ have been bringing their anthemic and emotionally charged brand of rock and roll directly to their growing army of fans since 2007. Now the band has been announced for the incredible REDFEST 2014. Comprising of Gerry Norman (guitar/vocals), Ian McHugh (guitar/vocals), Troy Heaton (bass), and David Reid (drums), the Belfast/Sligo four piece share a bond of camaraderie and common vision that has often compelled them to improve upon each release, pushing themselves further and further in their pursuit of greatness. ‘Foreign Soil’ taken from Camera.Shutter. Life we thought: The verse seemed beautifully at home inside the blistering meshwork prison that surrounded it. But it was the oven-hot clay chorus that made us scream with joy. With thumping percussion, spraying and threshing rhythms, and pulverizing bassnotes, the finale was a cataclysmic earthshudder that shook us out from the inside. Devastating and essential.

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https://www.facebook.com/aplasticrose

Vukovi

Title track ‘Sweet Swears’ has huge pylons of sparkling guitar. These tower over this song. And a low gurgling bass-line that bubbles beneath the song-line. The main voice begins sadly, but soon rises to a golden bright precipice. The song gradually builds up into a strong and magnificent composition. Vukovi is an American football team from Serbia. But never mind, Vukovi are also a Scottish experimental Japanese-style pop rock quintet. They consist of singer Janine Shilstone, guitarist Hamish Reilly, bassist Jason Trotter and drummer Colin Irving.

This is rivetted to perfection by pinpoint accurate drum-work and projecting guitars that seem to fly away when not anchored down. Stunning.

“Sweet Swears“ is EP available now. Vukovi’s ‘We Are Robots’ sashays lazily away to begin with, the voice of Janine combining with the elliptical effect of the crashing, effervescent guitars and those spiralling drums that start to boil.

www.facebook.com/vukoviband

After the gathering of the forces, the instruments (and vocal) erupt into passion – with guitars and drums flustering excitedly – challenging each other for the domain. The main result of all these interactions is a carbonated angular poem – a song that has extraordinarily powerful vocal detonations. And the corresponding dominance of huge guitar thrums. This song combines bold musicality and compositional eccentricity along its axial tilt – to create something truly remarkable. An off-kilter wonder.

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Catfish and the Bottlemen The outrageously cool new British video FALLOUT from Catfish and the Bottlemen will cause a shy smile to escape from your Monday morning face. This is the British rockers fifth single from their album. In a highly suburbanite setting a “White Van Man” takes two stumped apprentices on an everyday journey through a lessthan-picturesque residential neighbourhood. But if you look carefully you will see that behind all those familiar metropolitan scenes – lurk some dancing eccentrics. It makes you think … even in the midst of our tarnished facades – and our sad, hum-drum lives … we can still find the amazing and the wonderful. By the end of the song, even the grumpy old so-and-so who drives the van, takes to the street, dancing his heart out. Maybe Britain is a place of magic and mystery, after all…

The guitars from Billy gurgle and babble all the way through ‘Fallout.’ While the voice of Van sails and dives. The tight rhythms from Bob and Benji exploit all the flavours. This is a clean, cool and efficient.

https://www.facebook.com/catfishandthebottlemen

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Lewis Watson- Perfect Song writing - Improbably fine.

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Lewis Watson Oxfordshire based singer/songwriter Lewis Watson started in music rather late, at the age of sixteen, with a guitar and an innate ability to copy and cover well-known songs. He successfully up-loaded several of these covers to YouTube and – three years into this endeavour – he decided to release his own EP. Within days of the release, he attracted the attention of several powerful allies. And gained a valuable record deal with Warner Bros Records. His debut album ‘The Morning’ was released on July 7. The disc includes a lot of fresh material, and a few carefully selected songs from his previous releases. Lewis Watson will embark on a UK tour to date this Autumn. We had a listen to the album:

And even though this song is gently picked up by an acoustic guitar, it is also beautifully lifted by piano towards the end. It is a perfect piece of song-writing. Improbably fine. It will certainly lift you with it’s wonderful sentiment. ‘Into the Wild’ (also on the The Wild EP) is quickly clapper board in style. It’s like a quick jog along a tidy path. The “Step out into the wild…” chorus peaks and ridges like a meringue – as the pace rattles along a little bit more. And then you have the strength to go on “Stepping out …” into another dirty day.

His voice is rich and warm on ‘ Halo ’.

‘Sink or Swim‘ has a rib-like pattern, this softly facilitates the breathing rate this song.

The chorus “You have a halo…but maybe you don’t know…” wraps around your body like a cloak of holy smoke.

It is pretty fast, so the listener feels refreshed. Yet calm.

It gives you the chills.

https://www.facebook.com/lewiswatsonmusic

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TOY - An industrial synth rattles along convincingly Image ÂŠ Neil Mach

TOY- dreamy vocals fizz and spurt forth Image ÂŠ Neil Mach

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TOY

The TOY story started in 2010 in London when singer/guitarist Tom Dougall (younger brother of Rose Elinor Dougall of The Pipettes) joined up with Dominic O’Dair (guitar), Maxim “Panda” Barron (bass), Charlie Salvidge (drums), and Spanish keyboard player Alejandra Diez. The band’s first live performance was at the Cave Club in London in January 2011. We took a listen of their first album ‘Toy’ (2012) released on Heavenly records. ‘Colours Running Out’ - If you already know that you like your music psychedelic and esoteric then this will appeal to you. If you have not yet been immersed into the mystical world of psychedelic rock – then maybe this is the band that will take you to that new place. The frantically hypnotic, brightly dyed sounds in this song will enchant and bewilder you. And, yes, the colours may leak … but those sparkling guitars and percussive loops create vortices of inky darkness … these will come to free your mind.

‘Reasons Why’ – kicks off like a cheesy seventies ballad. But that is before the bucolic groaning of the verse wallows and moans into view. Cloudy textures add a smear of perspiration to the overall tones. This track is spotless and perfect - with a sweet cotton candy finish to it. ‘Lose My Way’ has a fizzy and dizzying spiral of spectral sounds that fuse into the vocals – melding them seamlessly to the crystalline chords and choppy percussion. The dreamy vocals fizz and spurt forth. This is a lucid fountain of colours and papery textures. ‘Motoring’ has that bellowing whale-song imagery found in some of the other tracks, and a tinkling of guitars that create a confusing puzzle of connecting pins. Through this painful jungle, the rhythm drives on impetuously. And the insistent vocals chug into view - and keep nudging at you for attention. This is a fast paced song with an agreeable kick… spurring you on to a better state of mind. ‘Strange’ is flamboyant and disconcerting. A large wave of sounds and images washes over you like a weed-filled tide. Whilst ‘Make It Mine’ scurries along, nosing its way into your empty places and mischievously feeding on your memories. This is nostalgic and troubling. ‘Walk Up To Me’ sounds inconsolable. A sad mixture of regrets and lost opportunities. These swirl about, kicking up a red dust and creating vapour clouds full of hypnotic patterns. The vocals are frosted. And the guitars jangle and whine. Treacly notes keep rising fluidly- rippling into the stark heavens. ‘Kopter’ sounds like something from Pink Floyd’s ‘Meddle’. An industrial synth rattles along convincingly. And the voice remains ethereal, yet focussed. This is the most cohesive progressive song found on the album. Grab this TOY now. And learn to see for miles. Words © NeilMach Sept 2012

https://www.facebook.com/toy.band

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SKINDRED -The kind of mega-fast beat that makes you believe that you are crawling with biting creatures

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SKINDRED In 2002, Skindred released their début album ‘Babylon‘ and we eagerly sought it out. We discovered that it had all the maturity and extrinsic natural aggression of Latin Metal purveyors (like New Jersey’s Ill Niño) with a refreshingly tropical atmosphere and a hook-filled groove that was attentively re-recreated in the studio. We were snared immediately. A few years later we experienced our first live Skindred show (we have seen many since then) – and the band simply took our breath away. There is no argument – Skindred are the best live band in the world. If you can imagine a cunning blend of Cyprus Hill and Korn – with sounds deftly spliced in the studio – then displayed for all on a glorious giant plate – a feast of colours and textures – then you can imagine the title track ‘Kill The Power’ that opens their fifth album. The percussion wheezes and gags – and the chorus is ripe and fruity. ‘Ruling Force’ has a splashing of guitars then a high-velocity drum (from Arya Goggin) - this barks as if it has been trodden upon. Benji’s voice is both euphonious and liberated – and the chorus rises as it sublimely connects with the blanket of closely inter-woven guitars.

‘Playing With The Devil’ starts like a freshly resurrected ‘Police’ single but then it splendidly expands itself into dub-step territory like a condor spreading thick black wings across open horizons. The emotion of this song is so complex and righteous – you feel the need to learn every word. And the vocals have a warmth and sincerity to them that will sink deep into your muscles and help you to relax. Which is a good thing – because any minute now and you will jump out of your skin – and explode into dance. ‘Worlds On Fire’ unrolls like a newly unwrapped tube of spaghetti with the surf rockin’ Dick Dale – Misirloutype intro (also heard on Black Eyed Peas song “Pump It”.) Then the song ripens into a sunny stomper. ‘The Kids Are Right Now’ has Pugsley’s black-ink bass at its heart – creating belligerent oil-slick bubbles against Mikey’s silvery fuzz. This song is easy to get into and seems the perfect fayre for bored & affluent West Coast teenagers. ‘We Live’ has some strident guitars and the kind of mega-fast beat that makes you believe that you are crawling with biting creatures. Then ‘Open Eyed’ (featuring UK singer Jenna G) erupts out. This is a quick thinking number with a perceptive sense of its own purpose. Incisive ideas are rammed home with some quality mixing and some more rumbustious beats. ‘Kill The Power’ is vigorous and radical ... But, for now, just bounce... https://www.facebook.com/skindredofficial

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Tree House Fire - “May cause sonic damage deep down in your Mondongos” Image © Neil Mach

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Tree House Fire Those loveable Guildford based reggae/ ska /pop fellas Tree House Fire have proudly produced an amazing album – available right now on Trench Foot. The recording entitled Rocket! can be grabbed at their bandcamp site. Here’s what we thought: The first tiny taster-track grooves smoothly into a superb composition: ‘Straza Grip’. With its boom-boom political references and a bass line that walks impulsively along-the-line. This accomplished song has more fire in its belly than a dragon that’s been force-fed a vindaloo. ‘No more prophets to spread the world …’ Sings Sam (vocals / guitar) as those sinewy organ sounds swelter out. This track simmers and bubbles beneath the Levantine sun. ‘The Drop’ pulls no political punches either. But that won’t stop you dancing. The vibrations will shake your chitterlings - causing some sonic damage deep down in your Mondongos … And then ‘Rabble’ flames up a joint of soothing sounds, so you can start to relax and unwind into some early shimmying, ready for ‘Peoples Problems’.

This enjoyable ditty has lumpy low notes – and these get pulled and prodded around by the band’s miracle bass player – Ant. The cool voice runs along, growing in stature as it matures within the song. And then, before you know it, it’s all over. It’s a bit like a night out with your mates really! Title track ‘Rocket!’ has a traditional Reggae/Ska edge to it. Effective vocals create several notable moments, and the song-structure will certainly make you raise your arms and sway. A memorable chorus will linger for ever, too. Scratchy ‘Great Ocean Road’ (Featuring DJ Killer Tomato) is a fast paced squawking scatter-gun of surprises. An addictive beat is gilded by those intrepid vocals that chatter out an alarming rate. The track ‘Stack It Up High’ is the creation “par excellence” of Tree House Fire. A firm favourite at live shows, the bass play in this extraordinary piece is so utterly depraved that it almost consumes you. And ‘KMB ’ is the band’s party song. It’s happy reggae. It has a whooping sing along chorus and oodles of plucky guitar sounds that keep moving behind an enormously bouncy bass and cheerfully inflatable vocals. It’s the kind of the song that you need to take your heels off for. Sod it, take off your shirt too. ‘Cos you will be dancin’ along to this one. For ages. I promise you. In fact, you will be “bouncing off the ceiling ..” after listening to it. http://www.facebook.com/treehousefire

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Vocals from cuddly bannerman and front-voice Jack Betteridge add warmth and passion - Image ÂŠ Neil Mach

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Run Young Lovers Run Young Lovers will be splitting up and moving on after this year’s Redfest. Born and raised in Crawley, this 5-piece band originally came to notice under the moniker ‘Us And Them’ and their toil gained them a worthy reputation on the West Sussex live music scene. Since then the lads have played us a joyful Cure-sounding sing-along song-book of sounds. Soulesque vocals from cuddly bannerman and front-voice Jack Betteridge add warmth and passion to the roistering helter-skelter zip-line indie rock revelry that runs-through the band’s output. Songs like ‘She Said’ (available as a facebook download) with that typical bounce and zizz-a-zizz, and those streamers of guitar flapping in the wind around warm honey-cake vocals, added a real playtime fizz to their show.

Other songs, like ‘Moonshine’ have playful basslines from Ollie Small, and sudden blooms of effervescent guitar from James Ellis and Lloyd Stone. Driving patterns of percussion are delivered steadily by David Stewart on drums. Introspection is a specialty of the shy singer Jack, surrounded on all sides by the bounteous multi-faceted guitars. But no snopake is required… no corrections are needed. Bubbling rumbling, bumbling? Check. Soaring highs? Check. Painful lows? Check. It is all there in a ‘Run Young Lovers’ show. This band takes you two stops beyond awesomeville, before leaving you, exhausted, and on the last platform, whining for more. The last ever RYL live show is at Redfest Festival in Redhill on the intro stage - Friday at 5pm https://www.facebook.com/RunYoungLovers

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THE SKINTS #ShortChangeEP is out now! ‘The Cost Of Living Is Killing Me’ from ‘Short Change’ starts with the tenderest chapel-like a cappella handshake that you could possibly imagine. And sets out the stall for this highly hummable hit. “In this free country ... where nothing is free...” The bass rumbles on - and those rapping vocals from Josh limp like a panhandler after his first lighter fluid cocktail fix. Then the ‘Free Country’ chorus is crisp and bright. With the horns and fruity scents - it seems ironically joyful.

In a world where poverty somehow brings to mind crime and underworld - this is a song to redress the balance. The real criminals are at the top of the heap. We should never forget that. And you and I are not criminals. Just because we can not make ends meet ... This is a Beggar’s aria for the underdog - in a world awash with money.

Marcia’s verse is slightly more effervescent, perhaps, than one might expect. But it sets up, nicely, the wonderfully elegant and mellow vocals from Jamie - whose notes ring around the main rhythms like clinging ivy. https://www.facebook.com/theskints

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Polar - Adamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anguished vocals flume into an eruptive column of smoke and fire.

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POLAR

Shadowed By Vultures Strong vocals, great riffs, anthemic moments and melodic interludes. All found inside a hardcore-punk wrapper. What more could you want? Well, POLAR also offer shattering guitars, hectic percussive onslaughts and enough hardcore variation to make your hair stand-on-end. And it will... Polar’s second album ‘Shadowed By Vultures’ is a mighty achievement. Their songwriting has evolved and now the Guildford [Surrey] lads give us some confident, intense and thoroughly exhilarating numbers. ‘Black Days’ the 3rd single from ‘Shadowed By Vultures’ is out now. This melodic piece comes over as sustained and impassioned - but without making the transition into more ‘radio friendly’ skate punk territory.

In other words, this is adult stuff. For music lovers who want to peer deeper into the soul of a song. So, Adam’s anguished vocals flume into an eruptive column of smoke and fire. Whilst feverish guitars from Fabian and Tom rage and torment beneath. This is sensationally powerful. Passionate. Exciting. Aggressive.

https://www.facebook.com/thispolarnoise

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