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CJ Wildheart – ‘SPLiT’(Self Release)

CJ Wildheart – ‘SPLiT’(Self Release)

You can’t keep a good man down, and the Duracell bunny of positivity that is CJ Wildheart is back with a new solo album to improve your life. After the fury and anger of 2020s ‘Siege’, this is a collection of killer tunes that, while often ferocious, maintain a link to the melodies he’s known for. And so it begins with ‘Kick Down The Walls’, the opening chord reminiscent of ‘Sitting At Home’ by the mighty Honeycrack, before launching into an anthemic chorus. “We’re ready for the fight…”, and he still has a knack with a tasty middle eight. It’s the little things that can transform a song into something special.

‘Butterfingers’ is just as infectious, whilst reminiscing of old days at the Marquee; “messing with our hair, getting ready for the night”. You can almost taste the Hard Rock Hairspray. “Are you ready, are you one of us?”, wrapped around a simple but insistent melody. Lovely.

‘Victoria’ has a great, upfront bass line, made for pogoing, while ‘All The Dough’ and ‘S.D.E’ riff it up in a similar fashion to RFTC, and a similar high quality. This doesn’t sound like an album made on a small budget, and Dave Draper has done a fantastic job throughout.

‘Bad Decision’ reminds me of the energy and riffs of Chris Catalyst, as I regularly spin his recent album. Another good guy, for sure. Having listened a few times now, it’s ‘Give The Dog A Bone’ that really sticks in my head immediately, the chorus is classic CJ, from The Jellys onwards, and you will be playing it on repeat.

‘Mr Angry’ is two minutes of focussed fury, and ‘All You Rude Boys’ tackles the lecherous idiots in clubs and bars; “you’ll never set that girl alight, cause she knows damn right that you talk too much and you’re full of shite”.

‘Shweinehund’ is almost heavy Goth, set to a nursery rhyme tune, an unexpected turn. I wonder if he’s heard Mr Catalyst’s ‘Robochrist’ stuff? ‘The Grass Is Greener’ ends on a positive note; “hope, it glimmers in the distant light….on my own, it tastes so good alone”. It certainly sounds like CJ is content with where he is right now. He’s delivered a corker of an album. It pays to be a good guy.

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Author: Martin Chamarette

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The Balladmongrels are ‘Evil Under The Moon’

The Balladmongrels are ‘Evil Under The Moon’

Following the release of their debut album ‘Trouble’ which reached #13 in the UK Independent Album Chart earlierthis year and includes singles such as the rollicking and crashing ‘Ballad of the Knucklemen’, the anthemic albumtitletrack ‘Trouble’ and the hauntingly brilliant‘How the Beautiful Fall’,The Balladmongrels release their latest video ‘Evil Under the Moon’ shot in New York City

The Balladmongrels debut album ‘Trouble’ is available on CD, LP & Ltd. Red LP now – Here

Stream ‘Trouble’ here –Here

More info – balladmongrels.com

Jim Jones All Stars/The Pearl Harts – The Earl Haig Club, Cardiff – 26th/10/23

Jim Jones All Stars/The Pearl Harts – The Earl Haig Club, Cardiff – 26th/10/23

Get in your time machine it’s time to rock! Entering The Earl Haig Club was like stepping back in time, Meat raffle and Sunday Strippers (only joking but that’s the style of this out-of-town workies club do) The place was pretty busy and the support band The Pearl Harts were on stage doing their distorted blues thang a la White Stripes but two females but you get the kinda vibe. They put in a whole hearted set but it didn’t help with the large room and seating around the three sides and the bar at the back but all in all the audience who did watch were suitably warmed up.

By the time Jim Jones All Stars were hitting the stage the place was pretty busy to be fair and for a school night things were looking promising as Jim and his masterful musical ensemble took to the stage with one thing on their mind and that was to cast a spell over this impressive turnout and spent the next ninety minutes well and truly kicking their backsides with a perfect blend of good-time garage rock n fuckin greasy roll.

The volume was suitably impressively loud and the no nonsense aproach from the All Stars is a thing of beauty when they’re in full flight and pumped up and tonight boys and girls they rose to the challenge and gave this up for it audience a seriously really good time.

With a seriously good new record in tow and a back catalogue that goes all the way back to Thee Hypnotics there is an overflowing well of top tunes to turn to should they need to turn the heat up or take it down a notch or two from the unbelievably good ‘Burning Your House Down’ through ‘It’s Your Voodoo Working’ it was horn-honking-tactic as the band hit their groove right from the off and just cruised through the gears with songs like ‘Cement Mixer’ turning into an even bigger snarling beast with the saxophones adding another dimension to the already exhilarating sound. As far as live bands go this is only my second time seeing the All-Stars and my umpteenth time seeing Jim Jones kick out the jams over the decades and hand on heart this is on another level. When he broke up the Revue to pursue other things I was gutted but every shuffle of the pack has been a twist and a shake-down that’s had me on my feet cheering for more. Man, ‘Rock n Roll Psychosis’, and ‘Princess And The Frog’ were immense endings with t eh horns but finishing on ‘Shakedown’ this is how thee Hypnotics were meant to sound and I went home yet again wondering how they could possibly top that.

Of the new songs the band were in their groove and properly gig worn in ‘Troglodyte’ was the cream of the crop whilst their cover of ‘Run Run Run’ was loose baby and was hypnotically casting a spell on the room. If you get the chance I urge you not to pass it up and take full advantage of seeing one of the finest live bands anywhere on the planet. ‘Gimme The Grease’ was an early set warmer upper with a phenominal groove.

Jim Jones All-Stars have the perfect name, to sum up, their evil powers called Rock n Roll. Boundless energy an explosive songs one after another dropping sonic bombs that are equal partsdevastatingg and joyful. Simply superb. Go get yourself shakendown. Amen Brothers and sisters, Afuckinmen! The sermon has been delivered and Cardiff was served. Bosh!

Author: Dom Daley

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Dwarves practice some Voodoo

Dwarves practice some Voodoo

From THE DWARVES CONCEPT ALBUM out the middle of November sees a return of the last great punk rockers The motherfuckin Dwarves. Its a spooktacular offering from Blag and the gang especially for Halloween so get your fangs into this bad boy but not whilst your having tea. The Dwarves are Rex Everything, The Fresh Prince of Darkness, Snupac, Andy Now, Black Josh Freese, Sgt. Saltpeter & Blag Jesus.

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Lonesome Kings – ‘Shotgun Full Of Blues’ (Rock n Roll Manifesto)

Lonesome Kings – ‘Shotgun Full Of Blues’ (Rock n Roll Manifesto)

Welcome to my death trip Yeah! ‘Shotgun Full of Blues’ 20th Anniversary Edition has been completely remixed and remastered from the ground up by Matt Planton at Rocket Vault Studios with the whole band offering feedback to get the mixes just right. This is how Shotgun should have sounded 20 years ago! Right from the off the energy is exciting and exhilarating its a salamander stick slapping a slice of riotous Rockabilly, and breath.

It doesn’t stop there kids as the runaway train thrashes through the songs from the howling good time that is ‘Hell’s What I’m Used To’. What you get is a super bright and shiny album full of brawling Rock n Roll and then some. Then some is ten demos and remixes which are a work of beauty in their own right. ‘Can’t Keep Me Down’ is turbocharged and with the bass more hidden in the mix is a interesting take and the solo is awesome. The demos are from 2001 so dated in time but not sound its like the quality of a great live bootleg lifted from the desk bristling with energy.

Some remixes didn’t make the cut like ‘Get Away’ an outtake from the sessions which is full of menace and plenty of punch. I love the remix of ‘Jailhouse Tattoo’ as well with its walking bassline and all those Psychobilly aficionados who love to hear that stand-up bass slap and twang will love ‘Zodiac’ Preacher Boy Remix.

If you’re hearing the name Lonesome Kings for the first time then don’t just take my word for it dive in and fill yer boots this is a wonderful place to start. I’ll get the beers in.

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Twin Temple – ‘God Is Dead’ (Pentagrammaton Recs)

Twin Temple – ‘God Is Dead’ (Pentagrammaton Recs)

LA doo-wop duo Twin Temple are a bit of an anomaly. Married couple Alexandra & Zachary James are practising satanists who incorporate their beliefs with their love of 50’s and 60’s rock n’ roll. They dress like extras from Carry On Screaming and sound like a Phil Spector produced band lost in time. Their lyrical themes of sex, Satan and witchcraft have got them on the wrong side of the fundamentalist Christians and somehow, they have found a home amongst the metal masses, touring with the likes of Ghost, Behemoth and Glenn Danzig.

Their debut album ‘Twin Temple (Bring You Their Signature Sound…Satanic Doo-Wop)’ was recorded live and in mono over a day and a half in 2019, to get the most authentic sound and it’s a scream from start to finish.

Although the live and rarities opus ‘Stripped From The Crypt’ satiated the coven of Twin Temple a couple of years back, a follow up album has been long overdue. Twin Temple unleashed their blasphemous, sophomore long player ‘God is Dead’ on Friday 13th October and it carries on where the debut left us 4 years ago.

Opener ‘Burn Your Bible’ has all the Twin Temple kitsch 60’s doo-wop trademarks you could ask for. From the sampled rain and ringing church bells to the mid-paced Spector drums, twangy guitars, xylophone and those glorious vocals, you will certainly feel like you’re doing the time warp again. 

Of course, this would all be futile if the songs weren’t up to scratch, but Twin Temple have that under their control.

The songs are well (witch)crafted. The previously released singles ‘Let’s Have A Satanic Orgy’ and ‘Be A Slut’ are testament to that and are sure to upset the Christians yet again. The former is a Mariachi styled celebration, the latter a Motown romp of sexual empowerment. 

‘Two Sinners’ is one of the most authentic retro doo-wop songs they have released so far. Their take on 60’s girl groups has been captured so magnificently well you would swear it’s a scratchy old 45 from way back when. Those backing vocals, handclaps and just the overall production is timeless. 

Then ‘Black Magick’ goes and does it again with lead vocals that will stop you in your tracks and a melody you know you know, but can’t quite place. It all sounds so sweet and innocent until you study the lyrics and realise it’ll never get playlisted on radio.

Even the closing title track is a well-designed coda that sounds like a Dusty Springfield style finale to a satanic, cinematic experience. 

Twin Temple could easily come across as gimmicky, but the proof is in the pudding so to speak. And in just 27 minutes, over the course of 8 songs, the satanic duo delivers a bit of a retro-styled masterpiece.

They have more in common with the Ronnettes or the Shangri-La’s than the bands they are touring with, and that association is probably hurting their commercial appeal. But there is so much potential crossover with Twin Temple, and ‘God Is Dead’ deserves to be an album that rises above cult status. 

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Author: Ben Hughes

Sŵn Festival – Cardiff City Centre – 21/10/23

Sŵn Festival – Cardiff City Centre – 21/10/23

Sŵn Festival is a multi-venue music festival based in Cardiff city centre that started in 2007 with a focus on new music, emerging artists and homegrown talent. This year RPM decided to take the plunge and get involved in Saturday evenings entertainment and try and race across as many venues as possible. First things first I’d like to make a comment just how friendly the staff were at each of the packed venues there were plenty of staff about and every venue was pretty packed it has to be said and considering it was a Saturday night in a busy city centre this was no mena feat. Whilst the venues mainly concerntrated around the Womanby St area it was only a ten minute wlak to Jacobs basement and the Tramshed which were away from the main hub but not far enough to cause an inconvenience. Now I’ve been going to shows in the city for over 4 decades and I ventured into a couple I’d never set foot in before and didn’t even know existed but the Sŵn insta page was well singed and running times were easy to navigate.

Wristbands and passes were aquired smoothly and it was off we went to see The Shunkos hit Tiny Rebel and the very busy venue quickly adjusted their trousers and put on their shit kickers for some hardcore punk rock from Port Talbots finest new kids on the block, and they didn’t disappoint with a impressive set climaxing with a cover of ‘Chaise Longue’ that taught the original a thing or two about delivery and having a good time before ‘Beer And Gear’ made it all ok. Hearing the band through a very nice n noisy yet clear PA was a treat. Top turn all round and it was smiling faces all round as the temperature was rising and the bar had been set.

Time for a wander and it was into Fuel to catch a few songs from Death Cult Electric before we ventured off to find Jacobs Basement for some DIY garage psych courtesy of Family Battenburg where it was strictly one out one in as the packed venue shook their shit as the post-punkers rattled out an impressive and infectious set of Alternative rockers.

We also had time for a few DJ sets just to focus the mind as this quick paced festival catered for all tastes in all typres of venues whilst the so called normal world carried on with its business outside the festival bubble.

It was time to head over to Tramshed for BC Camplight and their piano driven radio friendly alt rock that certainly had its fans in the appreciative crowd. After a quick turn around it was time for the fantastic Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs.

They delivered a powerful and heavy set that shook the very foundations of the packed venue with the likes of ‘Rubbernecker’ and the excellent ‘Ultimate Hammer’ as the Geordies turned in a festival topping performance where Matthew Baty led the band through a Sabbath meets QOTSA dessert sessions set of mighty metalic perportions. The set was jaw dropping and exhilirating and seeing the Stone Cold t shirt made me smile something the great man would be proud to be represented at Hell Yeah! that was ass whooping stuff.

Whilst Pigs were dropping audio bombs on the Tramshed it was the turn of Getdown Services to show Tiny Rebel how to do a proper mash up with their very real and working class observational alternative pop with parts Goldie Looking Chain and part Sleeford Mods if youre looking for lazy observations but they had something about them with catchy songs that caught your attention and made you move and smile which in this day and age is always a good thing.

In summery its fair to say we were really impressed with what Sŵn festival dished up and we’re most definately going better prepared next year. Happy smiling people packing out every venue regardless of who was playing just gig goers out for a good time. Going for the whole three days and trying to defy logic and cover more bands for what was one of the best shows we’ve been to in a long time. Punctuality, friendlieness and bloody good music from a wide variety of genres which to be honest was its single most noticable super power. Diolch yn fawr iawn Sŵn, we had a blast and watched as many great bands play as possible. Heres to next year when we do it all again time 3.

Swn Festival

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Marc Valentine has a bone to pick…

Marc Valentine has a bone to pick…

Marc Valentine, the charismatic British singer/songwriter/guitarist who last year released his debut solo album to critical acclaim, issues a new single, ‘Skeleton Key’, through Little Steven’s Wicked Cool Records.

Produced by Dave Draper (The Wildhearts, Ryan Hamilton, The Professionals), Skeleton Key is a 3-minute 20-second blast of upbeat/downbeat powerpop – a haunting tale of emotional pursuit, with spirited guitar lines and a chorus to die for. Explains Marc, “When the idea for Skeleton Key came to me, I was imagining the colours and dialogue of a suspenseful opening scene from a late ’60s Hammer horror film. It’s a song about discovering the darker side of someone and the futile attempt to escape the emotional powers that can unlock everything – though, as usual, there’s a dash of dark humour.”

The single is backed with a cover version of The Shirelles’  ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow’ – a long-time favourite of Marc’s.

Available as a download and a limited-edition coloured vinyl 7” with picture sleeve, ‘Skeleton Key’ unlocks the door to Marc’s forthcoming album, Basement Sparks, due in 2024 – and, we make no bones about it, destined to embed itself in a good number of skulls this Halloween.

Having honed his craft fronting cult pop-rockers Last Great Dreamers across four studio albums, Marc launched a solo career in 2022, his debut long-player Future Obscure picking up praise from an array of publications.

The limited-edition 7” will be sold through UK record shops, and available to order in the US and Europe via marcvalentine.co.uk and marcvalentine.bandcamp.com

Marc Valentine and his band play the following dates….

Thu 2 Nov – Manchester Gullivers (w/Wreckless Eric)

Sat 4 Nov – London Night Owl

Sat 9 Dec – Holt Voewood (w/Wreckless Eric)

Thur 14 Dec – London Hope & Anchor

Fri 15 Dec – Banbury Wheatsheaf

Sat 16 Dec – Swindon Beehive

The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project – ‘The Task Has Overwhelmed Us’ (Glitterhouse Records)

The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project – ‘The Task Has Overwhelmed Us’ (Glitterhouse Records)

Featuring Dave Gahan, Nick Cave, Debbie Harry, Mark Lanegan, Warren Ellis, Mick Harvey, Lydia Lunch, Mark Stewart, Jim Jones, Jim Jarmusch, Peter Hayes, The Coathangers, Suzie Stapleton, Duke Garwood & more. If that list doesn’t set your musical taste buds tingling then I don’t know what will. Quite simply I got excited way back when I first heard there was going to be a volume four of Jeffrey Lees sessions. I loved Gun Club from the very first time I heard their music and everything thereafter moving through the posthumous releases I couldn’t get enough so when these releases came out and seeing the list of contributors I was delighted and this is no exception.

Ten years in the making by the late Gun Club titan’s guitarist Cypress Grove, the Project has always
aimed to highlight Pierce as one of America’s most fascinatingly influential singer-songwriters of
the last century while propelling his outpourings into modern times by placing it in the hands of
former collaborators, friends and fans. Following 2009’s We Are Only Riders, 2012’s The Journey Is Long, and 2014’s Axels and Sockets, The Task Has Overwhelmed Us presents stellar interpretations of tracks from Pierce’s Gun Club and solo canons along with fresh works constructed from rehearsal skeletons its simply exquisite. Described as a wild ride doesn’t do it justice from these skeletons and Frankenstein songs have been fleshed out into lean mean rockin machines from Depeche modes Dave Gahan’s opening haunted piano ballad take on ‘Mother of Earth’ through, Mark Lanegan singing ‘Go Tell The Mountain’ backed by Ellis and Cave (who back Jeffrey himself on ‘Yellow Eyes’) is simply haunting and the warmth in the vocal is spine-tingling. Cave duetting beautifully with Debbie Harry again on ‘On the Other Side’. The blitzkrieg bop of ‘Debbie By The Christmas Tree’ is only matched by a thumping Jim Jones ‘Going Down The Red River’.

If it’s beautiful balladeering then Suzie Stapleton doing ‘Secret Fires’ will give you the chills. But the Debbie Harry and Nick Cave duet is simply wonderful no need for superlatives it walks the walk and talks the talk. there are eighteen tracks on offer and I could recount them all and their majestic beauty but I’ll trust you to buy this and revel in the genius and beauty of the music and these interpretations. Jeffrey Lee Pierce went too soon, way too soon he had so much more to offer on top of what he did leave us. Just buy it! it’s worth every second of your time.

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Author:Dom Daley

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