Well when one EP arrives you can bet your bottom dollar that another is close behind. the thing this month is when one os followed by another then another and another how could we ignore them?  We couldn’t and when they are as varied as this bunch we tell you were blessed to have such talent sent our way. But above all this bunch of EPs and splits were of such a high standard it would be a crime had we brushed over them or not given them all a fair hearing.  If another month dishes up a collection stronger than these then I’ll eat my favourite hat.

Motherfuckin’ Motherfuckers – ‘Dance Motherfucker’ EP (Lux Noise) What an exhilarating rush this is. Easily the best songs the band has penned so far. Sure its a breakneck blood rush but fuck me sideways it’s good.  Like the kick off a defribulated donkey with size 13 hoofs, the title track lasts the length of a blink of an eye.  It’s a beauty alright. So its sweary, Hard, Fast, Loose n loud but the tunes are absolute Boss.  ‘Cat In Hell’ also comes with a beautiful guitar solo that sounds like a fuckin’ Jedi lightsabre being wielded around the studio pure bliss.

‘It’s All Shit’ is a bruiser with a great slasher intro as it builds into the frenzy you want it to. Where are the scandi bands who used to do this so well?  A pair of nerdowells from middle England and a couple of reprobates from Switzerland are leading the charge and doing it so well.  Now when are the tour dates to do this shit live.  We don’t want it we demand it! oh and the cover is a banger too but we all kinda knew it would be.  Essential purchase? Of course it is.

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The Suicide Notes – ‘Pleasures Of Despair’ (Self Release) When Billy and Alex first had the idea of doing some fairly lo-fi recording of ‘a couple of acoustic numbers’, I bet they weren’t expecting it to seel out its initial 100 copies quite so quickly and before it even had the chance to be birthed properly.

So the idea was to record some tracks in Alex’s studio, maybe record a live version or a cover or something, somewhere, unique to the EP, and then package it up with some exclusive artwork from Billy and put it out there. The fact that they are now discussing artwork and packaging for a second, non-limited ‘general’ run over and above the limited first 100 will come as a relief to everyone who didn’t get in there. Let’s run through the damn thing then.  ‘Mama Sang The Blues’ sees the whiskey and cigarette vocals of Billy croon over the acoustic shanty of the first track.  It’s called Mama Sang The Blues what do you think it sounds like?  It’s late, we’re all drunk and the band has got the tunes nicked from the devil and if you howl loud enough they’ll sing em. ‘Ragdoll’ is a haunting acoustic rendition and with less of a party going on its a wonderful melancholy number. Sure there’s an elephant in the room but hell if it sounds like the Dogs D’Amour did back in the 90s then so what if it’s good then that’s all that matters its a big world out there and there’s more than enough room for a few singers with velvet tones wrapped in too many cigarettes.  Its a simple song but the delivery is spot on. Talking of cigarettes next up is ‘Smoke It Like A Cigarette’ this initially came out with an accompanying video if I remember correctly and dark and brooding its a wonderful slice of the darker side of the city and again the delivery is superb.

To wrap up this one you have the slide guitar and harmonica honking of ‘Take A Bullet’. Sounds to me like the electric versions and studio album can’t come quick enough.  the Suicide Notes are happening and I’d love to see them blow right up because the devil hasn’t got all the best tunes The Suicide Notes have nicked some of ’em the cheeky scamps. I expect big things this year and hope that this is just the very beginning.

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Craggy Collyde – ‘Wrapped Up In Ribbons’ (Self Release) After a cracking 7″ single last year this duo are back for more except this time they are armed with a 10″ record that contains a nicely varied six tracks. Totally self-financed and independent Craggy Collyde are killing it and as the opening track says “worth investing in” RPM says Hell yeah! Built around a nice 12 bar riff and cool backbeat ‘Dead Refrain’ is a great opener. We stay on it for ‘Roll Me’ as the good times keep playing. sure its a well-trodden path but when it’s done well who cares,  The backing vocals and melodies are great.

‘Don’t Put Me Down’ has a nice mellow intro before breaking out with a melody straight from Alternative American radio that gave us the likes of Buffalo Tom. ‘Better Than A Lie’ is a chilled out laid back vibe and Craggy tells a decent story like lying on your back on a deserted beach staring at the sky as the clouds roll by its another side to the band and another really strong song. ‘Wrapped Up In Ribbons’ is an acoustic ensemble with a rolling piano and shuffle snare beat and possibly my favourite on the EP for sure. An excellent song well written and well played out.  To wrap up this record there is the excellent ‘In The Shade Of The Wide Oak Tree’ with its sparse intro you keep waiting for it to break out but it doesn’t which helps keep you engaged.  All in all, another super-strong offering that covers all of Craggys loves from the Rockers to the acoustic laid back minstrel a most worthy addition to anyone’s collection.

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Glitter Piss / The Damn Shebang – Split EP (Guru Disques) I jumped on this the minute it became available this week and boy what a glorious decision that was. The Damn Shebang kick off with the shimmering seedy Rock and Roll of ‘Molly’ gets things off to a top start.  Part Sleazy Gallon Drunk Part punk rock part Urban Voodoo Machine part Cramps is just where you want a band to sit. ‘Molly’ deserves to be played loud, no not loud,  LOUD! you fuckers. If that doesn’t stir your Rock and Roll pants then surely song title of the year ‘Goths On A Beach’ will. Love it Love It Love It! love the guitar tone, love the solo, love the vocals love the backbeat love the lyrics. ‘ave it! If you thought the first two were good then get up and lace up those creepers because ‘Richochet’ is a dance floor filler with attitude. Don’t put away your flick knife comb yet ‘Be Your Baby’ is a howling good time. and this is only the first four on this must-own Cassette EP split!

Glitter Piss.  Hell yeah, what a great name. ‘Nothing To Lose’ is the sound of a band being fired out of a canon with their asses on fire.  fuckin’ champion tune. If youre not convinced yet then shove ‘Suck My Soul’ up your backside. Garage rock with attitude and a whole bunch of Riff-a-rama to boot – awesome stuff. when they say ‘Party Town’ sit up and listen for fucks sake.  Shaking like Iggy shitting on a hot tin roof this is a blast. With a final blast of VFM the eighth track crammed onto this split is the groovy ‘Not Like You’.  If I don’t hear another split all year it doesn’t matter because it can’t and won’t be better than this bad boy.  Now if you haven’t already rushed over to the link to buy a copy then what’s the matter with you?  Do it before they’re all gone.  You need this bad boy RPM Online Fact of the day #1.

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Mansion Harlots – ‘Happier Alone’ / ‘Until We Work It Out Tomorrow’ & ‘KUNM Sessions’(Magic Cat Records) Whilst doing the rounds to promote the Mansion HArlots record back in 2018 Baz and Rachel ended up in Luxembourg City at a radio station and laid down A quite exquisite rendition of ‘Happier Alone’ and ‘Until We Work It Out’ as Baz lets loose as part of his radio sessions found here.  Also last year Baz ended up in New Mexico where he recorded six tracks that make up the KUNM Sessions anyway Baz lets the music do the talking with a heartfelt and thunderous take on songs from across his solo album and Mansion Harlots.

‘Live, Raw as it is’ Baz is a unique talent with a fantastic sense of melody and a keen ear for a great delivery raw and live without a safety net it’s engaging and at times quite beautiful. ‘Until We Work It Out’ is a beautiful number and laid bare here sounds majestic and proves that the art of balladeering is alive and kicking as Baz is in fine form. As for the KUNM Sessions again yet more proof of the exquisite talent that is Baz Francis Duarte. ‘Eyes Of A Fool’ is chilling whilst ‘Panda Eyes’ stripped back works really well. A great melody is a great melody be it electric or acoustic and Baz knows how to write both. Lay back chill out and get an ear full of Mansion Harlots and Baz Francis Duarte you won’t regret it and if you’re here reading this you deserve it. Quality counts in a world that moves so fast sometimes music can be overlooked and we wouldn’t want you to miss out.  Hit em up folks.

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