THE BENEFITS OF A DOWNHILL PAPER ROUND: A review and a track by track of The Ragamuffins' latest offering!

 

Below is our review of The Ragamuffins' EP 'The Benefits Of A Downhill Paper Round'. In the second half of the feature you can also find a 'track by track' from The Ragamuffins' very own David Jaggs. 

 

To stay up to date with future interviews and reviews like our facebook page at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

 

PART 1 - "AB SAYS..."

 

Below we review The Ragamuffins exceptional EP 'The Benefits Of A Downhill Paper Round'!

 

"The Ragamuffins latest EP 'The Benefits Of A Downhill Paper Round' is a fine outing all together. Everything from the packaging (see picture above), to the artwork, to the tile, to the most important part, the music, is exceptional. Upon receiving the CD package you will be immediately blown away by the amount of time that The Ragamuffins spend in making sure that their fans have a proper little present instead of just a plain old EP. The CD is packaged within an envelope with logo and title featured upon. Within the envelope, is the beautifully presented artwork of the EP itself along with a small Ragamuffins badge. The CD itself has a vinyl effect to it getting across the band's retro side. Anyway, the EP itself makes an impressive entrance with a Coral-like riff on 'Shoegazing'. Driving drums and rollicking bass then come into the frame as the song makes its way to the 'kids on the war path chorus' which will surely be a sing-a-long point in live shows. The backing vocals are spot on in this opening track as well. Following 'Shoegazing' is the EP's two finest tracks in the form of 'Fingernails & Fairytales' and 'Declan, Put Your Dancing Shoes On'. The former again can draw comparisons to The Coral whilst still retaining a certain 'uniqueness' while the latter is much more of a rocker which sounds reminiscent of a fellow up and coming band, Cheap Cuts (now renamed Man And The Echo). On the remaining two tracks The Ragamuffins explore a slightly more Latin, jazz style which is no bad thing! The closing track, 'Something To Shout About', is another highlight and certainty has the catchiest chorus on the EP. Overall, a fine mix of rock, soul and jazz. Definitely a band to keep an eye on!"

 

 

PART 2 - "THE RAGAMUFFINS SAY..."

 

Below David Jaggs talks us through each track on the EP!

 

Shoegazing

 

"This song had a comparatively huge gestation period which began when I was at the Liverpool vs. Napoli game at Anfield in 2010, specifically after seeing a group of about three or four very young Napoli lads surrounded by police outside the Albert pub and thinking how utterly terrified they looked. There'd been trouble in Naples a few weeks before the match at the away leg with some Liverpool lads being attacked in a restaurant I think by Italian ultras and so the atmosphere wasn't very hospitable around the ground to say the least. Just a few little words and phrases popped into my head when trying to keep my head down and get to the bus without any trouble, being a lover not a fighter and all that... Anyway, I was revisiting some lyric notebooks and found the ideas I'd jotted down and remembered this slightly chaotic guitar riff I'd written when getting my acoustic out on the top deck of a completely empty bus home after a night out which fitted in. When Florin started doubling the riff in practices and Xav had the drums rattling along with that almost Johnny Cash (or more recently Jake Bugg I suppose!) train rhythm and Alex added that utterly hypnotic bassline everything just seemed to fit together nicely so we went from there! It also made sense to call it 'Shoegazing', not to do with the eighties indie sub genre, but given most of the band's slight obsession with footwear, whether it's my stupid numbers of trainers, Sam and his hi-tops or Xav blowing a fortune on Oliver Sweeney shoes!"

 

Fingernails & Fairytales

 

"'Fingernails & Fairytales' is a re-recording of an older song that I'd demoed a few years ago and abandoned somewhat because the vocal never really managed to span that balance of fragility and tenderness it needed with the heartbroken subject matter, yet still sung 'well' enough with it being quite a high note in the choruses to lift the tune to make it work properly on record. In all honesty I don't think I was a good enough singer when I wrote the song but have got better vocally and as a musician and we worked out the harmonies better to give it an extra dimension. The solo started sounding really nice with the 12-string style guitar line going on. In terms of writing the song itself, it was the classic songwriter's thing of finding a new chord out and then straight away wanting to use it in a song with the menacing sounding diminished progression and melody in the verses."

 

Declan, Put Your Dancing Shoes On

 

"'Declan, Put Your Dancing Shoes On' is sort of a response song (in terms of the title at least) to Elvis Costello's 'Tramp The Dirt Down' that I wrote in the weeks after Margaret Thatcher's death, but more specifically after her actual funeral. The news was awash with sound bytes and anger and you couldn't help but come up with ideas off the back of that, especially when so many of the unsavoury things she did during her time as Prime Minister seemed to be getting glossed over. It's sort of meant to imagine some bizarre, trans-existential funeral service and wake with people both alive and dead, friend and foe turning up and offering their two-penneth to what's going on, and name-checks everyone from Bernard Ingham to Judy Garland. I put some mad synthesiser arpeggios and 'swooshes' on this because there was so much space without the bass in the verses it just felt like we COULD do something like that, and this immediately made me go back and do some similar sonic things on 'Shoegazing' because I was worried that it'd make 'Declan' sound a little musically isolated on the record if there weren't some similar musical themes!"

 

Eleven In The Afternoon

 

"'Eleven In The Afternoon' was trickier to record than it probably should have been. It's inception was a result of our former bassist and my good mate Paul dropping a wonderful 'Ringo-ism' (a la 'Hard Days Night' and 'Eight Days A Week') when attempting to organise meeting up, but is more about feeling guilty when wasting a day recovering from a night out and absolutely everything seems to wind you up. The opening ninth chord was another 'songwriter learns new chord' situation but the almost Latin, bossa feel was a bit of a joke originally and just the way I finger-plucked the chords when messing around in our practice room. I think Florin was initially impressed with the melody and chorus lyric which spurred me on to have a go at writing the whole thing but I thought it'd end up as a straighter, faster song. When we tried to do this however it sounded RUBBISH; it was very amateurish and had the teenage band sort of quiet/loud verse/chorus contrast thing you do when you first buy a distortion pedal and an electric guitar and form a band with your mates as a sixteen year old. I knew we could do much better and with a few breakbeat ideas from Xav the first bossa idea I had morphed into something that sounded like 'us'."

 

Something To Shout About

 

"'Something To Shout About' is a song about the perils of over-doing it on social media, but I was extremely conscious of how it'd look written down if I called it 'Nothing Much To Shout About' so changed the name accordingly. I wrote it all around that slightly odd chord pattern in the verses and the chiming post-chorus guitar and it just all seemed to make sense with Sam, our keys player firing out a Cuban style piano line in the intro. The tumbling trumpet line at the end seemed as good a way to close the EP as any as well! We were really, really happy with how the 'ah' backing vocals came out as an overdub in the last chorus as, sadly, we can't do them to quite that extent live (yet!) without audience participation, but it made sense and gave that bit of the song a massive lift."

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this feature on The Ragamuffins! Check out our previous feature on Dan Poole!
 

Check out The Ragamuffins here - https://www.facebook.com/theragamuffinsuk

 

You can also like our facebook page to keep up to date with all future interviews at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

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PAPER HEART: An interview with Scottish singer-songwriter Charlotte Black!

 

Below is our interview with Charlotte Black, a singer-songwriter from Edinburgh.

 

To stay up to date with future interviews like our facebook page at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

 

PART 1 - THE INTERVIEW

 

What was your first musical memory and what pushed you towards pursuing a career in the record industry?

 

"It would have to be when I was eight years old and my music teacher in Luxembourg persuaded me to sing a solo for the school play, I couldn’t have imagined anything worse. However when I performed it I enjoyed it so much that I kept singing, and I guess my love for it just progressed from there."

 

What sort of records were played around the house when you were younger and did these records have an influence on your songwriting?

 

"Most vivid memory of music would be ABBA and Diana Ross, these artists were always playing in the car! I’m not sure, I think these artists mostly influenced my love for music."

 

Had you been involved with any other bands prior to becoming a solo artist as Charlotte Black?

 

"I haven’t actually; I have collaborated with friends before and performed covers etcetera but never anything serious."

 

Why did you choose to become a solo artist instead of forming a band?

 

"I’m currently in the process of creating a band to accompany my songwriting…I love performing just by myself and my guitar as I feel the performance is so much more intimate, however having played around with a band since I have been living in Brighton, I have really enjoyed what its added to my music."

 

How would you describe the sound of Charlotte Black?

 

"I would say its mainly acoustic, mellow, relaxing music with meaningful lyrics that I hope people can relate to."

 

You were originally based in Edinburgh but have since moved to Brighton. How did this move come about and has the change in surroundings had an effect on your music?

 

"I was desperate to move away and I guess ‘find myself’ and I found a fantastic course for music in Brighton as well. Since I’ve been here I’ve written so many more songs, being able to do what I love every single day is the best thing ever."

 

You made one of your songs, ‘Paper Heart’, available online. What is this song about and what influenced it?

 

"Ahh that’s a very old song! It is influenced by a failed relationship, however I’d like the listener to be able to make their own understanding of it and see how it relates to them."

 

As well as writing and recording originals you cover a lot of songs ranging from Chris Brown to Bill Withers. When covering a song is it important to you to put your own ‘twist’ on it?

 

"I always start of by doing something very similar to the artist’s original version, and then I work on making it my own. It’s important to show listeners that you can interpret a piece of music in a way that is different to its original creator."

 

You’ve said you hope to release an EP soon. What can fans expect from this?

 

"I’m in the middle of organising this at the moment, by February/April it’ll be recorded and released. An EP is a moment in time, so it will just be the songs and experiences I’ve had recently and the stage I am at with my music at the moment."

 

 Do you have any 'rituals' before going on stage?

 

"Don’t overeat otherwise I’ll feel sick! I get very nervous but after I sing the first few lines it turns to excitement and I enjoy the whole performance."

 

Any live dates coming up?

 

"I’m performing in a few venues across Brighton for 30-minute sets within the next few months, which is great. I’m hoping to get some gigs up in Edinburgh when I’m home for Easter as well."

 

Any new songs in the pipeline?

 

"I have written a lot since I got to Brighton, so yes I have lots of new music up my sleeve."

 

When can fans be expecting the next release?

 

"Probably a video release before my EP comes out."

 

Who would be your dream collaboration?

 

"Boyce Avenue, John Mayer or Taylor Swift. They are all incredible artists who write beautifully, it would be amazing to write with one of them one day."

 

Who would be in your dream super group?

 

"Taylor Swift, John Mayer and Eva Cassidy!"

 

 

PART 2 - THE QUICKFIRE ROUND

 

Favourite Beatle?

 

"Couldn't choose!"

 

Favourite band?

 

"Somewhere between Daughter and Passenger!"

 

Favourite new band?

 

"The 1975."

 

Favourite song?

 

"Would have to be Life Is Beautiful by Vega 4."

 

Favourite album?

 

"One of John Mayer's."

 

Style icon?

 

"I don’t actually have one yet, I tend to just have a look around and see what’s in fashion."

 

Favourite clothing brand?

 

"Topshop."

 

Favourite film?

 

"Typically the Notebook."

 

Favourite TV show?

 

"One Tree Hill."

Who would play you in a film of your life?

 

"Annasophia Robb, I wish!"

 

Favourite food?

 

"Chinese food."

 

Football team?

 

"I don't watch football, ever."

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this feature on Charlotte Black! Check out our previous feature on Red Crow!

 

Check out Charlotte Black here - https://www.facebook.com/charlotteblackmusic?sk=info

 

You can also like our facebook page to keep up to date with all future interviews at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

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ALIBI: An interview with Scottish folksters Paper Crowns!

 

PART 1 - THE 'INTERVIEW'1 - Had you been involved with any other bands prior to Paper Crowns?

 

Jack – "smallPRINT, briefly substitute fiddle player for Matt Norris & The Moon."

 

Stuart (cue essay) – "100 Paper Boats, Where We Lay Our Heads, Shauna Joy, Anna Sweeney, Ross Mitchell, Algernon Doll, Scott McWatt, Starling Heist. A few more briefly/one off gigs."

 

Molly and Abigail – "Paper Crowns is our first venture into the world of popular music..."
2 - How did Paper Crowns begin?

 

"Jack wrote some songs. Jack got bored. At Christmas Abigail came, played some gigs. Seemed to go well. Sounded like there could be a bigger sound (i.e. Jack and Abigail argued too much). Molly played cello. Stuart played percussion."

3 - Where did the name Paper Crowns come from?

 

Jack – "Me and Abigail were walking along after recording Alibi (we still didn’t have a name). Abigail just sort of pulled it out of thin air, seemed to work so we went with it."
4 - How would you describe the sound of Paper Crowns?

 

Jack – "I guess popular folk. We have backgrounds in classical music and Scottish folk, so we’re probably heavily influenced by that."
5 - You've made a few songs available online already. One of these is 'Alibi' - a heartfelt acoustic ballad. What is the song itself about?

 

Jack – "The breakdown of a relationship really. The verses are memories and the chorus is one of the people involved trying to disengage themselves with those memories."
6 - Who would be your dream collaboration?

 

Jack – "Daughter. Please let us collaborate with Daughter."

 

Abigail – "Bon Iver would be amazing."

 

Stuart – "I think Lisa Hannigan would be a lovely collaboration with this stuff."

 

Molly – "Snarky Puppy would make my life."

7 - Any new songs in the pipeline?

 

Abigail – "1000000000000000000"
8 - Any new singles, EP's or album to be released in the near future?

 

"Hopefully an EP will be on the way before Christmas."
9 - Any live dates coming up?

 

"We’re playing at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut on Saturday 7^th September supporting Blood Relatives and Eliza and the Bear. Should be class! Also supporting King Charles in Glasgow Uni Freshers Week."
10 - Who would be in your dream super group?

 

Jack – "James Blake, Dave King (drummer from The Bad Plus), Marcus Mumford, Nicola Benedetti, Jimmy Page and Steve Garrigan (singer from Kodaline)."

 

Abigail - "Itzhak Perlman, Stephane Grappelli, Eva Cassidy, Simon and Garfunkel and Jeff Buckley."

 

Stuart – "This would depend too much on the kind of band for me"

 

Molly – "Jacqueline Du Pre, Morrissey, Jimi Hendrix, Ben Howard and Newton Faulkner."

PART 2 - THE 'QUICKFIRE ROUND'
1 - Favourite Beatle?

 

Jack – "Mr Harrison."

 

Abigail – "John."

 

Stuart – "George or John."

 

Molly – "John Lennon."

2 - Favourite band?

 

Jack – "Too many. Some are The Lumineers, Little Comets, Mumford & Sons and Dry The River."

 

Abigail – "Bon Iver/Mumford/Elbow."

 

Stuart – "Too difficult. Elbow, Frabbit and Sigur Ros would all be in with a shout."

 

Molly – "Far too many to chose between - Twin Atlantic, Snarky Puppy, Coldplay, Parov Stelar, Mumford and Sons to mention a few!"

 

3 - Favourite new band?

 

Jack – "Victorian Trout Conspiracy."

 

Abigail – "The Black Diamond Express."

 

Stuart – "Milo Greene are new to me."

 

Molly – "All Souled Out."

 

4 - Favourite song?

 

Jack – "Again, not a clue. At the moment ‘No Rest’ by Dry The River."

 

Abigail – "Right now ‘Awake My Soul’ - Mumford and Sons."

 

Stuart – "‘Old Fashioned’ - Frabbit."

 

Molly – "At the moment? ‘Booty Swing’ - Parov Stelar"

 

5 - Favourite album?

 

Jack - "'Sigh No More' - Mumford & Sons."

 

Abigail – "‘Songs of Robert Burns’ - Eddi Reader."

 

Stuart – "Either ‘Build a Rocket Boys’ - Elbow or ‘Diamond Mine’ - King Creosote and Jon Hopkins."

 

Molly – "‘Mylo Xyloto’ – Coldplay."

6 - Vinyl, CD or download?

 

"Jack – Vinyl."

 

Abigail – "Don't have a record player, so probably CD."

 

Stuart – "Wish it was vinyl but download in reality."

 

Molly – "Download or CD if I’m in love with the album."

 

7 - Style icon?

 

Jack – "Probably get most of the fashion advice from my sisters..."

 

Abigail – "Jack and his pink denim jacket."

 

Stuart – "I have zero style sense. Although Calum Ingram's Shirt was pretty special."

 

Molly – "Elias Rooney (for his style in cello playing)."

 

8 - Favourite clothing brand?

 

Jack – "Toms have a good 'one for one' thing and cool shoes (don't own a pair yet...)"

 

Stuart – "Converse!"

 

Molly – "If I like it I'll buy it."

 

Abigail – "What Molly said."

 

9 - Favourite film?

 

Jack – "School of Rock (closely followed by Star Wars)."

 

Abigail – "Breakfast at Tiffanys and many more"

 

Stuart – "Star Wars (geek)."

 

Molly – "The Holiday."

 

10 - Favourite TV show?

 

Jack – "Father Ted."

 

Abigail – "Sherlock/Merlin/Lost/too many."

 

Stuart – "Treme."

 

Molly – "One Tree Hill/Brothers and Sisters/Sex and the City (Molly has since been disowned from the band)."

 

11 - Who would you like to play you in a film of your life?

 

Jack – "Michael Cera would be hilarious."

 

Abigail – "Zooey Deschanel."

 

Stuart – "Benedict Cumberbatch would do a cooler job than me."

 

Molly – "Carrie Bradshaw."

 

12 - Favourite food?

 

Jack – "Pizza."

 

Abigail – "Italian."

 

Stuart – "Pizza."

 

Molly – "Cupcakes."

 

13 - Football team?

 

Jack – "Heart of Midlothian."

 

Abigail – "Hearts."

 

Stuart – "Morton."

 

Molly - "Hearts."

 Hope you enjoyed this feature on Paper Crowns! Check out our previous feature on Martin J. Sandom!

 

Check out Paper Crowns' Soundcloud page here - https://soundcloud.com/papercrowns

 

You can also like our Facebook page to keep up to date with all future interviews at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

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