A debut 3 track E.P. from new London protopunk band RAW FUN. Featuring singer, guitarist and songwriter - Patrice Picard (80s garage-trash monsters The Cannibals), drums - Manu Santos (punk band Michael Jackson) and bass - Joaquin Gonzalez (Las Aspiradoras)

These tracks were mixed in Detroit by The Dirtbombs Jim Diamond (White Stripes, Sonics, Fleshtones producer) and is distributed by Dirty Water Records. 'Be ready for fast, no-nonsense three minutes songs. Dirty, on the edge and full of energy'.

Title track Won’t Be Told is melodic and catchy with riffs a-go-go. Upbeat, with a perfectly balanced mixture of 70s punk pop and defiance. You can almost hear the stamping of feet.

Shades has that twangy surf guitar edge, and is the grittier side of rock n roll; quite Cramps-esque. It has a more intense broodiness about it. The strongest track on the EP, and definitely my favourite.

Til The End Of The Song is punk ‘n’ roll with pop sensibilities.

The E.P. is available now from Dirty Water Records by download or 7” vinyl.

"Instrumentalists", they said. High expectations very often lead to grave disappointment, however I was more than willing to hedge my bets on this lot ...

For those less familiar with these Medway stalwarts, allow me to give you a brief introduction. We have Jon Barker - organ, Graham Day - guitar, Darryl Hartley - bass guitar, and Wolf Howard - drums and percussion. You’ll of course know Day and Howard more recently from the Forefathers; a kind of tribute band to their own exceptional back catalogue. Also, we have ex-members of The Gaolers, The Daggermen, and The Buff Medways to mention but a few.

As good as it was to hear The Forefathers, I was really hoping for some new material to get excited about.

I’m so full of anticipation about hearing the new tracks; knowing full well that this is the one precious time that I’ll hear it brand new. I get myself settled in, and here we go... Wow! and yet, I shouldn’t be too surprised. It’s a sound that I’m more than familiar with having been a follower of most of the band’s members in various guises for the last 25 years or so, particularly Mr Day. I guess it just goes to show that over time, the quality of the aforementioned songwriting abilities are stronger than ever.

Citing influences of high calibre - Barry Gray, John Barry, Ennio Morricone and Booker T & The MG’s, you can certainly catch glimpses of them all here. 'Depth Charge' could have been lifted straight from of an episode of UFO or Space 1999, or incidental party music from a late ‘60s Hammer film. Opening with vibrato that puts the Electric Prunes to shame; It’s groovy, sexy, psychedelic, distinctly British, unmistakably Day, and perfectly paced for a shimmy around the floor.    

'Hall Of Mirrors' has a more laid back Barry-esque feel to it; charming, seductive, and a just little bit dangerous. 

Both tracks were recorded at Borstal Road Studios (Jon’s house), and more tracks will soon be released on twelve inch vinyl by Damaged Goods Records.

Single launch gig at The Half Moon, Putney at the end of the month, which I'll be there to cover (lucky me!). Full details on the flyer below. 

The Optic Nerve, from Brooklyn, were an '80s '60s revival band. They stuck around for a couple of years during the mid-eighties, but it’s only now that their work is coming to light. It’s not however your standard '80s garage revival fare that’s for sure. If you’re expecting the usual screaming whirling farfisa and fuzz, then please be prepared for something very different.

A side 'Penelope Tuesday', is a bright, breezy, very pleasant psych-pop-folk number. Like taking a trip down to Carnaby Street on a sunny day. With a name like Penelope Tuesday, one could not really expect anything less.  

B side 'Here To Stay' is a slower paced more ponderous affair, with harmonies reminiscent of Beatles / Byrds.

This particular single was released by State Records in September 2015, and (news, just hot off the press!) has voted as Best Single of 2015 by the writers of none other than Shindig! Magazine. I hear that there may be a full length retrospective released in 2016, so if that floats your boat check out their facebook page here for news.

Penelope Tuesday is a limited run of 500 7"s and is available from State Records.

Meet Tomás Doncker, the bluesman whose honest sense of soulfulness has earned him a respected spot on the scene for over thirty years and running. Over the course of his seasoned career, Doncker has worked with some of the all-time greats, from Yoko Ono, Bonnie Raitt and Grammy Award-winning Bill Laswell to Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa. Doncker’s forthcoming album The Mess We Made details the pain engendered by racism still being alive and well in the world today.

“It all started on the day of the Charleston Massacre, the heinous events which occurred on June 17, 2015 pushed me over the edge. I was overwhelmed with rage, hatred, confusion and disillusionment. I had no place to put these feelings. I had no idea how to process them. So, in a selfish attempt to maintain my own sanity I did the only thing I could do, write about it. By Sunday, June 21, I had written 4 new songs. Within ten days I had recorded the 8 songs that would become, The Mess We Made”.

The first single lifted from The Mess We Made is ‘Church Is Burning Down’, a direct discussion on not only the Charleston shooting, but also on hate-crime in general. Opening with a fidgety beat which draws to mind retro drum machines, Tomás Doncker soon chimes in: “Misinformation, this information/So much speculation going round. Unholy fire in the house of God/Can’t turn away, can’t fair the ride, fourteen times in seven days”. The track is full of fire, drive and restlessness. Doncker’s indignation, which serves as a conduit for the anger of a persecuted group, is seething through funky guitars and thumping bass: “So damn sick and tired of being sick and tired”. 

‘Church Is Burning Down’ takes a firm stand against hatred. While Doncker could very well have gone with a solemn and saddened first single for the album, he has instead chosen a fiercely upbeat number that’s imbued with a powerful message and a poignant sense of solidarity. 

‘Church Is Burning Down’ is available from Amazon & iTunes.