Artist – Ralph of London
Album: Yellow Sky Highway
Record Label: unsigned
Release Date: April 8, 2022
Ralph is a songwriter, drummer and producer from Hackney in London. He has played for various established artists, including Scritti Politti and since 2011 for Lawrence de Felt’s band: Go-Kart Mozart and co-founded Ezra Bang & Hot Machine and Bank of Joy. He first formed Ralph of London as a solo project in 2016. After putting out a handful of singles and recording his first full-length album Ralph then went over to Northern France and has since been working with musicians Léopold, François and Diane to refine the band’s live repertoire. They soon began recording new music and have recently dropped the EP ‘Yellow Sky Highway’ recorded at their recently self-built Yellow Sky Studios, located within the disused premises of a Protestant Temple.
“Yellow Sky Highway serves as an introduction to the sonic palette we created throughout the last two years of development as a band. It’s a dystopian vision of our journey as a society into an environment characterised more by our waste than by the nature that once harnessed us.”
Ralph – Press release
With these five new songs, Ralph Of London brings us sumptuous and wandering melodies combining synthesized rock, West African polyrhythm and English folk, fused into melodic pop. The EP is underlined by a lyrical narrative that delves into our fragmented social environment. We are first introduced to the track “Rose of Shame” which has an upbeat and catchy guitar riff as well some sparkling synth combinations with an almost outer space feel. However, as with many of the tracks, this is contrasted with those aforementioned dark undertones coming in the lyrics.
Then comes “White Bred Blues” a song of despair focusing on human nature’s obsession and the need to possess, to control and how this very nature will deprive us of the things we strive for. However hope can be heard reflected within the melody, groove and gorgeous harmonies as we are able to as Ralph suggested “liberate ourselves from the bleakness of our realities”. This is then followed by “Guillotine Kisses” which comes halfway between folk and rock at times reminiscent of The Stone Roses but with some interesting twists and very enjoyable exotic synth sounds.
Though a main feature of the EP involves a misleading upbeat melody contrasted with dark lyrics “Lys” seems more clear cut as we hear the words “breathing without feeling” with the darkness echoed more closely in the melody especially with the magical yet haunting synth chiming in. This leads us into the last track “Flowers Of Edo” which is completely different from the previous track perhaps to leave the listener on a happy far less sombre note in terms of delivery whilst still keeping those dark undercurrents, this time focusing on issues like the human ego and want for possession. There is an 80’s feel especially in the backing vocals with the higher pitches contrasting with the lead as well as sparkly synths recalling those retro video games, I even felt some inspiration from games like Mario at one point.
‘Yellow Sky Highway’ is a captivating blend of bright synth flourishes, enticing pop melodies and delightful harmonies that mask the songs darker lyrical narratives as the band can be heard challenging planetary destruction, societal spoils and visions of a dystopian future. The EP is available on streaming platforms now so be sure to check it out.
Alongside the EP comes a video game by the same name ‘Yellow Sky Highway’, where the player gets to take the wheel behind a revolutionary spacecraft for the noble challenge of doing a spot of planetary housekeeping. With five levels to the game, each themed around a song on the EP, the player is rewarded with a download from the EP for each level completed. A successful completion of all five levels earns the player the entire EP and digital release package. You can play the game here.
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