Ralfe Band - Women Of Japan

  by Jamie Rowland

published: 27 / 4 / 2006

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Review

Ralfe Band’s 2005 album, ‘Swords’, was a selection of twisted sea-shanties with surreal lyrics and a quirky sense of humour (it’s no surprise to learnt that the band appeared in the popular and highly strange BBC comedy 'The Mighty Boosh'). ‘Women of Japan’ is the third single to be taken from the album, and it tells a tale of leafless sticks, murderous Spanish chartered accountants, dead Iranian children and, of course, all of the women in Japan. The B-sides are ‘Run Down the Lane’ and ‘Sleepwalking at the Carnival’. They are a couple of eerie waltzes which conjure up images of dark alleys filled with scallywags and ne’er-do-wells, or an old folk legend you might hear in some isolated pub on a cold, rainy night. I’m a big fan of all things quirky and humorous, so it’s no surprise to me that I love this single wholly and completely. Ralfe Band are one of a number of artists breathing fresh life into folk, which includes Bristol-based SJ Esau and creepy Kentish minstrel Lupen Crook; taking traditional English music and turning it not quite on it’s head, but certainly at quite a jaunty angle.

Track Listing:-

1 Women Of Japan
2 Run Down The Lane
3 Sleepwalk At The Carnival
4 Women Of Japan (video)