Self Tort
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | SELF
Music
Press
SelfTort - N.I.C.:
We've been advertising on MIXPOSURE , our number one choice site for "home-produced" music (what was called, when I joined in the movement 'round 1980, "D.I.Y." music).
SelfTort (a.k.a. Brian Ralston) was one of the players we particularly enjoyed in MIX, so we were especially happy to receive this CD from him... his playing has energies often not heard in the "big bands" these days - just RAW vitality! All th' way from high-end rawk (track 6, "Frankenstein's Bride"), to beat-driven jazz/blues ("Light The Flame", cut 9, which brings back mem'ries (in some ways) of N'Aw'leans & Dr. John-like funkin' 'round - some STRONG & gravelly vocals on this one). It's th' mellow & bluesy opening track ("Best Man") that was my favorite piece on th' album, however... some genuinely funky bass rolls down, 'round, under & through SelfTort's soul-filled vocal - this tune (along with many others) will get it's "hook" in ya', & you won't forget it - & he plays some kick-azz organ on this cut, which grabbed me right away!
Brian's been playing since th' '70's, so he's got chops that won't quit, & it's clear that he's dedicated to expressing his soul through his music.
I'm highly impressed, with the clear artistry demonstrated on his first album, as well as the grand production values! D.I.Y. ain't never been as good as it is today!
If you're looking for music with clear focus & creativity, this comes MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me! Get more information at www.selftort.xs4.info or e-mail him at selftort@hotmail.com
"N.I.C." is also available for purchase at http://cdbaby.com/cd/selftort
Rotcod Zzaj - Dick Metcalf
Wow... this is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard on the site. Although the author classifies it as country, it really is more in the New Jersey rock tradition, with beautifully played piano very reminiscent of E-Street's Roy Bittan.
The singing too, really reminds of the Jersey sound, and the lyrics which ride the fence between sublime and child-like (the word sublime is in the lyric!), are also highly typical of Jersey rock.
What a beautiful song, a true joy to listen to. If I have only one criticism, it is that I would have used rim-shots and not a heavy snare during that first verse. :-)
- Admiralbob77 mp3.com.au 8 January, 2005
- He's done it again!
Punchy, catchy and ear pleasing from the first note! That's how your songs always come across to me ST, they are immediate with a strong theme which you retain throughout the structure with no dips, you are always committed to the whole piece and you create brilliant arrangements, then you sing with a powerful conviction that's hard to resist.
The changes are seamless and so right for the tune and it's pretty hard hitting pop/rock and the kind we love so much. Sorry Paul can't listen in until later but I'm having great fun with this one, we're big fans of yours and finding a new song on offer in your armoury is a real treat and when I found this one I clicked on it like a greedy little monster!!
Superb solo, very melodic, the pace is ripping, lyrics are diverse enough to be interesting and your voice brings out all the accents with a slight aggresssion and sexiness that is required to deliver a song of this title and content.
All in all an excellent production and another winner, and congrats on your number 1 placing in rock, your music provides us with one more shining reason to be a part of mixposure, and knowing you as a friend is also a pleasure that we feel blessed with.
ROCK ON YOU AWESOME ARTIST!!!!
- Maria Daines - mixposure.com 7 March, 2006
GREAT SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I could hear Joe Cocker doing this.
Really well written song with good lyrics.
Your vocals, guitar, the piano, the whole track sounds great. Mix and production are also pretty good. Strings are a bit loud. Excellent demo. You should definately shop this around to some publishers.
Good luck.
- Di Carlo mixposure.com 23 September, 2005
I'll Drink To A Great Songwritin Bastard This is a wonderful song with a good melody and lyrics that tell us a story that is vivid as vivid can be.
Wonderful recording. Great feel! And the one thing I love about this track is the vocal performance engages you and you are hooked and you must listen to the entire song to know what will happen next. There is quite a cinematic nature to this song.
I love your vocal performance. Very passionate and intense. The organ part is perfectly placed and is quite haunting as is the entire song!!!
I will raise my glass a drink a beer to one hell of a great songwritin' bastard!!! Cheers!
I had a job like you back in the 70s. Workin' all day in a slaughterhouse can drive you to quite a few drinks mate!!
Download Recommendation!
- Guy Michetti mixposure.com 1 September, 2005
HEAR THIS TRACK GOVERNMENT!!!
I am very heart sunkened and heartache when I heard new of such tradegies. In China too, many miners (over a hundred in one accident) had been killed in the recent mine explosion accident but the authorities don't seem to put a stop to this kind of accident. The contractor did not complied with the safety regulation and yet they can carried out their works. Was there a bribery going on there? The local Chinese are very famous of this act - although I am a Chinese myself, I do not agreed with what they are doing now - life is more precious than any thing - not money, not fame and not even power.
PRODUCTION :-
Top-notch sound quality in a form of studio sound scape, professional and clean. Excellence sound in the mixing and recording.
VOCAL :-
Self Tort always give me a very close kin in his vocal range, sound like someone I know long time ago. Is this what they called musical kinetic chain? Hahaha!!!!
MELODY :-
This track swing like a free loader - flying freely over the moutain villay and it passes through each path - it bring greeness in it too. And perhaps it should bring some lights to the wounded Hardie's Men too.
MUSIC :-
I love the piano jamping and riding along the melody line with the melodious organ roam. Bassline is wonderfully crafted and the lyrics is well written. James Hardie should wake up after hearing this song.
OUTPUT :-
* 4 X MIXPIX!!!
* DOUBLE TREATS!!!
- Piperon mixposure.com 11 December, 2005
Wow... this is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard on the site. Although the author classifies it as country, it really is more in the New Jersey rock tradition, with beautifully played piano very reminiscent of E-Street's Roy Bittan.
The singing too, really reminds of the Jersey sound, and the lyrics which ride the fence between sublime and child-like (the word sublime is in the lyric!), are also highly typical of Jersey rock.
What a beautiful song, a true joy to listen to. If I have only one criticism, it is that I would have used rim-shots and not a heavy snare during that first verse. :-)
- Admiralbob77 mp3.com.au 8 January, 2005
There's something to be said for age and experience in music. You embody what's best of having that. You made a timeless Pop/Rock track. I think it would easily fit anywhere in the 1970s up to the present. Has a great beat and great lyrics. It's fun to listen to. I could imagine The Romantics, Rick Springfield, or even The Click Five doing a tune like this one. Are you sure you aren't under contract with someone? Great work!
- Rob Astor mixposure.com 14 March, 2006
Definitely a fan
Despite the obvious funk character to it, I can really see your Peter Gabriel influence in the arrangement of the tune, not to mention its production (or would it be more correct to say Daniel Lanois?) For some odd reason, the overall vibe of the tune also reminds me of Paul Revere & The Raiders' "Boys in the Band." Please, please, please, keep up the great work! This may have grown out of writers block, as you cited, but it certainly has something to it!
- Noah Kerr mixposure.com 24 December, 2005
"Best Man" gets on down and does the funky chicken - "Best Man"
kingcongaman loves the groove of best man...funky ckicken...mashed potato...the orangutan stomp.. i danced,i fell down, got back up and straightened the furniture then danced some more to the cool organ groove and tasty guitar licks....this song is a great party groove to shuffle your feet and wag your bum to...well done!
- kingcongaman mp3.com.au 5 June, 2005
My favorite
Out of everything I've listened to by you -- and each of these songs has a special place for me -- this is my favorite. You really seem to give in to the feelings while you're singing and hold nothing back. It all sounds so natural too ... like you just picked up an instrument, thought about the girl you had admired, and sang exactly what you were feeling without a second thought of what would come from it. I'm sure it didn't happen this way. You planned out the song completely. But that's what I like so much. It still conveys that natural, "raw" feeling and sits it right in your lap to make you think.
Graydon Smith mixposure.com 16 December, 2005
- Graydon Smith mixposure.com 16 December, 2005
There's something to be said for age and experience in music. You embody what's best of having that. You made a timeless Pop/Rock track. I think it would easily fit anywhere in the 1970s up to the present. Has a great beat and great lyrics. It's fun to listen to. I could imagine The Romantics, Rick Springfield, or even The Click Five doing a tune like this one. Are you sure you aren't under contract with someone? Great work!
- Rob Astor mixposure.com 14 March, 2006
Discography
"N.I.C" released in Sydney, Australia, on 25 March, 2006 (available from CDBaby (https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/selftort)
"Tortology" released Sydney 12 June, 2010
(https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/selftort2)
Photos
Bio
Self Tort was declared the Sydney winner of the "Exhumed" competition run by the ABC in 2013.
Self Tort has been the recording and performing alter ego of Brian Ralston since 2000. Self Tort released its debut CD, “N.I.C”, in May, 2006 and this was followed up with the release of "Tortology" in 2010. Tracks from both CDs have received airplay in Australia and world wide.
A third CD was due for release in late 2013 but the fun and excitement of the Exhumed competition put that on the back-burner. Tentatively titled "Inca Hoots" it consists of such which Brian has cowritten with fellow songwriters, most of whom he has met over the internet. It is now anticipated that the CD will be released in 2014.
For the Exhumed competition Brian called on the services of Lilo Blyton (fiddle), Ben Hewson (guitar), Chris Stafford (bass) and Graham Doust (drums). The band has recorded two tracks "Oldest Roadies on the Earth" and "Mid Life Crisis".
Brian will also be releasing early 2014 a release under his real name, tentatively titled "Stripped Bare" which will be an acoustic CD of Brian's original songs.
Brian’s aim is to pursue the acoustic outlets for his material (whilst not abandoning the one-man band set up entirely) with a view to promoting his original material. Self Tort’s acoustic repertoire now consists of in excess of 20 original songs which can be supplemented by a vast reservoir of covers.
Self Tort’s music varies from gentle (“What Could I Say” ), through reflective (“I Can See it From Here”, “Time To Train the Horses”), satirical and political (“Ordinary Rendition”), angry and political (“Bush Whore”, “Hardies Men”), powerful (“Six O’Clock Swill”, “Scratching at Scars”) to the light-hearted (“Once Is Enough”) and the down-right funny (“What’s the Attraction”, “Oldest Roadies on the Earth”, “Mid Life Crisis”). And that’s only the acoustic range. Strap on the electric and you can add hard rock, pop, swing, reggae and funk to that list.
The audio samples contained on this EPK contain versions of Self Tort in both acoustic and electric settings. The acoustic tracks have been recorded as “one takes” with guitar and vocals being recorded in the one performance. So the versions you hear are accurate depictions of what Self Tort sounds like “live”.
The video is from a live performance by Self Tort at Darling Harbour on 17 November, 2007 and depicts him in “electric” mode.
In addition to his own solo material, in recent years Self Tort has collaborated with a number of other artists (Alexis Van Eeckhout, Red Eye C, Lex Zaleta, Ratman, Gary Carciello, James David Knght, Rob Favre) both as a writer, vocalist, guitarist and keyboard player.
Self Tort includes Jack Bruce, Gary Brooker, Pete Townsend, Ray Davies, Peter Gabriel and Richard Thompson as significant influences on his original material. Vocally, his cigarette affected voice has been compared at various times to Joe Cocker, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello.
At the present time Self Tort is working on a number of projects including the follow up CD to "N.I.C". The tracks "Self Sufficient" and "What's The Attraction" which are included in the audio section of this EPK are earmarked for that album. These tracks were mastered by Online Mixing and Mastering http://online-mixing-and-mastering.com.
ST's collaborations with Lex Zaleta have resulted in six completed songs of which four have been recorded. Hopefully this project will be completed during 2008.
Self Tort also is in the process of recording an instrumental CD. This will include two tracks on which Self Tort was joined by the sensational Belgian saxophonist Alexis Van Eeckhout.
Self Tort continues to write and record. He recently attended a seminar conducted by Pat Pattison of the Berklee School of Music and will continue to explore and hone the art of songwriting.
Self Tort's track, Self Sufficient was recently included in a compilation CD issued by German radio station Radio-Herzklopfen. "N.I.C" has received extensive airplay on Radio Skid Row's Action Break Theatre Show, on Eurobodalla Radio 2 EAR FM 107.5, ichannelmusic.com and nexusradio.co.uk.
Self Tort is a member of the Songwriting Society of Australia.
Band Members
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