As a producer, Gordon Raphael has had an uncanny knack of coming across iconic and influential talent. He came across the Strokes at a free gig in a New York bar– subsequently producing their first demos and seminal debut album, Is This It? He started working with Regina Spektor after someone recommended he check out “This unknown Russian girl”. Now, he’s about to launch another unfamiliar but musical talent onto a wider stage: himself.

While acts from Damon Albarn, Ian Brown, the Cult’s Ian Astbury and now Spanish outfit Hinds – along with countless smaller groups – have enjoyed the Seattle-born Gordon’s Midas touch, he is foremost a musician and songwriter. “I love producing, but playing guitar and writing songs is what I’ve always done,” he enthuses. “I wanted to show what I can do on the other side of the desk all the time, but producing kept getting in the way.”

He’s making up for it with 12 new songs that reflect a lifetime listening to music, but are particularly inspired by the glam rock era David Bowie, the inimitable guitar sound of Mick Ronson, the glam pop perfection of Kimono My House-era Sparks and a love of Frank Zappa, prog rock and weird found sounds. Gordon’s vocals is a sound of hazy Peter Perrett/Syd Barratt drawl. After writing literally over a thousand songs, these are the 12 which he holds most dear.

Among them are two singles. View From Blue came to him in a dream (and is revisited in a totally different, stranger fashion for album closer Deep Psyche). Another standout is I Sleep On The Radio, effectively Gordon’s love letter to the pop radio experience through the ears of his teenage self, listening to a transistor radio under the pillow.

Gordon Raphael
Sleep On The Radio
TRACK LISTING

1. View From Blue

2. Seven Stars

3. It’s So Sleepy In This Noisy Chair

4. I Sleep On The Radio

5. Never Shoulda Started

6. A Balanced Excess

7. Superstrong

8. Savage

9. I Said

10. Ring Of Gold

11. SWDWSTY

12. Deep Psyche (Melty version)