Song reviews

Danjul loops “Dirty Playground” all the way into urban territory with retro style samples and repetition being used to add that essential character. Powered by the computer, this is truly the sound of a modern day pop song.

Vikki and The Gits are from Glasgow but they actually sound more like an American punk band than victims of that no mean city. “Dopamine” has decently acerbic lyrics and more melody and vocal character than you might have been expecting.

J D Allan has been about for a bit so “Kill In June” has, unsurprisingly, put the stamp of maturity upon his song with some almost obsessional lyrics keeping things well and truly on the dark side of the street.

Harmonies have always done it for me and sister duo Surely Shirley indeed do a very nice line in those sublime sibling harmonies. “Safe For Another Day” therefore sounds like a song from a bygone era but that works just fine for my ears.

Keeping it simple and layering on the grungy guitars is the way to go and Jesika von Rabbit pulls a whole pile of retro influences out of her hat to make this song simultaneously purposeful and familiar. Play loud for medicinal effect.

Retro soul rather than old school soul, Hot Lobby demonstrate a most decent degree of musical skill in keeping the funk in their song “Clarissa’s Theme” safely on the laidback and mellow path. One for the summer nights.

Moody synths and robotic sequencers keep “Last Night Was A Mistake” in the emotional loop with some, almost disconsolate, female vocals adding the human touch. Even the cool kids will resonate their hearts to this one.

Updating the musical moves of seventies singer songwriters with the sounds of today is Veronica Fusaro’s thing and her song “No Rain No Tears” provides proof that sentiment and melody can still take you all the way to the bridge.

Mixing poetry into his angst comes easily to M John Henry – no surprise given his De Rosa heritage – and “You Show Me Ways” duly exudes his redemption bound torment in a suitably elegant and melodious manner.

After a wistful start, Aleia takes her song “Had Your Fun” on a road trip to the land of introspection and crushed hearts and does so in the company of both melody and suitably acerbic lyrics. There’s talent in her.

Right on the pulse of fashion again, Linds Sais loops herself into her song “Two Hot Weeks Of You” with heart on her sleeve determination and a clear sense of direction. As pop princesses of today go, Linds Sais is a contender.

It’s been a day for discovering pop princesses and Sofia Gillani sounds like she wants to stake a claim to the throne. Her song “Chains” is energetically performed but, as the way of today, is so heavily processed that her message goes astray.