Song reviews

I like it when the groove gets groovy. West Lothian band The Tropicanas start up their song “Pop Snuff It” and drift it on to the groove highway to magically overtake their dreampop and loungecore influences. Mellow fruitfulness indeed!

Modern Christian music doesn’t usually rev my engine, yet Heistheartist pulls something urban and offbeat out of the style bag to make “Parted Waves” less of a Stepford sermon and more of a spiritual revelation that has made it to the sunshine.

Bourbon House clearly keep the seventies rock playbook close to their collective heart and “Resonate” duly ticks the boxes for muscular riffs and powerhouse female vocals. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to drink beer. Lots of beer.

That Nashville sound pervades “This Ain’t That” and, as you might therefore surmise, the song is both smoothly produced and lyrically sharp. Brenda Cay has the voice to make the words seem real so radio playlisting in pickup truck country is assured.

The day of the acoustic singer songwriter has yet to pass and, even with some additional accompaniment, “6 Feet Away” is unmistakeably a singer songwriter song. Lacey Cains keeps the words neat and tidy but the song escapes anyway.

Locked into lo-fi mode, Bunkhouse and their drum machine take a walk on the retro electropop side to find the inspiration for “RIP.ie” and come back with a shopping trolley full of wonky words, ironic harmonies and stray chords. Smack me now.

This song felt kind of cuddly. Softly sung and holding a staunchly acoustic course, Katrina Cain leads us, with her song “Independence Day”, on a journey from yesterday straight to the heart of the matter. A song worthy of a sigh.

All songs aren’t happy songs and “Part of Life” most certainly isn’t a happy song with a brooding melancholy pervading its entire length. As you might therefore expect, Methoxy goes deep with her words to keep her song on its chosen track.

Not being a fashion guru, I don’t know if laidback is the new black but, if that should indeed be the case, “Ochre” would make a perfect soundtrack to smoky musings on the meaning of life. Goon me one more time and pass the herbal tea.

Joe Normal strikes out once more for the main road with another blue collar anthem that goes by the name of “Summer Jobs” putting the tiger in his tank. It’s an upbeat song that features alcohol and cigarettes so sing along. You know it makes sense.

There is no doubting that “Ce Poème” is powered by a convincing, if French style, solid urban groove yet M Unknow chooses to disguise his own lyrical abilities with the use of excessive vocal processing that serves only to dilute his message.

She’s got the classic late eighties urban soul sound down to a tee and “Hearts In A Cage” duly highlights Natalie Duncan’s natural ability to keep it classy. The song suits her and she suits the song and you can’t get better than that.