Song reviews

Some spirited alt-rock with a side order of venomous bounce in the lyrics from California’s Plastic Rhino and “Takeitall” duly riffs, and even raps, past the three minute mark with the convincingly obsessive female vocals making it real.

I’d almost call “Why Do I Wake Up Every Morning?” by Michel Ducci quirky and, now that I have listened to it again, this one is actually quirky in that playful way that songs of long ago used to be. A feel good song.

“The Green” is straight down the line rock from Greek band Honeybadger and their song duly lays down the powerhouse riffage and macho vocals that will tick all the style boxes that fans of the genre expect.

I had it in my mind that Quad90 were some sort of dance duo but their song “Sentimental Sunday” ramps right up with harmonies and melody reminiscent of a chartbound seventies pop song. Sugar sweet all the way to the bridge.

Complex yet catchy, “Sgleinio” shows that long time indie favourites Melys haven’t lost their ability to engage your ears and take them on a worthy three minute journey to happiness. Andrea Parker’s voice is the sugar on top.

The ghost of Britpop haunts “You Always Come First” but, fear not, Marionette are more than mere revivalists and their song very nearly overloads itself on a combination of raw energy and edgy guitar work.

A Psalm, it says here. Whether it is or not, I would not know but what I do know that the purity of Ruth Campbell’s voice would make any song, secular or otherwise, sound just fine. “How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place” duly runs straight and true.

An odd one, this. Heather Pierson’s voice has both purity and honesty and the words to her song “We Will Take Care of Each Other” are both simple and direct so this song seems not of today but of some better time and place.

Louise Connell gets some poetry and a clean needle and duly injects it into the casually paced “All The Smartest People” with her maturity and metaphorical intent being consequently released into our world of music.

I can’t say that I am a fan of Americana but, that said, even I would have to admit that “Little Bird” enchants my ears and Kirsten Adamson’s endearing delivery of some decent lyrics works just as it should. Delightful.

Emotional Intensity is easily found in “Med Sorg og Salte Tårer” by Annlaug Børsheim with the combination of her voice, words that exude sadness and those broken down garage style guitars making this walk in the shadows seem spiritual.

Layering on the self-reflection like only a proper singer songwriter can, Jodie Nicholson takes “Sleep On It” and turns it into a wistful anthem for the sensitive souls amongst us to enjoy with our soya cappuccino.