Whilst looped with merciless precision, “Canary” demonstrates both literacy and a sense of purpose in its lyrics and Veronica D’Souza has a voice with sufficient distinctiveness to make the song move upwards.
“Blender” features some innocuous female vocals before hitting the grunge highway with a degree of conviction that tells you just who this band hero worships. Cosmic Kitten nonetheless make some decent noise with this one.
“Blue Skies” works better than you might initially have expected as Sunny Luwe’s robust vocals are soon matched by some pointed lyrics. This is undoubtedly a song of our times yet it seems more poignant than its obvious commercial potential would suggest.
“Playtime” has that late sixties/early seventies spiritual vibe although Coloured Paper Shapes deliver the song with the kind of polish that would be expected of a Nashville alumni of these days. A radio friendly song.
Milltown Brothers? Yes, another band with a past that stretches back well beyond yesterday. “Grab the Sun” duly sounds like a song performed oldie style with folky harmonies and a curiously incongruous piano enhancing that antique vibe.
Whilst not actually offbeat, Michael Steele has added enough in the way of post punk style angularity and tempo shifts to make his rather melancholic song “Mosaic” rather more interesting than reality television.
Taking a rather more musically mature approach is Robin Kester with her song “The Daylight” exuding a polished precision that neatly complements her wistful vocals. The art is present and correct in this one as is a guitar solo.
Another pop princess in the making, Katrina loops those urban beats around her alternately spoken and sung words that have the modern lyrical directness yet I wonder if her message would be better served in a more organic context.
No doubt about it, Världen Brinner are relentlessly energetic in that, now almost classic, punk style and, with full on female vocals leading the song, “Logistik och Panik” duly riffs and bangs all the way to summer festival friendliness.
Whilst low key to the point of becoming arthouse laconic, Origami Horses still have the stones to riff it up and they duly keep their song “King Crimson from falling into either of the parallel rivers named introspection and melancholy.
Spotless Souls tick all the right style boxes for an indie band on the way up with “In The Heat” keeping the music rigidly confined whilst letting the words and the artistically intensified female vocals provide the added value that gets ears interested..
You know you are in sensitive songwriter territory when you hear a song that is fluffy enough to be mistaken for a cloud. Maddison Kate duly keeps her song “More To Me” far above the ground whilst hiding substance within her words.
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