Song reviews

There are times when I wonder if everyone in France has style as “Sous Les Oliviers” exudes style with wistful vocals and some retro synth pop musical influences giving Pilote all she needs to be the new princess of the cool kids.

I like a song that sounds like a soundtrack for delinquency and “Floorfiller Miss” by Scampi Chips Dips & Campari is such a song with that combination of pop punk vibe and bad attitude lyrics sealing the deal for me.

I kind of like this kind of song with Darius Oon sounding like an indie popster of old that has been put on the cheeseburger diet. “Sense” duly exudes sentimentality and, praise be, even uses melody to get the song from start to finish

“Wings of a Butterfly” is a rather sweet song that would not be out of place even 30 years ago. Sesame Girl throw some indie pop, some Americana and some endearing quirkiness into their song and that, unsurprisingly, takes me to the bridge.

Can a song be robustly wistful? If so, “Blue Wave” would be one such song and it is to sundayclub’s credit that they can take all the usual downbeat indie influences and make them work in the way of today.

I’m not sure what serial killers listen to but aiming their ears at Dalinda and her song “The Nile” would surely calm them right down and transport them to somewhere where they can float on a warm sea of heartfelt melancholy.

Not so much a song as a movement, “Sweet Realm” walks the mellow ambient path with some sixties folk singer style female vocals emoting words of deeper meaning and spiritual intent. Anyaz makes me want to buy an electric car.

A reflection on the protest movement of a time gone by if my French is up to translating Pierre Emberger’s intentions correctly, “You Know It’s Not Over” plays out like a spirited middle of the road song that it should be.

“Jolene” is a thoroughly modern pop song with both solid beats and words replete with attitude. It is to Natii’s credit that she manages to make her song work without becoming a mere reflection of someone else.

You can’t say anything other than that FO Machete follow their own path with glee, determination and guitars. Add in some oddly girlish vocals and some off the wall lyrics and “Sleeper Cell” hits the mark square on.

You don’t more gloriously upbeat than Prisoner with their energetic reinvention of that retro garage rock sound filling my ears with ready and willing female vocals, guitar and organ. They are French, by the way, so they do what they do with style.

Another song overflowing with what the old folks might call a bad attitude, “Miss Ego” also has the riffing guitars to match while the feisty Kit Major stands out front and emotes her message of non-compliance with no small degree of spirit.