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.
After setting their guitars on maximum grunge, Polish shoegaze band March Dove crank up the drama and, with the addition of some wistful female vocals as the counterpoint, duly make their song “Skyfalling” seem almost mystical.
Pleasingly upbeat pop from Italy that is duly delivered with a degree of style that you just don’t get up here in the cold, “Tempo” also has some timely lyrics and an infectious melody in its favour. Gionathan makes the sunshine brighter.
You can feel the deeper purpose in “Ointment” with HalfCutLemon adding sweet theatrical moves and a symphonic sweep to their post punk angularity. With their guitars set to maximum, this band sound like they mean what they sing.
Lorraine-Deitrich clearly walk on the stylish side of the rock street and their song “Everybody Wants Some Love” throws in some angular post punk moves to further distinguish them from the crowd. Sounds good to me.
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