Song reviews

Allbrook Station go large on the crowd appeal with their song “Crown” having that modern rock band sound polished to perfection. The guitars go full overdrive to keep the song moving but it is those robust vocals that seal the deal.

I didn’t expect to hear a clever song this week yet “TGIF” by Disgusting Sisters is just that. Whilst the beat sounds more than superficially similar to urban trendsetters of past, those loops are decorated with something more ironic than mere style.

Words like wistful and dreamy comes to mind when listening to a song like “Wait Until Tomorrow” by Twirlies and time duly passes as if lost in some candy floss clouds with only a fluttering heart for company.

Polished with the kind of vigour that your gran used to shine the dining room table, “Heartstop” has no rough edges at all and sounds just like a slick modern pop song should and Charlie Davidson’s song will no doubt be heard on a radio near you.

“Stormy Weathers” is a laidback and laconic song that has enough of a lost in the desert vibe to interest the ears and Reverend Stomp have no problem staying on their spiritual course for almost four minutes.

Aka Belle sound a bit dirty – in a good way – with their song “Fittin’ In” digging the retro depths and finding enough in the way of guitars and trippy time lyrics to make all those hand claps seem like a damn fine idea.

Being sung in French always make a song seem stylish and “Envoler” duly passes the cooler than cool test with The Ultimate Dreamers using their laconic take on the late period synth pop sound to make you want to wear sunglasses at night.

“Garden of Stone” resonates with the power chords and stylistic touches expected of a hard rock band and Bastion Rock even manage to include a touch of emotional sensitivity while they are going large on the volume.

Although sounding rather like time travellers from the days when the mall was the only place to buy your guitar, Linda From Work throw in enough in the way rebellious sentiments to make their song seem relevant to today.

Whilst clearly not of the mainstream, “O Quam Tristis” nonetheless has ear appeal with female vocals of such purity that they would make an opera singer jealous turning this song into a fairytale. Electrio abound where others do not.

Rachel Yamagata goes down the piano led ballad route with “Backwards” and she has little trouble stamping literacy, emotion and sheer class all over her song. A song that will offend no one and enchant everyone.

Listening to “Minute Ago”, I thought for a moment that I was hearing a lost Fleetwood Mac song such was Smith & Liddle’s super smooth impersonation of that west coast sound. No doubt about it, this song works.