Song reviews

Sounding like a throwback to the retro days of the nineties does Roman Clarke no harm at all and his song “What Are We Gonna Do” is both ear and radio friendly. I like songs that you can sing along with so that’s what I am gonna do.

If song could ever be described as sophisticated then “Im Rhy” by Gina Été would be a certain candidate for such a title. Low key and infused with both melancholy and jazz influences, the song shows that Gina Été has class aplenty.

Eminently tasteful and in worship of the glory days of English folk music, “Woebetide Hill” resonates with respect for the spiritual motivations of the songwriters of the past and Kim Thompsett duly adds enough air to float the song towards the sky.

“Oh You Are Not Well” has the words of the big city yet is infused with the spirit of the wilderness. I suppose that makes Chloe Foy something of a folk singer although she seems more interested in reality than its spiritual substitute. Intense.

Endearing in the way that only sugary indie pop can be, Sweden’s Silvermannen skip sweetly through their song “Mr Hyde” with all the poise and delicacy that such songs should have. Finger snapping is the only way to go with this one.

Ticking all the requisite style boxes for today seems so easy for Duchess with her song “Situation” sounding so much like a chart hit that many might miss the irony inherent to her musical approach. I bet she knows that success is more than just style.

Alexandria Maillot gets as much angular angst into her song “Messed It Up” as she can. The hook, however, has not been forgotten amongst the guitar powered anguish and this song will therefore store itself successfully in your memory.

Mixing unmistakeable humour with bad taste, Eat The Evidence give us a beer drinking song to make you smile your way through the summer. Well, as it could happen to any of us, we should all learn the lessons contained in “Sicky Slip”.

You can’t go far wrong with the tasteful use of retro influences and, with enough melody, to get “Need 2 Please U” from verse to chorus, KRAYNE make it all seem like a very good idea indeed. A band worth watching out for.

I don’t often get to call a song relentlessly upbeat these days yet that is the only correct description for “Sensei Tree” by Edinburgh’s IDKID with their obvious enthusiasm shining through its sub three minute duration. It’s a pop punk power up!

Immersed in introspective sentimentality, Sofia Talvik walks a lonely road with her song “Take Me Home”. It’s not the first time she has taken this musical path but the folk and country accents give the song added emotional resonance.

“Fire” won’t scare your maiden aunt yet it is that very mainstream musical appeal that gives “Fire” by Hannah Rosa a direction and that direction will likely get her exposure wherever a soundtrack to the day is needed.