Song reviews

Americana gets everywhere these days and it is therefore no surprise that Croatian band She Brought Me Gasoline have captured that old timey vibe and have duly used banjo power to give their song “A Hole In The Souls” the stamp of authenticity.

Almost super cool, “Couldn’t Say Yes” highlights just why Rhonda are a band to listen out for. Whilst stylistically lost, like so many, in the reverb of the past, the intoxication that is the voice of Milo Milone soon entrances and your heart becomes hers. Immense!

Whist purposely overdosing on lo-fi grunge, Kieran Hughes nevertheless strikes his axe in all the right places to turn “Won’t Let Me Home” into a suitably bleak and bluesy way to keep your beer company on those cold winter nights. This is the in tune for a twisted soul.

Commercial and none the worse for that, Charlie Melrose cleverly stays within the sonic boundaries of the modern day electro pop genre whilst simultaneously displaying a talent for hiding deeper messages within the confines of her lyrics. A worthy approach, for sure.

Nominjin resurrects those old school jazz funk influences and duly populates her song “Kiss Me At Midnight” with retro dancefloor appeal and Even the mid song rap can’t stop me from drawing comparisons with the deity that is Sophie Ellis Bextor.

Not entirely sure what Milwaukee is actually famous for- possibly beer? - but “Lifestyle” by OQ might just get that city some more exposure with pulsating rhythms, folk influences and the odd touch of the avant-garde giving this meandering song purpose.

Retro is the future and, duly, Every Kid Knows head all the way back to a long forgotten, flower powered time when “Spinning Jenny” would have been a radio anthem. Times may have changed but a good song will always be a good song.

Whilst the dance floor roots of the song remain, the relaxed pacing allows “Blue Satin” to develop rather more atmospheric camouflage than such electronic creations usually do. ANNA VR clearly has more class and ambition than most of her contemporaries.

A nice slice from the indie rock cake, “Saturday Night” demonstrates that The Treble know what is expected of them and, with the addition of some crowd pleasing lyrics and a suitably big chorus, successfully set course for radio play.

I suppose that you could categorise “Lessons” by Sinead Harnett as almost old school in terms of the modern day urban genre, but she has a voice that is easily capable of adding what they used to call soul to the lyrics. She knows how to make it real.

The blues is always where it is at and ElectroBluesSociety have, once again, drafted in Boo Boo Davis to turn their respectful cover of “Smokestack Lightnin” into something organic and timeless. It is all done right and that’s a fact.

Suitably honest and direct, Hooby and the Yabbit tell it like it is with “Tea and Toast” resonating with the robustness that only beer, the blues and guitars can bring. Whilst not breaking new ground, it is nonetheless abundantly clear that this is a Saturday night soundtrack.