Song reviews

Almost organic in feel, “Happier Now” has the lilting vocals and acoustic guitar from the folk music of a former generation but native Harrow has added words of timeless appeal. The result may sound retro but the song in undeniably easy on the ear.

It would seem that “Wide Awake” by Phonettes is the work of a film composer so it is no surprise that the song succeeds in creating atmosphere from analogue synth sounds, laidback vocals and steady thematic development. The maturity shines through.

A man who has not forgotten the power and necessity of melody, Rob Snarski takes a walk on the lounge side with his song “All God’s Creatures”. Fortunately, class is always where it is at and this is a song with class stamped all over it.

Probably too low key and moody to have dance floor appeal, Loi Loi’s “Sliver Light” is still a child of sequenced rigidity and duly demonstrates why the songs of this synth pop duo will sound so much better after dark.

Showing a mastery of the ethereal comes easily to Alice Phoebe Lou and “Galaxies” further strengthens her position as a poet in the popular music pantheon. The drifting melody and trippy tone somehow make this song seem curiously sonorous too.

Worshipping Weezer (probably) isn’t a crime and Bony Macaroni are certainly guilty of such adoration with their song “France” bursting out of the speakers like songs did when retro was new. Nonetheless, a song as boisterous and upbeat as this screams summer at me.

I don’t know if this song by Drinking Boys and Girls Choir signifies some sort of skater boy revival but “National Police Shit” is what it is – frenetic, raucous, straight to the point and, surprisingly, from South Korea. Another one to enjoy at maximum volume.

No idea what rebellious youth might actually sound like in these corporate compliance days but I would hope that it something as noisy and full of attitude as “Coal In Your Window” by Skye Wallace. Turn it up and enjoy!

Now this is more like it. Offbeat and persuasive to the point of being hypnotic, Grace Acladna stirs in enough of something different to appeal to the arthouse crowd while still being close enough to the mainstream to touch the adventurous section of the urban audience.

Lost in a world of drifting melancholy, Magnetic Skies reinvent that eighties retro sound and use it to power their song “Dreams and Memories” towards the sunset. Low key vocals add some style to the five minute plus musical journey.

Interesting. Ghost Caravan’s “Love Me If You Dare” seems much more like the work of proper musicians than is usual in these computer assisted days. Appealing female lead vocals and the song’s pleasingly complex arrangement seal the deal.

Mourning Birds go back to basics with “Insane” keeping their manic punk powered music machine on track for the best part of two minutes. They’re loud, they’re raucous and they sound like they might just be beer fuelled delinquents. That works for me.