Song reviews

Energetic to the point of being downright raucous, Zookraught crank their guitars up to the max and, with near hysterical enthusiasm, bounce “Not 4 U” off every wall in the room. It’s almost art but much louder.

Stephen Thomas has the voice to make an impact and “Back Home” is a decent song yet the bombastic production detracts from any emotional impact. I don’t doubt that it’s commercial but generic does not get Grammys.

Haunted by something but I know not what, Jewel Scheme continue to harness their dystopian urban angst to a wagon full of obscure lyrics, looped synths and walking the wall bass lines. I’m not entirely sure why but this band interests me.

Layering some quirkiness on top of some looped retro funk grooves works well for Vanarin with “I Don’t Know” being not quite of yesterday but not quite of today either whilst still managing to simultaneously make a decent stab at being hypnotic.

“All Of The People” is undoubtedly an energetic song seasoned with enough in the way of indie rock and Britpop influences to make you think you have heard it before yet Skäl would seem to be a new band. Play it loud anyway.

Ruth Campbell has a voice that would make you believe and her song “Life Is Short”, being a Christian song, is about belief. I am sure that I should be worried that her words have relevance to the world of today but, nonetheless, the song works well.

You don’t get many ballads these days yet Abbie Thomas gives us one with “If I Die” maxing out on the melancholy while mixing in enough spirituality to make the end result actually uplifting. A proper song that is properly sung.

“Breckenridge Lane” is a story song of sorts and one that has a pleasing complexity in its musical arrangements yet it is the angst ridden lyrics that are Timmy Skelly’s unique selling point. This one verges on the poetic.

Brooding to the point of being theatrical, Cristina Cherry uses her distinctive voice to lift the otherwise ordinary “Can You Be Mine?” to a higher level. You can tell that she wears sunglasses even at midnight. This is the deluxe meal deal.

Endearingly confident in execution, “Kolme Kesää” by Ocelot exudes the kind of smoke powered intensity that made songs stick in your head back in the days when songs were supposed to stick in your head. The piano makes it all work.

If you happen to be looking for some stylish synth pop then look no further than Sohodolls and their retro post-midnight credentials are further solidified by “Territory of Your Heart”. Once again, red lipstick and a sequencer make my day.

I don’t know if it is an insult to describe a band as sounding quite American when they’re not but Hamartia’s line in downbeat rock music indeed sounds like it has traversed the Atlantic. Lots of manly riffs and strong female vocals complete the illusion.