Song reviews

There was a time when I thought, like many, that the days of synth pop were gone forever yet, fortunately, 10 O’Clock Chemical demonstrate that there is still life in the old genre with their song “Babylon Is Fallen” also ticking the box marked drama.

The latté drinkers will surely take this song to their heart but the truth is that “Terribly True” is just too good for the coffee shop with Deanna Petcoff nudging herself instead into the rather more intellectual arena inhabited by connoisseurs of proper pop songs.

Rough and ready Riot Grrrl style aplenty from Brighton’s Arxx as their song “Tired of You” revs you up for the traffic lights grand prix and, thanks to an unexpected attack of tempo change at the three-quarter point, stays with you all the way to your destination

Folk music normally goes straight by me into the blue yonder but “Four Letter Words” by Reema had the mark of modernism stamped upon it and, with a theme from today driving the song firmly forward, it wasn’t long before this understated gem became something of an intoxicant.

I would even go as far as calling “Do It All Again” by Praa a cool tune – not something I am prone to doing at the best of times – for there is something hypnotic about this entirely commercial yet entrancingly emotional song.

Americana is an international musical language with Croatian band She Brought Me Gasoline making their bid for the spotlight with “Since I Don’t Have You”. The song and performance walk the line but the banjos, as always, have it.

“Soveraine” is the kind of song that exudes an excess of melodrama, but Midas Fall succeed on keeping the song on track for its extended duration whilst evoking the ghosts of times long forgotten.

Whilst ticking all the fashionable downbeat and retro boxes, Miami based band Tremends nonetheless manage to stamp enough urban style on to their song “Now We Know” to make it radio friendly.

Lines keep it routine within the electro pop confines of their song “Lockdown” whilst displaying the kind of musical persistence that would make any sequencer jealous.

I suppose that “Undone” by Art of Shades can be regarded as a song from the streets of today with that laidback urban beat providing an appealing post-midnight vibe that is sympathetically balanced by the voice of Sylo Nozra.

A song that is nothing if not melancholy, “A Pit” is nonetheless blessed with an attention to detail seldom seen these days and a melodramatic vocal performance that could easily be that of a tortured poet.

Right on trend for yesterday and today, “Take Your Name” should bring Martha Ffion some welcome attention with her sonorous voice sailing upon a glorious sea of reverb and retro intensive style towards the port that is my wallet.