Song reviews

Although an obvious escapee from the dance floor, Eric Sharp nonetheless demonstrates that there is more to his skill set than keeping those feet moving with “Night Turns to Day” providing the kind of hypnotic nuzzling that takes you from club to home.

Helga Arvesten manages to avoid sounding quite like anybody else with her angst ridden song “Don’t Speak” and successfully evokes the kind of emotional confusion that many will identify with. Drama is good and there is plenty of it in this song.

“Christmas Home” isn’t your standard Christmas song but Brent Steed at least has his heart in the right place even if the message is considerably bleaker than you might expect in this season of joy to the world.

You don’t often find melody in an indie rock song these days but Finland’s Varvara use that usually missing link to decorate their song “Identical” to fine effect. Notably smooth vocals keep the mood reflective yet rather uplifting.

Mid-paced songs burning with emotional intensity seem to be this week’s fashion with “Another 20 Seconds” by Circumnavigate being another example albeit one distinguished by Sigrid Zeiner-Gundersen’s rather wistful voice.

Obviously aimed at the mainstream market, Glasgow’s Anna Sweeney ticks all the radio friendly boxes with her mid paced song “Wind and Fire”. Many have tried the same approach but, with the right promotion, she might just give the people what they want.

Plenty of power chords, riffing guitars and an edgy beat keep “Cruel” going but the chorus isn’t really big enough to make this the song that gives Twin Jackal the break they want.

Downbeat and full of introspective emotion, “Blame” fits neatly into the bleaker end of the Scandi electro pop genre that seems to be enjoying popularity at the moment. TWIMM handles himself with conviction but maybe the times need something more upbeat and positive.

The more I listened to “Time Will Wait For You”, the more that I liked it even though I can’t quite figure out why as this kind of ethereal indie pop normally leaves me cold. Israeli band Hillhar are therefore due credit for making something interesting when they could have settled for something mundane.

You’re never too old (or too young, it would seem) to disco and Robotikus successfully replay that post Studio 54 vibe with their song “Continental Lovers” while adding in enough funky bass and electronic keyboard sounds to make it as authentic as you can get today.

“Star Run” is a straight down the line singer songwriter type song although Julius Way determinedly tries to evoke the long lost days of psychedelic folk music instead of the mediocrity of the modern day.

No one will accuse Illyin Pipes of being a sunny day band on the basis of their song “Daylight Confidant” but, whilst being downbeat to the point of being bleak, there is still more than enough heart in the performance to allow you to take the song into your playlist.