Song reviews

More electro pop from the chilled cupboards of Scandinavia but, this time, Norway’s Dagny sets out to be a rather more upbeat contender than her contemporaries with her song “Love You Like That” shaping up as nice example of the modern day pop song.

It’s not often that I get to use the words sweet and innocent in a review yet Mallrat’s song “Better” deserves to be described as such with this particular Australian singer songwriter managing to sound like the soundtrack to some long lost, and simpler, times.

If you have to do a cover then at least cover a song that needs the exposure. That’s what Cara Salimando has done with her version of “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby” and, while the result is perhaps less brooding than the original, she is certainly walking down the same street.

The Rebel Light are the kind of band that sound like they were born and bred on the west coast of the USA (and it would appear that they actually were) and their song “Where Did All The Love Go” duly soars with the sun into soft rock territory.

Another downbeat instrumental that draws on the ghosts of its electronic origins to evoke the sound of the heartbeat of the past midnight city. The song makes you think of peak period John Carpenter movies and of the ghosts that hide in the shadows cast by the streetlights.

Background music isn’t supposed to be oppressive so that must make Uppermost’s “Make A Change” something different with this instrumental electronica making more of an impact than you would expect of the genre.

“Roses” does seem like an old fashioned rock ‘n’ soul song on the first acquaintance but give it some time for Alabama band Sergio & The Satin Dogs are just doing it like it should be done. Sometimes the old ways are indeed the best.

Rather more upbeat and energetic than you would expect of the current crop of super cool Scandinavian electropop, Vanja V keeps it both 100% Norwegian and dance floor friendly with “Alt Du Treng”. All you need indeed.

The song might well be called the “Train To Nowhere” but The Sound of Ghosts don't just stop at the Americana station like most do and instead head off into the distance in search of the future. Kudos to the trumpet player for adding a dash of theatrical quirkiness too.

Wryly wringing the past for inspiration, Kainalu loops up all that old school jazz funk vibe and resprays it as a sequenced sound for today. “Love Nebula” might be mistaken for background music by some but those in the know will recognise that this one is for chilling.

With a pronounced downbeat laconicism much to the fore, Austrian duo Leyya head further up to the road to fame with their song “Oh Wow” leading the way. There is nihilism inherent in Sophie Lindinger’s vocal style and the sequenced beats highlight that Leyya can write songs that even a robot could appreciate.

I came across this song by accident and can’t quite manage to get it out of my mind. Mirage casts a spell of timeless persuasion with “Mirage” mixes past and present together and takes you on a journey of the heart.