Song reviews

Distinctly earnest, which is itself unusual in these times of corporate conformity, Dog in the Snow snarls like a Mother Earther protecting her brood as she flies the flag of hope throughout her song “Child”. The song is more purpose than melody but the message is nonetheless commendable.

I’m quite sure that, being a supra-urban style setter, I shouldn’t like “Anywhere But Here” yet the concentrated electro angst that Tristn used to season the song proved surprisingly addictive. Time to stroke the beard again methinks.

She’s from Texas so is therefore of to a flying start and duly Jackie Venson casts a spell of fret friendly blues and soul that illustrates that “Flying” high is what she should be doing if there is any justice left in this world.

Splendidly dramatic in both approach and scope, “The Past Is A Foreign Country” sounds like a seventies pop-rock epic – and it would be that if there were such a thing as a time machine – with Star Parks making all the right stylistic moves to take the song from the tripped out past to the present.

Mixing up loops, twee keyboard sounds and a wistful female voice may not seem like the path to sonic happiness but Freedom Baby pull it off with their song “Video Daydream” being nothing less than quirky indie pop goodness.

“Where I Belong” shows that Grainne Duffy can do the Americana tinged acoustic thing with the best of them and the song will undoubtedly make her even more festival friendly than she already is.

The Duke Spirit carry on regardless – and it is also vaguely unsettling to think of them as having been around long enough to be regarded as being part of the “old guard” – with “Houses” nonetheless showing all the hallmarks of musical evolution whilst still being unmistakeably of The Duke Spirit.

The moodiness is in there in spades as CHVNGES track the current media style chart all the way into mediocrity with their song “Mischief Managed” lacking any mischief whatsoever but sounding managed to point of – once again – mediocrity.

From the seemingly unlimited glaciers of super cool Scandinavian electro pop comes another icily efficient song. “We Are The Dreamers” sets out to be something of an anthem and Frida Sundemo duly leads this exercise in style out into the sunshine.

Pleasingly upbeat, Puppet Rebellion’s song “Slave” may be little more than old school indie rock but you can’t doubt the conviction that this Manchester band bring to the party. Turn the volume up and you might just like this one.

Wouldn’t you just know that The Ghibertins were from Italy? The PR blurb calls them a folk rock trio but that is like calling an Alfa Romeo just another car. There is more style in “The Less I Know The Better” than any and every folk rock band ever had and, with a jazzy literacy underpinning the song, my ears will await their album with anticipation

More Canadian class from Glass Hour with “Burn” having the kind the kind of ear friendliness that made for hits and money back in the days when there were hits and money to be made in new music.