Song reviews

Not quite offbeat but not quite standard either is “Hiding” by Boudicca’s Bass Service. This is a low key song with some quirky tempo changes that work well enough to make your feet move of their own accord. Interesting.

That retro synth pop sound never gets old and Cosmicity duly pulls those sequenced patterns of days gone by together to weave “Overblown” into a cardigan of emotional nihilism. Stylishly bleak is the way of his world.

Once more into the underworld we go with Bullets and Octane mixing downright aggressive vocals and solidly metal riffs together to take “Vampires” on a walk on the metaphorical wild side. A band that wears black without a doubt.

Taking the retro train all the way back to the seventies is Shannon Smith with “Every Single Day” having both melody and sentimentality and never running less than straight and true. I don’t often get to call a song uplifting these days but this one is.

Norwegian band Permafrost pull some retro musical moves out of their creative hats and take their song “Wrong Heart” for a walk down the well-trodden path to the edgy guitars and laconic vocals side of town. The past is the new present.

Independent woman makes independent music with distinctly independent lyrics. EDIE turns “Cool Girl” into relationship management disguised as a radio friendly pop song. Guitars and a foot tapping chorus complete the illusion.

What’s an indie folk band supposed to do in these troubled times? Sing about broken toasters it would seem and “Bad Technology” by Lo-Fi Jones is full of ironic observations about our reliance on today’s technologies whilst rambling on down the road.

Loud and robust is the way to go for German rock band Untamed and “I Ain’t Gonna Do It” duly maxes out on muscular vocals, riffing guitars and straight down the line, attitude filled, lyrics. Music to make you drink beer.

Low key dreampop from Pjos with “Atlas” resonating with reverb and moody intent. The vocals are lost somewhere in the echo of wistfulness and nothing much else happens as the song sweeps over you. Atmosphere triumphs over song.

The sequencer looms large in “Leaves” but there is still enough room left for some melody, some decent lyrics and some almost laconic female vocals. No doubt about it, Close to Monday are a band whose river runs deep. Cool enough for me.

Ok. “Leather Jacket” is an unashamedly commercial song and Emma Zinck is indeed Nashville based yet it is hard to deny the radio friendly singalong all the way to chorus appeal of this song. Nice guitar work too so all boxes are duly ticked.

Hannah Stow takes a reflective stance throughout her song “In The Dark” and, in making her words sound almost cathartic, will likely catch the ears of the broken hearted. The backing is suitably minimalist right up until the fade to black.