Song reviews


  Dance The Extra Mile by Auna Sims


Dance The Extra Mile cover art


Earnest

“Dance The Extra Mile” provides enough evidence to suggest that Auna Sims is the kind of earnest singer songwriter whose words will bear closer examination even if the rather heavy handed production adds awkwardness rather than support.


Review date: 
  www.aunasims.com

  Roadshow by Serinette


Roadshow cover art


Lively

There’s nothing wrong with being chart friendly and Serinette are just that with “Roadshow” tearing up the road with a sense of purpose that other indie rock bands just don’t have. You might just have to sing along with this one.


  Hanging by Little Brother Eli


Hanging cover art


Traditional

It’s getting near festival season and consequently “Hanging” seems like the perfect advert for Little Brother Eli. Stylistically, there are no surprises but this Oxford based band are sufficiently energetic to convince even hardened blues rock fans.


  Poison by Mouses


Poison cover art


Manic

“Poison” might well be lo-fi but this is no mere song for the shifty with Mouses kicking up enough anarchic dust on their three minute dash to choke the competition. This is a song with undeniable spirit.


  Closer by Sykoya


Closer cover art


Ethereal

“Closer” is a song that sounds bleak yet you should give it time as Anna Marcella’s voice brings a fairytale quality to Sykoya’s song that proves to be enticing. There are, as they say, darker forces at work everywhere.


Review date: 
  sykoya.com

  All The While by Martha and The Moodies


All The While cover art


Deep

Low key yet curiously entrancing, the Louise Ward’s lost in the distanced vocals give “All The While” a fairytale quality that neatly parallels the song’s emotional depth. When all is said and done, this is an affecting song.


  Into The Unknown by RÉN


Into The Unknown cover art


Poptastic

“Into The Unknown” is certainly a commercial song and RÉN has a voice good enough to add soul to the song’s obvious synth pop heritage and thus justify a place on any discerning iPod playlist.


  Slow Down by Vokes


Slow Down cover art


Retro cool

There is enough eighties and nineties retro influences to give ear appeal to “Slow Down” with Mike Harris, or VOKES as he is known here, throwing in some urban soulful seasoning to keep it fresh.


  That Time Is Over by Sunsweet Blues Revenge


That Time Is Over cover art


Honest

With their studious blues-soul hybrid sound , Italian band Sunsweet Blues Revenge show they have what it takes to make their mark on the stage of any blues festival in Europe with Irene Loche’s low key vocal on “That Time Is Over” working better than you might reasonably expect.


  Shake Shake by REWS


Shake Shake cover art


Punchy

I wonder if this is the start of a trend for REWS seem to be another female rock duo. No matter, for their song “Shake Shake” stands up perfectly well outside of whatever counts a fashion in the music business these days and, naturally, the song benefits from the excessive application of volume so turn it up and enjoy.


Review date: 
  www.rewsmusic.com

  This Is Why I Need You by Jesse Ruben


This Is Why I Need You cover art


Commercial

Maintaining a balance between the sentimentality and the saccharine is a challenge for the sensitive singer songwriter. Jesse Ruben does a creditable job of just that with his song “This Is Why I Need You” and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to hear this song used in a montage on a network television series.


Review date: 
  www.jesseruben.com

  What I Do by The Three Gentlemen


What I Do cover art


Smart

Self-consciously stylish, The Three Gentlemen put on the ritz and, simultaneously, their best foot forward to take their electroswing song “What I Do” off in the direction of the nearest uptown supper club. There is, after all, always time for one more musical cocktail before sunrise.


Review date: 
  www.thethreegentlemen.com


Page 143 of 223   ◼◀142 143 144►◼