Song reviews

Eerily conventional, “Beneath The Shadow of the King” easily demonstrates that, with their eminently aurally pleasing female vocals, Steps of Doe have what it takes to uplift the spirits of any folk festival audience attendee. It is, therefore, a song with heart. Available as a free download from Soundcloud.

I’m not sure quite what to make of “Get It Together” as Starfire Rainbow Jellybean’s combination of west coast pop influences and their recreation of the sound of the heyday of disco seems less a homage to either than a deftly executed pastiche of both. That said, the lounge revival has made such efforts respectable even to critical ears.

With flexible musicality clearly on his mind, David Philips infuses “Angel” with the dual essences of Americana and seventies folk rock. He’s not quite Kris Kristofferson but there is, without doubt, a muse motivating him. Nice guitar work adds some class to the song too.

Some class power pop from Brooklyn – where else? – as The Davenports right click on their Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers influences and select the correct menu option to make their four minute claim to fame called “Don’t Be Mad At Me” both quirky and memorable. Let it be so.

Stripped out and yet retaining intensity, Glasgow’s Sinny sounds smokier and deeper than her years on this planet might suggest. “Take A Picture” takes an American, and distinctly melancholic, route to your ears but the song works admirably nonetheless. Get your camera ready for her.

Somewhat impecunious in their postmodern take on electro pop, London darlings I Am Harlequin have polished the loops that drive “Kill The Night” forward until all you can think off is the dance floor and Stacey Q. Not necessarily in that order either.

Somewhat retro in their approach, Polaris Rose use the male and female vocal intermix to keep their roughly rock song “Blue” flying high above the shopping mall. They are, after all, from Los Angeles so the sun, unsurprisingly shines upon them and, if John Hughes still made movies for the kids, this would be a song for the soundtrack. Available as a free download from Soundcloud.

Steering her song “Broken Heart” safely down the middle of the highway, Glasgow's Stephanie Manns makes the mainstream, much like Jill Jackson before her, seem like the right place to be. A song to sing along with whilst driving in your car.

Fuzzily presented, “Alex McKinley” is the kind of song that suggests its creator, Joe DeVita, is a deeper thinker than most. However, his voice lacks the conviction necessary to get his point across before the song fades away.

Endearingly fragile as always, Aberdeen’s Cara Mitchell perches on the branches of the folk tree and sends “Dust to Dust” upwards to float upon the clouds. The song itself rambles somewhat aimlessly but at least her lyrics suggest that she knows that some clouds are rain clouds. Free download from Soundcloud.

Laidback and with more than a hint of Mark Lanegan in their musical motivations, Texas band The Division Men leisurely walk through the shadows of Americana throughout “Criminal”. Needless to say, the song is more about mood than melody.

Mainstream in his musical ambitions, ENL1TE clearly knows where downtown L.A. is and uses Valerie Broussard’s ever appealing voice to entice us into joining him on his journey into urban r’n’b territory. That road is a busy one but, with “Vertigo “on his iPod, he might actually see a green light or three on his way.