Song reviews

Mixing the ethereal with the primitive may not be unusual in the world of folk music but it is in the post rock world so “Hush” therefore demonstrates that Hawk do not lack courage in their musical endeavours and, like so many things classed as beautiful, this fragile song crumbles into nothing at the end.

It is the time of year for sentimentality and Jim Byrne is the man to serve it up between slices of wholemeal bread. “For We Are Born” is, however, a song rather darker than you might expect with the underlying message more akin to Leonard Cohen than Bing Crosby. No doubt about it though, Val Doonican would have appreciated the irony in that and taken this song as his own. The song is available for download from Bandcamp.

Although outwardly lightweight indie folksters, In All Honesty are the proud possessors of altogether weightier lyrics with “Heroin For My Heart” embracing obsession in a manner that would suggest a world view more appropriate to the streets of New York.

Duplodeck serve up a song of fuzzy lazy summer indie pop goodness that will likely make you think you are on a beach somewhere. “Saint-Tropez” is the name of the song and it is infused with both sunshine and lo-fi grooviness. The sunglasses are on.

“Oh Brother” is like shooting up with pure melancholy and MaryLeigh Roohan, complete with plaintive voice and a poetic approach to the creation of downbeat lyrics (“…liquor is quicker than learning to care”), succeeds in touching even the coldest heart with her song. If she were a country, I would be using my passport right now.

With the cold nights now upon us, Jamie Flett uses “Giant Squid” as the means to navigate us towards the happy heart of the spring. Part folk, part psychedelic and all the way deep, this song shows that Mr Flett’s musical maturity is no flash in the pan. Available from Bandcamp.

Offbeat and minimalist almost to a fault, Is Tropical take the European approach to making that electro groove dance after dark. “Crawl”, therefore, will cross the channel without need of a ferry. An export drive in the making? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

Almost annoyingly fey in their indie pop cardigans, Joelpeter walk the walk of the lightweight melody makers all the way through “Chase You Down”. However, those of you who are of a vegetarian persuasion may find this tasty to chew upon as the song is guaranteed to be entirely free of red meat.

The pounding electro beat of “Sun Goes Down” indicates reggae influences while the insertion of a socially conscious rap seals the band’s motivational deal and thus marks Sweden’s Bellaroush out as purveyors of music of deeper content than most.

The Beautiful Game are a reliable indie rock band from London and their song “Kill The Fiction” is an example of what they do well with the addition, this time around, of just enough nineties style guitar pop influences to successfully sugar coat their musical cake.

Convincingly melodramatic, the Lena Smith band throw their musical toys into theatrical disarray and the result is their song “Hungry”. Call it cabaret if you like but, if you like your cravat located left of centre then this will undoubtedly tie your knot. My fedora is duly tipped.

Blessed with a voice soaked in spirit, Joanna Cooke drives “Last June” along the back roads with not inconsiderable verve. The song itself is striped in jazz colours but suffers not one bit from that very festival friendly approach. In one word - irrepressible.