Song reviews

“Elemental” does seem a bit quaint on initial acquaintance but, after giving it a bit more attention, its offbeat retro synth sound and floating female vocals got to me. Not enough to displace Lykke Li from the pinnacle of my affections but close enough for a cuddle at least.

You’ve got to wonder what has happened to the teaching of geography in schools for, once more, a Swedish singer songwriter has managed to sound more American adult oriented rock than many of those native to the good old US of A. If they still had FM radio then “Romeo”, with its peak period Fleetwood Mac vibe, would be the song that would break A Beautiful Friend into the big time.

Enigmatic if leisurely in her approach, Nadine Carina does however manage to walk that line between European quirkiness and the dark shadows of life with both confidence and nonchalance. Give it some time and “The Love” will work its magic upon you and that bodes well for this lady’s future.

Mellow and melodic almost to a fault, Rodina go baby smooth with “New Road”. The silky vocals of Aoife Hearty could easily grace an album of the smoothest jazz yet she remains just wistful enough to suggest a more ethereal musical direction was the aim of this song. Tasteful is the word and the word is duly given.

It would be easy to see “The Good Life” as merely proof that Australia’s Elizabeth Rose has been able to absorb her parent’s record collection and replay it all as up-tempo electro pop but that is perhaps  too simple and convenient a viewpoint to take. Nevertheless, it is true that the lack of originality in presentation does detract from what would some might class as a pretty pop song.

Actually Swedish but curiously late period Britpop in their influences as evidenced by the sharp as a razor lyrics, Honeymilk riff it up relentlessly throughout "Light Entertainment" before throwing in a proper guitar solo to keep you interested. Honeymilk may be a bit low in originality but at least both their heart and their brain are in the right place.

There are songs that seem to stand on their own and there are songs that need the company of other songs. “What Else Is There?” by LoFi Waves is such a song lost, as it is, in a drifting lonely as a cloud vibe with little more than some deep dark thoughts to propel it through those dirty grey waters in search of some new friends.

Now, I will state up front that I regard Ashley Collins as the saviour of the moribund Glasgow music scene and “You’re The One” has done nothing but reinforce that opinion. You have to fight them at their own game and dearest Ashley goes all big ballad emotion to take “You’re The One” all the way to the finishing line. Trust me, she will be the next Michael Bublé (or at least a girlie version of Michael Bublé if you get my drift).

Nathalie Raedler marks herself out as an uptown girl with a modern attitude as she shoots down her suitors with “One Night Stand”. Although the song is perhaps more a girl power sing-along than a feminist anthem, our Nathalie nonetheless struts her stuff with both confidence and style. I hope she gets the attention she actually wants.

Intense and murky throwback to the shimmering light of shoegaze, “Blonde Greta” is nothing if not French in its casual yet stylish use of grind and drone sonics. The Great Artiste loses the words in the process of bending the strings and pounding the beat but it is all about the attitude in the end.

“Will You Run?” is an energetic and bouncy song that moves Dundee’s No Egos a lot closer to folk rock which may be a surprise to those of you familiar with any of their previous output. Harmony and melody are present and correct with some relentless strumming providing the motive power to shuffle this song towards the radio.

“Me Luv U Long Time” is a smarter than average pop song from Malta’s Ira Losco with a lilting two thirds Eurobeat rhythm that suggests that being in the know is better than not. It’s the sort of song that skilfully reassembles a bunch of easily recognisable influences into something new that you can actually sing along with over breakfast.