Song reviews

Perhaps because of their fondness for ancient technology from the good old days of analog, Crashfaster seem seriously retro although the electro/rap hybrid “Pro Tempore” also has the relentless momentum characteristic of the best of the past thus keeping your attention clearly focussed right up to the end.

“When Tyson bit Holyfield” is something of a time travelling exercise with Army Defense drawing as much from American seventies soft rock as they do from more British influences like ELO. Yes, we actually have melody and harmonies in the same song and that is something to celebrate in these days of autotuned mediocrity. Respect is duly given.

With a voice made oddly appealing by the infusion of a certain childlike innocence, Boggie successfully floats her song “Don’t Wanna Be” high above a less than synergistic backing track although the lyrics seem almost too old for her singing style. That said, this song, and her voice, would really benefit from the support of a sensitive string arrangement.

Although I would suspect that “Radioactive Respective” is actually the work of one Canadian rather than an actual group that does not detract from the melodic maturity of the song. Mountain Radio are therefore indie pop with the twee surgically removed and replaced by a good old fashioned chorus. Methinks it is time for me to sing along whilst I stroke my goatee.

At last we have some sophistication. “Between Worlds” is an extended musical mediation between a cello and a wordless female voice and its bleak elegance is a credit to the skills of Canadian duo The Visit. It is the perfect soundtrack for those times when the Devil has called you by name.

It is actually refreshing to hear that simple American style pop punk sound again and Naked Sunday provide just that with their upbeat song “Rockstar”. Naked Sunday rock it like it was yesterday and your dial had been permanently tuned to AM radio.

Mainstream polished and distinctly generic as a result. “Rules of Science” won’t help make a case for promoting PictureHouse into your aural affections. Even the sonorous male vocals are dragged into the mire of mediocrity by this turgid song.

Obviously literate, J P Kallio shows a mastery of introspection in “November”. The result is stripped back to basics and undeniably depressing but, if redone with a proper arrangement, the song would probably be worth a placement or two on network television.

Downbeat in mood, Brighton’s Wolf Like Child add gothic sensibilities and a musical maturity into the melting pot that is their song “Love, Death & Fear”. It’s not quite an oddball concoction but it is one that those who regard attendance at arts festivals as mandatory would regard as essential.

Hitting the rock road like the likely lads that they are, The Bawlers run through “Southpaw Dame” just like it was 1974 with the enthusiastic male vocals overcoming the occasional clumsiness amongst the backing musicians. A positive impression is therefore left.

It would seem that Jonny KT swims in the pool of singer songwriters in NYC and, like many before him, he is determined to tell it from the heart. “Confessions of a 20 year old Reject” stumbles over its throwback to the sixties execution but you can’t deny that those lyrics do indeed come from the heart.

Once more into the breach, dear friends, once more as Hercules Mandarin again do their diligent and thorough best to convince all and sundry that maturity is the way to go in the world of song writing. “Blackjack & Roulette, therefore, takes it to the bridge with a very respectable degree of rock and soul authority.