Song reviews

I am having so much fun this week that “Alone With You” seemed nothing less than the most appropriate song to use as the soundtrack for the weekend. Ms Starr’s moody and yet wistful vocals sit atop that oh so popular nowadays retro synth pop sound to add both the human touch and a touch of quirkiness. Sweet.

Throwing no caution to the wind whatsoever, Lucky Dip nonetheless demonstrate that they run a tight and melodic indie pop ship with “Lucky Dip” even if you, the listeners, will not struggle for long to list the bands that they sound exactly like.

Scotland has never really been known for its electro pop bands – at least not ones that might qualify for a public declaration of  affection – but Chvrches are surely destined to be sweethearts of beard scratching west enders whose most secret desire would likely be a threesome with Depeche Mode and Kylie. “We Sink” is therefore cuter than a guinea pig and deserves no less than commercial success.

She’s half Swedish and half Georgian it says here in the press release but there is something altogether more coffee shop New York City about Sabina Chantouria.  Whist never straying far from the middle of the singer songwriter road, “A Confession” is nicely sung with the undertow of emotions bringing an endearingly naturalistic feel to the song.

A hint of the great Spector sound takes “Hurricane” off the starting blocks in a spirited fashion but then it is back to a solid and steady pace for a few laps of the AOR circuit before crossing the finish line in third place. Without a doubt Katey Laurel has the voice but she is let down this time by a rather dull song.

Given the proof presented in “Manic Baby”, Australia’s The Preatures would like to run sweet and low in the footsteps of Jamiroquai. They might need a better pair of retro trainers in order to pick up the pace but that retro funky sound is easy on the ear and should be good for a few placements in mainstream television drama.

Long Long Showers come from Sweden but sound like they come from a big American city such is the authenticity of their, no doubt affectionate, pastiche of that indie rock with melody sound. “Red Card” is therefore nicely done but hardly original.

Taking another step down the yellow brick road to success, Glasgow’s own Hercules Mandarin add a dry and laconic sugar coating to their rock with hints of white boy funk sound. Clearly smarter than the average band, “Panic Button” once again proves that Hercules Mandarin are worthy of your investigation.

Old style r’n’b from the ultra smooth Joe who evokes the likes of Billy Paul and Oran ‘Juice’ Jones as walks the walk of romance throughout “I’d Rather Have A Love”. This seasoned soul man is telling it like it is and that’s the truth.

Clearly a mature and confident band, Candythief provide more than enough evidence in “The Starting Gun” to convince these ears that melody and complexity can be successfully mixed in a Scottish band. The endearingly affected female vocals have mainstream appeal and there is a pleasingly retro turn of musical phrasing to accompany the smarter than most lyrics. The end result, perhaps unsurprisingly, is therefore eminently aurally pleasing.

Oddly theatrical (but in a good way), this frenetic mix of metal and electro might just make Finnish band Standing Ovation stand out from the crowd. “I Have Supernatural Powers” is the name of the song and it certainly isn’t ordinary even if the more cynical amongst you might suspect it of actually being a pastiche.

Old style – and I do mean style – song from Kiya Lacey as she delivers “Little Bit Of Nothing” like a seasoned professional from days gone by with the ultra slick backing band building the wall that keeps this young singer on the straight and narrow. Easy on the ear, as they say.