Song reviews

“Way Down South” is a refreshingly energetic rock song that evades originality and instead heads off down the road to redemption land armed with a commendable sense of purpose, cigarette infused vocals and looking for a fight guitars. Just add a beer or six to enjoy this one.

There seems to be no shortage of light and fluffy sentimentality in Edinburgh these days and “White Rooms” by Stampede Road provides a further example to entice those east coast cardigan wearers out into the daylight. It isn’t the kind of song that would scare your granny but these purveyors of fey melody should be able to buy a few more lattés on the proceeds of this release.

Deep and meaningful in that way that only the truly deep an meaningful can be, Unkle Bob mixes up a cocktail of spot the influences and  one too many Starbucks lattés to make “Home” into the song it was truly meant to be. To hear is to forget.

Classy mid paced mainstream pop is a fair description of “Unstoppable” by Lizzie and the Yes Men. There are hints of darkness and angst amongst the tidiness however so maybe they might take that walk on the wild side next time. That would undoubtedly make them cool.

The entrancing Francesca Lago continues her lyrically twisted journey into the darkness with “Black Thoughts #2”.  The laconic vocals and melancholic reverb make me believe that girls with guitars will inherit the world one day.  May that day be soon.

It is perhaps no surprise that “Sunbeams” highlight the smooth and laidback jazz funk summer grooving style beloved of the Soulnaturals. Singer Chantelle Nandi, again perhaps unsurprisingly, shows herself to be far classier than the song but isn’t that so often the case?

A young band obviously enamoured by the no-fi indie sound, The Alfedoras use youthful energy and attitude to power “Nobody Knows” through its overlong intro to the drop off the cliff ending. Grunge is where it is at.

A fine example of the mid paced pop song, “New Low” highlights Ms O’Leary’s unforced and naturalistic vocals although the band deserve credit for sounding like they come from a time when musical ability was actually prized. Nice is the word.

“I Always Knew It” is an enthusiastic (British) pastiche of that west coast (of America) psychedelic sound of the late sixties and eminently listenable it is too with the reverbed into the horizontal vocals striking the right note. If you’re going to do the past then do it right. Black Sonic Revolver do it right.

Dean Kernoghan is clearly an earnest singer songwriter drawing his inspirations from the great plains of Americana and he actually does a decent job with “Wherever You Go”. However, there are hundreds, probably thousands, just like him so he would do well to consider following the path called individuality for his next song.

Not sure what the intention was here but “80s Wavey” doesn’t exactly show Noah Smith as a particularly inventive musician and appropriating an over familiar sample as his inspiration doesn’t help his case either. In report card terms, he needs to try a bit harder.

Although another slice of endearingly sweet and melodic indie pop from Glasgow’s Lost Ghosts. “Summer Nothing” shows more “edge” than their previous songs whilst still remaining cardigan friendly. It is a tried and trusted approach but, nonetheless, I’d like to see this band do well.