Song reviews

The Skunnered return to display their sensitive side. It is perhaps no surprise therefore that “If You Wanted To Stay Forever” is both mellow and distinctly close to a ballad. The more cynical amongst you could also see this song as a near perfect pastiche of the Irish country song writing style. Only without the white cowboy hats, of course.

A big on riffs low on lyrics song from Swedish melodic metallers Senate of Prevail, ”Open Your Eyes” sounds a bit familiar and  a bit insanely macho in a retro leather trouser wearing kind of way. The insanely macho bit is good. The lack of originality is not. A solid effort, I suppose, but they have done better.

“In Every Sea We Drown” is a clever little song that reminds me of Jason Webley drawing, as it does, on literate Eastern European musical influences with a quality slice of offbeat piano neatly balancing the eloquent female vocals and the positively staccato swaggering of the rest of the band. The wearing of a cardigan may help you better appreciate this song but, nonetheless, this is a good ‘un.

Looped up analog synths sounds drag “Was To Distract” from the shadows into a place located somewhere near the basement dance floor. Laconic female vocals add a bit of spirit, or at least a few shooters, into the mix but the end result is somewhat confused as to whether it was an attempt to communicate with your feet or your mind.

Dance floor and radio friendly slice of electro funk that makes you wonder what happened to Jamiroquai. “Please (Give Me One Chance)” grooves mercilessly like an Isley Brothers disco period song and will no doubt be welcomed on both the better big city dance floors and upmarket cruise ships. One listen and you will believe white stilettos are back in fashion.

It’s simple when you think about it. The modern world does not wish to understand so instead you give them something that doesn’t need to be understood. “Everyone is an Artist” – about half the lyrics in the song are there in the title – is about as simple as it gets with a mantra repeated over (and over and over) a tedious wash of unimaginative synthetic sounds.  The Cubby Preachers are a band (?) that should be drowned in their own irony.

Melodic metal is a timeless thing and this song, “Remnant of a Dying Smile”, by Greek band Seed of Sadness could have come from any time in the last three decades.  As you might expect, this song goes large with massive keyboards swallowing up all before them.  All except for the precisely mannered yet enticing vocals of the delightfully named Stellaria, that is. I could listen to her all night long.

Interesting take on indie rock from this Leeds band.  In “Deadlights”, the reliance on guitars and power chords expected of the genre has been superseded by some analogue style synth sounds that add, of all things, drama to the mix. The lead vocals are also more theatrical than you would expect marking this band out as one trying to be themselves rather than somebody else. Otiks are worth watching, methinks.

“Losing You” is melodic and emotional rock with big riffs just like you used to get in the era of hair bands. Impassioned and confident male vocals add the finishing touch to make this song something of a 100% macho big, brash, guilty pleasure.

Drowning in retro psychosis, The Galileo 7 shake their bells and start impersonating the British take on sixties Californian psych rock like, say, early Pink Floyd. “Staring At The Sound” therefore sounds more familiar than it should and, whilst reverentially done and all that, this has all been done before and no doubt will be again.

Grooving gently like a hybrid of sixties’ songstresses like Cilla, Susan Maughan and Sandie Shaw, Suzi Chunk walks the walk, talks the talk and sings the song like she is on a Boeing 707 to the London Palladium with "Probably Normal". Nothing wrong with that of course but the question remains – is this retro or is it loungecore?

“Passing Sun” is rather sweet with an adorable young female vocal making those simple words all light and fluffy and wistful.  However, Cara Mitchell has stepped right into Amy Macdonald territory with this one and there probably isn’t room for both of them in the cold heart of this nation. I know which one I want to prevail though.