Although staying musically close to that post punk meets indie rock playbook, Dead Air Radio Empire still manage throw some trippiness into their conceptually oriented lyrics and “Stabilise” duly sounds like it should be part of something bigger.
Credit where credit is due. RUB take an individualistic approach to creating a lyric and “City Pop” also demonstrates that this is a band that can shift tempos whilst keeping that groove going. This one is almost existential.
I’m reasonably certain that ”Pretty Boy” should qualify as an example of the sound of the streets with acerbic lyrics, brutal beats and the half rapped half chanted vocals being combined into a karaoke weapon for Stickman.
At least Lauren Moon doesn’t shortchange us on the emotion with her song “Running Low” containing enough in the way of drama and positivity lyrics to qualify her as a time traveller from the rock heyday of yesterday.
They say that Bad Optics are an art-punk band but, on the evidence presented in the sub three minute “Ladrones”, this Seattle outfit are actually off on a laidback guitar laden trip to yesterday on one of those Greyhound buses.
After a muscular start, “Secret Futures” neatly segues between post punk influences and west coast rock stylisations whilst staying just within the three minute boundary. False Flowers are almost on a shadowland trip with this one.
Throw some untidy guitars on top of a solid backbeat and decorate with some half spoken half emoted words and you get “Trampoline Girl” by Hecojeni. It’s more like a demo but a playful one and the song doesn’t overstay its welcome
Summer used to mean fun but not anymore. Huw Cadwaladr abandons any thought of going to the beach and instead hits the road to a town called broody introspection. “I Believe” is deep and dark and forever covered with clouds.
You can just tell when a band are playing to the cool kids and Sin Cos Tan duly do just that with the combination of restrained emotions and that retro synth pop sounds making “Icarian” into a valid soundtrack for the eternally fashionable.
Lizzie Hosking follows the pop princess path with “Unforgettable” being encased in the kind of plastic that you get when digital processing is regarding more important than the performance. Shame, as this is a good song and she has a decent voice.
A song about not wanting to be a junkie anymore? Charlie Clark is clearly aiming “Don’t Have A Cow Man” at the trendies who think drinking full fat milk is living on the edge. Bet he even wears a hat like Pete Doherty wore when he was cool.
Pleasingly melodic, Some Sprouts play all their indie pop cards to win with “Guetta”. There is a notable amount of processing going on with the music but the band’s fan boy level of enthusiasm for the genre makes it work.