Splendidly anodyne, “Fields of Green” sounds just like a pastiche of the more skywards looking side of seventies rock right down to the guitar solo. Of course, it is probably more than that and Izabella Lily duly puts her heart into the vocals.
As modern day Christian music goes, “You Got Up” proceeds at an unexpectedly lively pace with Cece Worley even managing to squeeze in a direct quote from the Bible on her way from start to finish. That’s uplifting.
All sharp angles and discontent, Test Plan do their dance punk thing once more with “My Teeth” and duly grind it up into the soundtrack to flashing lights and maximum volume. I know its retro style but I reckon you could start a fire with this one.
Loops, synths, drum machines and guitars power this every so slightly oddball song and Daphne Blue Underworld then tops “Kicking and Screaming” with enough retro to turn her into a new mall princess.
It has been some time since I heard a conventional pop song that might be described, initially at least, as sweet but “Bleed” is one such song until Edie takes it round the corner into the dark alleyway of vengeance.
Veronica Fusaro stamps the mark of quality on her song “Jealousy” and, with tempo shifting and value for money lyrics as ingredients, her recipe demonstrates that a modern pop song does not necessarily have to be made of plastic.
“Psycho Hysterical” sounds like it should be rehomed to the soundtrack of some worthy modern day musical that reflects on serious matters. Kat Robichaux gives the song some stage makeup to get it into the spotlight.
“Aimless In Blue” is an energetic, verging on effervescent, song with enough untidiness in the insistent strum along guitars and duelling vocals to make spending three minutes in the company of St Dukes into time well spent.
Leatherette hit the post punk road with their angular guitars and sharp edged, laconically delivered, lyrics giving their song “Delusional” that unmistakeable air of retro discontent. They are Italian though so they do it with style.
Sydney Jo Jackson tells it like it is using old school soul style and style runs all the way through her song “You Should Be Here” like a river runs to the sea. As she takes you away with her, you can’t fail to notice that her ship truly does have sails of silk.
Miss Velvet is strong of voice and, with traditional rock values ever present in her song “Hallelujah”, it doesn’t take much in the way of encouragement to get you to join her on the uplifting journey to the big chorus.
As laidback as Granfalloon’s delivery is, he still has no problem infusing “The Slippery Eel of Discontent” with both literacy and emotional resonance. That might be an old school approach but it undoubtedly works.
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