Song reviews

“Velvet Sunburst” is the sort of song that you would expect of one of the better Scottish indie pop bands these days. It is nicely put together and draws from psychedelic influences in a successful attempt to bring light into these dull grey days. Really rather pleasant.

Playing to their strengths on the sensitive side of indie rock are London band The Beautiful Game. “After Dark” is a melodic and mellow song that shows more maturity than you would expect of the genre. I could see this being a crowd pleaser.

Mop my fevered brow for it is time for some stomping, tub thumping and downright raucous piano driven alt-rock that draws as a much from the blues for its redemptive spirit as it does from twisted showtunes for its dramatic impact. “The Big Bad Man” is the song and it hits the mark dead on.

Whatever happened to mellow, melodic folk rock? A child of seventies thought long lost? Not really if Texas band Taco Land have anything to do with it. "C'est La Vie" is an up-tempo song that rolls along the highway of life in a SUV friendly manner even it really wants to be in a '69 Dodge Charger.

Really, what's the point? Meca does the generic, totally plastic "urban" thing with only some dull rapping to break up the repeated chant of "I'm Famous". I kind of hope this is some sort of pastiche or at least part of some master plan to get on American Idol but, in my heart, I know it is not.

Guitars from Glasgow pretty much sums up Haivercraft. They do rock music with less self obsession and more attitude than most which means that they might grow up to be a real rock band. The singer's mid Atlantic drawl on "Are You Free" also suggests that he has plundered his dad's classic rock record collection while the guitarist sounds like he has already taken to wearing leather trousers. A band that is getting in the tour bus mood, perhaps?

With a la la la and a near sociopathic affection for early seventies British pop music, Yorkshire band New Messiahs go large on the hooks and big choruses with "Nobody Wants Me".  You want more than that? Why? This is pop music like it used to be done.

Easy on the ear if somewhat anodyne, Visions Of draw heavily on the ghost of Scotland past as they merge Del Amitri, Big Country and even Franz Ferdinand into two thoughtful and serious songs. "Far Out" comes off best here as "Is This Real" suffers from over familiarity right from the opening riff.

Although seemingly driven by – actually welcome -  nihilism, London band Pistolettos demonstrate a very respectable amount of style to complement the post punk ferocity of  "Clones". "Knights Suck" maintains that attitude but heads off towards hard rock territory right from the get go. A band on the way up, perhaps?

The return of the torch singer continues with the blues flavoured "Alone On The Road" . On this song, Sheila K Cameron shows an almost poetic disregard for cadence and consequently pulls the songs way off towards inner torment but she gets away with it. That, my friends, is the sign of true class.

Finally some proof that there is life in the indie rock genre.  Cambridge band Twelve Clay Feet turn in a thoughtful performance on "Sour Rum" that easily distinguishes them from the pack of Oasis or The View clones that otherwise pollute my ears. Jay Jeff's guitar switches between light and shade as few others do these days with the result having the mark of greatness upon it. Quality!

Louise Ward, formerly of Louise Against the Elements, resurfaces in a new band going by the name of Martha and the Moodies. In "Vancouver", however, she returns not to the power pop of The Elements but to the acoustic urban folk style of another one of her previous incarnations, Captain Howdie, with the result being both subtle and sultry.