Another day, another genre. The folk metal genre is a new one for me but Brachmond make “Geister Der Nacht” an interesting listen with all that manly metal muscularity being balanced by celtic style violins and female vocals. Worthy.
Bat Zoo tuns up his emotions and takes his song “Lemon” for a walk down that oft used retro soul street on the way to its conclusion and he’s got enough feeling in his voice to make the journey worthwhile for us.
Whilst looped with merciless precision, “Canary Song” demonstrates both literacy and a sense of purpose in its lyrics and Veronica D’Souza has a voice with sufficient distinctiveness to make the song move upwards.
“Blender” features some innocuous female vocals before hitting the grunge highway with a degree of conviction that tells you just who this band hero worships. Cosmic Kitten nonetheless make some decent noise with this one.
“Blue Skies” works better than you might initially have expected as Sunny Luwe’s robust vocals are soon matched by some pointed lyrics. This is undoubtedly a song of our times yet it seems more poignant than its obvious commercial potential would suggest.
“Playtime” has that late sixties/early seventies spiritual vibe although Coloured Paper Shapes deliver the song with the kind of polish that would be expected of a Nashville alumni of these days. A radio friendly song.
Milltown Brothers? Yes, another band with a past that stretches back well beyond yesterday. “Grab the Sun” duly sounds like a song performed oldie style with folky harmonies and a curiously incongruous piano enhancing that antique vibe.
Whilst not actually offbeat, Michael Steele has added enough in the way of post punk style angularity and tempo shifts to make his rather melancholic song “Mosaic” rather more interesting than reality television.
Taking a rather more musically mature approach is Robin Kester with her song “The Daylight” exuding a polished precision that neatly complements her wistful vocals. The art is present and correct in this one as is a guitar solo.
Another pop princess in the making, Katrina loops those urban beats around her alternately spoken and sung words that have the modern lyrical directness yet I wonder if her message would be better served in a more organic context.
No doubt about it, Världen Brinner are relentlessly energetic in that, now almost classic, punk style and, with full on female vocals leading the song, “Logistik och Panik” duly riffs and bangs all the way to summer festival friendliness.
Whilst low key to the point of becoming arthouse laconic, Origami Horses still have the stones to riff it up and they duly keep their song “King Crimson from falling into either of the parallel rivers named introspection and melancholy.
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