You just know when a song is more than the sum of its part and “You’re My Muse” by Xan Tyler is one such song with all those retro stylisations, grungy guitars and Ms. Tyler’s laconic vocals combining into a midnight walk on a rain soaked city street.
Sometimes the bear gets you and sometimes indie rock goes a bit showtune as is the case with “Calabasas” by Goldfinch. I’m not sure where this band is going but at least, for a change, they aren’t just playing by the rules.
Making some proper noise are Odd Robot” with their song “Anti-Revolution” mixing much in the way of guitars in with the duetting male and female vocals to make for a three minute excuse to drive way above the speed limit. Again.
Laidback but still lyrically sharp, Maya Delilah stamps some style on to her song “Necklace”. Really too good for the coffee shop crowd but likely to be forever destined to be consumed with a latté, this is one for discerning ears.
“Reciprocate” is so smooth a song that it successfully evokes the groove of back in the day FM rock radio and Alannah Moar decorates her words with both wistful melody and easy on the ear production. Smoothy smooth it is.
Ben Hemming’s song “Dark Waters” exudes the brooding torment of a song with a deeper meaning with those grinding power chords taking the song for a stroll in the shadows with the ghost of seventies blues rock. Intensly muscular.
“My Place” is an endearingly fragile song that maintains a steady course on the sea of conventionality with the mix of earnest male vocals and the spectre of folk music ensuring that all who listen will do so on a calm sea.
I like a bit of indie pop in the morning. It smells like summer to me. “Flowers (We Have Grown)" duly has the pleasing pungency of a song whose fragrance induces memories of better times and Some Sprouts are indeed all that is good in the garden of music.
A neatly polished song, “What Could’ve Been” demonstrates that Lily Bedard has got all the moves a sensitive singer songwriter should have with the ear friendly production making this song one for the airwaves. Tune in with your heart.
It’s yesterday once more in synthwave land with Natalie Gray giving her song “One More Night” enough of a push to squeeze it on to a VHS tape of a John Hughes’ movie. This is an endearing song that keeps to the basics but gets it right.
“Come Around” might well be low rent indie pop but Wadfah has got the retro feel sorted out and her song duly pulls its vibe from happier times. This is not only a three minute pop song but also a reminder why the world needs three minute pop songs.
Some solid rock breaking from Miss Randall with “Heaven Doesn’t Want Me” successfully reflecting all the old school rock moves with a suitable degree of deference. It isn’t 1975 any more but who cares when you have got a guitar solo to keep you company.
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