Song reviews

Resoundingly mature in sound, Lauren Moon pulls a handful of style out of the Robbie Robertson bag of old and turns “What Goes Round (Comes Round)” into a fluid and hypnotic song that simply screams out for product placement. I’d buy it anyway.

You wouldn’t think that a band from Israel would have Britpop as an obvious influence yet “Boy I Love You” shows that Iris Hill have indeed followed that particular musical path and, once again, intelligent pop music takes it all the way to the bridge.

Made with a bit of Americana, a bit of modern day country and topped off with a dash of sugar coated charm, “We Could Be High” highlights Anna Krantz’s ability to produce easy on the ear and radio friendly songs that sound great in a car.

Whilst remaining endearingly manic throughout, Andrex Montenegro nonetheless steers his song “Nosotros Y Los Demas” swiftly away from the land of the raucous in search of greater, guitar powered, melodic purpose. Play it again (and again).

Something of a throwback to the summer days of times long gone, “Staring At The Sky” drifts through the sweet smelling smoke to leave fond memories of Strange Pilgrim in your mind. Music to watch sunsets by.

“Sugar Paper Heart” runs at a middling pace and is not bereft of repetition yet it remains the kind of song that sneaks up on you whilst you are stuck at the traffic lights of life. Doug Alldred & The Silver Lining duly cross that road.

Walking that tightrope between mainstream and offbeat, Jenny Banai maintains the balance of her song “Paper Plain” with loops and lyrical sensitivity. Any accusations that there is more here than meets the ears are well founded.

As is to provide the soundtrack to some woozy movie about life in slow lane, Chappaqua Wrestling strafe their song “The Rift” with maximum riffage and emotional intensity. Not one that will be heard in a shopping mall, methinks,

Proving that music doesn’t have to be trivial are Peter Cat with their song “I Don’t Want To Come Back To You” resonating with melancholy and arthouse style. The result may be deeper and darker than most but this is a song that stands tall.

I feel a sigh coming on. Holly Tomás has a mastery – or is it mistressy? – of the ethereal that turns her songs into weapons of mass hypnotism designed to capture the hearts of those of us cursed with romanticism and misty morning melancholy.

Now we are getting somewhere. Bleak and robotic to match the downbeat lyrics, “Don’t Ask Why” demonstrates that Kraków Loves Adana have mastered that post-midnight synthesiser groove. Locked to the loop but in a good way.

I thought I heard the dancefloor. Well, I did but, with the injection of African rhythms, Saronde turns his song “Firewood” into something most unusual for these times – a song that is positively and infectiously buoyant. Play and play again.