Song reviews

I hadn’t expected Einar Vilberg to adopt the ways of the seventies rock band as effectively as he has and “Serve The Servants” duly resonates with musical purpose, deeper meaning and a guitar solo. A song like this needs a guitar solo.

Sensitive singer songwriters are back in fashion and Tali Shear is one of them. Her song “Fool” is one of regret and misunderstanding – which is as one might expect – but she benefits from an honest and direct approach to her performance.

I like a bit of career ambition and Lexxi Raine duly fuels her way forward with this, very modern, country flavoured song. “I Don’t Want Your Man” is as sharp lyrically as I would expect but her target is undoubtedly Nashville dollars. She deserves them too.

Infused with irony and power punk influences, “Legal Tender” guides you gleefully towards delinquency and that makes for a nice change. Let’s face it, Pabst rawk like bands did when kids still went to the mall.

A headphone song if there ever was one, “Hideaway” highlights the fact the Elis Noa are a duo who are more than capable of merging heart on the sleeve emotional intensity with electronic control. And so the night is here.

Few can keep anger going like Smiling Assassin so it is no surprise that “Divide & Conquer” has more punk powered fury in its sub two minute duration than most songs will ever have. This is an extra hot curry pot noodle of a song.

Now here is some intensity! Mind you, you get to expect such a thing from Glasgow steamrollers Outblinker and “Techno Viking” duly engages the thunder and synthesisers in such a manner as to tear down the walls of Jericho.

An Amy Winehouse song gets a respectful cover from ElectroBluesSociety with Karine Roerdink adding enough in the way of worldly yet feline intent to make “You Know I'm No Good” into more than a memory.

A song that lets you just drift away, “More Than Heaven” meanders through your mind with the spiritual intensity inherent to the words and voice of Marina Matiss easily conjuring up the clouds that cover us when we walk in the rain.

Minimalism drenched in reverb pretty much defines Cate Von Csoke’s sound and “Dream Around” ticks all the boxes for fans of such things with that insistent guitar driving her swirling words straight into your head. Twinkle, little star.

Engaging fully with the retro style requirements are About Last Night and the singer has absorbed enough of the eighties power ballad vibe to take their song “Before The Dawn” all the way to the bridge and beyond. Glittery emotions abound.

The power of the sequencer energises “Indigo Sky” yet it is those wistful female vocals that truly entice you to join ISLE on their musical journey. This might be man/woman plus machine but the result is organically pleasing.