Song reviews

I should be offended by the synthetic commercialism that powers “Hush Hush” but I can’t deny the finger on the pulse style sensibilities that Miyavi brings to this song – and his other songs too for that matter – with the guitar solo being an inspired touch. I love guitar solos.

There is more than enough emotional drama in the lyrics to “The Game” to last all the way through the song’s 216 seconds duration with the electronic accompaniment providing sufficient stylistic familiarity to hold the attention of the smarter cappuccino drinkers.

Talking a stroll down the road of hypnotic repetition is Celestial North with her destination being the emerald city of mystical folk music. Her voice illustrates her intent whilst her robotic companions on “When The Gods Dance” stay firmly locked in the loop.

Looping and sequencing her way through the dystopian urban nightmare that is reality, NAVA – in capitals, of course – sharpens her song “Gaz” to a point with a side order of diamond edged lyrics until a sea of effects finally shows her the door.

There are songs that sound like they were washed ashore on the sunny beaches adjoining the Pacific ocean. “Hold My Hand” is one such song and Maggie Gently adds a dash of guitars to her melodious mix to further multiply the mall appeal.

Tripping their way back to you are Modern Stars with “Throw Your Dreams Away” gradually regaining focus after a meandering psyched out start to then trundle purposely out of earshot in the company of a wild guitar solo. I like mushrooms.

“Just Air” makes me want to sigh. Mid paced with just enough woe locked into the lyrics to amplify the emotional intensity, this song highlights Rebecca McCartney’s sophisticated song writing abilities. Be still my heart.

I suppose “Harder to Breath” could be classified as indie pop but there is more in the way of shine here than you might expect of the genre. The intertwined vocals add sonic appeal but the song does ramble on a bit more than it should.

Dave Arcari applies his unmistakable blues style to that old Scottish favourite “Loch Lomond”. Its’ not his first offence for this sort of thing yet it’s hard to resist singing along as he turns up the sentiment and takes us down to the bonny banks once more. Quality.

A song like “Big Strong Man” would likely made any big city festival – remember them? – audience nod approvingly as they absorbed the mix of irony enhanced lyrics and jazzy musical inflections into their beard scratching foot tapping routine. Classy.

I was tempted to dismiss “Dreaming of Giants” as part of the trendy art rock revival but Mary Jennings has injected enough drama into her song to suggest that her true intention is to revive the days when songs could go big without selling out.

“The Hell Of It All” is pleasing to the ear with the dreamy wistfulness conjured up by Tessa Fleur casting enough of a spell to open a musical conduit from the troubled today to the more idealistic times of yesterday. It’s a cosmic thing.