Song reviews

Claudia Balla knows what makes a modern day pop song and “Normal People” duly keeps thing solidly in the loop with lyrics fuelled by disaffection and isolation but suitably sugar coated to go down well with a cappuccino.

Very nearly but not quite quirky, the heavily processed Vanarin nonetheless follow a rather eclectic path with their song “Falling Under” nudging conventionality out of the way in favour of jump cuts and sharp edges.

Sometimes I think I use the word wistful way too often yet wistful is the very word that best describes “watercolour” by Carla Aakre and, although everything in the background seems robotically looped, her voice simply enchants.

There seems to be plenty of looped introspection out there these days and “Rabbit Hole” by Sapling is another example of this musical genre of our times. Repetition is duly used to get her point across and that she successfully does.

Kind of old school but in a kind of good way, Vamberator gather together rock’s past pretensions and mixes them in with some living in the city artistic intent to make “I Used To Be Lou Reed” into more than just revivalism. Up periscope!

I like songs that are a bit grubby and “Dark Gloves” by Death Sells is more than a bit grubby with edgy riffs, angry vocals and thudding drums further establishing the band’s down in the dark basement grunge credentials. Play loud.

Joshua Thew is a serious singer. Of that there is no doubt and he duly emotes his way through his song “Reveal” with the introspection and emotional intensity turned up to the max. Not so much a ballad as a ballAAADD.

Indie pop I would suppose, and endearing indie pop at that, from The Muldoons and “Hours and Hours” duly exudes melody and warm-hearted emotional resonance. There might be better way to spend 218 seconds of your life but somehow I doubt it.

Almost annoyingly catchy, “Running Away” is all the proof your ears need that Quad 90 remain determined to keep on truckin’ down their chosen retro disco path. Even more annoying was feeling my feet moving to this song. Smile dearest and dance.

Big riffs and a bad attitude pervade “Dance Again” by Alffa and amid all that banging and crashing you will find enough in the way of brooding anguish to satisfy the soul of any discontented youth. It’s a song and a statement.

I like a bit of post punk angularity in the morning. It sounds like a better yesterday to me. I am thinking that Lawns probably do a lot of songs that have sharp edges and arthouse pretensions and “Eggshells” duly makes the grade. Cool for cats.

A boisterous revival of that blue collar Brit pop sound, “F Up” sounds like it like should be the soundtrack to the excessive consumption of WKD Blue. Essex boys Bilk add all the attitude the song needs to take it to the singalong chorus.