Song reviews

Keeping her finger on the pulse of modern musical trends is Kendal Thompson with the message of empowerment in “Not Ur Girl” following the form of genre expectations whilst still suggesting that her conformity was merely a stylistic choice.

Almost tailor made for the cognoscenti, Leanna throws everything from French pop to jazzy interludes into her song “Nuit” with the result proving curiously invigorating to my tired ears and, perhaps unsurprisingly, making me hunger for more.

I doubt that many will regard “River” by Haneke Twins as a trivial song. There is too much in the way of repeated rhythms, anguished riffs and introspective lyrics for that yet, despite all those grey clouds, this song grows on you.

Catholic Action take their song “Yr Old Dad” for a walk along the literate path stopping only to pick some Kinks coloured flowers from the trippy gardens at the side of the road. Make it so - as Jean Luc Picard might say – and duly they did.

Pleasingly poppy in their approach, Club Beirut keep it upbeat for their three minutes with their song “Something New” being rather more optimistic than you might expect of a Scottish band borne of these grey days. I feel a smile coming on.

I feel a sigh coming on for, with wistful intent, Life Model make you believe in the value of compromise with enough in the way of fuzzy guitars and sugar coating added to make their song “Saskia” very palatable to the ears.

OK, just think of the kind of brash and untidy song that would make your Gran wonder about the future of the human race and your addled brain might well come up with something like “Less Jools More Top of the Pops”. Slime City did just that. Bang!

Pleasingly poppy in a Postcard Records kind of way, “Love Bites” gives Blush Club the opportunity to show the world that Scottish bands still have what it takes when it comes to mixing melody with arthouse quirkiness.

Don’t know how long this song has been about but, no matter, for this is one that should be in everyone’s ears. “Lessons To Learn” has a message full of fractured insecurities yet Janet May has made it akin to an anthem for today.

The proof is in the pudding or so they say anyway. Wearing their power pop punk influences on their sleeve, High Waisted add enough sugar to their song “Boys Can’t Dance” to make it into a most suitable dessert. I’ll have seconds!

“I Think You’d Know By Now” keeps it on the downbeat for Dolly Zoom with the oppressive rhythms of the synthesiser and the casual pacing reinforcing the overwhelming feeling of urban angst that pervades this song.

Laying down some solid retro power punk moves are Welsh band Ignitemares and “Letters to Lauras” duly resonates with all that made such things great whilst having enough in the way of pithy lyrics to make it into something of a story song.