Song reviews

“Glory” plays like an excerpt from the kind of musical that should get a government grant in these miserable times with Ben Seals throwing his all into the song with gloriously camp fervour. It’s a showtune for our times.

Is there such a thing as a thinking man’s singer songwriter these days? Crawford Mack certainly appears to be one with “Firing Squad” having the sensitivity and scale to give his poetic words resonance. Not upbeat but uplifting nonetheless.

Almost thinking this song was a plastic cousin to glam rock but the swirling shadows Bryony Williams adds to “Knockin’” provide more than enough propulsive power to achieve orbit over plant Earth. Grumbling, stumbling and yet speaking sense.

You can’t really complain when a conventional song is competently delivered to your ears and that is what “Let’s Slip Away” by Jessy Yasmeen achieves. It is the kind of song that will easily get added to radio playlists everywhere.

Loop me baby one more time. “3'S a Crowd” has that bedroom meets mall vibe but Madison Olds keeps her words sharp and duly draws more blood than you might expect of one with so many retro plastic moves. Well worth a listen though.

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.