Song reviews

Right from the synth rumbling start, you just know that “If A Tree Falls in the Forest” is going to be a song of meaning with Ellen Siberian Tiger adding in some rock riffs, diffident female vocals and a poetic sense of purpose to make it all work.

Synth pop did always attract those with style and, if you are one of those people, “I Am Art” will certainly attract you to Mïrändä. Looped to the beat and yet still finding enough space to swoop, she is a brand to follow.

With her finger right on the pulse of the pop music of today is Dagny and her song “Somebody” gives people what they would want of a pop song whilst injecting more than enough enthusiasm for the task in hand to bring a smile to their faces.

Who says that they don’t make fun songs anymore? Not me, for I have one ringing retro sounds in my ears right now as Walt Disco camp the life out of their New Romantic influences and duly turn their song “Cut Your Hair” into ear candy.

Casually paced at mid-tempo, “Hope” has enough in the way of layers to indicate that Blood Brothers are capable of moulding emotion, complexity and guitar solos into songs that people might want to hear.

At last, a lively one! Good old fashioned rock posturing gives “Youth Club” the energy it needs to keep your attention and Stone Dead John, refreshingly, prove themselves more than capable of making their musical point in under three minutes.

There is not much in the way of jollity to be found within the four and a half minutes that makes up “Nobody Knows” with Sophia Boro swirling through the shadows of introspection as if possessed by the ghost of melancholy.

Eminently tasteful, “Road of the Windows” has the polished eloquence that will ensure that Anya Hinkle gets a place both in the ears of discerning roots music fans and on the approved list for roots festival bookers everywhere.

Once more on to the dancefloor, my friends. Audiophunk provide the locked to the loop beats to get your feet moving while Demi McMahon gets her vocal focus on adding in enough emotion to stop your heart going cold.

Doing the heartfelt thing with more than the usual bounce is Maya Malkin with her song “Hostage” making her point while still remaining both radio friendly and friendly to every passing ear. Commercial but not lacking in substance.

Laidback and infused with a substantial amount of that neo soul vibe, “Coming Home To You” tells like it like it is, and how it always has been, with Andria Piperni having the voice to make it all seem so real. I feel a sigh coming on.

You can’t go wrong with reverb and Carmanah duly reverbrate with the steady groove that drives “Best Interests” forever forward echoing around inside your head as if to encourage you to go deep. I hear that.