Song reviews

I sometimes wonder if folk music could be metamorphosed into something more modern by the use of electronic aids and perhaps Sciarra though the same thing as her song “Surrender It all” effectively counterpoints the ethereal with the harsh reality of the computer.

There was a time when you had to be old to look backwards to better times but not now as even the young are revisiting five years ago with their rose tinted glasses and “18” by Neimy provides them a very suitable soundtrack for their sentimental reflections.

For a song so heavily processed in its production, Nadia Vaeh nonetheless compensates by pulling in enough in the way of organic lyrical intent and indigenous pop culture references to confirm that “Monroe” is a song whose concept comes from the heart.

Offbeat is the way to go for Tiña with “Dip” splicing in the kind of lost in space vibe that one might expect of Dope Lemon but enhanced with a rather more paranoid outlook on life. It’s London style but not as we know it.

Yorxe does the hide in plain sight thing with her song “Hide Your Bodies” sounding like just another song in the modern urban pop style yet featuring rather more lyrical impact than you might expect. One to follow, perhaps?

I’m not entirely sure if this song is meant to be ironic but Mark Fredson’s, low budget take on old school dramatic pop actually works out rather well with “R U In It?” managing to be more than the sum of its parts.

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.