Song reviews

Another song that benefits from cranking up the volume, “Money Honey” gives Felin the opportunity to show that she can kick down the walls in under three minutes whilst still staying on the subversive side of the street.

Distinctly insistent, “Radiant Star” gives Sofia Härdig another opportunity to stamp her purposeful presence upon a song. Whilst almost post rock in her musical stance, Ms. Härdig throws enough in the way of quirkiness to turn the song into a medium sized steamroller.

Keeping it simple works well for Dublin band Hook and the straightforward sentimentality of their song “I Love The World Because You’re In It” passes the time in a pleasantly direct way. Sometimes that is all that you need.

A Russian band, it would seem, yet Apache Rose sound more like muscular Americans with their purposeful song “Tiny Love” strutting confidently in the best rock music tradition. Play loud and add beer for best enjoyment.

Paul Andrew Sneddon keeps it homespun and rough edged through the two minutes or so that “The Lonely Ones” takes to capture your attention. The energy might well exceed the production values but he can undoubtedly take it to the bridge.

Sounding like she has dropped right out of the heyday of expansive pop songs comes easily to Violetta Zironi and “Hungry To Kill” duly qualifies as quality ear candy. The lyrics suggests darker intent but the sugar coating makes this song very easy to consume.

Sometimes you hear a song that sounds like it was designed for the dancefloor of the kind of club that only the best of the rest could attend and, with locked to loop sequencing and a splash of charm, HATT duly give us “Lay Down”. Snarky!

A curiously bleak song for someone so young, “Born Again” would persuade many that Hope Waidley is some sort of modern day gospel singer although the song avoids minor key misery by successfully infusing a fair measure of hope.

Something mystical this way comes and, in these synthetic times, that makes “Underneath Your Hands” by Marika Wittmar a welcome change indeed. The song weaves and wanders but never leaves you behind.

Kitten know how to mix retro with raucous and duly provide their song “Me” with the propulsive power to transcend the three minute attention span boundary. The confident female vocals will sell this song even to your maiden aunt.

Light as a cloud with enough jingle jangle guitars and folk pop stylisations to keep the aficionados happy, “Time” effectively advertises the fact that Simen Lyngroth has no fear of keeping things natural. Take it to the bridge!

We should all be thankful that the world still spins round powered by love with this wistful confection of heart fuel by Strandels adding fire to their boiler full of love canciones. “Slip” is a song to make you sigh.