Song reviews

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.

Robust and to the beer drinking point sort of sums up “Gasoline” by We Three Kings with the band being unafraid of leaving some space between their four on the floor groove and their best three power chords. Play loud!

“Got It Bad” nudges the urban soul genre back towards its roots with Nuela Charles having the voice and presence necessary to power her song on its journey. I don’t know if she is actually bigger than life but she ought to be.

Given the evidence she presents in “Shapeshifter”, Dee Lunar must be the kind of woman that will always follow her own path. The lyrics swerve into left field pretension but you have to admire anyone with the determination to go strange.

Taking a traditional approach does Sera no harm and, with all the boxes ticked to meet the approval of the modern day folk music aficionado, she easily makes her song “Into The Woods” into a future festival favourite. The witchfinder will have to track her down now.

Solid rumbling synths underpin this mature and pleasing song from Leanne Tennant. “Bring It All Back” throws in ear friendly hooks to keep your attention yet it is the oppressive intent of the lyrics that leaves the biggest impression.

You can’t go far wrong with engaging maximum mood mode and, with emotional intensity counterpointing the rigidity of the old school drum machine sounds, HunBjørn hits the mark square on with her song “Keep Breathing”.

A robust song with some pop chops that entice the ear, “I Should Know Better” shines the light of critical acclaim upon the musical abilities of Me Not You and this song should take them onwards into the dawn.

Feeling the retro love are Irish band Shookrah and “Notions” duly snacks on jazz funk and soul food for all of its sub three minute cooking time. Unusually for these locked to the loop days, the song has some musical class and the singer is, of course, pure class.