Song reviews

I suppose that a song like “Hackney Smack Deal” would easily have become a Happy Mondays style anthem for the Subaru Impreza generation back in the day but, in the here and now, The Rec have given us an ironic, and invigorating, four minutes of social realism. Boom!

A glorious revitalisation of the glories of the heyday of synth pop and bedsit electronica, “Mirores” resonates with magic of human and computer in synergistic combination. Blessed be the words and music of Ani Glass.

Veering between the melodic and the downright angry are Red Telephone with their song “Not Myself” plundering rock and psych influences in search of a new new sonic nirvana. Duly, they have found it so play it again and make it loud this time.

“Kill For Fun” might seem like little more an edgy hybrid of dance floor loops and pop culture references yet Lush Puppy make it into much more by throwing in enough of their own skewed style to turn it into a rather interesting song.

Just in time for the festival booking frenzy is Siobhán O'Brien with her song “The King’s Fool” being the kind of classy fusion of folk and Americana that appeals to roots festival audience. A nicely executed song.

Proving that you can put a message in a song and still make it memorable to even the casual listener is Hayley Mary. “Like A Woman Should” might sound like a polished prayer to retro times but it lacks neither substance nor a modern edge. Sparky!

Whilst sort of old fashioned in its upbeat tone, “So Much Love” remains the kind of pop song that deserves to sell a million or two just like such songs did back in the day. Nada Surf are therefore my preferred purveyors of feel good songs.

3am on the dancefloor and Mi Sko’s “It Ain’t Right” comes on. It’s just right for that time and place with enough in the way of rigid loops, synth breaks and passionate female vocals to put the icing on the cake that is your night out.

Now this is one robust song. Big on power chords, reverb and red meat vocal power, Sev Lah has no problem kicking “Free My Soul” right over the touchline. Play loud, drink beer and think of all those summer festivals that would be made better with this song.

A band that just has to be British, Mush add an endearing quirkiness to their Britpop flavoured song “Revising My Fee” and turn it into one of those songs that will bring a smile to your face no matter how miserable you normally are.

It’s not often that I get to describe a song as buoyant in these dark days but that’s exactly what “I’m Your Girl” by Beverly Girl is. Made from retro synth pop dancefloor moves and a touch of Prince, this is the kind of song that keeps your heart beating and your feet moving.

Skewing indiepop off towards the offbeat works well for Telquist – aka Sebastian Eggerbauer – and he duly uses looped beats, synth sounds and his dark sense of humour to make his song “Trash Talk” more interesting than most.