Song reviews

Kind of thoughtful yet insistently radio friendly, Norway’s Marie Munroe uses her song “Can’t Go Back” to demonstrate that drama and the pop song can go together. That’s a good thing without a doubt.

Respectful to the conventions of the genre, Signe Marie Rustad nonetheless puts more energy into her song “The Truth” than most with an adoration of the past might do. Her voice strikes out in a manner both high and clear and, ably assisted by her male vocal counterpoint Annar, she heads out on to the highway of life.

Whilst revelling in the all the spacious intimacy that the acoustic can supply, Canada’s Merival imbues “A Better Deal” with a sense of isolation that seems more of the city than the heart. The lady puts her best foot forward and steps into the shadows.

“Royal Jelly” is one of those songs that just oozes sleaze with every grungy note somehow sounding depraved so crank the volume up and Deap Valley will take you for a walk on the wild side.

Downbeat almost to the point of being bleak, Jade The Moon leads her synth-pop song “U Take Care” into the urban shadows for a rather gothic reflection on matters of the heart. The emotional intensity is there for all to hear and it would seem that obsession is a good thing even if only as the inspiration for a song.

Demonstrating their love of guitars and making some noise generally, West Lothian band IdKid power their song “Dawn’s New Day” entirely with youthful enthusiasm. I’d rather listen to this rather than Adele any day.

Unusual for the urban pop genre, Manchester’s JJ Rosa uses her rather impressive voice to send out a message of tolerance to the world with her song “Where Is The Mercy” easily allowing her to stand out from the crowd.

I reckon it is a safe bet that a band like The Freewheelers would be popular on the festival circuit but that does not detract from the cello powered charm that drives their song “Jekyll & Hyde” ever onwards. Add in Ilene McHolland’s casual vocals and the result is practically guaranteed to be friendly to the many ears out there.

Keeping it conventional, on the surface at least, are Glasgow band The Burnt Bridges. Their song “The Best Christmas Yet” even has a children’s choir and yet Mark O’Neil’s robust voice injects a curiously downbeat note that suggests that reality will never reach the heights of the big saccharine finish that takes this song out into the snow.

Endearingly anarchic as always, the Aquadolls turn the volume right up this time and buzz, fuzz and scuzz their way through “Girl Riot” with Melissa Brooks going large yet ironic on the post-feminist attitude out front. It’s there for all to see and see you should for garage rock belongs to girls these days and that’s a fact.

“Church Is Burning Down” might well be seen by some as old fashioned drawing, as it does, on seventies funk and socially conscious lyrics but the times they haven’t really changed at all so Tomás Doncker puts this song right into the back of the net. He’s the real deal and I don’t get to say that too often these days.

Heading straight down that highway to Nashville is Heidi Merrill. No surprises therefore that her song “Cornhusker Strong” draws on such downhome values as hard work and divine guidance but the saving grace is the spirit evident in her voice.