Song reviews


  When Time Will Slow Down by Mother Leads


When Time Will Slow Down cover art


Muscular

This might well be rock Canadian style but Mother Leads pull the best out of the past and top up “When Time Will Slow Down” with more than enough steroids to ensure that the song can bench press its own weight.


Review date:  October 31 2015
  www.facebook.com/MotherLeads

  The Melody of Our World by Fizica


The Melody of Our World cover art


Big

Although from modern day Russia, Fizica draw heavily from the history of European pomp rock for the influences that drive their song “The Melody of Our World” relentlessly forward. It’s a big bombastic song, as you might expect, but Maria Stepanova’s voice provides a subtle counterpoint to the power chords and synth riffs.


  Return To Ithaca by Manwomanchild


Return To Ithaca cover art


Intellectual

About as indie pop as you can get these days, Manwomanchild exude politeness and intellectual intent all through the way through their song “Return To Ithaca”. That said, I kept drawing unconscious comparisons to early Depeche Mode as I listened so it was something of a surprise to learn that singer David Child is actually American. That makes them, or him, OK by me.


Review date:  October 24 2015
  www.manwomanchild.org

  Water in My Hometown by Erik Smallwood


Water in My Hometown cover art


Blue collar

With his spirited voice working in his favour, Erik Smallwood manages to make “Water In My Hometown” both mainstream Nashville and subtly sentimental at the same time and duly turns it into an easy on the ear pickup driving kind of song.


Review date:  October 24 2015
  www.facebook.com/eriksmallwood

  Cloud Nine by Shannon Wardrop


Cloud Nine cover art


All good

A pleasingly robust pop song seasoned with a more than a hint of sixties’ style experimentation, “Cloud Nine” allows London’s Shannon Wardrop to make that all important mark on your consciousness. Her voice exudes confidence and that’s all she needs to get by. Trust me.


  Travel Where The Moon Pulls by Tom Adams


Travel Where The Moon Pulls cover art


Elegant

Easily the most therapeutic song that I have heard this month is “Travel Where The Moon Pulls” by Tom Adams with its spiritual vibe leading my mind on to the path that leads to an altogether more beautiful time and place. It's not often that a song is both elegant and uplifting these days but the evidence is here for all to hear.


  Pen pals For Panda Prisoners by Drown That Fucking Panda


Pen pals For Panda Prisoners cover art


Manic

Whilst essentially derivative, the sheer manic energy of this rough and ready assault upon the ears is more than enough to make me give Drown That Fucking Panda the thumbs up. “Pen Pals For Panda Prisoners” is their song and the future is now history. Make it loud and make it so!


Review date:  October 24 2015
  www.facebook.com/DTFPBand

  Water To Fire by Roberta Howett


Water To Fire cover art


Emotive

A solid and commercial song, “Water To Fire” shows that Roberta Howett has the kind of voice that can sell a song even if the plastic backing track fails to match her class.


Review date:  October 24 2015
  www.robertahowett.com

  DNA by Beverly Girl


DNA cover art


Dance dance

Relentlessly retro, Beverly Girl take all that eighties dance floor electro groove and inject it into the veins of their song “DNA” with Johanna Saarinen’s voice adding a smoky individuality to the strobe light sequencing.


Review date:  October 24 2015
  www.beverlygirl.com

  The Morning Paper by Jimmy & The Revolvers


The Morning Paper cover art


Crowd pleasers

Seemingly determined to make indie rock actually interesting, Liverpool’s Jimmy & The Revolvers go large on the chorus with “The Morning Paper” and, with smarter than average lyrics, their song stays longer in the memory than you might expect.


Review date:  October 24 2015
  www.jimmyandtherevolvers.com

  Pretty People by The Sunday Reeds


Pretty People cover art


Retro chic

The Sunday Reeds might well have a retro sound and singer Romana Ashton seems have been infected with the Nico virus but, nonetheless, “Pretty People” has far more style than you might expect with the druggy power chords complementing the red lipstick admirably.


Review date:  October 18 2015
  www.thesundayreeds.com

  You Don't Wanna Know by Birgit Bidder


You Don't Wanna Know cover art


Different

Pleasingly dramatic in her presentation, Birgit Bidder takes her ballad “You Don’t Wanna Know” into theatrical territory with the hint of quirkiness in her voice lifting the song skywards and making this a song with commercial potential.


Review date:  October 18 2015
  www.facebook.com/BirgitBidder


Page 124 of 193   ◼◀123 124 125►◼