Song reviews

Delicately presented and infused with wistful words and fey melody, “Lately” is the kind of song that pretty much defines ear candy. Mared walks down the sentimental path with this song but you nonetheless want to follow her.

Not a song to induce a smile, “How Rude” nonetheless rolls along with a notable amount of intensity and purpose. Brume are indeed bleak mixed with dark clouds and power chords yet they have a poise that makes it all worthwhile

Monsieur Minimal makes interesting use of middle eastern rhythms to keep his entirely instrumental song “Anatolia” moving along at a spirited pace on its way to a vaguely psychedelic destination. It’s a trippy thing.

Having done the time travelling thing in search of musical inspiration, Lenexa Drive duly put on their best pop punk shoes and kick their song “Fading Echoes” around the room with considerable gusto. It’s a nineties power chord thing.

Old school rock never goes out of fashion and “Red Light Rumble” by Barrel Smoke duly fires up the proverbial tour bus and takes it out on to the road once more. There are guitars aplenty, as you might expect, and the song improves with beer and volume.

“The Drugs Are Working” runs deeper than its title might suggest with Hook pulling some solid rock moves together, with a guitar solo of course, to remind us all that music of our fathers is not dead yet. Works well with beer too.

Is it wrong to like rabbits? “Wildest Dreams” by Little Lies is about as cute an indie pop song as you might get in Sweden or, indeed, anywhere in the world with those adorable female vocals making me dream of sunshine and frolicking bunnies.

“Oh Hell” turns out to be an energetic example of melodic punk rock from Germany with No Guidance riffing it up like it was a long time past yesterday and the song’s mostly metal construction effectively holds the nihilism together.

“Lucid Love” plays out like a low key tribute to minimalism with Siula laconically robbing the dancefloor of both beats and pared down lyrics as they lock your ears into their loop. One for the cool kids, without a doubt.

A robust one from Glasgow’s Ferri and The Fevers with “I Want One of What He’s Got” riffing those guitars like there was no tomorrow with the unique selling point being the unexpectedly diversity oriented lyrics. Those words made me smile.

“There is Nothing” is another chunk of solid rock from VK Lynne distinguished by some deeper than usual lyrics delivered over the customary thudding drums and riffing guitars expected of the genre. For a change, worthy and loud co-exist.

Echoes of the dancefloor resonate through “Watch Your Lady (Bam Bam) “ with all that stylised repetition allowing Jeany James to identify herself as a purveyor of modern processed pop songs. It’s the sound of today.