Song reviews

Indie pop has its rules and Australian band Dianas know when to follow them and when to add in their own particular brand of quirkiness. “Good Enough Girl” has the requisite fey female harmonies but is actually driven forever onwards by the kind of insistent guitar that you would expect of bad boy indie rockers. Easy when you know how and Dianas do.

A rather conventional rock song, “Later Than You Think” is likely to make some of you nostalgic for the kind of honesty that you used to get in music way back when. Sally Crewe keeps things understated but she remains sufficiently robust to suggest that she means what she sings.

There’s a lot going on in Canada these days and, with variety being the spice of life, Selfish Things take it upon themselves to gather their post grunge sensibilities and apply it to the normally mundane indie rock genre. Their song, “Spooky Action at a Distance”, manages to be both curiously resonant and something of a swansong to teen alienation.

Certainly in pursuit of mood rather than adventure, Swedish electro-poppers Death In The Afternoon loop themselves into eternal worship of the past with their song “‘82”. This is not the kind of song that is likely to generate excitement but perhaps that is the point.

Always one to deliver an intelligent song, Tokyo Rosenthal shows his mastery of irony with his song “The Cold War” painting a convincing picture of how the threat of war is infinitely preferable to the real thing. The playful New Orleans feel of the song provides further counterpoint, as if it were needed, to the wisdom in his words and, once again, causes me to draw the conclusion that Tokyo Rosenthal is the thinking man’s songwriter.

Squeezing as much nihilism into two and a half minutes as a Glasgow band can, Natalie Pryce nonetheless aim their tormented quasi rock ‘n’ roll song “Derek Scott” at the moon and just about get it there. Dark but not bleak, if you know what I mean.

Beth Ford has a nice clear and cultured voice that seems unsullied by the rigours of life. Her song “If I Could Escape” is a wholesome one too and that gives her combined voice and song what might be best called “grandmother appeal”.

The somewhat understated voice of Olivia Hally gives “The Race” its ear appeal but the minimalist electro backing complements the wry lyrics of the song nicely. Oh Pep! are definitely, and probably defiantly, worth a listen.

“Arrive Alone Leave Alone” might be an unashamedly flagrant copy of that eighties synth pop sound but when you have the style to carry it off, as Manchester’s Girl Friend have, then all is forgiven. The neon lights are on and it will be hours before the last bus leaves.

“I Am” is the kind of gospel song that gives Sunday morning testifying a good name. The story might still be the same but no one can doubt the sincerity or power of the Jones Family Singers’ performance. It’s the real deal without a doubt.

Remarkably melodic for an indie rock band (although it should be noted that they are actually Australian), Timber Bones steal from the past for their sonic cues but have not forgotten the importance of melody. Their song “Walking Through the Fire” benefits accordingly.

Sye Elaine Spence has the kind of voice that suggests she can go deeper and darker than most and her song “Repeat”, accordingly, leads your thoughts, with minimal musical accompaniment, through the sunset of sadness and into the eternal guarantee of tomorrow’s sunrise. A moving song.