Song reviews

Throwing themselves, with some vigour, backwards into the time of rock ‘n’ roll, Glasgow’s The Black Denims snap their style fingers, slick back their hair and swagger through “Obviously” like a band on a mission. Unless my ears deceive me, they are made of all natural ingredients too with a right on the money horn section keeping these tired ears interested. May the force be with them and, should the force also be with you, the song is available from Bandcamp.

On the surface of it, “How Long Blues” is a traditional blues song but, guided by the voice of the ever enigmatic Sheila K Cameron, it is freed of the dead weight of conventionality and turned instead into the song of a siren. Class is where it is at. The song is available from Bandcamp.

Pleasingly dramatic and yet far more poetic than the mainstream presentation of “Freediver” might at first suggest, Linn Öberg clearly has the soul of an artist. There is, therefore, no doubting the sincerity of her performance.

Showing he has both heart and soul, Jamie Flett uses “Pam” to demonstrate that sensitivity is not just for those with incomplete beards and budget acoustic guitars. The song itself has the kind of vibe that would suggest musical motivations more akin to seventies folk rock than today but that’s not really a bad thing when it comes down to it.

It would seem that everybody has the blues even in Cambodia. “Mama Blue” keeps the faith in the twelve bars whilst adding some vaguely disturbing counterpoints to the gruff lead vocal, namely a somewhat psychotic female voice and what sounds like a kid’s xylophone. Outwardly conventional but actually not, as it were.

“Brown Eyes” is mid paced soft rock song that would have been quickly parlayed into radio airplay back in the day. However today is today and, while it’s a nice enough song, the mix loses Monica Ward’s vocals – surely the epicentre of a song like this – in the murk.

To give them credit, Banana Beach are toughening up. “Antibodies” is a damn sight more purposeful than their previous songs with their Swedish electro pop sound benefitting from a course of musical steroids. A convincing vocal performance leads the song off into the sunset and that is just how it should be.

Old style and none the worse for that, Braggers get out the Ouija board and contact those glorious guitar powered post punk days to get guidance on how to get their song “Better Life” to the end in four minutes flat. No problem, it would seem, as the road is a straight one. Available from Bandcamp.

Swiss duo Huck Finn excise any excitement from “Before You Begin” with near military precision. The piano drowns in reverb and the vocals follow the mood into the land of melancholy. It’s a long walk.

Nicely polished, Boston’s Louie Bello rattles through his dancefloor friendly song “Take The Money” like it was 1989 once again. He might well get you thinking of Rick Astley and long nights in white stilettoes again but his heart and soul are in the right place.

Obviously fond of taking their urban poetry out for a drive in a fast, and probably stolen car, Sleaford Mods speed mercilessly through the back streets to John Cooper Clarke’s house. “ A Little Ditty” is righteously quirky and full of barely suppressed anger all at the same time making it a fact and a fight all in one.

Perfectly poised for the mainstream, Liverpool’s Helena Johnson aims “Take Me Home Tonight” right at Adele territory. Ms.Johnson has a civilised yet robust voice and she transcends the limitations of the song with ease. I shall light a candle of hope for her.