New Music Review #118

Ten more songs you have to hear!

Avec - Waiting For (Remixes)

We enjoyed 'Waiting For' a few blogs ago and this trio of remixes, though not doing anything hugely revolutionary to the sweet and listenable vocals of Avec, do add some fresh flavours. The 'Robin Schulz' with its familiar Schulz-sound is the better of three  with its simple re-imaginging though the chants and bassier vibes of the 'HOUT' remix is a strong second and gives it the most energy. The 'Nora Medin' is, in many ways, just as fun but is the least exciting of the three. (7/10)


Black Needle Noise - System Bi feat. Fakeba

With hints of Enigma in its sound this is a well produced, atmospheric number with an international flava and a song that straddles well between orchestration and club. (7/10)

CliQ - Wavey

On first lesson this feels like a cliched dance track but actually has a chorus with a strong central hook and it treads its own path. Surprisingly good, and destined to be a strong club song for this season's nights out. (7/10)

Isaac Gracie - Terrified

Another strong single from Gracie, with a simple yet soaring production that compliments his voice and gives it plenty of heart. The energy of the chorus really grabs you after a few listens. (7/10)

Kongsted - Get Away

Balancing the genre cliches with a fun, bouncy production vibe this feels like a summer hit plonked down at the wrong time of the year. Sunny and bouncing, this feels like a strong club-lite number with elements of grime and rnb carefully woven in. (7/10)

Matt Terry – The Thing About Love

The former X-Factor winner returns with this string-heavy run-of-the-mill ballad. It's not going to win any big awards but it's sweet and warming enough for the time of year. (6.5/10)

Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott - He Wants To

It might take more than its fair share of inspiration from Lou Reed's 'Satellite of Love' but this is a corker of a pop track from the pair who can't do much wrong with their modern songbook of positive-sounding gloomily-worded radio-friendly hits. Great. (8/10)

Ralph McTell feat. Crisis Choir and Annie Lennox - Streets Of London

Quite possibly one of the most covered songs ever, this new version of the classic returns to the original vocalist, with the added vocals from Eurythmics' Lennox and the choir really give this even more heart. A beautiful version and for a great cause. (8/10)

The Script - Arms Open

The Script continue with a series of strong songs. 'Arms Open' is a smooth and touching ballad with a solid, heart-warming and loving central message. (7.5/10)

Sheridan Smith - City Of Stars

There's a touch of the karaoke about this performance but the big band production and Smith's smooth and sweet vocals manage to pull it off. A good take on the modern classic. (6.5/10)

New Music Review #104

Ten more great songs you need to hear!

AVEC - Waiting For

A simple, stripped back sound with hints of country make for a smooth and gentle showcase of Avec's sweet and very listenable voice. (6/10)

Cimo Fränkel - Never Give up

'Never Give Up' is a soulful number with some hints of Bruno Mars in its cut-back sound. It's chorus is perhaps not as big as you'd expect but it has a nice little vibe to it and feels very summery (7/10)

Jazz Mino - Crush

Delivering a funked up cover of the classic song, this club-influenced song lacks the subtlety of the original but it does something fresh with the hit and injects some modern vibes in it, and Jazz Mino's vocals are as great as ever. Cool! (7/10)

Judi Jackson - Worth It

With a soulful, stripped back chilled-out vibe and a Macy Gray-lite sound to the vocals this is a cool, relaxing number, perfect for a quiet night in. (6/10)

Paul Brand - Standing Over Elvis

Though you could argue it's a little twee in parts this is a smooth and gentle country-lite number with some sweet little reminisces and a warming feel, plus the chorus is quickly memorable. (6.5/10)

Reggie 'N' Bollie - On The Floor

Though its off-the-shelf sound effects don't bode well for it this becomes a catchy club-number with a hook-filled Shaggy-like chorus that keeps the summer alive for a little bit longer, and Beenie Man's inclusion adds a bit extra bite. (6.5/10)

The Sheratons - Better Days

Ticking the indie box for this post, this is a simple but fun enough indie track with a nice lo-fi production and throwback sound. (6/10)

Soldier On - Ropes 

With a drum beat appropriate to the band name this is a cool indie number with an Arctic Monkeys vibe and some neat twists and turns in its production. (6/10)

Soulitaire - One Of Many Parts

In a post that seems to include lots of stripped back numbers this is another cut back song which focuses on the vocals, the catchy chorus and multi-instrumentation working well hand-in-hand. (6.5/10)

Swym - That's So Drugs, Man

As free-flowing as the hippy culture that quite possibly inspires the title, this is a song of two-halves where swaying vocals give way to a foot-tapping musical style. Nice. (6.5/10)