Flood of Red are an emerging band from Glasgow who released their debut album ‘Leaving Everything Behind’ last month. Back in 1997 they had released ‘Home Run’ and have now subsequently decided to re-release it in a form of media including digital downloads and CDs with exclusive tracks.

If any track was ideally suited to battling it out in the singles chart, then this is surely a strong contender. ‘Home Run’ starts out with resonant electronic guitar riffs chords before driving drum beat launches the song into full flow. Read more

Ian Black’s single ‘Alone’ is probably best described as ‘light pop’. The lyrics, however provide an edge to the music which means that I wouldn’t be surprised to hear such a track on the soundtrack to an episode of ‘Skins’ or any such television drama. 

Considering the track is based on the issue of being ‘alone’, it is still very upbeat and positive. This is immediately heard from the opening where the track starts in a style similar to that of McFly or Busted with a very bouncy with an engaging beat. 

The lyrics really complement the music and neither would be as effective without the other, nor would it be as pleasing on the ears themselves. 

The lyrics talk about relationships and dreams as well as being alone and also being left alone. They hint towards a traumatic type of experience, surrounding the issue of being alone which eventually draws the track to the solo voice that gradually and steadily draws back to the original template and tempo of the song. 

It could be that Ian Black is attempting to replicate aspects of life itself, that there are ups and downs but the main thing is just to get on and live through it. Whatever his message, this is a highly addictive song, which deserves to be listened to, at least once.

I think it’s time for Lady Gaga to swagger off the dance floor and make way for the next big thing. La Roux, is tipped to be one of the artists to watch on the music scene throughout 2009.

Her single ‘In for the Kill’ may read as a suitable James Bond theme tune, but is in fact a great new dance floor hit that is sure to get clubbers moving across the country.

Having listened to the single, it’s easy to see what the hype is all about. ‘In for the Kill’ has a strong pulsating, electronic beat that firstly pulls the listener in and then drags them (seductively) along at a fast pace. It encourages you to get up and dance.

The lyrics are sexy and the song bounces along at a nice steady tempo. The subtle use of rhymes and the melody make it easy to hum along to.

Despite the regular beat, the track does manage to throw a surprise; just when it appears to be coming to an end, the song switches to a slower, anthem-like style, before returning to the beat from the opening. The instrumental version is even better if you just feel like dancing till you drop!

Things aren’t always exactly as they first appear. Sometimes you might listen to a song only to find that the music suddenly takes a totally unexpected direction. ‘People in Planes’ happily make these unusual themes commonplace in their latest single, ‘Last Man Standing’. 

‘People in Planes’ are a Cardiff band with a very unique and unfamiliar edge to much of their music. Their main track, ‘Last Man Standing’, starts with slow opening chords, before guitar riffs help to quicken the pace and get the song moving. It has a rough feel which makes it sound as though it could be an authentic radio recording from the eighties but this adds to its atmosphere. Given the limits of the lyrics, the track still proves to be a good (lead) song. Read more