INSTEP Magzine

'Fools in Love'
Inara George
LA based alternative folk rock artist Inara George is relatively unknown outside the US circle of fame. But this particular song that made it to the soundtrack of hit medicine show, Grey's Anatomy is her trump card.
A very soft ballad, the song is a platform for Inara to showcase her husky vocals, reminiscent of singers like Leigh Bingham Nash and Lene Marlin.

Fools In Love is rich in melody with guitars forming the main sound of wall. This is a love song and a damn fine one at that. Lyrically it's self-deprecating and shows Inara's take on all things love as the song goes, Fools in love, well are there any other kind of lovers? /Fools in love, is there any other kind of pain?/Fools in love, are there any creatures more pathetic?/Fools in love, never knowing when they've lost the game/Fools in love, gently hold each others hands forever/Fools in love, gently tear each other limb from limb - harsh and yet beautifully written.

Inara George released her debut album, All Rise in 2006, which is a moderate hit in the US. She is also a vocalist for The Bird and the Bee. It remains to be seen if Inara will branch out in the coming years but for now, do give this track a hear.

'Baya Baya'
Safri Duo
Mix African tribal beats with trance and electronica and the outcome is what Baya Baya is all about. Essentially an instrumental – the only words that come in are Ba-ba-baya, ba-ba-ba-ya-baya, baya – this track from Safri Duo has a pulsating beat that boasts of simplicity with drums taking center stage. A hypnotic and slightly trippy musical creation, Baya Baya is signature style of Safri Duo. This Danish percussion duo, comprising of Uffe Savery and Morten Friis came into being in 1977. In their initial years, they started off as classical music enthusiasts and released several albums. But it was in 1999 when Safri Duo tasted international success with the single The Bongo Song and now they enjoy massive popularity world. The Bongo Song' won them heavy airtime on MTV Europe and their single went onto become a huge hit all over Europe. Interesting enough, the name Safri originates from the first letters of their respective surnames. Baya Baya is off their 2002 album Episode II after which, Safri Duo went on to release three more albums. Reportedly, they are back in the studios with another album in the making but till then groove to the drum beat of Baya Baya. It is really a gorgeous piece of music.


'No Surprises' Radiohead In an album as complex and textured as Ok Computer, No Surprises is ample proof of Radiohead's ability to create a simple song with a highly addictive melody and a relatively low-key sound structure. With a morbid and somewhat strange wordplay, A heart that's full up like a landfill/A job that slowly kills you/Bruises that won't heal/You look so tired-unhappy/Bring down the government/They don't, they don't speak for us,the song, according to Thom Yorke (front man Radiohead), is about a man who is fed up with the way his life is turning out. Radiohead can never do wrong. As far as electronica-meets-rock school of music goes, these guys remain unbeatable. Radiohead - who first met success with Creep in 1992 - introduced musical experiments on Ok Computer (1997), creating random noise and ambience (also present on No Surprises) that has now become their signature. They picked up a Grammy for Best Alternative Album and after Ok Computer are considered pioneers of the 'alternative' genre. Download this song now.

'Love Will Come Through' Travis Off Their fourth studio album, 12 Memories, Love Will Come Through sees Travis return to a mature yet recognizable sound after the band took a dark turn towards experimenting. According to front man and songwriter Fran Healy, the song is not about Hollywood love but universal love that could be between a child and his parents, siblings and so on as the wordplay goes, If the world isn't turning/Your heart won't return/Anyone, anything, anyhow/So take me don't leave me/Take me don't leave me/Baby, love will come through it's just waiting for you, this song is a classic sing-a-long, harmonic number. The Scottish lads really have progressed as musicians and one can see it through this album.

Love Will Come Through reminds one of early Radiohead and even Coldplay but minus the effects. And for this album, Travis not only wrote the entire album, and even produced the record themselves. Musically, Travis is very reminiscent of Brit bands like Keane and Coldplay. The common denominator between these three bands and their music is the use of piano as a dominant instrument in their alternative rock music style. And are accredited for paving path for other Brit bands. Travis is back in the spotlight with The Boy With No Name that sees them teaming up again with Nigel Godrich, the young gun of music production (Johnny Cash, Linkin Park, U2, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Sir Paul McCartney producer). But for now, download this number.