Carte Blanche Music -

Based in Manningtree, Essex, Blenko is the one-woman project of singer and bass player Rebecca Simmonds. In a previous life she fronted local band Anna’s Bones. She’s inspired by Talking Heads, Leonard Cohen, Suzanne Vega, and – by the sound of her new single – Talking Heads spin-off Tom Tom Club. Anyhow, this solo venture marks an exciting new chapter in her musical journey.

Only A Matter Of Time is only Blenko’s third single on her own. Less than four months ago, she released her solo debut Through Your Teeth, which was followed by There There There. Both garnered attention on platforms such as BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio. I predict this new single, produced by Low Lying Sun frontman Michael Hemmings, will broaden her audience considerably. It combines no-nonsense bass lines, distinctive vocals and compelling songwriting.

Simmonds says about the track: “Only A Matter Of Time is about human relationships, how they can change and how we adapt as a result. It originally came from some very sad personal experiences, but like my previous songs, there is a fun and upbeat aspect to the music that, I guess, symbolises optimism and maybe even a bit of faith in things getting better. Your brain can do a lot of gymnastics during challenging times (at least mine does!), where you juggle lots of different points of view. The multiple sounds and voices in the middle 8 kinda reflects this. But then out of this comes, hopefully, comes some sort of clarity and growth.”

Only A Matter Of Time by Blenko is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This implies that it will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.

Follow Blenko on Instagram | Spotify

In the Wildcards 2023 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.

werner's weekly

Werner’s Weekly (week 48)

indie | pop | rock

November 27th, 2023

This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:

Chloe & The Brainwaves – Mind Running Wild (Wildcard this week)
Peking Duk feat. Julia Stone – Fall At Your Feet [Triple J Like A Version] (Wildcard last week)
Naomi Diane – Chasing The Sun
Francis Of Delirium – Blue Tuesday
Abbey Lane – Shot In The Dark
Slow Cinema – Pocket Knife
The Snuts – NPC

Listen to each of the tracks via the Werner’s Weekly player below.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators

playlist

Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 47)

electronic | hip hop | indie | pop | rock

November 24th, 2023

Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):

Blenko – Only A Matter Of Time indie | pop
Broken Waves – Everything I Need indie | pop
Emily Burns – Cheating On Her indie | pop
Datura – Cherry Pop indie | pop | rock
Naomi Diane – Chasing The Sun indie | pop
Francis Of Delirium – Blue Tuesday indie | pop | rock
Friday Evidence – Mechanical Dust indie | pop | rock
The Kaves – Prevalent indie | rock
Abbey Lane – Shot In The Dark indie | pop
Luvleelou – Cause I Love You indie | pop | rock
Mattyeux – Ouragan electronic | hip hop | pop
The Rifles – The Kids Won’t Stop indie | pop | rock
Slow Cinema – Pocket Knife indie | pop | rock
The Snuts – NPC indie | pop | rock
Spyres – Only This Could Happen To Me indie | rock
Yurina – Bliss indie | pop

Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.

Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators

single track, wildcard

Wildcard (week 47):
Chloe & The Brainwaves – Mind Running Wild

indie | pop | rock

November 22nd, 2023

Chloe Gardner, Michael Potts, Lewis Cooke and Alex Baker have been playing in various bands together since their teens. The Sunderland-based quartet’s latest guise is called Chloe & The Brainwaves. They cite influences ranging from Jeff Buckley to Joni Mitchell and Soundgarden to Big Thief. Me, I also hear bands like Fleetwood Mac, First Aid Kit and Temples shining through. And if you like this new track, you’ll probably fall for Wings Of Love by Liv (a highlight from 2016) as well.

Mind Running Wild is only C&TB’s sophomore single. It’s a dreamy indie-rock song that pairs haunting vocals with stunning guitar riffs and killer melodies. A combination that gives the song a ‘90s, The Cranberries kind of feel. The rather dark musical backdrop mirrors the raw honesty of Chloe’s lyrics about childhood trauma endured in silence. Ultimately however, it’s a song of hope.

As the band explain: “Mind Running Wild is about coming to terms with the trauma of psychological and sexual abuse endured as a child and the emptiness and shame it leaves behind. Through government cuts, funding to Mental Health services make it impossible for victims to access the help they desperately need. Then they battle with addictions and misunderstood negative manifestations that follow them throughout adulthood, leaving adult victims of childhood sexual abuse without a voice. This song is a glimmer of hope for those people. Speaking to a safe person or counsellor can help relieve the weight that is often carried as a secret for decades. You are not alone.”

Mind Running Wild by Chloe & The Brainwaves is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This implies that it will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.

Follow Chloe & The Brainwaves on Facebook | Instagram | X | Spotify

In the Wildcards 2023 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.

werner's weekly

Werner’s Weekly (week 47)

electronic | indie | live | pop | rock

November 20th, 2023

This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:

Peking Duk feat. Julia Stone – Fall At Your Feet [Triple J Like A Version] (Wildcard this week)
Ciel – Shut In My Body (Wildcard last week)
Dune Rats – Be Like You
Lou Emery – Fools
In Waves – Headstone
Thelma Plum – We Don’t Talk About It
Mardi Tickle – Mennyt On Valmis

Listen to each of the tracks via the Werner’s Weekly player below.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators

playlist

Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 46)

electronic | indie | pop | rock

November 17th, 2023

In a week stuffed with Christmas ditties, I still found some decent new pop/rock tunes. I only added the *best* ones to my playlist (alphabetically):

Dune Rats – Be Like You indie | rock
Lou Emery – Fools indie | rock
In Waves – Headstone indie | rock
Thelma Plum – We Don’t Talk About It pop
Mardi Tickle – Mennyt On Valmis electronic | indie | pop

Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.

Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators

cover, single track, wildcard

Wildcard (week 46):
Peking Duk feat. Julia Stone – Fall At Your Feet [Triple J Like A Version]

electronic | live | pop | rock

November 15th, 2023

‘Like A Version’ is a segment on Australian radio station Triple J. Every week a musician or band performs one of their own tunes and a cover of a song they love. The latter often ends up being a stunning and quite different take on a well-known song. This is a great example.

In March this year, Canberra natives Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles (a.k.a. Peking Duk) were invited back into the studio. They did their own song Spend It, originally featuring Circa Waves, with guest vocals from upcoming Aussie singer Dean Brady. However, the session will forever be reminded for their stunning version of Crowded House’s Fall At Your Feet. Who would’ve thought this beautiful track could be transformed into a sure-fire floor-filler? That’s exactly what Peking Duk did, with help from Julia Stone (of Big Jet Plane fame) and Dean Brady.

True to their party-vibe style, the dynamic duo and their well-chosen guests delivered an anthemic and rousing cover of the 1991 classic. Adding bright synths, a booming beat and energy-drenched group vocals in the chorus, they created a classic of their own. Eight months after the recording session, this version is now released as a single by popular demand.

Peking Duk & Julia Stone’s interpretation of Fall At Your Feet is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This implies that it will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.

In the Wildcards 2023 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.

werner's weekly

Werner’s Weekly (week 46)

country | electronic | indie | pop | rock

November 13th, 2023

This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:

Ciel – Shut In My Body (Wildcard this week)
Wet World – Fucked Up (Wildcard last week)
Aurora – Your Blood
Sheryl Crow – Alarm Clock
D3lta – Happy Out Of Love
Hockey Dad – Still Have Room
Patrick Martin & Adé – I Wanna Know (Tout Savoir)

Listen to each of the tracks via the Werner’s Weekly player below.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators

playlist

Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 45)

November 10th, 2023

Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):

Aurora – Your Blood pop
Brimheim (feat. eee gee) – Brand New Woman indie | pop | rock
Chloe & The Brainwaves – Mind Running Wild indie | pop | rock
Sheryl Crow – Alarm Clock indie | pop | rock
D3lta – Happy Out Of Love indie | pop
Glass Violet – Oxygen Machine indie | pop | rock
Hippie Sabotage feat. Izzy Bizu – Boy Problems electronic | indie | pop
Hockey Dad – Still Have Room indie | pop | rock
Louis & The Shakes – Scared. indie | pop | rock
Patrick Martin & Adé – I Wanna Know (Tout Savoir) country | indie | pop
Peking Duk feat. Julia Stone – Fall At Your Feet [Triple J Like A Version] electronic | live | pop | rock
The Reytons – Market Street indie | rock

Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.

Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators

single track, wildcard

Wildcard (week 45):
Ciel – Shut In My Body

indie | rock

November 8th, 2023

Brighton-based trio Ciel takes its name from front woman Michelle Hindriks. She’s a Dutch bass player, singer and songwriter who moved from the Netherlands to Great Brittain to pursue her musical dream. She teamed up with Spanish guitarist Jorge Bela Jimenez and British drummer Tim Spencer to form her own band.

24 November, they puts out their third EP Rather Be Alone, produced by Blood Red Shoes’ Steven Ansell. Drawing influences from ‘90s grunge, goth and shoegaze, the band’s upcoming work sees them reflect a moodier and grittier direction.

Shut In My Body is the 2^nd single off the impending EP. Still maintaining their established indie-rock signature, it’s possibly their most radio-friendly single yet. The video was shot in between soundchecks, road stops and during days off while on tour through Europe in September/October 2023, supporting Blood Red Shoes.

Shut In My Body by Ciel is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This implies that it will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.

Recommended as well:
Baby Don’t You Know

Follow Ciel on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify

In the Wildcards 2023 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.

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