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Your favourites (September 2019)

October 1st, 2019

Because of a – if I may say so myself – well-deserved holiday, not much will happen here on the Carte Blanche Music blog during the month of October. But I will continue to update my Spotify playlist. So, if want to keep track of the best new music, please follow that one, if you didn’t already. Furthermore, during my absence, this blog is a wonderful archive of recent music. It holds over 1500 recommendations of songs from all over the world, in all genres and many languages. Listening via your platform of choice is only one mouse click away.

That said, let’s look back upon my tips that were most-read in the month of September. What strikes me, is that 4 out of the Top 10 tracks are songs in French. Videoclub continue their winning streak, but elsewhere, we find Ethel (#7), Shanguy (#8) and Claire Laffut feat. Yseult (#9). One possible explanation is the popularity of France among holiday-goers, who may have heard these songs on the radio there and searched for more information when back home. But that’s only guessing…

The only recommendation that was published in September, was for Calby’s The Everyday Bit. It shows up at #3 among your favourites of the month. All of the other entries are slightly older, which proves you like Carte Blanche Music for its archive as well.

Your full Top 10 of favourite recommendations in September is below. All of these tracks, and circa 800 more, are in my 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music, which will continue to be updated during my holidays. Click here to follow it. See you again in November!

^(WC) = former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

werner's weekly

Werner’s Weekly (week 40)

September 30th, 2019

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

Georgia – Never Let You Go (Wildcard this week)
Mélodie Lauret – 23h28 (Wildcard last week)
Ana & The Changes – Beneath My Lungs / I Turned 30 Yesterday
Lizzo – Good As Hell
Madame Psychosis – Kapow
Sheila & The Kit – Mike
The Lighthouse – Pretty Classy

Click the links for more info and 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. Also added last week: Liam Gallagher, Sløtface, Tegan & Sara, Temples, and many more.

album track

Sheila & The Kit – Mike

September 27th, 2019

Following a string of singles and a maxi-single with remixes, Sheila & The Kit just released their first EP. And just to be clear, the Dutch alternative synth-pop outfit called it EP. It contains the past single Ruffhouse and two long tracks: Liar Liar (6’29) and Mike (7’39).

Although I’m a sucker for radio edits and I love a song that makes its point within three and a half minute or so, Mike is a monster track. Made for the dance floor, not for the radio, obviously. In the long, instrumental mid-piece the duo go completely bezerk to great effect. In this case, size does matter (although I’d love to make a radio edit of it, for more exposure 😉 ).

Recommended as well:
Sheila & The Kit – Time Again

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

dance | electronic | indie | pop

single track

Madame Psychosis – Kapow

September 27th, 2019

Madame Psychosis are a five-piece, female-led, alt-pop/indie-rock band, based in Toronto, Canada. But let’s talk about that name first. It comes from a David Foster Wallace book called Infinite Jest. One of the characters in the book, Joelle Van Dyne, goes by the moniker of Madame Psychosis. The band loved the name, so they adopted it as theirs.

Then, more importantly, the music. The band tend to say their music sounds like a cross between The Black Keys and Alabama Shakes. Others also mentioned similarities to Metric and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. With a description like that, it’s a complete mystery to me why Madame Psychosis didn’t cross my path earlier than this week.

The band just released their second album Survivor. It contains the great singles Just Wanna Be Myself, Crashing Down, and the most recent one: Kapow. Mindful of the slogan ‘don’t bore us, get to the chorus’, they don’t waste any time on an intro. And less than a minute after the explosive opening chords, we hear the first guitar solo. Furthermore, the up-beat feel-good song contains a catchy chorus that’s impossible not to sing along to.

In Madame Psychosis’ words: “Kapow highlights the pursuit that lies at the heart of getting someone you’re interested in to give you a chance, and the heart-dropping moment of being rejected. This song is easily one of our favourites to perform live with its high-energy vibe. We wanted to create a fun summer song that people could sing along to and we believe we pulled it off.” Like hell they did!

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

indie | pop | rock

re-release, single track, soundtrack

Lizzo – Good As Hell

September 26th, 2019

Lizzo is becoming more and more of a phenomenon. Correction: Lizzo is a phenomenon. To such an extent, that even her older songs belatedly prove to be hits. Melissa Jefferson (the 31-year-old American singer and rapper’s real name) is currently #1 in the Billboard Hot 100 with Truth Hurts, a song originally released in 2016. But another song from that same year is doing great as well.

Following her performance at the MTV Music Video Awards, Good As Hell is climbing up the Billboard charts. It was originally recorded for the soundtrack of the movie ‘Barbershop: The Next Cut’, and served as the lead single from her debut EP Coconut Oil. Do yourself a favour and also check the track Worship off that EP.

Despite not being on Lizzo’s recent album Cuz I Love You (not even on the Deluxe Edition), Good As Hell is about to be re-released worldwide as her new single. A great choice, for the tune totally lives up to its title.

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

pop | r&b | soul

single track

Larkins – Not Enough Love

September 26th, 2019

Larkins are one of the most exciting and in-demand bands to emerge from Manchester in recent times. This summer, they released their Sugar Sweet EP, containing most of their earlier singles. Now, it’s time for a brand-new track.

Not Enough Love is rich with synth-infused guitars and will go down well with fans of The 1975. It finds the four-piece reminiscing on nostalgic times and looking forward to the future. Regarding the single frontman Josh Noble says: “Not Enough Love was born from thinking about our hometown. I just remember feeling like we just had to get out of there and moving to Manchester was such a big deal for us. The production is my favourite yet. We slowed stuff down to record and then sped it up to create really cool guitar tones. I think lyrically I just wanted to talk about everything that went on when I was a kid and being so frustrated with the politics that comes with a small suburban town.”

Larkins are currently recording their debut album with producers Dan Nigro (A-Trak, Sky Ferreira, Lewis Capaldi), Andrew Dawson (Kanye West, Fun, Kid Cudi) and Chris Zane (Friendly Fires, Passion Pit).

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

indie | pop | rock

album track

Ana & The Changes – Beneath My Lungs / I Turned 30 Yesterday

September 25th, 2019

When Ana & The Changes started a crowdfunding for their second album, they announced it would be named Beneath My Lungs. As you might have expected from a band called The Changes, they eventually changed the title to Differences.

What didn’t change, was their constant high level of song-writing. Serbia-based Ana Ćurčin must be among the most talented singer-songwriters of her region. To me, Beneath My Lungs (which was once meant to be the album’s title track) is one of the stand-out tracks. A wonderful piece of sophisticated pop, with a lovely piano, an inimitable drum pattern and subtle backing vocals.

For another album highlight, listen to I Turned 30 Yesterday. A lovely song that pairs an infectious organ part with an instrument as unlikely as a kazoo, to great effect.

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

indie | pop

single track, wildcard

Wildcard (week 39):
Georgia – Never Let You Go

September 25th, 2019

I can’t wait for the new year, for it’s sure to start with a bang. On 10 January 2020, Georgia will release her second album Seeking Thrills. Each new single off it is better than the one before. The best so far, About Work The Dancefloor, was a Carte Blanche Music Wildcard in April.

Now, Georgia repeats that feat with her brand-new single Never Let You Go. A Robyn-esque song with a ludicrous catchiness, that was entirely played by the talented London artist and producer. Easily one of the best pop songs of the year so far, this is the one that should propel her onto radio playlists around the globe. If not, music directors should be fired and replaced by people with ears.

As a stamp of approval, let me remind you one last time that Georgia is the daughter of Leftfield’s Neil Barnes. But soon, he’ll be referred to as the father of Georgia. Never Let You Go is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. The repeat button was invented for this kind of songs.

In the Wildcards 2019 playlist you can find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.

electronic | indie | pop

single track

The Lighthouse – Pretty Classy

September 24th, 2019

Following two EP’s in 2016 and 2017, The Lighthouse are about to put their debut album in the spotlights. The long-player, Whatever Comes Our Way, will see the light of day on 27 September. Ahead of it, the Belgian electronic pop band release its 4^th, bass-heavy single.

Pretty Classy sounds fiercer than its predecessors, thanks to well-placed bursts of guitar over a bed of synths. A roaring mix between melodical alt-pop and stadium guitar rock.

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

electronic | indie | pop | rock

single track

Lilly Among Clouds – Girl Like Me

September 24th, 2019

German singer-songwriter Lilly Among Clouds is well-known for her epic pop ballads. But for her upcoming second album Green Flash, she wanted to stay away from that. Half of the songs or more should be happy, or at least groovy.

While staying true to her beloved piano, she also tries out new sounds. One example is the spinet on new single Girl Like Me. Golden Brown by The Stranglers instantly springs to mind. That said, it’s as epic a pop song as we’ve come to love her for.

Recommended as well:
Lilly Among Clouds – Listen To Your Mama

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

indie | pop

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Your favourites (September 2019)

Werner’s Weekly (week 40)

Sheila & The Kit – Mike

Madame Psychosis – Kapow

Lizzo – Good As Hell

Larkins – Not Enough Love

Ana & The Changes – Beneath My Lungs / I Turned 30 Yesterday

Wildcard (week 39):
Georgia – Never Let You Go

The Lighthouse – Pretty Classy

Lilly Among Clouds – Girl Like Me

Wildcard (week 39)

Werner’s Weekly (week 40)

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Wildcard (week 39)

Werner’s Weekly (week 40)

Spotify playlist

Social Media

Subscribe via email

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