March 31st, 2017
album track
The Jesus & Mary Chain (feat. Isobel Campbell) – The Two Of Us
I already mentioned The Jesus & Mary Chain when I talked about Ride’s new singles. Just like Ride, The Jesus & Mary Chain were part of the shoegaze movement and both bands left the scene at the end of the last century.
Ten years ago, in April 2007, The Jesus & Mary Chain reunited to perform at the Coachella festival. A year later, the band released a studio recording of All Things Must Pass on the soundtrack album to the television drama Heroes. It was the first new song they released since 1998.
Since then we had to wait another 9 years for new material, but last week their new album Damage And Joy was released. An album, produced by Youth (Crowded House, Heather Nova, The Verve) and with some interesting collaborations. I mean, who would’ve thought Sky Ferreira would sing on one track?
Even two songs feature the voice of fellow Scot Isobel Campbell. One of the tracks the former Belle & Sebastian singer sings on, is my favourite on the album…
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
chart, ebbchart
European Border Breakers Chart 31 March 2017
If you’re interested in emerging acts, European artists and bands and singers that are successful outside their home countries, then you can of course read all music magazines, listen to all radio shows and follow all streaming playlists. But you can also follow the EBBCharts, collecting all debuting, border-crossing, European artists in one convenient Top 100. And you can find even more up-and-coming acts in the ‘Bubbling Under’ chart!
For the full Top 100, click the ‘EBBChart’ tab at the top of this blog (loading of the PDF may take a little while). For more in-depth information, graphical representations of the figures and the ability to share your favourite tracks via social media, please visit www.europeanborderbreakerschart.eu. Happy discovery!
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
Melga – Cose Che
Have you ever copied an Italian text into Google Translate? If you want to LYAO, you should really try it sometime. It’ll make your day. But it won’t make you understand the meaning of the text, alas.
Throwing in all of my linguistic feeling after reading some Italian articles and interviews, I can tell you Melga’s real name is Gaia Costantini. Her debut album Rattopparte was a big success in Italy, both in the charts and live.
Now, she’s ready to release her second album. That’ll drop in April. The first single Cose Che is already upon us.
I hope I made my Latin teacher proud…
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
Airways – Reckless Tongue
This band, formed in 2015, is a quartet from Great-Britain (or to be exact, the drummer moved from Chicago to join them). Reckless Tongue is only their third single. It was co-produced by Dom Craik (Nothing But Thieves; a band they supported last fall). I love those meaty guitar lines and the swinging song structure, that reminds me of acts like Arctic Monkeys.
According to singer Jake the track it’s about when “You’ve just walked into a nightclub. The floors are sticky. Shit music is playing. You’re wearing some shirt that you look mental in but your mate persuaded you that you look great. You’ve just seen a girl you fancy. You’re feeling claustrophobic because you’re convinced everyone is looking at you.”
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
Mr. Jukes feat. BJ The Chicago Kid – Angels/Your Love
With Bombay Bicycle Club on hiatus, guitarist and lead singer Jack Steadman decided it was time for a solo project under the name Mr. Jukes. It celebrates his love for jazz, soul and funk, as you’ll hear on his album God First, that is set to be released on 9 June. The album will be full of soon-to-be-announced guest musicians.
One collaborator is evident already. It’s American singer-songwriter Bryan James Sledge, better known as BJ The Chicago Kid (or simply BJ). He sings on Mr. Jukes’ first single Angels/Your Love, a track built around a sample from Argentinian jazz icon Jorge Lopez Ruiz.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 13):
Wildcard (week 13):
The Gift – Big Fish
I’m so looking forward to The Gift’s new album Altar, that is set to appear in a week and a half! Producer Brian Eno and mixer Flood were involved, so what could possibly go wrong? And each of the three tracks that have been released off it so far, was great, so my expectations are sky high…
The third time’s lucky, for The Gift’s latest single Big Fish is next week’s Wildcard. This means it will feature prominently at the top of Carte Blanche Music for a whole week. Not to be missed, and to be enjoyed over and over again. Cheers!
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
border breaker, single track
Be Charlotte – Discover
You may (or may not) remember I wrote about Be Charlotte’s single One Drop. Otherwise you may recall The Cure sang about Charlotte Sometimes. Well, instead I’d like to plead for ‘Charlotte always’.
You see, her new single is another gem. It’s still electronic, but with more of a pop feel to it. And of course I love her Scottish accent.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single trackAlex Lahey – You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me
Alex Lahey – You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me
Alex Lahey is a 24-year old singer from Melbourne. Her debut EP B-Grade University contains the singles Wes Anderson and You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me. The latter, a very likable song about being disliked, was a hit in Australia exactly one year ago, but it’s only now starting to cross-over to the rest of the world.
Alex Lahey could be for 2017 what Courtney Barnett was for 2015: the female rocker we were waiting for.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
Loïc Nottet – Mud Blood
Loïc Nottet participated in The Voice Belgique in 2014, where he ended second. A year later, he was selected to represent his country at the Eurovision Song Contest. He did a very good job with his Lorde-like song Rhythm Inside. It ended in fourth place. One more year later, in the fall of 2016, his hit single Million Eyes proved he is more than a one day fly.
Next up is his debut album Selfocracy, that will come out at the end of this week, on 31 March. The current single is a great pop song with its dramatic vocals (“We take all kinds of drugs, it’s our way to pretend, that we enjoy the life we’ve got”), contemporary electronic production and smart hooks.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
werner's weekly
Werner’s Weekly (week 13)
On Sunday evenings, when you presumably finish your weekend with a nice glass of wine, a relaxing playlist or a good book (or all three of them), I make hard choices. What songs that made my container playlist Carte Blanche Music last week, deserve to be in my alphabetically sorted ‘best of the best’ playlist Werner’s Weekly?
The hardest part is not putting songs in the list, but taking songs out. In the end, each week I’m very proud of the result. This time as well. It’s as varied as ever. A damn fine selection of brand new music, if I may say so myself ?. Follow both playlists to never miss out.
You can listen to the songs by clicking the Werner’s Weekly player in the sidebar. The links below take you to my short and snappy commentaries on each track.
- TANA – Leave Away (Live) (this week’s Wildcard)
- John Adams – Things That Make You Beautiful (last week’s Wildcard)
- Blas Cantó – In Your Bed
- Cold War Kids (feat. Bishop Briggs) – So Tied Up
- Rilan & The Bombardiers – Supernatural
- Soulwax – Do You Want To Get Into Trouble?
- Ten Tonnes – Silver Heat
- The Gift – Big Fish
Apart from the selection above, I added great tracks by Circa Waves feat. Pvris, The Cranberries, Lizzo and Depeche Mode (and many more) to my daily updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Sounds like an interesting list to follow if you’d ask me… (but hey, it’s a free world!)
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
