November 30th, 2017
album track
Miss Li – Beautiful
Linda Karlsson is a Swedish singer-songwriter, better known by her stage name Miss Li. Since 2006, she released eight studio albums in her home country, to ever more success. In my opinion, it’s time for her to break through elsewhere, as well.
As one might expect, Miss Li’s music is very well crafted. After all, she’s from Sweden, the home of many hits. She’s a match for Paloma Faith, for instance, so if you like her music, please check Miss Li as well.
Her just-released new album A Woman’s Guide To Survival (how topical) contains 12 pop songs. This is one of them, and it’s just… well… Beautiful.
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
Arsenal – Amplify
Arsenal is a Belgian duo, consisting of Hendrik Willemyns and John Roan. They are the core of the band, who regularly surround themselves with guest musicians and guest vocalists. This has been a succesful formula for 18 years now; time for the two to try something new…
2018 looks like becoming an incredibly busy year for Arsenal. In the fall, they will publish a poetry book (Room For Imaginary Creatures), in the summer, their film Birdsong comes out, and in the spring, they release their new album In The Rush Of Shaking Shoulders.
Willemyns and Roan found inspiration for the album in Nigeria, where they recorded it as well. There, they experimented with new rhythms and found some musicians who will join Arsenal live.
The newly found Nigerian sounds are omni-present on the band’s new single Amplify, which builds into a most pleasant electro-funk song. I dare you not to tap your feet to it, you’ll see it’s impossible!
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.
album track
Paloma Faith – WW3
Paloma Faith is not only a singer, songwriter and actrice, but a style icon as well. Her appearance is as well-styled as her music is well-produced. Question of balance…
Paloma’s fourth album The Architect is what she calls her ‘social observation record’. But if you’re not into lyrics, musically there’s a lot to be liked as well. It’s an album full of soulful pop, featuring co-writes by the likes of Sia, Ed Harcourt, Ella Henderson, John Newman, Eg White and Tobias Jesso Jr., all of whom know how to write a good tune. The track WW3 is a fine example. Should be a single.
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 48):
Wildcard (week 48):
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – It’s A Beautiful World
You may not have noticed, but three weeks in a row, the Wildcard came out of Australia. Pure coincidence (although it’s undeniably a talent-packed continent). The Presets’ Do What You Want, Tension by Kira Puru and I’ll Make You Happy by The Bamboos (feat. Montaigne) can all be found in the Wildcards 2017 playlist.
This week however, it’s a beautiful world for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, as their new single is added to this slowly growing list, featuring the best songs of the year so far. It’s A Beautiful World is certainly one of them, with its Tears For Fears-like chorus.
As the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, the track features here prominently for a week, only one mouse click away for you to enjoy.
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
HollySiz – Rather Than Talking
As an actrice, Cécile Crochon uses the moniker Cécile Cassel. She also has a singing career, where she goes by the name of HollySiz. Her debut single Come Back To Me, from 2013, still stands as her biggest hit so far, but her new songs sound very promising to me.
Last month, the French multi-talent released the single Fox, which is already followed by Rather Than Talking now. A smart and catchy song, with an ‘oh oh’ part that is waiting for live audiences to sing along to.
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.
album track
Calogero – La Vraie Vie
One of my favourite French artists is Calogero. I already recommended his recent single Je Joue De La Musique, and even made album track 1987 Wildcard without it being a single.
Both songs are taken from Calogero’s most recent album Liberté Chérie, which sold over 175.000 units in France alone so far, and has just been re-released in a Deluxe Edition. It features seven additional tracks: an Extended Version of first single Je Joue De La Musique, a new version of second single On Ne Sait Par Coeur (now featuring Clara Luciani), a piano version of third single Fondamental, three songs recorded live in the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, and – best of them all – one brand new track…
La Vraie Vie was co-written by Colagero’s wife Marie Bastide and finds itself somewhere halfway pop, rock and French ‘chanson’. The track criticizes our modern day hyper connected society and calls upon more personal contact. An irresistible song!
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
Sara Hartman – Buttons
Compliments to Sara Hartman’s parents, who introduced their daughter to the likes of Goldfinger, Radiohead and Talking Heads. It inspired her to make music herself as well. After Sara spent the first 20 years of her life in the state of New York, she moved to Berlin two years ago, because of its ‘intoxicatingly creative’ atmosphere.
I like the first fruits, coming from that inspiring environment. Her latest single Buttons is a delicious, catchy, up-tempo slice of pop music.
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 48)
While daily updating my Carte Blanche Music container playlist (with The Academic, Dua Lipa, Isaac Gracie, Saint Raymond, Shaka Ponk, Toto a.o., last week), and daily recommending you great new music via this blog, there’s only one moment in the week that I present you with the very best tracks of the past seven days…
Each Monday morning (European time) I give you Werner’s Weekly. A shortlist of highlights for your discovering and listening pleasure, brought together in the compact Werner’s Weekly playlist (see the player in the sidebar). It’s also listed alphabetically below and each link provides you with more information. If there’s anything more I can do to make your life easier, please tell me… 😉 . For now: enjoy!
- The Bamboos (feat. Montaigne) – I’ll Make You Happy (Wildcard this week)
- Kira Puru – Tension (Wildcard last week)
- Fabri Fibra – CVDM
- Gin Wigmore – Cabrona
- Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – It’s A Beautiful World
- Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott – He Wants To
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
Fabri Fibra – CVDM
I’ve never been a huge rap fan, but Jovanotti’s flow has always appealed to me. Only this year, I discovered another Italian rapper that I like a lot: Fabri Fibra. I admit, I’m rather late at the table…
Last summer, I wrote about his track Pamplona, and here is his new single. It’s called CVDM. An abbreviation, so much is clear… CVDM is short for ‘Cazzo vuoi da me?’, meaning ‘What the f*ck do you want from me?’.
Musically, the track is less aggressive. The jazzy piano melody and easy-going beats make for a radio-friendly song. At least outside Italy ?
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 24 November 2017
Two months before the European Border Breakers Chart was officially introduced at the 2016 Eurosonic Noorderslag conference, we started testing the chart that we had thought out and built in the months before. We published the first Top 100, under the radar, exactly two years ago, on 27 November 2015. Two years and many interesting features later, some exciting developments are about to be rolled out.
But now, we present you with the latest chart, that features six brand new tracks, some of which you have already read about on Carte Blanche Music. This week’s highest entry is for German singer Nico Santos, whose Rooftop (in at #49) embraces the same musical mix as Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, for instance. One of my personal favourites is the groove debut single of Davey Newington’s band Boy Azooga, Face Behind Her Cigarette (#55; pictured). Thanks to Alma, Dusk Till Dawn is twice in the chart: Zayn’s original (featuring Sia) holds on to the top spot, but the Finnish singer’s cover, recorded for BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, enters at #56. Another debut single, Human – Higher, demands the #64 position. If the title of their hit is anything to go by, the Swedish pop collective is destined to rise next week. One Rizla by Shame is new at #93, and finally Younger x Endor – Give It Up breaks into the chart at #98 this week. A great remake of Lee Dorsey’s 1969 original.
For the complete Top 100, click the ‘EBBChart’ tab in the top menu of this blog (loading of the PDF may take a little while). More charts (like the Tips, ranking the tracks that are on their way to the Top 100), are available at www.europeanborderbreakerschart.eu, where you can listen to all of the tracks and watch their videos as well.
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.
