October 15th, 2018
werner's weekly
Werner’s Weekly (week 42)
How many Indian summers can one year hold? Not that I’m complaining… Likewise, there are sunny spells in musical respect as well. What other conclusion can be drawn after a week that saw artists like Alma, Joe Jackson, Maggie Rogers, Paloma Faith, Razorlight and Young The Giant drop brand new music? Not to mention the many less known musicians that made our lives a little bit better with great new tracks?
As always, Carte Blanche Music tries to introduce you to the best new tunes, regardless of the artist’s prior status, descent, gender, the language, genre, etc. Just great music for open-minded people that aren’t stuck in a niche but are happy to discover.
All of those wonderful songs are added to my Carte Blanche Music playlist on an ongoing basis, and each Monday I publish my ultimate shortlist: Werner’s Weekly, your compass to the music that matters. This, my friends, is it:
- Janelle Monáe – Americans (Wildcard this week)
- They Might Be Giants – The Communists Have The Music (Wildcard last week)
- Angèle feat. Roméo Elvis – Tout Oublier
- Satellite Stories – The Fame
- SOAK – Everybody Loves You
- Tom Helsen – Be The One
- Wooze – Party Without Ya
More info is behind each link and all seven songs can be enjoyed through the Werner’s Weekly player in the sidebar. Have fun!
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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 12 October 2018
Ed Sheeran, Drake, and Kanye West (excuse me, Ye) are just some names of artists who managed to have many album tracks in the charts simultaneously, immediately after they released a long player. All of them British or American artists, who built a large worldwide fan base over a career that included multiple albums. European artists have so far a harder time to achieve such a feat, let alone emerging European artists who, according to the chart rules of the European Border Breakers Chart, are only eligible with tracks that are less than two years old, but only if they haven’t released more than one album. Okay, artists like Superorganism and Goat Girl have seen many tracks off their first albums reach the EBBChart over the course of a few months, but not all of them together in the week following the album release.
This week, we greet the exception to the rule: Belgian singer-songwriter Angèle (pictured) dominates the Top 100. Not with many of the tracks off her last week released debut album Brol, but all of its songs are included! And all of them within the Top 65 of the combined EBBChart, which is compiled from airplay and streaming data. The fact that the tracks are in both the separate Airplay Chart and Streaming Chart as well, proves that her music is liked by radio stations and streaming music lovers alike, especially in Belgium (obviously), France, Switzerland and Poland.
Yesterday, when I reviewed her new single Tout Oublier (feat. Roméo Elvis), I wrote ‘Angèle Van Laeken is one of the most successful young artists to have come out of Belgium the past year.’ Today, I must correct that. Angèle is the most successful young artists to have come out of Belgium the past year. And rightfully so, for Brol is a great album, full of radio friendly pop tracks with a twist.
You can find all of this week’s 15 newcomers below:
#4: Sigrid: Sucker Punch
#31: Angèle feat. Roméo Elvis – Tout Oublier
#44: Angèle – Balance Ton Quoi
#47: Alma – Cowboy
#52: Angèle – Ta Reine
#53: Angèle – Nombreux
#56: Angèle – Les Matins
#57: Angèle – Flemme
#60: Angèle – Victime Des Réseaux
#62: Angèle – Flou
#84: Yoana – Da Ne Spim
#89: Fóe – Bouquet De Pleurs
#92: Rimon – Realize
#94: Otha – One Of The Girls
#96: Nana Adjoa – Down At The Root
For the full 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), the Airplay Chart and the Streaming Chart, are available at www.europeanborderbreakerschart.eu, where you can also listen to all of the tracks and watch their videos, as well as share them via social media.
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
Radikal Rat feat. Kes Kross – Friends With Benefits
If 80’s (influenced) music is your thing, you should listen to this. Radikal Rat is performed, produced and mixed by Sweden-based Lukas Nathanson and John Hårleman. Combining pop, electro, R&B and more, they create a world that is both modern and nostalgic.
Though much of their work is instrumental, Radikal Rat have worked on several collaborations with other artists. Their new single Friends With Benefits features LA artist Kes Kross. His R&B tinged vocals turn the track into 80’s nostalgia for the post-genre generation.
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 trackAngèle feat. Roméo Elvis – Tout Oublier
Angèle feat. Roméo Elvis – Tout Oublier
Angèle Van Laeken is one of the most successful young artists to have come out of Belgium the past year. Understandably, for there’s not much not to like about her. She’s cute, sturdy, funny and above all: very talented. Her songs are smart and poppy; contemporary but rooted in tradition at the same time. This provides her tunes with a sense of timelessness. On top of that, her videos are colourful and full of humour.
As a result of this whole package, all of her singles to date (La Loi De Murphy, Je Veux Tes Yeux, La Thune and Jalousie) have become hits in the European Border Breakers Chart. Apart from Belgium, especially France is fond of her songs.
22-year-old Angèle is from a musical family: her father Marka was in the band Allez Allez and her brother Roméo Elvis is a popular Belgian rap star. Her new single Tout Oublier brings brother and sister together. Could this be her (and his) break-through beyond the French-speaking world? We’ll have to see, but for music lovers who feel adventurous, this is a great song to discover.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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
SOAK – Everybody Loves You
SOAK is 22-year-old Irish singer-songwriter Bridie Monds-Watson. Longlisted for the BBC Sound Of 2015, the same year she released her debut album Before We Forgot How To Dream, which won her a European Border Breakers Award in het year after.
Now, SOAK returns with her first track in three years. Everybody Loves You is about the lies we tell ourselves in denial and the eventual acceptance of our real emotions. A seemingly simple song with many layers, built around Monds-Watson’s addictive voice.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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
Tom Helsen – Be The One
Belgian singer-songwriter Tom Helsen first attracted attention after finishing second at the 1996 edition of Humo’s Rock Rally contest. He released his self-titled debut album two years later, followed by seven more long players, Cupcakes being the latest. However, he achieved his biggest hits in his home country on collaborations with Belgian dance producer Regi (Night And Day) and former Hooverphonic singer Geike Arnaert (the chart-topping Home). His single Sun In Her Eyes also crossed over to the Netherlands.
Now, Helsen has a new goal (conquering the rest of the world) and a new single. Be The One is indeed one of his best songs to date. It sounds like an up-tempo Novastar track, which is meant to be a huge compliment!
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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, wildcardWildcard (week 41):
Wildcard (week 41):
Janelle Monáe – Americans
On her latest album Dirty Computer, which was preceded by the single Make Me Feel, Janelle Monáe saved the best for last. Americans is the closing track on the album. Combining elements of pop, gospel, R&B, funk and neo-soul, it sounds like a tribute to Prince’s Let’s Go Crazy, but in fact, the song preaches the importance of all Americans coming together and being recognized for who they are and what they contribute to their country. But as we all know, that’s not the way it works in the United States nowadays. Non-male Americans, queer Americans, Americans of colour, poor Americans, etc. are looked down upon.
A spoken bridge and outro by Reverend Sean McMillan lists the marginalised people in contemporary America: “Until women can get equal pay for equal work… Until same-gender-loving people can be who they are… Until black people can come home from a police stop without being shot in the head… Until poor whites can get a shot at being successful… Until Latinos and Latinas don’t have to run from walls… this is not my America.”
I’m not sure if this is Monáe’s new single, but it’s playlisted by BBC Radio 6music. And that’s not all; a great track like this, with such an important message, deserves to be next week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard! All 41 of them, so far, are in the Wildcards 2018 playlist.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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
Satellite Stories – The Fame
Asked if they were ready for the fame, during an interview in 2012, Satellite Stories’ Olli-Pekka Ervasti responded: “You never know how the music industry goes, but reaching the fame is not the thing for us.” Six years later, in my opinion, the band didn’t achieve the fame they deserved. After ten years, five albums and one last upcoming European tour, the Finnish indie band splits up.
But Satellite Stories go out with a bang. The bonus track on their final album Cut Out The Lights has now been released as their farewell single. The Fame is the kind of up-tempo pop track we’ve come to know from the band, as danceable as ever. Fame at last!
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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
Calva Louise – I Heard A Cry
Calva Louise are a London based trio, consisting of Jess Allanic (vocals, guitar), Alizon Taho (bass, backing vocals) and Ben Parker (drums, backing vocals). A band on the rise, that’s for sure. They will certainly be liked by people who loved Shampoo in the mid 90’s, or Girli, more recently.
I Heard A Cry, a wonderful slice of bubble gum punk rock, is Calva Louise’s fourth single. It’s the second track to be lifted from their debut album (which is set for release early next year). The upbeat song features fuzzy guitars, a thumping bass line and Allanic’s trademark biting vocals on the one hand, but obvious pop sensibilities and tons of fun on the other. But listen quickly, for it’s over in just 2 minutes.
The band say about the track: “I Heard A Cry deals with the misinformation we often feel regarding what’s happening elsewhere in the world. But at the same time, it’s about the will of many people who are trying to inform themselves.”
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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
Wooze – Party Without Ya
After releasing their debut single Hello Can You Go only in June, Wooze now come up with its equally infectious follow-up Party Without Ya. To quote the British/Korean duo, it’s “the introvert’s party anthem… it’s ok not to feel the communal euphoria… I’m ok to party without ya.”
Equal parts syrupy sweet pop and distorted indie-pop, this compelling new single is full of riffs and psychedelia. They call it ‘baroque ‘n’ roll’!
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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.
