November 30th, 2018
European Border Breakers Chart 30 November 2018
While Silk City feat. Dua Lipa reign supreme on the overall European Border Breakers Chart (which combines airplay and streaming data), the dedicated Streaming Chart offers a surprise this week. There, upcoming Belgian superstar Angèle and her brother RomÊo Elvis take over the crown with their single Tout Oublier. Impressive in its own right, but especially for a track in French!
The overall chart in turn surprises with a huge number of (re)entries. The are 29 newcomers this week, no less than 19 of which were never in the Top 100 before. In other words, there is a lot of new music by emerging European acts to discover this week.
You can listen to (and share) all of the tracks below via the combined play/share button behind each song at www.europeanborderbreakerschart.eu, but this is what it looks like on paper:
#4: Los Unidades feat. Pharrell Williams & Jozzy – E-Lo
#21: Sam Fender – Poundshop Kardashians
#24: Daisy Maybe feat. Skepta – The Answer
#33: Biig Piig feat. Mac Wetha, Sukha & Benny Mails – Raze: Plan B
#34: Eddy De Pretto – Grave
#54: Mero – Baller Los
#56: 303 – Whisper
#63: YOTA: Youth Of The Apocalypse feat. MF Doom – Drop The Bomb
#65: CliQÂ feat. Alika & Ms Banks – Anything I Do
#67: Free Money – Moving On
#68: Ex:Re – Romance
#73: Hank Von Hell – Bum To Bum
#79: Da Beatfreakz feat. AJ x deno, Swarmz & Cadet – Pumpy
#81: Otha – I’m On Top
#83: Ama – Monochrome
#88: Claire Laffut – La FessĂŠe
#96: Bowland – Don’t Stop Me
#97: Hank Von Hell – Pretty Decent Exposure
#98: Hank Von Hell – Bombwalk Chic
For the full Top 100, click the âEBBChartâ 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.
The Smashing Pumpkins – Alienation
The title of The Smashing Pumpkinsâ new album is Shiny And Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun.. Thatâs about as long as the period between this album and the latest to feature founding members Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin, which was 2000âs Machina / The Machines Of God. As widely reported, bassist Dâarcy Wretzky is absent from the new recordings, but long-time guitarist Jeff Schroeder fills her shoes.
The new, Rick Rubin produced long player includes the singles Solara, Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts) and the beautiful Knights Of Malta, but Alienation is my absolute favourite. Although the piano melody only consists of two notes, it helps build the song. The same goes for the acoustic guitar and the drums, actually, and James Iha probably didnât have to study hard for his bass part either. Still, with its added strings and trademark electric guitar, this is a Smashing Pumpkins song by the book, that goes from strength to strength until it ends with the same two repeated piano notes it started with.
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.
Corine – Un Air De FĂŞte
After two EPâs, French nu-disco queen Corine just released her first full album Un Air De FĂŞte. A long-player with equal parts groove, sensuality and kitsch, where Giorgio Moroder, Nouvelle Vague and even Jean Michel Jarre are never far away. But the singer with the Jane Fonda looks also explores chanson territory in the few ballads present. All in all, the album couldnât possibly have sounded more French.
Apart from Cocktail, all Corineâs past singles are there: Pourquoi Pourquoi, Il Fait Chaud, Maquillage and Première TraversĂŠe. Pourquoi Pourquoi (with its hilarious video) surely deserves to be re-released, now that Corine is âhotâ in every sense. But out of the other tunes, the albumâs title track is easily my favourite.
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.
Bent Van Looy – Make Believe
Bent Van Looy has been the frontman of the band Das Pop (which never officially called it quits), drummer in Soulwax, painter, coach in The Voice van Vlaanderen, voice-over, DJ at Studio Brussel⌠where the hell does he find the time to make records anymore?
Anyhow, last month, the 42-year-old Flemish artist released his latest solo album, the third in a trilogy Van Looy made with the American producer/musician Jason Falkner. Yours Truly sounds a little bit more cheerful than its predecessor Pyjama Days, with rich songs that combine everything between sixties pop and Crowded House.
Album highlight Make Believe is Van Looyâs new single. It opens with a cozy ukulele, an idea he apparently picked up watching a Hawaiian tutorial. Great kick-off of a timeless classic!
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.
Jenifer – Hey Jen
Jenifer (born Jenifer YaĂŤl Dadouche Bartoli in 1982) is a French singer. Just 20 years old, she won the first season of TV talent show Star Academy. Since then, she released eight albums, although the most recent â Nouvelle Page â almost hadnât come about. After being involved in a heavy traffic accident in March 2017, the singer considered halting her career. She decided to turn the page however, changing label and management. So, in more ways than one, her present comeback explains the albumâs title, which translates as ânew pageâ.
My favourite track off the album is Hey Jen. A funky and danceable song with a happy vibe, but a deeper meaning: itâs a rant against the paparazzis who have been following her for 17 years now. Easy on the ears, the message hits hard.
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.
Wildcard (week 48):
The Lighthouse – Catch Fire
Last week, I introduced you to The Lighthouseâs new single. In the meantime, this great song really âcaught fireâ with me (pun intended). Therefore, Catch Fire is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard! This means that The Lighthouse, as a true beacon, will feature prominently on the site for a whole week, shining its light upon all of us.
The Lighthouse are 5 Belgian guys who share the love of melodically well-written pop songs. They describe their musical cocktail of polyphonic vocals, guitars, keys and swinging drums as âsongs that feel like Fridaysâ.
So far, the band put out two EPs: the self-released Letâs Make A Scene, and Joyride, which was backed by Sony Music. Despite the latter EPâs success, and the doors it opened to stages, festivals and radio stations in Belgium and abroad, The Lighthouse decided to go back to the indie-route for upcoming releases. Their debut album is already planned for the autumn of 2019.
In the Wildcards 2018 playlist you can find all of this yearâs Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.

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.
Ana & The Changes feat. Dan Byron – Take My Hand
Ana ÄurÄin is a singer-songwriter born in Baghdad, raised in Moscow and based in Belgrade, Serbia. She and her band The Changes (Goran AntoviÄ – keyboards, Marko CvetkoviÄ – bass and Marko Benini – drums) surprised me live at Eurosonic Noorderslag last January. Following up on 2016âs album Sketches Of Belonging, the quartet release their second album Differences in the Spring of 2019.
Its first single is called Take My Hand. The almost unrecognizable original version was written by Igor Simic and Ana ÄurÄin for the soundtrack Radio Nostalgia From Mars of the video game Golf Club Wasteland. It has now been re-recorded, featuring Dan Byron, a Romanian singer-songwriter and frontman of the alternative rock band Byron. This new version has a driving, Coldplay-like piano part, which makes it a great radio track.
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.
Piroshka – Everlastingly Yours
Miki Berenyi, frontwoman of British shoegazers Lush, has revealed a new project, where she is joined by her partner, KJ McKillop (from the band Moose), as well as their friends, Mick Conroy (Modern English) and Justin Welch (Elastica). Their indie supergroup is named Piroshka, after the Hungarian word for Little Red Riding Hood. Debut album Brickbat is on its way, but the band already shared their first ever single, Everlastingly Yours.
Although itâs a dreamy guitar pop song, donât be mistaken: Berenyi sings about cruelty and violation. âTrample my dreams on the ground / Tear up my flowers / And scatter the petals aroundâ for instance. Or: âIâm not afraid to reach down inside to something within me / That gives me the power to rip out his heart / And shatter his bones with a smile.â The track closes just as optimistic: âNobody here / Ever escapes / With no blood on their hands.â Party time, peeps! đ
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.
Caezar – Somewhere New
The two founding members of Caezar, singer Chris Quigley and guitarist Rich Gills, decided to form a band in 2014, when they were both suffering from sports injuries that meant they would no longer be able to play rugby for their local club. Their first outfit, rock band Quigley, was rather successful, but when they met keyboard player and vocalist Zoe Dwyer, with her soft synths and sweet-as-honey backing vocals, they changed their musical direction and their name as well; Caezar relates to the initials of all three band members: C (Chris), Z (Zoe) and R (Rich).
The British trio now fuse dance beats with soaring pop melodies, as you can hear from their new single Somewhere New. It precedes their debut EP Hail!, that will be out this week. Already a live favourite, Somewhere New starts off delicately, but the band up the tempo as soon as the pre-chorus sets in. A well-produced modern pop song for early Bastille fans.
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.
Wernerâs Weekly (week 48)
As musically diverse as Andy Burrows & Matt Haig, Harts, Metric, Sam Fender, Weezer, Within Temptation (feat. Jasper Steverlinck) and Youngr may seem, they all have one thing in common: all of them released new music last week, which I added to my Carte Blanche Music playlist. They are in very good company, for itâs not at all my intention to add all new releases to this collection. And tracks that are only so-so in my ears, donât make the list either. After a very heavy selection procedure, I only added 20 new songs last week.
Only the very best of those additions can be found in my definitive round-up Wernerâs Weekly, your compass to the music that matters. Check them below and/or via the Wernerâs Weekly player in the sidebar. Follow the links for more information.
- Starcrawler – Hollywood Ending (Wildcard this week)
- Jonas Brøg feat. Laura Mathilde – I Think Of You I Cry (Wildcard last week)
- Broods – Everything Goes (Wow)
- I Wear* Experiment – Almere
- Navarone – The Strong Survive
- The Lighthouse – Catch Fire
- Yonaka – Death By Love
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.