March 29th, 2019
single track
Charly Bliss – Chatroom
Although indebted to the catchy alt-rock of ’90s bands like Weezer and Veruca Salt, Charly Bliss produce pop music. Pop music with an edge, that is.
Singer/guitarist Eva Hendricks and guitarist Spencer Fox met as high school students in Westport, Connecticut. After starting out as a cover band, they soon enlisted Eva’s brother Sam Hendricks to play drums and Dan Shure to play bass. Their first offerings, like EP A Lot To Say and debut album Guppy, were full of grungy rock. However, for their next album (Young Enough, 19 May), they shifted the balance toward pop.
New single Chatroom is a great example of their new approach, combining an energetic delivery with memorable melodies and meaningful lyrics. This song, for instance, deals with Hendricksâ unjust feeling of guilt after suffering sexual abuse.
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
Neo Minor – Run
On 1 March, Belgian foursome Neo Minor released their eponymous debut EP, where the band adopt a sound they describe as âmelodical sound-pop music with some subtle sound-scaping elementsâ. After first single The More (I Try), itâs now time for the follow-up.
Run is an up-tempo track with a galloping, Running Up That Hill-like drum beat, and a wonderful piano melody. A song about hope and striving for the unreachable. Despite this theme however, Iâm confident that Run will bring mainstream success nearer for the band.
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 trackKakkmaddafakka – Sin
Kakkmaddafakka – Sin
When Kakkmaddafakka released their album KMF, back in 2016, I was afraid they were about to shorten their âcontroversialâ band name. Luckily, they didnât (so farâŠ).
The Norwegian bandâs new album is called Diplomacy. Ahead of its release, the tracks Naked Blue, Runaway Girl and The Rest were put forward. Sin would be a great choice to be single #4. This catchy, up-tempo, funky number sounds a lot like On My Mind by Disciples, and would do great on the radio.
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
Vendredi Sur Mer – La Nuit
Vendredi Sur Mer is the stage name of Swiss singer Charline Mignot. She may be relatively new to the music scene, but she already manages to inspire other artists. For instance, if you want to know how Canadian singer Munyaâs track Hotel Delmano came about, read this. And she also inspired me, for her most recent single Chewing-Gum was the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, just five weeks ago.
Last week, Vendredi Sur Mer released her first album Premiers Ămois. A very, very promising debut. Sensual and seductive like a female Serge Gainsbourg, and totally convincing as such. Especially because she appears to be great live as well.
The album contains 17 tracks, four of which also appeared on her first EP MarĂ©e Basse. La Nuit, with its synth intro, deep, dark bass and Mignotâs trademark speak-sing delivery, is one of my favourite songs among the other 13.
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
Model Depose – Damage Control
Nicknaming Model Depose âModel Depecheâ is understandable, but too easy. But youâre not to blame⊠until now. For the Dutch electronic pop band re-invented themselves with a new sound, which is more guitar-driven. Call it indie, rock or alternative pop, but I like it!
Damage Control is Model Deposeâs new single. âWhen an influential person or loved one is on a collision course, the best you can do is keep dancing, sing along and make the best of itâ, according to the band.
Not only is Damage Control the new single, itâs also the title track off their second album. Model Depose promise âa full-fledged piece of music in which everything fits together like a puzzle, where grit and a soothing atmosphere always find balance through raw beats, dynamic vocals and subdued synthesizer melodiesâ. The long-player will be out in September. Until then, the band release a new single and video each month.
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, wildcardWildcard (week 13):
Wildcard (week 13):
Maggie Lindemann – Friends Go
When Los Angeles singer-songwriter Maggie Lindemann released her debut single Pretty Girl in 2016, she immediately hit the bullâs eye. It was a Top 10 hit all over Europe, clocking 550 million Spotify streams to date. Thatâs such a huge number, that some of her other tracks, with 20 to 50 million streams, almost seem like flops (which they arenât, obviously).
On her funky new single, Lindemann tries a new sound, incorporating ska elements. In an interview with Billboard, she says that her love of pop-punk and ska hasnât been represented in her music before, so she wanted to create a track that offered something new to her fans. âI love No Doubt, Panic! At The Disco, but I also love my pop music. So I wanted to give all of that kinda in one, my own take on it.â
Also looking forward to a remix Blink-182âs Travis Barker made of this track. But for now, the single version of Maggie Lindemannâs Friends Go is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, giving it the most prominent position on this blog for a whole week.
In the Wildcards 2019 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.
single track
The Mazarines – Afterglow
After playing a few movie roles around the turn of the century, actress Renee Faia is currently the lead singer of The Mazarines. Sheâs in the band with her partner Gregg Stewart, who adds his baritone vocals and shimmering rhythmic guitar. The Mazarinesâ sound walks the line between dream pop and atmospheric folk with a dash of late 60’s French pop.
Since their eponymous debut EP, the duo took six years to come up with a follow-up, aptly titled Deux (which, dĂ»h, is French for âtwoâ). Afterglow (below) is the lead track of this second EP, but please, also lend your ear to the bandâs dreamy, âTwin Peaksâ-esque take on Echo & The Bunnymenâs The Killing Moon.
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
Vant – Propaganda Machine
After forming in 2014, Mattie Vant and his band Vant appeared to be off to a good start. Great rock singles like Fly-By Alien and Karma Seeker led to the release of their debut album Dumb Blood in 2017, and that summer, they played the main stage of many a renowned festival. But then, just before the release of the EP Talk Like Thunder, the band announced they were taking an âindefinite hiatusâ.
During that hiatus, Mattie re-invented himself and decided upon a new, more electronic musical direction. He explains: âIf I had wanted to keep making straight-up ballsy rock music for the rest of my life, I could have kept that incarnation of Vant going forever. But once I stumbled upon the song Propaganda Machine, I knew there was no turning back, Iâd have to start from the bottom and prove myself once again.â
This pivotal song, Propaganda Machine, is the new single of the new Vant. A self-released track (on Mattieâs own imprint Dumb Blood Records), which showcases the manâs new course. If you like what you hear, youâll be glad to know a new album, Conceived In The Sky, it on its way.
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
Swimming Tapes – Pyrenees
London-based five-piece Swimming Tapes produce charming and summery indie-pop, Their debut album Morningside (24 May) will be full of it. This explains any comparisons with bands like Real Estate and Belle & Sebastian.
Pyrenees is the long-playerâs first single. The band explain: “Pyrenees is a sweet little bop of a pop song. It might only clock in at two-and-a-half minutes but we still managed to get two different guitar solos in there. The songâs about what follows an argument with a loved one, that middle of the night feeling when you realise actually youâre the one in the wrong.”
The song makes me think of New Orderâs Bizarre Love Triangle in Frente!âs delicate version.
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.
werner's weekly
Wernerâs Weekly (week 13)
This is Wernerâs 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:
- Shanguy – ToukassĂ© (Wildcard this week)
- Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles (Wildcard last week)
- Hot Like Sushi – Go Anywhere
- Jonas BrĂžg – All Across The Sky
- Nasty Cherry – Win
- Pi Ja Ma – I Oh I
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Wernerâs Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Broken Social Scene, Panic! At The Disco, Rat Boy, Roosevelt, Tame Impala, Two Door Cinema Club, and many more.
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.
