April 30th, 2019
single track
Mat Kerekes – Hawthorne
Best known as lead vocalist of alt rock band Citizen, American singer-songwriter Mat Kerekes just released his fourth solo album Ruby. He tracked most of the instruments himself, and produced and engineered the album in a studio that he built with his brother in his garage.
Although Ruby showcases his softer side and his versatility as a singer-songwriter, the album still boasts massive choruses, dynamic arrangements, and infectious melodies. All of these elements are present in the album’s new single Hawthorne, the follow-up to Diamonds.
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
The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport – Getaway
In the late ‘80s, early ‘90s of the last century, Acid Jazz wasn’t only an acclaimed record label, its name was also a used to describe the musical genre that was the common denominator of most bands on the label. Signees like Young Disciples, Jamiroquai and The Brand New Heavies all produced music labelled as acid jazz (also known as jazz dance), combining jazz, soul, funk and disco.
In the 1990s, The Brand New Heavies scored hits like Dream On Dreamer, Midnight At The Oasis and You’ve Got A Friend, most of them sung by N’Dea Davenport. While still a popular live act in later years, real hits appeared to be a thing of the past.
Hopefully, a turn of events is on its way, for The Brand New Heavies are back, and they’re also back on Acid Jazz Records. Recently lauded by the likes of Mark Ronson (who invited the band to play at his fortieth birthday celebrations), they have a brand-new (pun intended) single out, once again featuring long-time vocalist N’Dea Davenport. On top of that, it includes a wink at The Emotions’ Best Of My Love.
Getaway is a most welcome return, which spells the beginning of the next chapter, with a new album underway!
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
Nikki’s Wives – Real Girl
After releasing their debut EP Motor Court in last year, alternative pop trio Nikki’s Wives are working hard to make 2019 the year of their break-through. With their single Lemonade, they were off to a good start, but the follow-up track Real Girl is even better.
Starting off lovely with the sound of a music box, it gains energy once a slow, driving drum and guitar set in. Lyrically, it takes a biting and critical approach to stereotypical ideas of what it takes to be a ‘real girl’.
A song that crawls under your skin.
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
Werner’s Weekly (week 18)
This is Werner’s 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:
- Jain – Gloria (Wildcard this week)
- Hey Violet – Better By Myself (Wildcard last week)
- Bear Ghost – Haunt, The Cartoon Heart
- Kakkmaddafakka – Get Go
- Owl Eyes – You And I / Le Soleil
- Roads To Roam – For A Better Day
- Talisco – Sensation
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Werner’s Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Bastille, Cage The Elephant, Foals, Jade Bird, Marina, SOAK, 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.
single track
The fin. – Come Further
The fin. are a Japanese duo that are currently located in London. Until very recently, they were a trio, but only on 27 March, guitarist Ryosuke Odagaki played his last show with the band. He decided to stop his music activities and take a different path from now on. Since then, The Fin. consist of Yuto Uchino and Kaoru Nakazawa, who will be complemented live by a support guitarist.
For a band that was formed in Japan, it may strike you as a little bit odd that they combine indie-rock with synth-pop, but they do so very well, in my opinion. In recent years, The fin. supported major artists like The Last Shadow Puppets, Circa Waves and Mew, performed globally at major music festivals in Japan and beyond, as well as embarked on world tours.
Come Further is the band’s new single.
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
Talisco – Sensation
Talisco (née Jérome Amandi in Bordeaux, France) has recently released his third album Kings And Fools. An energetic, joyful, danceable, but before all diverse set of tracks, that appear to have been influenced by fellow French acts like M83 and Phoenix. Still, it sounds like a coherent body of work.
The long-player has been preceded by the singles Sun (the title track of French television series ‘Un Si Grand Soleil’), I’m The Dead Man and Closer, but I’d place my bets on Sensation to become single #4.
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
Will Hutton – Silhouette
Multi-genre singer-songwriter Will Hutton from London spent the past two years working on successful collaborative projects, all of which were rather danceable. In a subtle way, this influenced Hutton’s new solo single. With a little bit of imagination, one can hear a light version of Lost Frequencies in his just-released track Silhouette. Other inspirations appear to have been Editors, Ben Howard, and Fleetwood Mac.
Hutton wrote the track whilst travelling on a tram in Amsterdam. It is a song about a love that over time and space continues to grow, and no matter the time apart, is worth the wait. However, the lyrics are open and ambiguous, allowing each listener to draw their own individual meaning from the song.
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 – Get Go
Kakkmaddafakka – Get Go
I’m quite fond of Norwegian sextet Kakkmaddafakka; I’ve written about them on this blog a few times before. Most recently, I put forward the track Sin off their most recent album Diplomacy as a potential future single. But that’s not the only great track on the long-player.
This time, I’d like to suggest you listen to the tune Get Go. Another up-tempo, radio-friendly, danceable, 80’s-influenced song that will refuse to leave your head once it’s entered it. You have been warned…
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
Citizens – Looking Up
Seattle-based band Citizens was formed in 2011, just months prior to their debut EP Already Not Yet. They now have three full-length albums under their belt.
Next up is their fourth album Fear, to be released on 3 May. The creation and production of this album was funded via a Kickstarter campaign, which was met with overwhelming support. The album was fully funded in 8 hours, with an initial goal of $20,000. Since then, total support has exceeded $62,000.
Citizens have already put out four tracks ahead of the album: the title track, Out Of Sight, Everything For Nothing, and – only last week – Looking Up.
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 17):
Wildcard (week 17):
Jain – Gloria
Surprise! Eight months after her second album Souldier, Jain serves up a completely new song. Gloria is such a strong track, it’s likely to be included on a re-issue of the album soon. The French artist followed the same procedure with her debut album Zanaka, which, upon re-release, contained six additional tracks, one of them being the majestic Dynabeat.
Gloria is a personification of glory, all about staying faithful to what we are. With its Africa-influenced rhythms, it’s a festive song that already sounds like a future live staple. Until then, it’s a personal favourite of yours truly. That’s why Gloria by Jain is this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
In the Wildcards 2019 playlist you can find all of this year’s 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.
