April 29th, 2020
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 18):
Wildcard (week 18):
MisterWives – Rock Bottom
MisterWives came together in New York at the end of 2012 when singer Mandy Lee wanted an ’80s cover band for her birthday party. When she couldn’t find one, she decided to start a band herself with some friends. They came on my radar in 2015, when I thought Our Own House was one of the best singles of that year.
The band never disappointed me ever since. I love their high-energy, radio-friendly pop songs and the air-tight production that comes with them. It landed MisterWives earlier Carte Blanche Music Wildcards with their singles Machine and Never Give Up On Me.
Rock Bottom is their brilliant new tune. Mandy Lee explains: “Rock bottom is where I’ve spent most of my time these last couple of years, but this song is about getting up and out of that dark and painful place and knowing you never want to get to that lowest low again.”
It’s got a real fun dance groove and I absolutely love the horns on it. As far as I’m concerned, radio stations that don’t program this gem, should turn in their license immediately. For a whole week, Rock Bottom by MisterWives will feature prominently and proudly on the Carte Blanche Music blog as our new Wildcard.
Recommended as well:
MisterWives – Whywhywhy
MisterWives – Never Give Up On Me
MisterWives – Machine
In the Wildcards 2020 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.
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:
- Grand Corps Malade – Effets Secondaires (Wildcard this week)
- Dive In – Give Me A Reason (Wildcard last week)
- Inge van Calkar – Spinning Around
- Julian Velard – Half Done
- Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions – Victory!
- Picture This – Troublemaker
- Smallpools x morgxn – Slowdown
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: The 1975, Hayley Williams, Maria Mena, Pet Shop Boys, 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 Treble – No Secrets (There For You)
You may have noticed – and it’s hardly a secret – I’m very much into Australian and Canadian music lately. These are two of the largest countries on the globe, although most popular music comes from Great-Britain or the US. Hopefully, I can help you discover some great talent from elsewhere!
The text above could be shortened to ‘no secrets (there for you)’ 😉
The Treble are a rock band from Winnipeg, Canada. Their second album Rivals includes previous singles Saturday Night, Fix Of You and All The People, plus five new tracks. One of those, No Secrets (There For You), is the band’s new single. If you like Carte Blanche Music favourites The Snuts, you’re sure to like this one!
This blog is all about the music, but please let me point you to the track’s self-produced video as well. It features shot-for-shot remakes of the band’s favourite videos from the ’80s. A whopping 45 of them, including clips from a-ha, Talking Heads, Nena and George Michael. “We had started the project pre-quarantine, but thankfully the concept made it something we could continue during the lockdown”, The Treble explain.
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 Haggis Horns – Haggis Express
I’m a sucker for bands with great horn sections. The likes of Chicago and Tower Of Power. Or the Dap-Kings, who worked with Sharon Jones, and later with artists like Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson.
UK funk/soul kings The Haggis Horns were new to me. My fault, because they’re around for over two decades, working with Corinne Bailey Rae, Lily Allen, Jamiroquai, and many more. I only heard of them recently, when doing research for my recommendation of Izo FitzRoy’s Red Line.
The Haggis Horns are about to release their fifth album Stand Up For Love. Its first single is the full-on instrumental banger Haggis Express, for all you funk/soul brothers and sisters out there.
Groovy rhythm section: check.
Scratchy funk guitar: check.
Fiery hammond organ solo: check.
Latin fire congas: check.
A horn section so sharp you could shave with their riffs: check.
It’s never too late to discover a great old band. Please meet The Haggis Horns. Pure dirty funk at it’s best.
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 trackmxmtoon – No Faker
mxmtoon – No Faker
Maia is a 19-year-old Californian singer-songwriter who produces music as mxmtoon (pronounced as ‘em-ex-em-toon’). Her DIY fairy tale started with a ukulele, a YouTube account and secret recording sessions from her bedroom. Not even her parents and friends were aware of the acoustic covers and self-written songs she put on her channel. But then she got snapped up by music blogs, resulting in hundreds of millions of views and fans all over the world. The rest, as they say, is history…
mxmtoon released her first EP Plum Blossom in 2018, followed by the full album The Masquerade in 2019. So far, her songs have been pretty introvert, but the tracks on her new EP Dawn are more outward focussed. “’Happier’ songs have never come easily to me”, Maia says about the project. However, fun tunes like her new single No Faker prove she found a way around this ‘problem’. It explores the sunny side of life, adding fun, fresh beats and infectious rhythms to the mix. In her own words: “I want to lift people up. I still love making sad songs, but I wanted to make something that felt refreshing to me this time.”
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
Carmanah – Best Interests
Canadian band Carmanah took its name from the rainforests in the province of British Columbia. One can imagine why. Their music is steamy, moody, shimmering and brooding. Imagine a spooky, soulful melting pot with elements of roots, blues and (soft) rock. It’s got a bit of a trip hop vibe as well, and an atmosphere comparable with Concrete Blonde’s Joey. Hope that makes sense. If not, all you can do is listen (which is highly recommended anyway).
Best Interests is Carmanah’s new single. It comes with a driving melody, lush instrumentation, and Laura Mina Mitic’s soulfully luminous vocals. Following As I See You, Best Interests is the second single to be released ahead of the band’s upcoming sophomore album Iris.
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
Austra feat. Cecile Believe – Mountain Baby
1 May, Katie Austra Stelmanis will release her fourth album HiRUDiN, the follow-up to 2017’s Future Politics. Mountain Baby is the third single to come out ahead of it. It features a children’s choir from Wilkinson Public School in Toronto, where Austra’s mother teaches. The other female voice on the track is Cecile Believe’s, who relocated to Los Angeles from Montreal in 2017. Most prominent, however, is a beautiful, almost hypnotic piano melody, which highlights Austra’s parts.
Stelmanis points out: “Mountain Baby explores the different stages of a breakup. Surrounded by a feeling of unknown and grounded only by a hidden sense to move forward (the choir), we’re also reminded through flashbacks of both the uncertainty and resistance we experienced in the relationship (Katie), as well as the pure, unbridled joy (Cecile).”
Recommended as well:
Austra – Anywayz
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
E^ST – Maybe It’s Me
22-year-old Melisa Bester was born in South-Africa, but relocated with her family to Australia. There she started her musical career, calling herself E^ST (pronounced as ‘east’). After releasing EP’s in 2014, 2015 and 2016, she devoted her time to putting out separate tracks. However, she just announced her debut album I’m Doing It, which will be out on 17 July.
Her new single Maybe It’s Me is one of the tracks on the long-player. A happy and up-beat song with soul, about accepting who you are in a world where misfortune and making mistakes don’t exist. A summery earworm of a tune that brings out the sun. I dare you to sit still to this!
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 trackMaddy Jane – Perfection’s A Thing And You’re It
Maddy Jane – Perfection’s A Thing And You’re It
Maddy Jane is an independent singer-songwriter from the small town of Bruny Island, Tasmania. Her honest lyrics and captivating song-writing have earned her a regular spot on the airways of Australian alternative radio station triple j. She already did huge arena tours, supporting the likes of Catfish & The Bottlemen and Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
Perfection’s A Thing And You’re It is the third single off Maddy’s forthcoming debut album Not All Bad Or Good. Scheduled release date: 1 May. The punchy track finds itself amongst the heavier edge of her music. “It’s not a love song”, the singer says. “It’s sarcasm for perfection’s not a thing and you can’t be it. It came from people in my life who were not willing to accept other people’s faults, or their own. It’s a song saying no one is perfect and we should try to love all of ourselves and others, faults and all.”
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):
Grand Corps Malade – Effets Secondaires
Frenchman Fabien Marsaud originally wanted to become a basketball pro, but an accident prohibited him from fulfilling that ambition. This is reflected by his artist name Grand Corps Malade, which means ‘large sick body’. Now that a virus turned the whole world into a large sick body, the singer recorded a charity song. All of its proceeds will be donated to two French hospitals.
Effets Secondaires (‘side effects’) features Grand Corps Malade’s characteristic speak-singing style. It sits on top of an impressive composition by Swiss DJ/producer Quentin Mosimann, who also produced GCM’s upcoming album.
Obviously, the song applauds the real heroes of the Corona crisis, the healthcare workers. But it also points at other global disasters taking place. It warns that if Corona showed us one thing, it’s that we’re all in this together. Sooner or later, the problems of total strangers will become your problems as well. We’re all in the same boat, fighting the same threats.
A universal message that transcends the current pandemic. It’ll feature on top of this blog for a whole week as the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
In the Wildcards 2020 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.
