May 30th, 2020
single track
Sweater Curse – Close
First things first. ‘Sweater curse’ is a term used by knitters. It describes the superstition that if a knitter gives a hand-knit sweater to a significant other, it will lead to the recipient breaking up with the knitter. But, more in line with this blog, Sweater Curse is also a band from Brisbane, Australia. It consists of guitarist Chris Langenberg, lead singer/bassist Monica Sottile and drummer Rei Bingham.
Last year, after a string of singles, the trio released their debut EP See You. Close is Sweater Curse’s first release since that EP. A great tune with a pounding bass and grungy guitar parts. A bit like certain Smashing Pumpkins songs. The vocal melodies on the other hand have a bubble-gum pop sensibility, culminating in anthemic choruses. These parts work together very well, creating a cool, bouncy rock song.
Langenberg says of the lyrical themes of song: “It talks of the struggles within a relationship (friendship, general or romantic) and at times it explores themes and emotions of self-deprecating.”
Close is taken from an as-of-yet untitled EP, due out later this year. The track was produced by Ball Park Music’s Sam Cromack, and co-written by Carte Blanche Music favourite Alex Lahey. Lahey herself released the surprise EP Between The Kitchen And The Living Room this week. It contains stripped down versions of five of her songs, each recorded in different rooms of her house.
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 Unlikely Candidates – High Low
How many artists can say they kept Billie Eilish from the #1 spot? The Unlikely Candidates can. Their single Novocaine reached the summit of the US Alternative Radio Chart, leaving #2 for Eilish.
New single High Low was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic in TUC singer Kyle Morris’ closet. It’s about the loneliness of returning home from touring and finding that friends have moved on with their lives. “Like you’re on top of the world with your success, but you’re kind of pining for the days when you had more people around. It’s that old story all about growing up a little bit”, Morris says about the track.
High Low is another radio-friendly rock song, whose catchy call-and-response chorus is sure to do great live as well.
Recommended as well:
The Unlikely Candidates – World In My Pocket
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
Tones & I – Ur So F**king Cool
1,5 billion streams are not bad for a debut single. By the sound of it, Tones & I isn’t too overwhelmed by the knowledge she will probably never top this feat. She continues to release fun tracks, which deserve to become hits in their own right. But probably on a slightly lower level than that first one.
Following her recent double A-sided single Bad Child/Can’t Be Happy All The Time, she just put out her new song Ur So F**king Cool. “I wrote this song after I went to a party and everyone there thought they were the coolest thing ever and I just thought ‘This is shit, I’m leaving'”, Tones & I said in a statement about the inspiration behind the track.
Ur So F**king Cool comes with a video, in which the rising Australian star (born Toni Watson) attends a party in a chic hotel. The over-the-top characters she meets there are all played by herself.
Recommended as well:
Tones & I – Bad Child
Tones & I – Never Seen The Rain
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
Vistas – Everything Changes In The End
These must be extra-frustrating times for Scotland based Vistas. They just released their debut album, full of perfect indie summer anthems, but have nowhere to play them.
Vocalist Prentice Robertson, guitarist Dylan Rush and bassist Jamie Law formed the band at school and developed a tight bond while fawning over records from The Strokes, Two Door Cinema Club and more. They’ve made their name by gigging tirelessly across the UK. Sold-out tours and support slots alongside the likes of The Wombats, Circa Waves and The Kooks. Their live shows generated plenty of word of mouth and, ultimately, a loyal fan base. The singles the band released since 2016 racked up over 40 million plays on Spotify alone.
Finally, they released their debut album Everything Changes In The End. The title track is the trio’s new single. They have this to say about it: “It’s just about being there for your friends and realising that stuff might not be great at the moment, but hopefully in time will work itself out. Essentially it’s the message that we wanted to put throughout the whole record, so that’s why it’s the opening and title-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.
single track
Bloxx – Thinking About Yourself
Singer-songwriter Fee Booth, Paul Rau (bass) and Taz Sidhu (lead guitar) – a.k.a. Bloxx – aren’t wasting any time. Only two weeks after their Carte Blanche Music Wildcard Lie Out Loud, they release its follow-up. Thinking About Yourself is a slower-paced song, without losing any of the energy the British band are known for.
Speaking about the new single, Booth commented: “Thinking About Yourself is a bit of a fuck you song for everyone who’s ever really wound you up, and reminding them the world isn’t all about them.”
It’s the fourth single to be released ahead of their debut album Lie Out Loud, set for release on 14 August.
Recommended as well:
Bloxx – Lie Out Loud
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
Jake Bugg – Rabbit Hole
Still only 26-years-old, Jake Bugg already has 4 albums and numerous hits to his name. This new single will be his next success, without a doubt. After appearing on Spotify for a full 17 nano seconds on 22 May, Rabbit Hole was pulled back off. A week later, the track – already a live favourite – got its proper release.
Rabbit Hole was written and recorded with Tobias Jesso Jr. (Sia, Adele) and Andrew Wells (Ellie Goulding, Jason Mraz). Opening with a solemn guitar riff, it builds to an upbeat chorus. Compared to his earlier work, this song is more polished and danceable. But despite its highly treated guitars and hooky vocals, Rabbit Hole has the undeniable Jake Bugg DNA.
On the song’s release, he says: “I wrote and recorded this in LA about a year ago. It was an instant one for me and went straight into the live set for the last two tours. I’ve had loads of requests to release it, so I’m excited to get this one out there.”
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
Janet Devlin – Away With The Fairies
Radio stations and curators don’t just put any song on their playlists. Generally, each submission must include a solid marketing plan or at least a great story. Now here’s an artist with a great story, and – equally important – lots of talent.
In 2011, Northern Irish singer-songwriter Janet Devlin competed in the eighth series of ‘The X Factor’. She ended fifth. In interviews, Courtney Love said that she believed Janet and her family to be distant relatives of Kurt Cobain. In response, Devlin herself stated that she was unaware of any connection.
She raised money to record her debut album Hide And Seek through crowd funding. Paying fans received the limited edition album in July 2013. Only in June 2014, it was released to the rest of the world. This was quite a different album however. It had a new title (Running With Scissors) and it contained new songs plus reworkings of tracks from Hide And Seek. The single Wonderful was record of the week in my then Carte Blanche radio show.
5 June, Devlin releases her sophomore album Confessional, which was five years in the making. That same day, she publishes her autobiography My Confessional. Both offer an intimate look into the last decade of the 25-year-old’s life. Away With The Fairies is her new single. At first listen, it’s ‘just’ a light folk-pop song, dipped in mandolin, bodhran, cello, and harp. The hidden subject matter of the song however, is Devlin’s teenage battle with an addiction to alcohol.
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 22):
Wildcard (week 22):
Håkan Hellström – Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda
Long after Phil Collins, Don Henley, Sheila E. and several others, singing drummers are back again. Georgia is my favourite of the current bunch, but I just discovered Håkan Hellström as well. He recorded several albums as a drummer and bass player with acts like Broder Daniel and Honey Is Cool, before completely focusing on his solo career. He is very successful in his homeland Sweden. All but one of his ten albums so far reached #1.
Last week Hellström released his new album Rampljus Vol. 1, another chart topper. Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda, his new single, shot straight into the Swedish Top 10. I don’t know if it’s meant to be, but the track sounds like a pop quiz. How many historical references do you spot?
The song starts with a version of the ‘ging, gi-gi-gi-gi-ging’ part in Marlena Shaw’s Woman Of The Ghetto (the live version of which was famously sampled in Blue Boy’s Remember Me). The percussion must have been inspired by The Rolling Stones’ Sympathy For The Devil, Baba O’Riley by The Who is incorporated and Bruce Springsteen’s Jungleland springs to mind as well. With so many great influences, what could possibly go wrong? Well, nothing. Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda is both classic and timeless. Well done by Håkan Hellström and (Caesars and Teddybears frontman) Joakim Ahlund, who co-wrote and produced the song.
An edited version with English lyrics could very well become a hit outside of Sweden as well. But why wait? This week, Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda by Håkan Hellström will feature prominently at the top of the Carte Blanche Music blog as our new Wildcard!
In the Wildcards 2020 playlist you’ll 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 22)
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:
- Gizmo Varillas – Born Again (Wildcard this week)
- Bloxx – Lie Out Loud (Wildcard last week)
- May-a – Green
- Moby Rich & Bishop Briggs – Friends*
- The Rehats – Nothing But The Truth
- Washington – Dark Parts
- X Ambassadors with K.Flay & grandson – Zen
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: Editors, Ozark Henry, Indigo Girls, The Jayhawks, 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 trackStuck On Planet Earth – Ghosts On The Radio
Stuck On Planet Earth – Ghosts On The Radio
Adam Bianchi (guitars/vocals), Al Capo (bass/vocals), and Andrew Testa (drums) are Toronto-based alternative rock band Stuck On Planet Earth. They formed the band as teenagers in 2007. Since then, they developed their sound over thousands of hours of playing together on stage and in the studio. In 2020, SOPE are known for their primal, high-energy live shows and a signature mix of alternative rock and R&B.
13 years after its formation, the band is finally set to release its debut album Beautiful Nowhere on 26 June. Ghosts On The Radio is their new single. A rock track with big guitars and hard hitting drums, with the vocals front and center in the mix. Stuck On Planet Earth call the new track ‘an homage to some of our biggest musical inspirations,’ delivering ‘a bass line that has Dr. Dre’s The Chronic vibe and bright guitar style chanks channelling The Police’s Andy Summers’.
Recommended as well:
Stuck On Planet Earth – Rising
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.
