June 28th, 2023
single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 26):
Wildcard (week 26):
The Cat Empire – Money Coming My Way
As a big fan of The Cat Empire, I’m really looking forward to 25 August. That date has been set for the release of the Australian band’s ninth album Where The Angels Fall. Finally, I might add, as their latest album came out in 2019. In the meantime, much has changed for the band. Most importantly, the original sextet, which was often supplemented by a horn section, was stripped down to a duo. Only founding members Felix Riebl (vocals, percussion) and Ollie McGill (keyboards, backing vocals) remained on board. However, they still enlist other musicians to help them out. This is also the case on their new single Money Coming My Way.
It’s an absolute party track with many elements that really show what The Cat Empire is all about. The track includes blitzing horns, Cuban-infused piano riffs, thumping drums and bass, and a great vocal hook. They also threw in some extra party-starting elements this time, in the form of Melbourne legends Horns Of Leroy, a string orchestra, and the 40-pice Heidelberg Wind Ensemble.
Riebl comments: “This song’s got a big tongue in cheek, and in many ways, it harks back to some of the first album antics. Who can afford the cost of living these days? Everything is so expensive! Really, we just wanted to have some fun with this one. After that, we added some crazier details. (…) There’s a part where our producer Andy Baldwin acts out the part of a NYC police officer on the squad car radio announcing a robbery which happened spontaneously and caused raucous late night studio laughter.”
Money Coming My Way by The Cat Empire is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Recommended as well:
Into The Night
Follow The Cat Empire on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 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 26)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Lily Moore – Summer
(Wildcard this week) - Rose Gray – Happiness (Wildcard last week)
- Aurora Silvana Estrada – Cure For Me [Live]
- Nena Daconte feat. Carlos Jean – Vacaciones De Verano
- Lewis OfMan feat. Empress Of – Highway
- Grace Potter – Good Time
- Ed Struijlaart – Move On
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.
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.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 25)
Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Aurora Silvana Estrada – Cure For Me [Live] pop
- The Cat Empire – Money Coming My Way
indie | pop | rock - Nena Daconte feat. Carlos Jean – Vacaciones De Verano indie | pop | rock
- Charlotte Lawrence – Boys Like You pop
- Louis The Child with Claire Rosinkranz – Walls electronic | pop
- Luka – When You’re Drunk
indie | pop - Lewis OfMan feat. Empress Of – Highway indie | pop | rock
- Peach Cooler – You Talk Too Much indie | pop | rock
- Grace Potter – Good Time funk | indie | pop | soul
- Soup & Cigarettes – British Summertime indie | pop | rock
- Ed Struijlaart – Move On indie | pop | rock
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.
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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 25):
Wildcard (week 25):
Lily Moore – Summer
Lily Moore has the potential to have a career like Amy Winehouse. But hopefully a longer one with a happier ending. She, too, grew up listening to soul legends like Etta James, Lauryn Hill and Sam Cooke. Surprisingly, perhaps, if you know she’s the daughter of the late Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore. Great to hear she found her own voice in more ways than one. She has a distinctive vocal sound and picked her own genre to excel in.
Moore, now 24 years old, is based in London. She started busking the streets, but her proper musical career started with her promising EP’s Not That Special and I Will Never Be (2018). The latter title almost became a self-fulfilling prophecy, when her momentum (like that of so many other artists) was abruptly halted in 2020. Luckily she decided to give music another chance and used this difficult period to write her strongest tunes yet. These are compiled on her new 6-track EP Before I Change My Mind, Again….
About the writing process of these songs she says: ”The sessions I wrote these in were during those dark days when the world was in a funny place. The outside world was fucked, but inside the studio I was safe. Quite honestly, this EP gave me back my life.”
Her latest six tracks include previous singles Hard Days, Beautiful Lie and Never Wanted You More, plus three brand-new songs. Summer is Lily’s new single. A sunny tune about her beloved subject: a break-up. This time, for a change, it’s her walking away.
We want Moore!
No better day than 21 June to announce that Summer by Lily Moore is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means it’ll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Recommended as well:
Over You
Follow Lily Moore on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 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 25)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Rose Gray – Happiness (Wildcard this week)
- Augusta – Maybe
(Wildcard last week) - Caity Baser – Leave Me Alone pop
- bbybites – Jeans
indie | pop - Fefe Dobson – Hungover indie | rock
- Lanes – Green indie | pop | rock
- Isabel Wood – Boy indie | pop
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.
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.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 24)
Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Caity Baser – Leave Me Alone pop
- bbybites – Jeans indie | pop
- Blackout The Arcade – One Up indie | rock
- Camp Kubrick – Need To Get Out electronic | indie | pop
- Cinderina – Pace indie | pop
- Daay – Top Heavy indie | pop | rock
- Fefe Dobson – Hungover indie | rock
- Garvie – Real Life indie | pop
- The Hilder – Flipside indie | pop | rock
- Hilltop Hoods – Laced Up pop
- Jenifer – Tant Que Tu Me Tiens [Summer Remix] disco | indie | pop
- Lanes – Green indie | pop | rock
- Lily Moore – Summer indie | pop
- Pixey & Tayo Sound – Daisy Chain indie | pop
- Slo Cheetah – Comfort indie | pop | rock
- Stone – I Gotta Feeling pop | rock
- The Trusted – Doomsday indie | rock
- Isabel Wood – Boy indie | pop
- Young Gun Silver Fox – Tip Of The Flame indie | pop | soul
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.
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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 24):
Wildcard (week 24):
Rose Gray – Happiness
I think it’s fair to say East London town Walthamstow first came to the attention of most music lovers when East 17 named their 1992 debut album after their place of birth. In fact, E17 is the area’s postal code. Artists that referenced it in their lyrics include Paul McCartney & Wings (as long ago as 1979) and The Cranberries. Nowadays, it’s a major centre in London’s grime music scene.
But Walthamstow is also the town where Rose Gray was born and raised. The warehouse parties in secret locations she attended in the small hours are woven into the fabric of her own sonic landscape. This contains an infectious blend of house, pop and dance that feels entirely unique, and totally irresistible. Her new single Happiness is a great example and another huge step forward.
Speaking about the track, Gray said: “There’s no denying I’m a late ‘90s baby with my heart very much in the underground club scene. I take massive inspiration from the euphoric and pure nature of iconic ‘90s records. Happiness is just that, reimagined in 2023 style.”
The tune includes a reference to Deee-Lite’s equally compelling 1990 classic Groove Is In The Heart, which can only be a good thing.
Recommended as well:
Sun Comes Up
Happiness by Rose Gray is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Follow Rose Gray on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 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 24)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Augusta – Maybe (Wildcard this week)
- The Lathums – Lucky Bean (Wildcard last week)
- Gabriels – Glory
- Housewife – King Of Wands
- Radio Free Alice – Look What You’ve Done
- Daphné Swân – Tous Quelqu’un
- Yungblud – Lowlife
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.
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.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 23)
Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Gabriels – Glory indie | pop | soul
- Rose Gray – Happiness dance | indie
- Jared Harper – Picture indie | pop
- Selma Higgins – Can’t Do This indie | pop
- Housewife – King Of Wands indie | rock
- Livi Jacobs – Should’ve Known indie | pop
- Maisyn – Naked electronic | indie | pop
- Radio Free Alice – Look What You’ve Done indie | pop | rock
- The Short Fall – Looking Over My Shoulder
indie | pop | rock - Daphné Swân – Tous Quelqu’un electronic | indie | pop
- Rick Treffers & Bárbara Blasco – Au Bord De La Route chanson | indie | pop
- Yungblud – Lowlife pop
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.
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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 23):
Wildcard (week 23):
Augusta – Maybe
Canadian band Augusta was formed in early 2022 when Joe Dent joined forces with August Jones, Zach Stuckey and Parker Weiss. They perform live as a seven-piece, joined by Tristan Schultz, Daniel-leigh Mclean and Matt Woroshyl. Their first show only took place 14 months ago. By then, they mostly performed songs that either Dent or Jones had written independently. However, most of these songs felt out-dated and didn’t fit the direction they wanted to take the band. Therefore, they decided to go on their first writing retreat in Jones’ family cottage. There, they wrote the songs for Augusta’s debut EP.
Last October, I really liked the band’s very first single Little Birds. Early this year, it was followed by sophomore effort Better Off. With new tune Maybe, they complete a hattrick of great tracks. I think this upbeat, brass-infused song is their best yet.
On Augusta’s Facebook page, Jones writes: “I wrote Maybe in the summer of 2021 just after the pandemic hit. It was one of the first songs I ever fully wrote and produced myself and one of the first ones where I went: ‘I could release this and… be okay with it?’.”
He goes on to explain the track is for the people who are trying to remove themselves from who they were when they were younger. It’s about ‘the constant chatter in the skull that keeps you from doing what you love to do most; And the unwarranted pressure and self-doubt some of us place on ourselves every day’.
On 23 June, Augusta will be playing their biggest headline show ever in hometown Toronto to celebrate the release of their debut EP. The trio of songs they put out so far sounds really promising!
It’s 100% sure that Maybe by Augusta is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Recommended as well:
Little Birds
Follow Augusta on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 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.
