Browsing Category album track
Annie – April
Norwegian pop princess Annie just put out her new EP Neon Nights. It features five tracks. Two of those were released before: her cover of The Jesus & Mary Chains’ Just Like Honey and a collab with Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears. Also present on this EP: Annie’s version of Patrick Swayze’s She’s Like The Wind.
My favourite however, is April. She made this track with frequent collaborator Richard X. He co-wrote, produced and arranged the song. I find it hard to decide whether Annie’s voice is warm or cool, but as always, it fits the electro-pop backdrop like a glove. In the verses I hear an echo of You’ve Got It Bad by Ocean Colour Scene, which is never a bad thing.
All in all, a great track that deserves to be put out as a single!
Follow Annie on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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.
Halsey – Honey
Since Ashley Frangipane rearranged the letters of her first name, she goes by the stage name of Halsey. She’s currently the #30 most streamed artist on Spotify. Well-done, since both her sound and lyrics have a dark edge. In that respect the news that her new album would be produced by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross wasn’t a real surprise.
The long-player, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, contains 13 tracks. Honey is my favourite. A great car song, with its up-tempo rhythm. Very recognizable drums as well. From the first note on, it’s clear Dave Grohl is behind the kit. It’s not the first time that Reznor worked with Grohl though. He also enlisted the former Nirvana drummer for seven songs on Nine Inch Nails’ 2005 album With Teeth, and collaborated with him again alongside Josh Homme for Grohl’s film Sound City.
Recommended as well:
Halsey – 3AM
Follow Halsey on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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.
Kalie Shorr – Alibi
*SONG SNACK*
Recommended as well:
Amy
Follow Kalie Shorr on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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.
Wildcard (week 27):
beabadoobee – He Gets Me So High
Indie-pop darling beabadoobee is currently recording her sophomore album. Bridging the gap between her debut album and the upcoming release, she put out the EP Our Extended Play. The ‘our’ in its title refers to the fact the EP is a collaborative effort between Beatrice Laus herself and her label mates Matt Healy and George Daniel of The 1975. They co-wrote and produced the songs.
The 4-track-collection already produced two singles: Last Day On Earth and her current single Cologne. However, I’d like to introduce you to closing tune He Gets Me So High, which is a real gem. Light and summer-y, it brings the jangle pop of bands such as The Byrds and R.E.M. to mind. Meanwhile, it may also have been inspired by The Cure’s more poppy output.
He Gets Me So High was originally written by Healy and called She Gets Me So High. You can also hear him sing in the call-and-response bridge. This would make a great summer single if you’d ask me!
Ahead of that, He Gets Me So High by beabadoobee will feature here prominently for a whole week as the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard.
Recommended as well:
beabadoobee – Charlie Brown
beabadoobee – She Plays Bass
Follow beabadoobee on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 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.
Clara Luciani – Respire Encore
When I first wrote about Clara Luciani, over three years ago, she was an upcoming French singer. By now, we may conclude she delivered on the promise. For those in doubt: just listen to her new album Coeur (‘heart’). It’s a record that was born out of a profound love for 1960s and ‘70s music, but in the meantime firmly planted in the 2020s. That’s French DJ Breakbot’s contribution to the project. He adds a modern touch to Luciani’s retro influences.
Album track Respire Encore (‘breathe again’) is a great example of this nu-disco sound. It features a prominent bass and funky guitar riffs, as well as a beautiful string arrangement, played by no less than 18 violinists. Backing vocals are provided by Clara’s older sister Lea Luciani, who was the subject of earlier single Ma Soeur.
Lyrically, Respire Encore is an ode to post-lockdown life. “I wrote this song to convince myself that happier days were coming“, the artist explains. Looks like she was right about that!
Recommended as well:
Clara Luciani – Ma Soeur
Clara Luciani – La Grenade
Follow Clara Luciani on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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.
Japanese Breakfast – Paprika
Michelle Zauner (a.k.a. Japanese Breakfast) just released her third album Jubilee. It’s lovely! I was immediately grabbed by the opening track, the rather bombastic – and brilliantly titled – Paprika. To me, it’s the best song on the album. I love its marching band feel, and the strings and horn parts in the chorus. It’s both weird and wonderful.
In an interview with Stereogum, Zauner explains how the album, and this song in particular, came about. She explains: “My biggest fear for this record was that I didn’t want to be the kind of artist that pivots to pop in this very obvious way. I think that as you grow as an indie musician, the logical step is to enter into that world and play bigger venues and have more mainstream music or whatever. So I was really inspired by the greats… like Kate Bush. I think it’s really amazing that she’s someone who has such massive appeal but is, like, the biggest freak and has the most surreal, bizarre lyrics and has this really strange, proggy instrumentation. So I was really influenced by Kate Bush on this record and leaned towards surreal lyrics a little bit more on Paprika.”
About the song title she says: “I called it Paprika because it reminded me of this Susumu Hirasawa song called Parade that’s in the movie Paprika. There’s a big marching band and it’s this really psychotic parade dream sequence, and so that’s why I called it Paprika.”
It may sound like a strange choice, but I think this would make a great single!
Recommended as well:
Japanese Breakfast – Be Sweet
Follow Japanese Breakfast on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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.
Wildcard (week 21):
Stefanie Heinzmann – Labyrinth
32-year-old Swiss singer and songwriter Stefanie Heinzmann has had quite a diverse career so far. She started as singer in rock band BigFisch, but went on to win a German TV talent show in 2008. This brought her national stardom. In the years that followed, she won many hearts with a soulful repertoire. Throughout the years however, her music has become more and more poppy.
This has resulted in a very contemporary sound on her new, sixth album Labyrinth. The record was preceded by four singles, but the best track has yet to be released as such. I’d like to suggest the opening song and title track of the album for Heinzmann’s next single.
Labyrinth is a powerful, upbeat and tight tune in the best synth-pop tradition. With its funky guitars and catchy backing vocals, it contains hints of Gossip. But this could have been a great Alice Merton track as well. I bet that’s the influence of co-writer Michelle Leonhard, who penned songs for Merton before.
Labyrinth by Stefanie Heinzmann is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week!
Recommended as well:
Stefanie Heinzmann – You Get Me
Follow Stefanie Heinzmann on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 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.
Linn Koch-Emmery – Dirty Words
Scandinavia is well-known as ‘pop heaven’, but they also have artists who like to throw in a guitar or two. Stockholm-based Linn Koch-Emmery is one of them. A consequence of her German and British roots perhaps? Oh well, let’s not search for answers, but just enjoy her fresh indie-rock songs with killer choruses.
Koch-Emmery may be releasing music since 2016, she’s only just put out her debut album Being The Girl. An 11-track long-player that already includes four great singles. More will probably follow, for it holds other great songs. One of the best in my opinion is called Dirty Words, although it isn’t explicit at all. It’s got hints of early ‘90s New Order, and lyrically it features dark humour and a sense of self-distance.
Dirty Words would make a strong fifth single, as far as I’m concerned.
Recommended as well:
Linn Koch-Emmery – Hologram Love
Follow Linn Koch-Emmery on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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.
morgxn – Losing Myself
Nashville-born Morgan Karr already sung in a gospel choir at the age of 6. As a 9-year-old, he took singing and piano lessons and started writing his own songs. Then he went to New York, where he ended up in the theatre world. In 2015, he contributed vocals to two Tiësto tracks. This was the start of him refocussing on his music.
Now based in Los Angeles, Morgan goes by the stage name of morgxn. These last five years, he released quite a few really good electronic pop songs. Some of them rightly featured here on Carte Blanche Music.
Meridian: vol. 1 is morgxn’s latest project. It’s a 5-track EP, including his recent singles How Do You Hold What Hurts and Porcelain. However, opening track Losing Myself is by far my favourite. A great and infectious tune with a walking bass line and some nifty guitar strumming. Not only a fun song to dance to, but also one that’ll sound great on the radio.
Recommended as well:
Smallpools x morgxn – Slowdown
morgxn & Nicholas Petricca – Blue
morgxn & Walk The Moon – Home
Follow morgxn on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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.
Fear Of Tigers – Boy Talk
After recommending Fear Of Tigers’ track Tiger Blood, I was extra curious for their same-titled full-length album. Well, if you liked the single the way I did, you surely won’t be disappointed. There is a reason the album title ends with an exclamation mark. Tiger Blood! is a collection of ten full-on, no holds barred bangers. Three of them were released as singles before, but the remaining seven are just as strong.
Boy Talk is my personal favourite. With a duration of only 2’18, it’s short and snappy. But above all, it’s a beat-driven, synth-heavy pop-dance tune of the epic kind. If you like Eric Prydz, for instance, look no further for your new favourite song.
Recommended as well:
Fear Of Tigers – Tiger Blood
Follow Fear Of Tigers on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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.
