Browsing Category album track
Christine & The Queens – Le G
In 2014, all of a sudden, a new pop star stood up in France: Héloïse Letissier with her musical alter ego Christine & The Queens. A stylish act, both musically and in clothing, that can count artists like Stromae, Lorde and Madonna as fans.
Her debut album Chaleur Humaine contains slightly disruptive synthesizer pop (which she calls ‘freak pop’ herself). Letissier sings an awkward mix of French and English, that even the French don’t quite get. Yet (or perhaps because of that) it became a multi-platinum hit. First in her home country, and a year later in the rest of Europe. In order to try and conquer the United States, she re-recorded some of her songs in English and re-released her album.
Now, the artist makes her next move: her new album Chris comes in two versions: one in French and one in English. They’re not completely the same, though, as the French version has one track more, and two of the French songs don’t appear on the English version.
One of those two songs is my favourite on the set: Le G. The music on this new album being more funky and more sexy, I’m not sure whether this track is about G-funk or the G-spot, but either way: it’s as great as it is funky and sexy. Think Janet Jackson, for instance. Even the electric guitar solo at the end fits in nicely with the smooth overall production. Formidable!
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
The Proclaimers – You Make Me Happy
It’s 31 years ago we first heard from the identical Scottish twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid. Their debut album This Is The Story contained the instantly likeable (Gerry Rafferty-produced) single Letter From America, which was followed by other folk pop gems like I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), and Let’s Get Married.
By now, the twins are 56, and they tirelessly continue to make the world a little bit better through their music. Their new album Angry Cyclist is their eleventh to date. My favourite track off it is an instant singalong: the bruising, direct and driving Celtic belter You Make Me Happy, where the brothers sing of achieving a state of romantic bliss so potent it has the ability to eradicate all of life’s inherent negativity. It’s not an official single (yet), but a fan compiled his own video for it, and did a great job!
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Pale Waves – Red
Since their 2017 debut single There’s A Honey, Pale Waves released 11 other singles, quickly making a name for themselves as one of the most promising young bands around. The fact that part of their output was produced by Matthew Healy and George Daniel of The 1975 certainly helped, but there’s no denying the talent of songwriters Heather Baron-Gracie and Ciara Doran (the singer and drummer of the band).
Only eight of the 11 singles (including the most recent one: One More Time) made it onto their debut album My Mind Makes Noises, in some cases in remixed form. My favourite of the six non-single tracks on the long-player is Red. A poppy song, with a very eighties synth line, a very contemporary pumping beat and a very great guitar hook. A modern new wave classic in the making.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Tash Sultana – Cigarettes
Since her grandfather gifted a guitar at the age of three, Tash Sultana learned herself to play numerous instruments. Playing open mic nights and busking on the streets of Melbourne, Australia, she developed and perfected her own distinct sound. As a one-woman band, she creates and loops all of the sounds herself, both live and on her debut album, where she plays each of the 15 instruments that are present.
Two years ago, her first single Jungle immediately caught the attention of DJ’s and bookers alike, leading to sold out theatres globally and playing at the world’s biggest festivals. And all of that without an album in sight.
Only last week, her highly anticipated debut long player Flow State was released. Cigarettes is my favourite song on it. An easy-going track, until she ups the tempo after three minutes and a bit. What follows, is an upbeat, funky instrumental part with a delicious guitar solo that could go on forever.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Brett Dennen – Be Somebody
Instead of an album, American singer-songwriter Brett Dennen decided to release two EP’s this year. After the first EP Let’s…, he just came up with the EP Here’s Looking At You Kid. Both were co-written and produced by Dan Wilson, whose band Semisonic reunited last year for two series of live shows.
Here’s Looking At You Kid contains five feel-good, sunny tracks, that were written with four themes in mind: friendship, fatherhood, groundedness, and above all, love. These songs will keep the summer vibes alive as September sets in. Be Somebody is the most catchy tune among them and my favourite track on the EP.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Johnny Marr – Day In Day Out
Johnny Marr is an all-round musical hero, and as prolific and versatile as they come. He was in The Smiths, The The, Electronic, and Modest Mouse, and worked with artists as diverse as Jane Birkin, Pet Shop Boys, Crowded House, The Cult, Girls Aloud and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. He also released four solo albums.
His most recent album, Call The Comet, came out in June. The Tracers, Hi Hello and Walk Into The Sea have been released as singles, but my best-loved album track is Day In Day Out (not the David Bowie song, by the way). Perhaps because of its close resemblance to a classic Smiths track. Exactly halfway it breaks down, only to build back up again into a soaring guitar solo. Sure to become a live favourite.
For more great new music follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Laurence Jones – Don’t You Let Me Go
This guitar talent from Liverpool is often dubbed ‘the future of the blues’. The Truth is his fifth album in six years’ time and Jones currently plays a hell of a lot of concerts to promote it. This way, he’s slowly but surely crossing over to a larger audience.
Don’t You Let Me Go might be just the single Jones needs to be fully embraced by the mainstream. The smooth background vocals make it poppy enough for the radio, but it’s rocky enough to please live crowds and bluesy enough to appeal to his oldest fans.
For more great new music follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Alfa Rococo – Danser Dans L’ombre
After Justine Laberge and David Bussières met in Québéc, they decided to form a musical duo and Alfa Rococo was born. 14 years later, the Canadians release their fourth album L’amour Et Le Chaos, which, indeed, means ‘love and chaos’. I wish French was that easy all the time…
L’amour Et Le Chaos is an album full of melodic pop songs with rock sensibilities. Synth-driven tracks with guitars thrown in the mix. Lyrically, it reflects upon time; lost time and wasted time. Danser Dans L’ombre is my absolute favourite of the 11 tracks on the album.
For more great new music follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Blossoms – Cool Like You
Last week, Blossoms – of Charlemagne fame – released their ‘difficult’ second album Cool Like You. But ‘difficult’ has more to do with the recording process (when there was some friction in the band) than with the result. On the contrary: the album sounds very easy and smooth.
Over a year ago, the band told British music publication NME their new album would sound like ‘New Order meets Kylie Minogue’. But there are more ’80s influences to be heard, like Blondie, Prince and Cyndi Lauper. At the same time, hints of The Killers and Tame Impala can be spotted as well.
One of my favourites is the album’s title track. That’s probably the one that fits the description ‘New Order meets Kylie Minogue’ best.
For more great new music follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Foé – Qu’est-Ce Que T’as Là?
There are a lot of good things happening in the French music scene, with loads of great new artists emerging. Keep following Carte Blanche Music, and I’ll introduce you to all of them.
Did you know Foé already? He only released his self-titled debut EP last autumn. All four tracks off it – and seven more – are now also available on his first full album Îl. It’s out on the Tôt Ou Tard label, home to acts like Cats On Trees, Shaka Ponk and Yael Naim, who featured here before as well.
Foé, only 20 years old, named himself after Daniel Defou, the author of ‘Robinson Crusoé’. You could file him under ‘urban pop’, but Foé is not your regular new artist. The first thing that will strike you, is his theatrical voice and way of narrating/singing, slightly reminiscent of Grand Corps Malade. Musically, he presents a mix of hip hop rhythms, classical piano and electronic sounds, ranging from dance pop via latin jazz to classic French ‘chanson’ territory.
One of my favourite tracks on this promising debut album is Qu’est-Ce Que T’as Là? It has verses in French, while the chorus is in English. At the same time, the music switches from summery mid-tempo dance pop to a slow, less heavy form of dub step. Actually, you shouldn’t read about it, you should just listen…
For more great new music follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
