Last month, an incredible (probably unprecedented) amount of new music came to the market. After trying to listen to as much of it as possible, making choices proved more difficult than ever. This means of course that the quality of the submissions was high, which can only be a good thing.

Meteorologically, February was a month that saw several storms raging over Europe, causing considerable damage. Isn’t it appropriate, then, that the two most read recommendations on Carte Blanche Music were Perfect Storm by IBA and Toukassé (‘ruin it all’) by Shanguy? 😉
The Belgian Perfect Storm performer even had another track among your favourites of the month: his debut single Table Of Fools returned to the Top 10. The chart hosts even more ‘fools’, courtesy of IBE’s fellow-countrymen Neo Minor. Apparently, craziness was something of a theme in February, as Mad With The Moon by Lux Lyall was liked a lot as well.

Your full Top 10 of favourite blog posts in February is below. For an overview of the latest and greatest new music, check my 2020 container playlist Carte Blanche Music. It contains well over 200 pieces of damn fine music, good for over 12 hours of listening pleasure. Have a listen and/or follow it through this link.

1. IBE – Perfect Storm
2. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
3. League Of Wolves – On The Run
4. Lux Lyall – Mad With The Moon
5. James Blonde – Hundred Bucks
6. Jesse Merineau – Honey
7. Neo Minor – Fools
8. IBE Table Of Fools
9. Charmless i – Superhero
10. Dagny – Come Over

^(WC) = former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

As you may have seen in the listing of most read Carte Blanche Music posts of the past year, Your Favourites (2019), Roi by Videoclub was the most popular of my recommendations. And it was by far the most popular. In fact, every single month of 2019, this was the most visited page on the whole blog. And all of that via organic searches, there was no strange activity (like bots) to be found. So, in short: this was a real hit, no holds barred. And it still is, actually, for also in January 2020, a year after publication, this is still the song that attracts the most visitors. Incredible! Yet, I’ve decided not to list it in these monthly charts anymore, in order to give another track the chance to show up.

For the same reason, I left another very popular post out of this Top 10: an article with photos of the best performances I saw on the ESNS showcase festival, halfway January. Just so you know…

That still leaves us with a very interesting listing of Your Favourites in the last month, with a surprising #1: Every One Of Us by Rick Astley was particularly popular just after the singer appeared live at Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny. He didn’t even sing this new track, by the way, but apparently the performance made people curious for it. Which is great, obviously. The only other ‘80s icons among my most popular tips are the Pet Shop Boys, whose latest Daft Punk-like single Monkey Business ends third.

Jaguar Jonze and Eliza & The Delusionals, who both have great new singles out, also feature in the Top 5. And at #9, surprise surprise, Videoclub still show up, with their follow-up to Roi, the former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard En Nuit.

Your full Top 10 of favourite blog posts in January is below. For an overview of the latest and greatest new music, check my 2020 container playlist Carte Blanche Music. Only one month into the new year, it already holds almost 120 tracks, good for over 7 hours of recent tracks. Have a listen and/or follow it through this link.

1. Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
2. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
3. Pet Shop Boys – Monkey Business
4. Jaguar Jonze – Kill Me With Your Love
5. Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
6. Friedberg – Go Wild
7. Sarpa Salpa – Say Something
8. Mute Choir – Shadowboxing
9. Videoclub – En Nuit ^(WC)
10. Rat Boy – Victim Of A System

^(WC) = former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Roi by Videoclub is still ‘king’ in the listing of Your Favourites during the month of November. That’s odd, because the French duo released three other singles already since they put out Roi at the start of the year. You could say: Roi still rules. Big time! Also in your Top 3, Toukassé by Shanguy is another French track that has been popular among Carte Blanche Music visitors for a long time now. And a little bit further down, at #7, Therapie Taxi are the third Top 10 entry from France. Their new single Candide Crush went down very well last month.

The same can be said of Deacon Blue’s former Wildcard City Of Love. A welcome return from the Scottish band, although it can hardly be called a comeback. They have been one of my favourites for over 30 years now, and I’m glad to see them featuring in Your Favourites as well. A total newcomer however, is Australia’s Jaguar Jonze. Kill Me With Your Love is only her third single, but it already ranks among the best read recommendations of November. Let’s keep an eye on her!

Your full Top 10 of favourite blog posts in November is below. You can find them all (and many more) in my 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music. My Spotify list now holds circa 950 tracks, good for over 55 hours of great new music, released in 2019. Have a listen and/or follow it through this link.

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
3. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
4. Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
5. Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass
6. Deacon Blue – City Of Love ^(WC)
7. Therapie Taxi – Candide Crush
8. Calby – The Everyday Bit
9. Parov Stelar feat. Lilja Bloom – Go Wake Up
10. Jaguar Jonze – Kill Me With Your Love

^(WC) = former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

I love it when a plan comes together… As announced, I was on holiday in October. By consequence, I haven’t been able to add new recommendations to the blog until this week. Despite that, the monthly figures show hardly any dip. As I had hoped, you found your way to the Carte Blanche Music archive. Great to see the ‘long tail’ principle also applies to blogs. To this one, at least…

Nevertheless, the Top 10 of articles you read the most in October is in line with earlier round-ups. Roi by Videoclub is still by far the most popular song  among you. By far. Its follow-up, former Wildcard En Nuit, is in the list as well this month. Your open-mindedness towards great new music really showed in October, as you gave Rick Astley a warm welcome in terms of views. 30 Years after his Stock Aitken Waterman produced worldwide hits, he still proves relevant in 2019.

Pretty much all of the rest of the Top 10 is exclusive Carte Blanche Music material. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I haven’t heard any of these tracks on any radio station outside the artists’ home country. I’m confident that is one of the success factors of this blog. Thanks for your confidence!

Your full Top 10 of favourite recommendations in October is below. Since I’ve continued to add new tracks to my 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music during my holiday, my Spotify list has by now expanded to circa 865 songs. If you wish to follow it, please click here.

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
3. IBE – Table Of Fools
4. Calby – The Everyday Bit
5. Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
6. Friedberg – Go Wild
7. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
8. Videoclub – En Nuit ^(WC)
9. Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass
10. Claire Laffut feat. Yseult – Nudes

^(WC) = former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Because of a – if I may say so myself – well-deserved holiday, not much will happen here on the Carte Blanche Music blog during the month of October. But I will continue to update my Spotify playlist. So, if want to keep track of the best new music, please follow that one, if you didn’t already. Furthermore, during my absence, this blog is a wonderful archive of recent music. It holds over 1500 recommendations of songs from all over the world, in all genres and many languages. Listening via your platform of choice is only one mouse click away.

That said, let’s look back upon my tips that were most-read in the month of September. What strikes me, is that 4 out of the Top 10 tracks are songs in French. Videoclub continue their winning streak, but elsewhere, we find Ethel (#7), Shanguy (#8) and Claire Laffut feat. Yseult (#9). One possible explanation is the popularity of France among holiday-goers, who may have heard these songs on the radio there and searched for more information when back home. But that’s only guessing…

The only recommendation that was published in September, was for Calby’s The Everyday Bit. It shows up at #3 among your favourites of the month. All of the other entries are slightly older, which proves you like Carte Blanche Music for its archive as well.

Your full Top 10 of favourite recommendations in September is below. All of these tracks, and circa 800 more, are in my 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music, which will continue to be updated during my holidays. Click here to follow it. See you again in November!

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. IBE – Table Of Fools
3. Calby – The Everyday Bit
4. Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
5. Friedberg – Go Wild
6. The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport – Getaway
7. Ethel – Rubikscube
8. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
9. Claire Laffut feat. Yseult – Nudes
10. Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass

^(WC) = former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

For as long as pop music exists, artists from the United States and Great-Britain have been the main suppliers of hits worldwide. That doesn’t mean, of course, those are the only countries with talented musicians. As far as I’m concerned, there is an incredible amount of great music coming from Australia, Canada, Sweden, France and Belgium, to name but a few. Obviously, that opinion is reflected in the recommendations here on Carte Blanche Music. And I’m oh so glad to see (or presume) that you apparently agree with me.

Just look at my posts that were read the most during the month of August… The Top 5 consists of acts from France (Videoclub), Belgium (IBE), Austria (Friedberg), the Netherlands (Ed Struijlaart) and Italy (Mamacita feat. Didy & Roy Paci)! Australian band Sheppard follows suit. The first American and British band (The Black Keys, and The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport) are at number 7 and 8, respectively, only to be chased by another French act (Shanguy) and Inhaler from Ireland. The latter beat Serbia’s Ana & The Changes to a Top 10 position by a nose…

In short, I’m very proud to be able to introduce you to so much great music from all around the world. And even more than that, I’m very happy you seem to appreciate that. A big thanks to you!

Your full Top 10 of favourite recommendations in August is below. All of these tracks, and over 700 more, are in my continuously updated 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music.

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. IBE – Table Of Fools
3. Friedberg – Go Wild
4. Ed Struijlaart – What I Like About You
5. Mamacita feat. Didy & Roy Paci – (Yo No Soy Tu) Nena
6. Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass
7. The Black Keys – Shine A Little Light
8. The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport – Getaway
9. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
10. Inhaler – My Honest Face

^(WC) = former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

French music is doing ‘très bien’ on the Carte Blanche Music blog. For the sixth consecutive month, Roi by Videoclub is (by far) your favourite recommendation, but Corine’s version of Je Danse Le Mia is a strong runner-up. Just outside this month’s Top 10, we find former Wildcards Toukassé by Shanguy and Videoclub’s new single En Nuit.

But you’re not only fans of music from France. Between the ten most read blogs in July are acts from Austria (Friedberg), the Netherlands (Pyro), Belgium (IBE), Italy (Mamacita feat. Didy & Roy Paci), Northern Ireland (Pat Dam Smyth), and the United States (SWMRS). The ‘remaining’ artists (The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport and Sophie & The Giants) are from Great-Britain. Well, in fact they’re leaving, but that’s not their fault.

Your full Top 10 of favourite recommendations in July is below. All of these tracks, and over 600 more, are in my continuously updated 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music.

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. Corine – Je Danse Le Mia
3. Friedberg – Go Wild
4. Pyro – F.O.M.O.
5. IBE – Table Of Fools
6. Mamacita feat. Didy & Roy Paci – (Yo No Soy Tu) Nena
7. The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport – Getaway
8. Pat Dam Smyth – Last King
9. Sophie & The Giants – Waste My Air
10. SWMRS – Lose Lose Lose

^(WC) = former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

As you probably know by now, Carte Blanche Music is about new music only. But apparently my recommendations sometimes come a little early. Perhaps too early for some of you. Therefore, it’s very gratifying to see that some of my tips from months ago are only being picked up now. Okay, my recommendation of Roi by Videoclub has been massively popular ever since it was published, back in January, and is still by far the piece that was read the most in the month of June. But another song in French, Toukassé by Shanguy (which was a Carte Blanche Music Wildcard in March), is only starting to be appreciated now. I’m sure the hot weather plays a role in this, as it’s an ultimate summer song.

Talking about potential summer hits: (Yo No Soy Tu) Nena by Mamacita (feat. Didy & Roy Paci) was one of Your Favourites in June as well.

The full Top 10 is below. All of these tracks, and about 550 more, are in my continuously updated 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music.

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. Sophie & The Giants – Waste My Air
3. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
4. boy pablo – 50 Souls And A Discobowl ^(WC)
5. Friedberg – Go Wild
6. The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport – Getaway
7. Mamacita feat. Didy & Roy Paci – (Yo No Soy Tu) Nena
8. Inhaler – My Honest Face
9. IBE – Table Of Fools
10. Otherkin – On And On

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl