Browsing Category single track
Laish – Dance To The Rhythm
Laish is the musical project of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Danny Green. Yorkshire born, but currently based in London, he has had an impressive independent career, performing both solo and with a full band.
Last Friday, Laish released his fourth album Time Elastic. Following up on the albumâs title track, Dance To The Rhythm is the second single off it. A joyful affair, released just in time to accompany the sunshine thatâs been announced.
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.
Dead Sea – Know Where
Google âDead Seaâ and youâll probably stumble upon photos of a large pool of super-salty water. That, obviously, is not the Dead Sea Iâm referring to hereâŠ
Dead Sea is also a French four-piece that operates at the crossroads of (danceable) pop and rock. Think shoegaze-inspired pop with a pounding rhythm. They released their first two singles 8.50 and Lotion at the end of 2017 and their third is called Know Where. Clocking in at just under 5 minutes it may be a little too long for the radio, but there are tricks to overcome that problem đ . On the dance floor, however, Know Where has a hypnotic effect.
On 4 May, Dead Sea release their 4-track debut EP Colorate.
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.
Kelemen KabĂĄtban – Ăton
Kelemen KabĂĄtban is a Hungarian band with seven members: Boldi HorvĂĄth, GĂĄspĂĄr âJumoDaddyâ HorvĂĄth, M-Papa, MiklĂłs Kiszin, GĂĄbor Gajdacs, RĂłbert Nagy and TamĂĄs SzabĂł. They got together in 2013 and played many club and festivals since then, both in Hungary and abroad.
The secret of Kelemen KabĂĄtbanâs success lies in its catch combination of musical styles. In Ăton, the funky guitar and bass are the driving forces, complemented by a keyboard melody thatâs as simple as it is epic.
Excuse me for not understanding the lyrics, but luckily the track has a lyric video, so we can still sing along đ . I think an English version of this song could do very well internationally!
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.
The Dark Light – She Likes It
The Dark Light may be based in London, but itâs a truly European project, with members from Italy (guitarists Marco Simoncelli and Roberto Cicorella), Great Britain (singer-songwriter Gerard Edwards and bass player Sonny Moylan), and Germany (drummer Henning Brand).
In February, I recommended the bandâs first single Itâs Alright, and last week, their debut album Keep Off The Grass came out. Passionate, classic rock ânâ roll, recorded in an astonishing 16 days and mastered by John Webber (David Bowie, George Michael, The The). It also features second single She Likes It. Well, I like it too and so do you, I hope!
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.
The Academic – Fake ID
Irish band The Academic was formed in 2013 by Craig Fitzgerald (lead vocalist and guitarist), Dean Gavin (drums), and brothers Matt and Stephen Murtagh (guitar and bass, respectively). I played their early singles Northern Boy and Mixtape 2003 in the late Carte Blanche radio show in May 2016 and August 2016, but the band garnered more media interest a year later, after Bear Claws came out.
Most of these singles appear on the bandâs debut album Tales From The Back Seat. My favourite track off the album though, is the ĂŒber catchy Fake ID, that features in the Carte Blanche Music playlist since the record come out, last January. Now, itâs The Academicâs new single!
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 15):
Stars – Ship To Shore
Stars are a Canadian theatrical pop/rock band, which is active since the year 2000. Only last October they released their ninth album There Is No Love In Fluorescent Light, but Ship To Shore is a brand new track.
Itâs a classic case of things being not always what they seem. Ship To Shore sounds like a light-hearted â even happy â summer ditty with its danceable disco-ish musical backdrop. Man, how I love those bold â80s drums and synths!
But this electro-pop mask hides the true meaning of the song: it a remembrance of singer Amy Millanâs late friend, John Bil. A discrepancy thatâs beautifully captured in lines like âYou played me The Cure / Friday Iâm In Love / Itâs so good it hurtsâ.
This week, Starsâ Ship To Shore is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. All 15 of them (so far) can be found in the Wildcards 2018 playlist on 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.
Jessie Clement – Something Different
Raised in a musical family, Jessie Clement began her singing career as a studio singer when she was only 9 years old, and wrote her first song at age 10.
Sheâs currently finishing her third album and this is the first single. Something Different has a simple, but addictive melody. It sounds innocent and timeless, reminding me of Sara Bareilles. Other, less obvious influences on her writing and singing include James Taylor, Coldplay, and Adele.
Something Different comes with a colourful black and white video.
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.
Freak Power – Hear My Call
Allow me a flashback to the early 90s of the last century. Norman Cook (ex-Housemartins, ex-Beats International, later to be known as Fatboy Slim) formed Freak Power with horn player Ashley Slater. They scored a huge pan-European hit with Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out in 1994, and⊠well, that was about it, basically.
If you thought weâd ever hear from them again, please raise your hand. It appears you were right. Freak Power just released their first new music since 1999. Norman Cook is no longer involved, but Ashley Slater is back on board. Also part of this new line-up, among others: original bass player Dale Davis (Amy Winehouse, Paul Young, Tina Turner), Tony Remy (Herbie Hancock, Annie Lennox) on guitar and Kate Cameron on backing vocals.
Much may have changed in the last 20 years, but the sound of the new Freak Power is remarkably consistent with the â90s version. Acid house bassline: check. Big synths: check. Soulful sing-along chorus: check. Letâs see if we can eventually tick the check box âhitâ as wellâŠ
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.
Alice Merton – Lash Out
Chances are, you first read about Alice Merton on Carte Blanche Music (although Iâm aware success has many fathers). Anyway, I instantly liked her debut single No Roots and made it Wildcard. It became a pan-European hit – landing the German singer a European Border Breakers Award – and has just entered Billboardâs Hot 100.
The follow-up single took its title too literally and Hit The Ground Running, but I think she could hit the bullâs eye again with this third single, Lash Out. And after seeing her show at the ESNS festival, last January, I can tell you there is plenty more where this is coming from. Alice Merton is a potential future superstar.
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.
MĂ„neskin – MorirĂČ Da Re
Last year, Italian band MÄneskin emerged from the 11th series of X Factor. Since then, their star is rising. Their first single Chosen was in English and featured on their 7-track mini album of the same title. Their second single, however, is in Italian.
MorirĂČ Da Re once again features the ear-catching and characteristic voice of Damiano David, but it also has an eye-catching video, featuring snakes, sword-swallowing, plenty of latex and a guy with a split tongue. A bit of a freak show⊠?
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.