Browsing Category single track
single track
Pumarosa – Dragonfly
Pumarosa are a five-piece band from London, consisting of singer Isabel Munoz-Newsome and her entourage of four male band members. They describe their music as āindustrial spiritualā, whatever that may mean. After the well-received introductory track Priestess, the band put the songs Cecile and Honey online.
Now, Dragonfly completes the first quartet. Itās a moody, groove-led track with added power chords for an extra dramatic effect. And that works like a charm. Dragonfly is a prelude to Pumarosa’s debut album The Witch, that will be released on 19 May.
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.
border breaker, single track
Vargas & Lagola – Rolling Stone
You may not know Swedish duo Vargas & Lagola (consisting of Salem Al Fakir and Vincent Pontare) yet. But their debut single Rolling Stone might change that immediately. After all, Al Fakir and Pontare are not new to the gameā¦
First of all, they were successful solo artists in their home country and in a second life they became Swedish Grammy winning songwriters and producers, who wrote and produced songs for the likes of Seinabo Sey, Katy Perry, Avicii, Axwell /\ Ingrosso and Madonna. Coffee, anyone?
Now, Al Fakir and Pontare have given their careers a third leash of life by forming recording duo Vargas & Lagola. Rolling Stone is only their first single, but one that sounds like you have known it all your life long. An earworm, thatās for sure.
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
Canāt Swim – We Wonāt Sleep
This band from New Jersey is less than two years old. They released their debut EP, Death Deserves A Name, only exactly one year ago, on 24 February 2016.
After touring for most of that year, they recorded their first album, Fail You Again, which will come out on 10 March. It was produced and engineered by their own drummer Danny Rico, who has since then switched to playing the guitar. His place on the drums was taken by Andrea Morgan. I think female drummers (and female bass players, for that matter) are cool!
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
Regina Spektor – Older And Taller
Regina Spektor was born in Moscow, where she started a classical piano training when she was six years old. She continued taking piano lessons after she and her family emigrated to New York, at the age of nine. She was originally interested in classical music only, but listening to Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, and other singer-songwriters encouraged her to start writing her own songs.
Last year, she released her seventh album Remember Us To Life. The singles Bleeding Heart and Small Bill$ are now followed by Older And Taller, that sounds like it was written for her by Joe Jackson. Which isnāt true. But being a huge Joe Jackson fan, it sure is (meant to be) a compliment!
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
Pretenders feat. Neil Tennant – Letās Get Lost
This is not the first pairing of legends and it wonāt be the last. But it sure is beautiful! Letās Get Lost was already a āPretenders onlyā track on their latest album Alone. This is the new single version, featuring the unmistakable vocals of Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant. And thatās not all. They blend together wonderfully with Chrissie Hyndeās voice. Letās Get Lost is part of a double a-side single with the rock track Gotta Wait, but this ballad is the one for me.
The video below is not the original clip by the way, but a great animation by āMrPopovā I stumbled upon, which uses Letās Get Lost as its soundtrack. I like it as much as the song itself š .
- 24 Feb. ’17 – Rather disappointing update: this appears to be a Disney animation, only uploaded by this ‘MrPopov’. Just so you know…
- 1 March ’18 – Another disappointment, sorry guys: a year after this post, ‘MrPopov’ suspended his YouTube account; probably a rights thing. Therefore, I added the audio-only ‘video’
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.
border breaker, single track
Loyle Carner – Aināt Nothing Changed
In real life Loyle Carner is Benjamin Coyle-Larner. A 21-year old London rapper who was nominated for the BBC Sound Of 2016. One of the things I find refreshing about him, is that he is one of only a few rappers who dare to show their softer side.
When Benjamin lost his stepfather in 2014, he decided to quit drama school and fully concentrate on his music career. A year later already he played the Glastonbury festival.
His first single that drew my attention at the end of 2015 was the jazzy track Aināt Nothing Changed. I loved it! After that came No CD and The Isle Of Arran (among others) and his first album Yesterdayās Gone. He is currently touring Europe in support of it.
In other great news: Aināt Nothing Changed is set for re-release in the UK around mid-April. Hopefully the rest of Europe will follow. Iām sure it will become a huge hit this time around. Hear why over here:
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 8): MisterWives – Machine
Our Own House by MisterWives was one of the best pop singles to come out in 2015 and Iāve been following the band ever since. They came together in New York at the end of 2012 when singer Mandy Lee wanted an 80ās cover band for her birthday party. When she couldnāt find one, she decided to start a band herself with some friends. Since then they opened for acts such as Twenty One Pilots, Panic! At The Disco, Bleachers and The Mowgli’s, and released their first album Our Own House (which contains more great singles than the title track alone).
MTV calls MisterWives the ‘next golden children of pop’ and their new single proves they still deliver the goods. With Machine they even incorporate trap elements into the pop formula. Itās the first new track off their upcoming second album and it will feature on top of this blog for one whole week, as Machine is this weekās Carte Blanche Music Wildcard.
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.
border breaker, single track
Von Wegen Lisbeth – Sushi
This German indie pop band started off in 2006 as Fluchtweg. After changing their name several times, they now go by the moniker of Von Wegen Lisbeth. One of the things that make them stand out is their use of unusual instruments like a toy Glockenspiel, a Casio keyboard and a steel drum.
After releasing two EPās (in 2012 and 2014), their full debut album Grande came out in the summer of 2016. The great single Bitch was the first to catch my ears and their new one is called Sushi. It is currently bubbling under the European Border Breakers Chart.
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
Harts – Hope
Darren Hart, from Melbourne, Australia, can be described as a ‘one-man music-making machine’. He writes all of his songs himself, plays all of the instruments, and produces and records it all in his bedroom studio. Harts was discovered by Prince, who flew him to his Paisley Park Studios to jam with him. No wonder. Just listen to the funky rock sound of tracks like Lovers In Bloom, Breakthrough and All Rise (Play It Cool), that brought him his first airplay and live success.
Now, he is back with the first single off his upcoming second album Smoke Fire Hope Desire (to be released in Europe on 24 March). The song marks a switch to a more mid-tempo sound, combining funk with rap and laidback Electric Light Orchestra-kinda strings. But just when you think Harts has gone all mellow, he throws in one of his trade mark guitar solosā¦
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
Laura Marling – Next Time
Laura Marling (not to be mistaken for Norwegian singer Lene Marlin) is a British (nu-)folk singer-songwriter who also plays guitar, bass, piano and ukulele. She was part of the original line-up of Noah & The Whale and collaborated with the Mystery Jets, while her own band included Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane and Winston Marshall, who would go on to found Mumford & Sons.
In March, Marling will release her sixth album Semper Femina. Next Time is the beautiful new single off it. The clip is the second (after Soothing) from a trio of Laura Marlingās self-directed videos.
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.
