Browsing Category wildcard
Wildcard (week 5):
Fall Out Boy – Church
Does a band with hundreds of millions of streams and views to their name need a Carte Blanche Music review? Of course not. But on the other hand: this blog is about great new music, and Fall Out Boy happen to have made a great new song. ‘Great’ in every way: it’s fantastic, but it’s also full of grandeur. It’s epic. A cinematic track.
Fall Out Boy has never shied away from bombast, but with this new single they outdid themselves. Church is equal parts rock and gospel. Its lyrics go: “If you were a church, I’d get on my knees.” But what follows may very well be the loudest prayer ever.
Church by Fall Out Boy is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. You can find all of them in the Wildcards 2018 playlist. If you’re interested in how this song came about, you should definitely check out this video of Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump explaining the ‘making of’. If not, just enjoy the regular clip:

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 4):
The Nectars – Heaven
Guitar music may appear to be just a little less fashionable lately, but that doesn’t mean there are no fantastic rock songs around anymore. Last week, I recommended Heaven by The Nectars, and you received it with open arms. Apparently my comparing its sound with Transvision Vamp and early No Doubt triggered you to listen to it and enjoy it a lot.
This week, I’ll make it even easier for you to access the song, by featuring it here prominently as the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard (all of which you can find in the Wildcards 2018 playlist).
Heaven, only the New Jersey four-piece’s debut single, bursts with energy and attitude. Its message is sweet as honey, though. The track is meant to act as a reminder that ‘it’s never too late to free yourself and start living the life you want and deserve’.
With The Nectars as a band name, I predict a lot of buzzzzzzzz.

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 3):
Paloma Faith – ‘til I’m Done
When Paloma Faith released her debut single Stone Cold Sober in 2009, it was immediately clear she was an incredible talent. But despite scoring hits in recent years like Can’t Rely On You (co-written by Pharrell Williams) and Only Love Can Hurt Like This, I was surprised to find out her fourth album The Architect was only her first to hit number one in her home country Great Britain.
The album already produced the singles Crybaby and Guilty, but I bet she’s third time lucky. Paloma Faith’s new single ‘til I’m Done sounds like it could do well everywhere: on the radio, in your car, on the dance floor and in the charts. This gospel disco stomper, that sneakily references Donna Summer’s (well, okay, Donna Summer’s version of Barry Manilow’s) Could It Be Magic, deserves to be a hit!
This week, Carte Blanche Music is the first place where ‘til I’m Done scores big. It features here prominently as the new Wildcard (all of which you can find in the Wildcards 2018 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 2):
Shanguy – La Louze
I’m pretty sure this could be a huge international hit, if only it was promoted properly. You see, La Louze ticks all the right boxes: you can dance to it, you can sing along with it… For even though most of the lyrics are in French (difficile!), there is enough of English in strategic places. And that killer trumpet hook speaks the universal language of music.
Shanguy is a new project of French singer-songwriter Eon Melka, Italian DJ NRD1, and indie singer-songwriter Frank-O, who had successful careers of their own before. La Louze is only Shanguy’s first single, and it sounds like a hit to me (Alors On Danse, anyone?). The track is already heating up the European Border Breakers Chart, where it rockets from 100 to 57 this week, but it could do so much better…
Promotion starts here, as far as I’m concerned. The coming week, La Louze by Shanguy features prominently on Carte Blanche Music as the new 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.
Wildcard (week 1):
Saveus – Time Can Heal A Man
In 2008, then only 15-year-old Martin Hoberg Hedegaard won the first Danish series of ‘The X Factor’. Last year, his single Levitate Me, released under the Saveus moniker, was a Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. But chances are, that his global breakthrough will coincide with the tenth anniversary of his victory at the television talent show.
‘Saveus’ may be pronounced as ‘Save Us’, not as a Roman emperor, but his new single Time Can Heal A Man is another majestic soul pop track with a massive gospel backing. Irresistible, evidenced by the fact this song is the first Carte Blanche Music Wildcard of 2018!

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 52):
Awolnation – Miracle Man
In 2009, Aaron Bruno, David Amezcua and Drew Stewart formed the band Awolnation (although the latter two have left in recent years). Their 2011 debut album Megalithic Symphony featured the single Sail, that only really peaked a few years later, after having featured in numerous movies, TV shows and commercials.
2 February 2018, their third album Here Come The Runts will see the light of day, once again entirely written, produced and performed by Aaron Bruno. “With this record I really wanted to make a rock ‘n’ roll/pop album,” he says. “And I mean ‘pop’ how I grew up listening to it, in the sense of Dire Straits or Born In The U.S.A or The Cars or Tom Petty.”
Miracle Man by Awolnation is this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. The last one of the year. You can find all of them in the Wildcards 2017 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 51):
Turin Brakes – Wait
The time when Turin Brakes were one of the most prominent bands in the so called new acoustic movement is some 16 years behind us. In 2001, their debut album The Optimist LP was nominated for a Mercury Prize.
Now, the British band is working hard to finish their eighth album Invisible Storm, which is due 26 january 2018. As a first teaser, the fine track Would You Be Mine was released last month, but Wait is the first single proper off the album. Rightfully so, as it’s a catchy, handclap-driven track, begging to be played on the radio.
Singer Olly Knights: “Wait is about sitting on a plane, looking out the window while you fly over the city you know and reflecting on a relationship that may or may not be coming to an end. There’s a kind of glamour and nostalgia being up above it all going 500mph.”
Glamour and nostalgia. Just the emotions we need in this time of the year!
Wait by Turin Brakes is this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, all of which you can find in the Wildcards 2017 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 50):
Delilahs – Bricks (The Outsider)
Delilahs are a Swiss power pop band based in Zug/Bern. One might be tempted to say they sound like Haim, but in fact Delilahs were formed earlier and released music before Haim did, so actually it’s the other way around.
In the past 12 years, Delilahs released an EP and two albums with an alternative edge to them. They played over 550 shows, mainly in Switzerland, Germany and the Czech Republic and are now preparing to present their new studio album Ideal, which is scheduled for a spring 2018 release.
If first single Bricks (The Outsider) is anything to go by, 2018 might very well be the year Muriel Rhyner (vocals, bass), Isabella Eder (guitar, vocals), Philipp Rhyner (guitar) and Daniel Fischer (drums) break though outside their home country. Carte Blanche Music would like to help them achieve that goal by presenting Bricks (The Outsider) by Delilahs as this week’s Wildcard (all of which can be found in the Wildcards 2017 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 49):
The Go! Team – Mayday
The Go! Team never disappoints me. Ever since their Get It Together EP, which kickstarted the 21st century, the Brighton band serves up delicious cocktails of seemingly incoherent genres. Sounding disruptive at first, apparently our ears have gotten used to their eclectic mix, while in the meantime, the band refined their sound. And in 2017 we’ve come to the point that The Go! Team’s complex compositions are wholly acceptable and accessible, while I’m certain the band don’t feel like they’re compromising in any way.
Still, their new single is a cry for help. But an ingenious one as such. The first 8 seconds of the song, for instance, consist of a morse code set to a beat. A morse code which, of course, spells the song’s title: M-A-Y-D-A-Y. As usual, part of the track’s lyrics are shouted like a bunch of cheerleaders would, while other parts are sung as sweet as honey. The brass band that was already present on their latest single Semicircle Song, blows some soulful elements into the song, making it a triumphant affair.
To make things even more joyful, Mayday is this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. So the song, that will be included on The Go! Team’s new album Semicircle, due 19 January 2018, is already to be found in the Wildcards 2017 playlist, and features prominently on this blog for one whole week. This SOS deserves a helping hand…

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 48):
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – It’s A Beautiful World
You may not have noticed, but three weeks in a row, the Wildcard came out of Australia. Pure coincidence (although it’s undeniably a talent-packed continent). The Presets’ Do What You Want, Tension by Kira Puru and I’ll Make You Happy by The Bamboos (feat. Montaigne) can all be found in the Wildcards 2017 playlist.
This week however, it’s a beautiful world for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, as their new single is added to this slowly growing list, featuring the best songs of the year so far. It’s A Beautiful World is certainly one of them, with its Tears For Fears-like chorus.
As the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, the track features here prominently for a week, only one mouse click away for you to enjoy.

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.