Browsing Category wildcard
Wildcard (week 47):
The Bamboos (feat. Montaigne) – Iโll Make You Happy
50 years agoโฆ I wasnโt even born then! But itโs true: it’s 50 years since iconic Australian band The Easybeats hit the UK charts with their timeless pop song Friday On My Mind.
At the end of this week, in celebration of that anniversary, the Rebeat EP will appear, uniting several contemporary Australian bands: Daniel Johns’ Boom Tish project, KLP, LDRU feat. Nicole Millar, San Cisco, and eight-piece The Bamboos.
The latter bandโs contribution, their version of The Easybeatsโ Iโll Make You Happy, features guest vocals from singer-songwriter Jessica Cerro, better known by her stage name Montaigne. The addition of a brass arrangement gives the classic track a soulful vibe to great effect.
This is how a homage should be done, and thatโs why Carte Blanche Music decided upon its own mark of honour to this ode, by pronouncing Iโll Make You Happy by The Bamboos (feat. Montaigne) this weekโs 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 46):
Kira Puru – Tension
Kira Puru is an Australian vocal talent, but more than that. Sheโs a multi-disciplinary artist, hands-on at every level, both on stage and in the studio. Apart from that, sheโs a photographer, visual artist and DJ.
Renowned for her genre-bending style, Kira Puruโs new single isnโt easy to pin down. With its pounding four-to-the-floor beat, fuzzy bass and tremolo guitar, Tension is equal parts funk and soul. In her own words, itโs โgoth discoโ.
One thingโs for sure: itโs groovy from start to finish and I love it! Thatโs why Tension by Kira Puru is featured here prominently this week as the 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.
Wildcard (week 45):
The Presets – Do What You Want
Sydney duo The Presets (Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes) are remixers for acts like Kings Of Leon, Silverchair and Lenny Kravitz, but are also musicians in their own right.
Their latest album Pacifica, which included the great single Promises, among others, ย dates back to 2012. Now, thankfully, thereโs a new sign of life. Do What You Want is The Presetโs new single, and I love the way they announced in on their Facebook: โDo yourself a favour and buy it. Ha ha, just kidding. We know you’re not going to buy it. So stream it, sing it, scream it, feeeel it. We don’t care. Our love for you is unconditional. Do what you want.โ
The track couples a pounding four-to-the-floor beat with a rocky sound and some old-school vocal sampling, resulting in a certified banger that combines the best of LCD Soundsystem and Audio Bullys. Or, as they describe it themselves: โpub rock technoโโฆ
Find out how that sounds via Carte Blanche Music, where Do What You Want is this weekโs Wildcard. Hence it will feature on the blog prominently, only one click away from discoveryโฆ

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 44):
MisterWives – Never Give Up On Me
Anno 2017 MisterWives, that started off as an 80โs cover band, has a nice bundle of original songs under their belt. To me, Our Own House and Machine (a Carte Blanche Music Wildcard early this year) are stand-out tracks in their repertoire, and there obviously is more to come.
After releasing their second album Connecting The Dots only last Spring, the American six-piece wastes no time and already gives us a completely new track. A new highlight in their catalogue, with a guitar riff destined to make audiences jump.
Never Give Up On Me is sure to brighten up Carte Blanche Music this coming week; I added it with love to the ever expanding Wildcards 2017 playlist, featuring the best songs of the year so far!

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 43):
Dagny – Love You Like That
The ways of the music world are inscrutable sometimes. Take Dagny Sandvik. Her debut single Backbeat should have been a huge hit upon its first release in October 2015, after the very credible full-band show she did at Eurosonic Noorderslag in January 2016 or at the latest when it was re-released in May 2016. But somehow, however radio-friendly, her electronic pop didnโt get the media attention it deserved.
True, three of the singerโs singles appeared in the European Border Breakers Chart, but radio support hasnโt yet been broad enough to really set the chart on fire.
Iโm confident her new single will do the trick. Itโs currently at the very doorstep of the EBBC Top 100, with a #1 position in this weekโs Tips by Country chart. Love You Like That is another slice of perfectly crafted commercial dance pop, featuring Dagnyโs silky voice and beautiful harmonies. The dynamic structure of the song keeps it exciting throughout its full 3 minutes.
In other exciting news: the track is this weekโs Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
PS: Dagny, dear: Iโm completely ready for your debut album thatโs over two years in the makingโฆ

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 42):
Childcare – Getting Over You (By Dressing Up Like You)
This British quartet wouldnโt have existed if it wouldnโt have been for six-year-old Katie. Ed Cares was babysitting her when she overheard him humming a song he had written. She persuaded him to form a band, which he did. True storyโฆ
In this light, Childcare is only a fitting name, isnโt it?
And there are more fun facts surrounding this band. How about this one? Guitarist Rich Legate is the son of the guy who designed the โMentosโ font. The other band members are bassist Emma Topolski and drummer Glyn Daniels, by the way.
Childcare are inspired by I Should Coco era Supergrass and Phil Spector produced Motown shakes, which becomes instantly clear when you listen to their latest four to the floor banger Getting Over You (By Dressing Up Like You). Great title, I think, and a beautifully unorthodox approach to moving on from a relationship break-up. True story as well, evidently, but Iโm sure you wouldโve guessedโฆ
But the best true story of โem all: Getting Over You (By Dressing Up Like You) by Childcare features prominently on Carte Blanche Music next week, for itโs the new Wildcard. The latest addition to an already great (play)list!

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 41):
Les Gordons – Let The Music Speak
Upgrade alert: Let The Music Speak by Les Gordons featured here before, but next week Iโll give it the Executive Treatment. I chose the track as the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, all of which you can find in the Wildcards 2017 playlist. Being a Wildcard isnโt just a quality hallmark or a stamp of approval; it means the song features prominently on the blog for one whole week, only one mouse click away for your listening pleasure.
Just a reminder: Les Gordons are a Swedish โmaximum-energy bandโ, and have been dubbed โThe Hives with more popโ. But instead of describing it, Iโd rather Let The Music Speak!

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 40):
Isaac Gracie – Silhouettes Of You
If you like Jeff Buckley and mid-โ90s Radiohead, you donโt want to miss Isaac Gracie. A talented singer-songwriter who is handsome on the outside, but tormented on the inside, and who couples a rusty guitar sound with haunting vocals and an emotional vibrato.
Silhouettes Of You is the new single off his EP The Death Of You And I. Musically, it marks the official start of this yearโs autumn.
We celebrate that a full seven days long, as Isaac Gracieโs Silhouettes Of You is this weekโs 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.
Wildcard (week 39):
The Hunna – Summer
To me, The Hunna (whoโs Piece By Piece and Never Enough already featured here), are one of the best emerging rock bands to come out of the UK lately. In the two years since they were founded, The Hunna delivered a great debut album, which spawned no less than six singles.
Summer is a brand new track already, providing further proof that The Hunna deserve to be the next big thing.
For starters, they score this weekโs Carte Blanche Music Wildcard (all of which you can find in this neat little 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 38):
Rae Morris – Do It
Rachel Anne Morris is a British singer-songwriter who turned 25 early this month. She contributed vocals to albums by Bombay Bicycle Club and Clean Bandit, before launching her own debut album Unguarded. It went on to spawn no less than six singles. One of them, Cold, was a duet with Fryars.
On Morrisโs new single, the two have been working together again. Do It was produced by Fryars. Itโs the second single off her forthcoming album, which is rumoured to be called Someone Out There and will probably be out early next year.
But one thing is for sure: Do It by Rae Morris is this weekโs 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.