Carte Blanche Music

Royal Republic – Fireman And Dancer

March 14th, 2019

Royal Republic was formed in 2007 in Sweden. Since then, they’ve been a fixture on my radio playlists. Underwear, Everybody Wants To Be An Astronaut, When I See You Dance With Another, Baby, Uh Huh, Kung Fu Lovin’… I played them a lot (and loud!).

Fireman And Dancer is the band’s addictive new single. Another king-sized tune with riffy guitars, this time complete with a saxophone and a vocal flanger effect that make you wish the 80’s had never left the building. Looking forward to their forthcoming album Club Majesty!

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

rock

single track

S.O.S – Firebrick

March 14th, 2019

Originally born in Malta, 24-year-old Anglo-Maltese singer, songwriter and producer Sophie DeBattista followed her British roots and moved to the UK at the age of 18. Most days, she’s busking with her acoustic guitar on the London Underground. It was here she was spotted by The Mayor of London Culture Chief, who offered her a 3 year scholarship at the ICMP music faculty.

An important part of her studies was the creation of her artist brand S.O.S and the creation of her debut EP Edges Of The Mind. This EP contains the four tracks Sophie released over the past three years, and her new single Firebrick.

She explains about the song, which she wrote and co-produced herself: “Firebrick was inspired by a young woman who I’ve known for many years. The song tells the story of how she hasn’t had the best experiences when it comes to the men in her life. Although she’s been cursed with this bad luck, the silver lining in the narrative is that no matter how bad it’s been and no matter how many men have tried to control or deflate her, she comes back fighting each time.”

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

electronic | indie | pop

single track

Man & The Echo – A Capable Man

March 13th, 2019

When they debuted in 2016 with their eponymous debut album (including the great single Distance Runner), Man & The Echo called their music ‘radical pop’. They claim to make the music they like best themselves, which happen to be tunes with a political message. In that respect, nothing changed since then…

The Warrington working-class heroes’ biting new single is called A Capable Man. Sparse and angular in its arrangement, it brings back memories of Roxy Music and early Franz Ferdinand. Lyrically, it’s a smouldering takedown of the wealthy middle-aged white male stereotype. Written by capable songwriters, performed by capable musicians.

Man & The Echo are currently producing their forthcoming album Men Of The Moment with Raf Rundell (The 2 Bears). A Capable Man is the first single off it.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

indie | pop | rock

single track, wildcard

Wildcard (week 11):
Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles

March 13th, 2019

Ever since his early single Greasy Spoon, I’ve been a fan of Sam Fender. I’m sure you will be soon as well (if you’re not already), for his singles keep getting better and better. And that’s not all, he is also embrace by ever larger live audience all over Europe. Last summer, I witnessed his show at the Lowlands festival, which was overwhelming, both for the crowd and Sam and his band. This show got his single Dead Boys some well-deserved extra media attention.

Step by step, Fender’s star is rising, so Hypersonic Missiles is a very appropriate title for his new single. The track is as catchy as can be, and even features a Clarence Clemons-like sax. There’s absolutely nothing not to like in this song. Likely to become an interstellar success, Carte Blanche Music launches Hypersonic Missiles as the new Wildcard!

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

pop | rock

single track

Anthony James – The Biggest Thrill

March 12th, 2019

Anthony James is an Australian-born Londoner, who debuted last year with his EP Pursuit Of Happiness. The songs on it typically include irresistible rhythms, catchy, bittersweet hooks and driving guitar lines. He brand-new single is no different.

The Biggest Thrill is a funky, upbeat track on the surface but has an underlying sadness. It tells a story of lust and addiction with raunchy tones that will leave the listener with a hunger for more. Worth checking out, especially if you’re a fan of Beck, Phoenix and Mark Ronson.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

funk | indie | pop

single track

Barrie – Darjeeling

March 12th, 2019

I’m looking forward to Happy To Be Here, the first full album of Brooklyn five-piece Barrie. In 2018, they released their debut EP Singles, which included the five singles they had put out so far. Last month, this was followed by brand-new track Clovers, and hot on its heels, Barrie Lindsay’s band just came up with Darjeeling. Another smart, easy on the ear, well-produced song, but not too slick.

Barrie’s full-length debut is due out on 3 May.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

indie | pop

single track

Red Box – This Is What We Came For

March 11th, 2019

If you’re as old as I am, you may remember British band Red Box from their hits Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo) (1985) and For America (1986), both of which were included on their debut album The Circle And the Square. There was a gap of 20 years between their second long-player (1990) and third album (2010). The latter was particularly successful in Poland, where its two singles were huge radio hits.

Fast forward to 2019: Red Box are currently finishing their fourth studio album Chase The Setting Sun, due for release sometime soon. This Is What We Came For is the first single off it.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

pop

werner's weekly

Werner’s Weekly (week 11)

March 11th, 2019

This is Werner’s Weekly, your compass to the music that matters, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:

Indigo – Distant Lullaby (Wildcard this week)
Sundara Karma – Little Smart Houses (Wildcard last week)
Alphabeat – Shadows
Hatchie – Without A Blush
SWMRS – Lose Lose Lose
The Lighthouse – Tel Aviv
The Pale White – Medicine

Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Werner’s Weekly player below.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: The Black Keys, Cage The Elephant, George Ezra, Sam Fender, The Kooks, and many more.

electronic | indie | pop | rock

single track

The Japanese House – You Seemed So Happy

March 8th, 2019

It has been quite some time in the making, but after four EP’s, British singer-songwriter Amber Bain finally released the debut album of her musical alias The Japanese House. That name was inspired by a cottage in Devon, owned by actress Kate Winslet, where Bain spent a week during a childhood trip.

Her full-length debut, Good At Falling, is a good old break-up album, which Bain wrote after her relationship with Marika Hackman collapsed. Every tune on the album describes the relationship and break-up from a different perspective, making it a painfully personal collection of songs. And a beautiful collection as well.

One of my favourite tracks on the album is You Seemed So Happy. A radio friendly, musically light and uplifting song. But although it’s meant to sound happy, its lyrics reflect the darkness that actually lies within many of us.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

indie | pop

album track

SWMRS – Lose Lose Lose

March 8th, 2019

SWMRS (but you can call them ‘Swimmers’) are a young punk rock band from Oakland, California. When they formed, in 2004, the four guys – Cole Becker (vocals), Max Becker (guitar, vocals), Joey Armstrong (drums) and Seb Mueller (bass) – were 10-year-olds. They released their debut album in 2011, and their fourth long-player Berkeley’s On Fire came out last month.

There’s a bit of the Ramones about SWMRS, and a bit of Green Day as well. Joey is Green Day frontman Billie Joe’s son, you know? But on this new album, their sound has been enriched with contemporary electronic elements, giving their songs a more modern feel. One of the standout tracks on the album for instance, the energetic Lose Lose Lose, comes with an added breakbeat-like foundation. Win win win, as far as I’m concerned.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

rock

123 4 5

Twitter

Facebook

Royal Republic – Fireman And Dancer

S.O.S – Firebrick

Man & The Echo – A Capable Man

Wildcard (week 11):
Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles

Anthony James – The Biggest Thrill

Barrie – Darjeeling

Red Box – This Is What We Came For

Werner’s Weekly (week 11)

The Japanese House – You Seemed So Happy

SWMRS – Lose Lose Lose

Wildcard (week 12)

Werner’s Weekly (week 12)

Spotify playlist

Social Media

Subscribe via email

Categories

Twitter

Facebook

Wildcard (week 12)

Werner’s Weekly (week 12)

Spotify playlist

Social Media

Subscribe via email

Categories

Tags

Privacy Overview

Strictly Necessary Cookies