Browsing Tag electronic
Wildcard (week 40):
Boo Seeka – Days Get Better
Boo Seeka are an Australian electro-pop duo featuring best friends Ben Gumbleton and Michael May. Their melodic beats and angular rhythms are both accessible and credible.
In their home country, they received praise ever since they broke through with their first single Kingdom Leader in 2015. Two years later, their debut album Never Too Soon resulted in them playing festivals and sold out shows all over the world.
Touring in support of their upcoming second album will be quite a challenge, but the new music is coming anyway. Their sophomore long-player is planned for early 2021, and Days Gets Better is its latest single. Not wasting any time on an intro, it gets to the point straight away. The track is another fine example of the dynamic energy the duo’s music possesses. Somewhere halfway The Weeknd and Twenty One Pilots, this will sound great on (radio) playlists.
This week, Days Gets Better by Boo Seeka is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
In the Wildcards 2020 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Tom Aspaul – Black Country Disco
Tom Aspaul is an artist from The Black Country, an area of the West Midlands in England. Hence the title of debut album: Black Country Disco.
Seven years ago, Aspaul wrote and recorded the track Indiana, which ended up being reimagined by Kylie Minogue as Feels So Good. This kickstarted his career as a songwriter proper. Since then, he also wrote for the likes of AlunaGeorge (Mediator), Little Boots (Working Girl) and Louise (Villain).
Following the end of a long-term relationship, as well as a growing disillusionment with the music industry, Aspaul moved out of London back home to the West Midlands. By writing his debut album, which takes listeners through all of the emotions of a breakup, he found himself again.
The title track, which closes the album, is my favourite song on it. It’s up-beat and uplifting. A happy song with a positive outlook and a clear message: this man is free and he loves it.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Stats – Naturalise Me
13 November, only a year and a half after their debut album Other People’s Lives, Stats put out opus #2. The London-based band’s sophomore record is titled Powys 1999. It was recorded in a residential studio close to where frontman Ed Seed grew up in Powys (Wales). On the album, Seed (vocals, guitar) is joined by Nicole Robson (vocals/keyboards), Stu Barter (vocals/bass), John Barrett (drums), Duncan Brown (guitar), Iso Waller-Bridge (vocals/keyboards) and Ant Whiting (keyboards).
Naturalise Me is the long-player’s first single. It’s a funky, danceable pop song with an industrial, Depeche Mode-like feel to it. The track finds Seed questioning his roots. “Growing up I felt like I didn’t fit in or belong where I was born and raised”, he says. “When it comes to the countryside we often talk about the natural – and by implication the unnatural – as if we are talking about the real, and by implication the fake. I felt somehow fake in Powys as a born incomer, un-local, neither Welsh nor English. But by looking at the landscape, I started to realise the construction and extraction behind it, and the myth of its naturalness.”
Recommended as well:
Stats – The Family Business
Stats – Lose It
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Werner’s Weekly (week 37)
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:
- Red Rum Club – Ballerino (Wildcard this week)
- Sebu with Eraserfase – The Worst That Could Happen To Us (Wildcard last week)
- Delta Spirit – The Pressure
- Gizmo Varillas – Rise
- Lucius – Man In My Radio
- Sarah Wolfe – You Don’t Know Me
- The Score feat. Awolnation – Carry On
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 Aces, Sheppard, and more.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Werner’s Weekly (week 36)
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:
- Sebu with Eraserfase – The Worst That Could Happen To Us (Wildcard this week)
- Archie X – Loud Boy (Wildcard last week)
- Alex The Astronaut – Caught In The Middle
- Altered By Mom – You Can Do What You Want With My Heart, Babe
- Dancer – Dreamer
- Ellur – Alive
- London Grammar – Baby It’s You
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: Billie Joe Armstrong, Dua Lipa, Sheryl Crow, The Smashing Pumpkins, and more.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Wildcard (week 35):
Sebu with Eraserfase – The Worst That Could Happen To Us
In his band Capital Cities, Sebu specialized in banging pop singles. As a commercial jingle composer, he knew how to write a catchy melody. I bet you’ll recognize their hit Safe And Sound.
As a solo artist however, Sebu makes music that impacts on a more emotional level. Both musically, lyrically and visually. His earlier singles The Secret Is Out and Have You Ever Hurt Somebody are great examples of how minimal music can be meaningful music. And his new song takes this concept to the next level.
The Worst That Could Happen To Us, a collaboration with Los Angeles-based producer Eraserfase, is based around a beautiful piano melody, prominent drums and lots of subtle electronic elements. Its lyrics are more in your face though, and so is the video. The clip is entirely made using the famous, 29 seconds short video of a Lebanese bride in Beirut, filmed at the exact moment an explosion destroyed most of the town. Talk about making an impact…
You can stream the song everywhere, obviously. But if you still like to extend your MP3 library, Sebu offers the track for free (and legally) in high quality via his website.
The Worst That Could Happen To Us is this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
Recommended as well:
Sebu feat. Sirusho – Have You Ever Hurt Somebody
Sebu – The Secret Is Out [Lucas Vidal Arrangement]
In the Wildcards 2020 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
London Grammar – Baby It’s You
To me, London Grammar’s 2013 debut single Wasting My Young Years has always remained their finest moment. But it was follow-up track Stronger that really caused their break-through. Both tracks were on the band’s debut album If You Wait.
Since their sophomore album Truth Is A Beautiful Thing from 2017, London Grammar went pretty quiet. Apart from last year’s collaboration with Flume, Let Me Know, new single Baby It’s You is their first release in 3 years’ time. And surprise: it’s not one of the band’s trademark ballads this time!
For Baby It’s You, Hanna Reid, Dan Rothman and Dominic Major worked with British electronic pioneer George FitzGerald. This collaboration resulted in a track with atmospheric verses and beat-laden choruses. Somehow, it reminds me of the vibe of early ‘90s project Deep Forest, especially the title track of their debut album.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Wildcard (week 34):
Archie X – Loud Boy
Debut singles seldomly come any stronger than this. Archie X are a Belgian duo, and their first track is totally exciting. Parts funk and parts jazz, but 100% pop at the same time. Excuse me if I raise the bar too high, but Billie Eilish is a fair reference in my ears.
Last year, Charline D’Hoore took part in Belgian TV talent show The Voice Of Flanders, where she impressed the jury with her version of F.U. by Little Mix. Apart from playing the guitar (like she did in her audition), she also plays the piano and saxophone. Tom Lodewyckx, a musician in bands that accompany talents during TV talent shows, is her musical partner.
Loud Boy is their very first single and a very promising one. I love the kind of confident bass lines it starts with. After a short into, together with Charline’s voice, a simple but effective beat kinks in. What follows, is a rollercoaster of vocal layers, voice effects, changes in tempo, creepy whispering, a jazzy interlude and more.
D’Hoore’s impressive delivery and Lodewyckx’ tight production make for a song with international hit potential. Immediately picked up by Warner Music, it’s up to them to transform this promise into reality (no pressure 😉 ).
For starters, Loud Boy by Archie X is this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, which means it’ll feature prominently at the top of this blog for a whole week.
In the Wildcards 2020 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Werner’s Weekly (week 34)
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:
- Town Of Cats – Lemons (Wildcard this week)
- Altered By Mom – Walking With The Enemy (Wildcard last week)
- Altered By Mom – Better On The Page
- Amy Allen – Difficult
- Fritz – Arrow
- Liela Moss – Turn Your Back Around
- Päter – Sleep
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 Cribs, eels, Tame Impala, Weezer, and more.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Werner’s Weekly (week 33)
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:
- Altered By Mom – Walking With The Enemy (Wildcard this week)
- The Magic Gang – Make Time For Change (Wildcard last week)
- Badflower – 30
- Black Honey – Beaches
- Leoniden – L.O.V.E.
- Lola Lennox – Back At Wrong
- Sycco – Dribble
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: Midnight Oil, Saint Raymond, Yello, and more.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
