Browsing Tag funk
Confidence Man – Try Your Luck
Confidence Man had a jam-packed summer, appearing at European festivals like Pukkelpop (Belgium), Lowlands (the Netherlands), Rock En Seine (France), and Snowtunes and Listen Out (both Great Britain). I myself saw them at Lowlands, where they were one of the stand-out acts to me. The Australian foursome, featuring a male and female singer and a mysterious DJ and drummer, threw a groovy, funky and incredibly danceable party that blew all the attendants away.
Try Your Luck is their latest single. The band says about it: ”If Confidence Man was a country, Try Your Luck would be the national anthem. So hats off, hands on hearts and asses on the dancefloor.”
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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 37)
Welcome to the 1000th post on Carte Blanche Music. It follows the week that was obviously the first after the holidays. New Music Friday counted a huge number of new releases, many of which by ‘high profile’ artists. But, to be honest, a lot of them disappointed me. Since I don’t pretend to serve up a complete list of new songs, and only want to present you with great new music, I added only a convenient amount of tracks to my container playlist Carte Blanche Music. There, you’ll find The Aces, The Cat Empire, Paul McCartney, Nile Rodgers & Chic feat. Craig David & Stefflon Don, Satellite Stories, Paul Weller, and more.
As always on Mondays, the best of the best can be found in Werner’s Weekly, your compass to the music that matters. They’re also available in the Werner’s Weekly player in the sidebar for your listening pleasure. If you want more information about a track, simply click the respective link below:
- Bernhoft & The Fashion Bruises – Humanoid (Wildcard this week)
- Lauren Daigle – Still Rolling Stones (Wildcard last week)
- Brett Dennen – Be Somebody
- Munya – Hotel Delmano
- Spring King – Let’s Drink
- Tash Sultana – Cigarettes
- The Night Game – It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
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.
Tash Sultana – Cigarettes
Since her grandfather gifted a guitar at the age of three, Tash Sultana learned herself to play numerous instruments. Playing open mic nights and busking on the streets of Melbourne, Australia, she developed and perfected her own distinct sound. As a one-woman band, she creates and loops all of the sounds herself, both live and on her debut album, where she plays each of the 15 instruments that are present.
Two years ago, her first single Jungle immediately caught the attention of DJ’s and bookers alike, leading to sold out theatres globally and playing at the world’s biggest festivals. And all of that without an album in sight.
Only last week, her highly anticipated debut long player Flow State was released. Cigarettes is my favourite song on it. An easy-going track, until she ups the tempo after three minutes and a bit. What follows, is an upbeat, funky instrumental part with a delicious guitar solo that could go on forever.
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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 36)
For most of us, the summer holidays are over. If you, too, enjoyed some nice weeks off, you may have a feeling you missed out on a lot of great new music. And indeed, you did 😉.
But catching up is easier than ever these days. I’ve continued to update my ‘best of 2018’ playlist Carte Blanche Music on a daily basis, so if you follow it and sort it by ‘recently added’ (or through the calendar icon on your desktop app), the latest new songs are automatically displayed at the top of the list. You’re welcome!
Last week, I added new music by Jonathan Jeremiah, Muse, Nothing But Thieves, The Struts feat. Kesha, Twenty One Pilots, The Wombats and others. You can find the most recent Wildcards and the other tracks that particularly stood out below. They’re presented in alphabetical order in my ‘best of the best’ playlist Werner’s Weekly, your compass to the music that matters:
- Lauren Daigle – Still Rolling Stones (Wildcard this week)
- Say Lou Lou – Golden Child (Wildcard last week)
- Barns Courtney – “99”
- Eckhardt & The House – Put Me In A Cape
- Joe Bonamassa – Evil Mama
- Oh Pep! – What’s The Deal With David?
- You Me At Six – Back Again
Click the links for more info about each song, and if you can spare 21 minutes, you can listen to six of the above via the Werner’s Weekly player in the sidebar. Joe Bonamassa is missing from the Spotify playlist, simply because it isn’t available on streaming platforms yet. You can check the video instead. Enjoy!
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.
Eckhardt & The House – Put Me In A Cape
The higher the tempo in Eckhardt & The House’s music, the faster their star begins to rise. Good news for them then, that their new single is an up-tempo affair. Their most energetic song to date, to be exact.
In recent months, Eckhardt & The House developed a danceable indie sound, based on elements from pop to avant-garde to disco-funk. However, they managed to turn these influences into a unique sound of their own. Remember their great single If She Cannot Talk? This one is even better.
More than ever, Put Me In A Cape sounds like it’s the eighties all over again, and I’d be the last to vote against that. The song is full of retro ingredients, wrapped in smooth, contemporary production. Not only made for playlists, but sure to become a live staple as well!
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.
Joe Bonamassa – Evil Mama
21 September sees the return of two-time Grammy-nominated blues-rock giant Joe Bonamassa with a brand-new studio album, Redemption. His 13th already, and his most ambitious yet, as he continues to redefine and push the barriers of his repertoire. The album is once again produced by Kevin Shirley, who worked with everyone from Aerosmith and Iron Maiden to The Black Crows and Rush. “From a producer’s perspective, this is far and away the most challenging and diverse album that Joe has ever made,” Shirley says.
Evil Mama is Bonamassa’s new single. It has a great groove, the horns add a touch of funk and the backing vocals make his trademark blues-rock soulful. Not exactly the sound of contemporary hit music, but all the better for it. Timeless class!
The video is the fourth studio performance Bonamassa has issued in the last several weeks, in anticipation of the new album’s release. Similar to the clips for King Bee Shakedown, Molly O and Redemption, Evil Mama presents Bonamassa and his (great!) band performing the song in the recording studio.
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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 35)
In my Carte Blanche Music playlist I keep you up to speed with the best new music that was released this year, so far. Mind you: it doesn’t pretend to give you a full overview of all new releases. On the contrary, I only present you with great new songs. In other words: following my list saves you a lot of time browsing numerous other playlists and listening to songs you probably don’t like… #tipoftheweek 😉
Last week, I added the likes of Dubstar, Plain White T’s, Rea Garvey, Smallpools & The Aces, and Villagers to my container playlist. But if 14 additions are too much for you (no offence), below you’ll find Werner’s Weekly, your compass to the music that matters. If you’re only looking for the best of the best, here they are, alphabetically ordered and preceded by the two latest Wildcards:
- Say Lou Lou – Golden Child (Wildcard this week)
- Cookin’ On 3 Burners feat. Kaiit – Warning (Wildcard last week)
- Áine Cahill – Beauty Is A Lie
- Ed Struijlaart (feat. The Hornaments) – Guitar
- Romes – Out Of It
- Sam Fender – Dead Boys
- Yonaka – Fired Up
As usual, clicking the links provides you with extra information (both serious and fun facts), and you can listen to all seven of the songs via the Werner’s Weekly player in the sidebar. Enjoy!
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.
Ed Struijlaart (feat. The Hornaments) – Guitar
I wrote about talented Dutch singer-songwriter Ed Struijlaart before, when he released his single Make It On Your Own, early this year. Already a rising star in his home country, his music is also starting to be picked up elsewhere in Europe. In Spain, for instance, you can hear his 2016 single Gold in a commercial for San Miguel beer.
Last week, Struijlaart turned 39. Exactly 30 years ago, he got a guitar as a birthday present. An instrument he developed an intensive relationship with: it was there for him when he felt lonely, brought comfort when dear ones passed away, and brought luck when Ed decided to pursue his musical dream. In short: the guitar is the soundtrack of his life.
Now, Guitar is the singer’s new single. An ode to his instrument, that comes with a great horn arrangement, played by Dave Vreuls, Koen Smits, Alex van Abeelen and David Romanello, collectively known as The Hornaments. All other instruments, as well as the production, mixing and mastering (a.k.a. ‘the whole she-bang’) were done by Struijlaart himself, who released the song on his own record label. Now that’s what I call DIY!
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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 34)
What’s the similarity between the brand-new songs by Christine & The Queens, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Janet Jackson & Daddy Yankee, Ladytron, Paul McCartney, The Mowgli’s, Novastar and Suede? The were all added to my constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist, which features only the best new tracks of the year so far. Of course, it features many younger artists as well, like Blossoms, Pale Waves, and a few I’ll introduce to you in the coming week.
But on Mondays, we look back upon last week. Below, you’ll fine the highlights of recent releases in Werner’s Weekly, your compass to the music that matters. If you can spare 23 minutes, you’ll be able to check them all in full through the Werner’s Weekly player in the sidebar. But you can also perform the gentle art of cherry picking by clicking some of the links below:
- Cookin’ On 3 Burners feat. Kaiit – Warning (Wildcard this week)
- Jade Bird – Uh Huh (Wildcard last week)
- Arcade Hearts – Humble
- Broods – Peach
- Sean OB – Trouble
- Sir Notch – Gimme That Sunshine
- The Struts – Primadonna Like Me
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.
Wildcard (week 33):
Cookin’ On 3 Burners feat. Kaiit – Warning
Australian Hammond organ trio Cookin’ On 3 Burners formed in 1997, but got worldwide recognition in 2016, after French DJ Kungs remixed their classic soul track This Girl into a global hit.
Two years later, Cookin’ On 3 Burners release the lead single from their upcoming album Lab Experiments Vol. 2. Warning, which features vocals by 20-year-old Ozzy talent Kaiit, is a funky affair, somewhere halfway The JB’s and The Brand New Heavies. A punchy, hard hitting vocal banger with a great groove, that’s only one mouse click away for a whole week, as it’s the new Wildcard on this blog. You can find of the Carte Blanche Music Wildcards of the year so far in this playlist.
By the way: the instrumental B-side The Jump Off is a treat as well!
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.
