Browsing Tag indie
single track
Public Service Broadcasting – Go! (Live At Brixton)
If you can, go and see Public Service Broadcasting live. Theyâre great. Both the musicians and the âconceptâ. Now donât say âyukâ when I say âconceptâ, will you? Let me explainâŠ
The album The Race For Space is one of the most extraordinary musical projects Iâve encountered the last years. On it, Public Service Broadcasting put impressive historical audio fragments from space documentaries to music. And when they perform it live, they add an extra element: the images that accompany the audio fragments. Itâs incredible how all of those samples (both in sound and vision) melt together with the music.
In November 2015 they staged their show in O2 Brixton Academy where, as an added bonus, they added a choir, strings and horns to the party. The concert was recorded for the 2cd+dvd Live At Brixton, that I highly recommend. To get you in the mood, let me show you the live version of one of my favourites: Go!
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.
single track
Be Charlotte – One Drop
Only 19 years old, Charlotte Brimnerâs musical cv is no less than impressive. Born in Dundee, Scotland she has already been invited to American showcase festival SXSW twice, played at Scotlandâs largest festival T In The Park and just finished a tour in South East Asia. Sheâs not only a talented songwriter, but also a great singer (who raps and beatboxes as well) and a multi-instrumentalist. Even better: she helped to invent some of her own unique musical instruments.
Her new single One Drop is one hell of a catchy pop song. Go and see âthe most exciting emerging artist in agesâ (BBC Radio 1) at Eurosonic Noorderslag in Groningen, the Netherlands if you can, or elsewhere on her upcoming European tour.
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.
single track
The Gift (feat. Brian Eno) – Clinic Hope
Each year, Dutch showcase festival Eurosonic has a âfocus countryâ. This year Portugal is it. One of the Portuguese acts performing in Groningen next week is alt-pop quartet The Gift, consisting of SĂłnia Tavares, Miguel Ribeiro, and brothers Nuno and John Gonçalves. The band formed in 1994 and founded its own label in 1999, thus becoming pioneers of DIY music in Portugal. By 2017, they are one of the most experienced bands of the country.
This spring The Gift release their new album, that was produced by Brian Eno. Clinic Hope, the follow-up to first single Love Without Violins, is out today. The whole video (to be released next week) will be over 6 minutes long, but this trailer cuts it down to 5 seconds:
Thank God the whole song is already on Spotify (the radio edit, that is):
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.
single track
British Sea Power – Bad Bohemian
If you donât know British Sea Power yet, songs like Carrion, Please Stand Up and Waving Flags are a good introduction. Pretty bombastic, eh? I love it. If you liked it too, you can read on.
The good news is: British Sea Power are back. On 31 March they release their new album Let The Dancers Inherit The Party and for those who canât wait, they just dropped the first single Bad Bohemian. Itâs instantly recognisable. Not only because of BSPâs own distinct sound, but also because of the hints of The Cure and New Order that shimmer through. Iâm glad the wait is over!
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.
single track
Twin Peaks – Disappear
A band that names itself after the utterly brilliant TV series âTwin Peaksâ canât be bad. Bold statement, maybe, but these lads prove me right.
Twin Peaks (the band, obviously) are from Chicago and their Facebook bio doesnât leave you guessing about their intentions: âWe like to rock and most certainly love to rollâ. Yeah baby! If you donât believe them, go find out for yourself, theyâll be all over Europe the coming weeks.
Last spring, Twin Peaks released their latest album Down In Heaven. A special version of it came packed with a 7â vinyl single, featuring two songs that are not on the album. This package was available at independent record stores only.
I presume the last copy had just been sold, for only now, over half a year later, the band has been pleased to give it to the masses. In other words: the tracks have finally been made available to a streaming service near you.
The record has a double A side, one of them being I Donât Want To Miss You. Personally, Iâm especially fond of the other track, Disappear, which appears below:
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.
single trackYoung Gun Silver Fox – Lolita
Young Gun Silver Fox – Lolita
Itâs about time Young Gun Silver Fox got their well-deserved break-through. The band consists of âyoung gunâ Andy Platts (of Mamas Gun fame) and producer/multi-instrumentalist Shawn âsilver foxâ Lee. They make classic melodic soulful pop, drenched in sunny harmonies.
Listen to their album West End Coast (the title combines âWest Endâ, the London district where Lee has his studio, with âWest Coastâ, which is an obvious influence for the duo) and you know how that sounds. Or just start your journey with their brand new single, that is not on the album. The follow-up to You Can Feel It, Emilia, Long Way Back and See Me Slumber is entitled Lolita.
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.
single track
Mist – Hey [Little Canyon Session]
Rick Treffers is a Dutch songwriter, singer, guitarist and producer, releasing albums since 1995. His main vehicle is Mist, originally a band consisting of Dutch musicians, but since he relocated to Spain in 2011, Rick surrounds himself with Spanish band members. His songs are full of intimacy and melancholy. Though I love this sound, Iâm especially fond of his tracks that are a little bit more upbeat and that contain a spark of hope. Blame my radio past for that⊠đ .
One of my favourite tracks on Mistâs latest album The Loop Of Love, entitled Hey, has just been re-recorded with the Spanish band, live in the Little Canyon Studios in Valencia. Next month, this version will appear on their next album Underwater, a collection of outtakes from The Loop Of Love, duets, covers, B sides, remixes, you name itâŠ
During this re-recording not only the tape recorder was rolling, but some cameras as well, so you can see the result for yourself:
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.
single track
Giant Rooks – New Estate
New music from Germany, where Giant Rooks are quickly making inroads. The band consists of four guys from the town of Hamm, who just finished school. They only came together in 2014 and started making art pop, as they call it, delivering their first EP The Times Are Bursting The Lines at the end of 2015. The fairy-like track SmÄland in particular gained them a large audience, as you will see if you attend their gig at Eurosonic Noorderslag next week.
One week later, on 20 January, they release their second EP New Estate (digitally as well as on vinyl). The title track is out now as a warming-up.
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.
single track
Lucy Spraggan – Modern Day Frankenstein
Ever since her single Last Night (Beer Fear), where she sounded like a folky Lily Allen, I have a weak spot for Lucy Spraggan. The track originally appeared on her self-released album Top Room At The Zoo (2011) and would have become a huge hit in August 2012 after she played it in her auditions for The X Factor. But⊠the talent show requested the British chart compiler to keep the song off the charts. It is maliciously suggested that the track formed a threat to a single by Little Mix, who would later win the competition (Lucy had to quit her run due to illness). Over a year later Last Night (Beer Fear) was re-released in a new version that appeared on her second album Join The Club.
At the end of this month Lucy asks you to join the club once again, when she releases her fourth album I Hope You Donât Mind Me Writing. Modern Day Frankenstein is the first single and this is the video (caution: blurred middle finger at [0â28]; donât say I didnât warn youâŠ).
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.
single track, wildcard
Deacon Blue – Gone
Iâve been making radio shows for nearly 30 years and Carte Blanche Music is the follow-up to that adventure. Deacon Blueâs career has followed the exact same lines as my radio career. Their first single in the Netherlands, Dignity, was ârecord of the weekâ (âRemschijfâ at the time, âWildcardâ nowadays) in my second radio show, dated 21 June 1987. Also, Deacon Blue has been away for a few years, like I have, but came back strongly (which I wonât claim for myself đ ).
In 2016 the band released their album Believers and Gone was my favourite album track. After I announced my retirement from radio, that track appeared to me to be the ideal final song, given its title and lyrics. (Of course I could also have played their Fellow Hoodlums track Closing Time, but Carte Blanche Radio was about new music only, just like this blog).
When I learned, two weeks ago, that Gone was about to become Deacon Blueâs new single, I made up my mind⊠This song would be the perfect way to close the circle! It became my last ârecord of the weekâ and the very last record on my last show. Case closed đ .
And now it only seems appropriate to open this blog by drawing your attention to this great pop track. Sophisticated pop, to be exact. The genre they handled so well throughout their career and which I love so much. This is the âliveâ videoâŠ
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.
