Browsing Tag rock
Werner’s Weekly (week 38)
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:
- ONR (feat. Nile Rodgers) – Kill TV (Wildcard this week)
- Red Rum Club – Ballerino (Wildcard last week)
- Baxtr – Feathers
- Lova – One Day Left
- Monowhales – All Or Nothing
- San Mei – Midnight
- The Radar Station – Zanzara [2020 Version]
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: Bruce Springsteen, Dua Lipa, Janelle Monáe, The Killers feat. k.d. lang, New Order, 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.
The Wannadies – Can’t Kill The Musikk
The Wannadies are a swindie (Swedish indie) band from Skellefteå. They were very successful in the UK for a few years, following their 1995 breakthrough single You And Me Song. It was one of very few songs by non-British bands that made an impression on Britpop lovers in Great Britain. It’s still a cult classic and a favourite tune at many a wedding.
18 years after their last album Before & After, The Wannadies make a surprise return with the joyful new single Can’t Kill The Musikk. They started working on the song in 2002 as part of the recording sessions for their next album. Alas, they broke up before it was finished.
18 September, Before & After will be re-released on vinyl. The first run (500 pieces) comes with a bonus 7”. This contains the recently finished Can’t Kill The Musikk, and a live recording of My Home Town, appropriately recorded in Skellefteå.
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.
Eelke – Leech
Eelke (pronounced as ‘ail-kuh’) the first name of Dutch singer, songwriter, producer and guitarist Eelke Ankersmit. He recorded his new music with Stijn van Rijsbergen, Johan Huttinga, Wouter Verschoor and Joost le Feber. Don’t bother trying to pronounce those names 😉.
After graduating with distinction from the Amsterdam academy of music, Eelke started writing and releasing songs. National radio picked them up nicely. His upcoming EP Mirror is a great leap forward. First single Leech is a good example of the way he combines indie-rock with vulnerability.
The Smiths, Ryan Adams and The Cure are some of his influences, but particularly fans of Radiohead circa the mid-‘90s will be delighted.
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.
Smarts – Cling Wrap
Good old punk never dies. Just ask Smarts, an Aussie band comprised of members of Ausmuteants, Parsnip and The Living Eyes. Mid-October, they’ll launch their debut album Who Needs Smarts Anyway? Good question, in the best punk tradition.
The long-player, recorded in just one weekend, contains 13 tracks. Four of those are re-recorded versions of the tracks on the band’s 2018 EP Smart World, which was recorded by the band’s Billy Gardner (bass, vocals) and Mitch Campleman (guitar). Since then, drummer Jake Robertson, synth player Sally Buckley and saxophonist Stella Rennex were added to the line-up.
A saxophonist? Yes, that’s right. Smarts deliver fast-paced, sax-fuelled punk. That already sounds wicked on paper, so wait ‘til you hear the music for yourself. Cling Wrap is the band’s new single. A raucous, playful, tight, thrilling, dynamic adrenaline rush, which clocks in at just under 2 minutes. Just like a good punk song should.
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.
Yukon Blonde – You Were Mine
Canadian indie rock outfit Yukon Blonde are about to release their fifth studio album. Vindicator will be out on 13 November. You Were Mine is the latest single to be put out ahead of it.
A song with two faces, it starts with a driving drum beat and lyrics that bring Wide Open Space by Mansun to mind (which is never a bad thing). After a minute however, the tempo is halved and psychedelic elements are brought in. The last two minutes, the band put the pedal to the metal again. Quickly revolving piano notes and hi-hats create the impression of even more speed (in more ways than one).
Although it’s way less eclectic than Tame Impala’s Let It Happen, I hear the same kind of atmosphere in it.
Recommended as well:
Yukon Blonde – Too Close To Love
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 38):
ONR (feat. Nile Rodgers) – Kill TV
Robert Shields was born in Scotland, where he started making music in his early teens. He learned to play the piano and made himself conversant with song-writing. Soon, it became clear he’s a talented singer-songwriter, multi instrumentalist, and producer. But even though he was offered record deals by multiple labels, he decided to perfect his skills first. In the process, he wrote loads of songs and toured with the likes of Bastille.
As an artist, Shields calls himself ONR, and in my ears, Kill TV is his master piece so far. The track, which he describes as ‘anarchic’ and ‘incredibly aggressive’, touches on the subject of media and social media and just how toxic it can be to us. It features Nile Rodgers‘ unmistakable guitar licks, Bastille’s Chris Wood on drums and was mixed by acclaimed producer Mark ‘Spike’ Stent (Madonna, Coldplay, Florence & The Machine, Muse, and many more).
Kill TV came to be when ONR was at a songwriting camp at Abbey Road Studios. That’s where he met Nile Rodgers. When Corona ruined ONR’s plans to release an EP and go on tour, he wrote this track in his home studio in Scotland. He sent it to Rodgers, who loved it so much that he immediately laid down the guitar tracks.
In a world of justice, Kill TV would be ripping apart radios (and television sets) all over the globe. In the world we currently live in, ONR has to settle with my choice to make it this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. For now, that is. For I’m convinced in the end justice will prevail.
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.
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.
The Radar Station – Zanzara [2020 Version]
If you think 2020 is a strange year, remember The Radar Station had two of those years in a row. In 2019, they were forced to change their then band name Sun Gods, just before releasing their first album. As The Radar Station, they re-recorded some of their earlier singles and continued working on their debut. In the process, they won ‘De Nieuwe Lichting 2020’, a band competition on Studio Brussel.
The support of the Belgian alternative pop radio station would have helped propel The Radar Station into the world. However, shortly after winning the competition, COVID-19 changed everything. Most of the promotional plans had to be cancelled, but the band proved creative in keeping their fans engaged. Now that their album Life Inside A Tornado has finally seen the light, we can conclude it’s been worth the wait.
The album title was taken from the lyrics of Zanzara and After The Tornado (two totally different versions of the same song). The band explain: “The lyrics of this song were based on a quote by the Dalai Lama: “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito in the room.” We found this reassuring and befitting of our own outlook on life. So try to be a mosquito, but less annoying if possible.”
The re-recorded version of Zanzara, already a single in early 2019, still is one of my favourite songs on the album. A great slice of ‘big music’, channelling Peter Gabriel and Simple Minds, while adding contemporary elements of new musical heroes like The War On Drugs and Editors. Well worth a re-release as a single!
Recommended as well:
The Radar Station – The Giant
The Radar Station – Subtle Science [2020 Version]
Sun Gods – Zanzara
Sun Gods – Subtle Science
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.
Baxtr – Feathers
Earlier this summer, I was more than slightly enthusiastic about Baxtr’s debut single Bloom. With the release of its follow-up, Feathers, they prove there’s more where that was coming from.
Hailing from London, Baxtr are an all-female power pop trio in true DIY spirit. Floss Mackintosh (vocals, guitar), Bash Powers (guitar, keys, backing vocals) and Keiko Jackson (drums, backing vocals) formed the band only months ago.
In a society obsessed with presentation and perfection, Feathers is a first-pumping empowerment anthem about shamelessly celebrating your unique beauty. Its message is meant for anyone who feels like they have to hide or change their appearance for fear of judgement or worse. It comes with great artwork as well 😉
Expect these strong women to take over (streaming and radio) playlists sooner rather than later.
Recommended as well:
Baxtr – Bloom
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.
Temples – Paraphernalia
“I’d always been a fan of the band. Had seen them play some pretty great shows over the years. When I first heard the demo for Paraphernalia I knew they had a great tune.”
These are the words of Sean Ono Lennon, who produced Temples’ new single. It was mixed by Dave Fridmann (Tame Impala, MGMT, OK Go).
Speaking of the inspiration behind the track, Temples’ lead singer James Bagshaw says, “In an age of constant distraction, we all strive to find focus and a sense of calm. Paraphernalia questions the depth of ‘real’ connections in a digital world.”
Since Dutch drummer Rens Ottink entered the band, they’re a quartet. Fun fact: Rens comes from a musical family. His brother Chiel Ottink (who performs as Thomas Berge) is a popular Dutch folk singer.
Recommended as well:
Temples – You’re Either On Something
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.
