Browsing Tag ska
Werner’s Weekly (week 45)
Before the digital revolution, release strategies in the music business were clearly structured; the big-shot artists all came up with new material in October and November, well-placed to fully benefit from the tradition of exchanging presents at Christmas. The start of each new year was the best moment for emerging artists to drop new music, as the established ones had already shot their bolt in the months before.
However, things have changed since the arrival of – especially – the streaming platforms. They lowered the bar to put out music to a potentially worldwide audience, causing a diarrhoea of releases throughout the year, particularly on New Music Fridays. Personally, I love it, but the downside is, that we’re now in a situation of quantity over quality…
This is where Carte Blanche Music comes in! Each week, I listen to as many new songs as I can, but I only add the best tracks to my Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist. Those additions are then narrowed down into my alphabetically ordered ‘best of the best’ list Werner’s Weekly, which is your compass to the music that matters.
This week’s edition is below, with links to my original recommendations. You can listen to the songs via the Werner’s Weekly player in the sidebar.
- The Proclaimers – Then It Comes To Me (Wildcard this week)
- Isaac Gracie – Show Me Love (Wildcard last week)
- Arthur Adam – O
- Clean Cut Kid – Emily
- Club Drive – Satisfied
- Reel Big Fish – You Can’t Have All Of Me
- Roads To Roam – Believe
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 Charts.
Reel Big Fish – You Can’t Have All Of Me
At the end of the 80’s, Fishbone were one of the earliest ska punk bands. They were a real treat live. The 90’s gave us acts like No Doubt, Reel Big Fish, Smash Mouth and Rancid, but the last two centuries, hardly any ska punk band achieved mainstream success anymore. Wouldn’t it be great to have a ska punk revival?
Maybe Reel Big Fish can lead the way again. Probably best-known for their early singles Sell Out, She Has A Girlfriend Now and a-ha cover Take On Me, the band have never really been away. But their new single You Can’t Have All Of Me is their best in recent memory. Back to the old days, in a good way. Even better: a new album, Life Sucks… Let’s Dance, is announced for December. Party on, dudes!
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 Charts.
España Circo Este – Lo Stomaco E Il Bullone
An Italian band with Argentinian roots. So, it’s completely logical that their music is a red hot melting pot. ‘Tango punk’, they call it themselves. More specifically, España Circo Este mixes rock, ska, latin and Balkan music. You can think of them as Mano Negra for a new generation.
After over 500 shows, the band are tight like a sweater when playing live. But don’t believe my word for it, just go and see for yourself. There are plenty opportunities the coming months.
Hot on the heels of their current tour they will release their second album Scienze Della Maleducazione. An album that will be danceable as ever, but with more of a punky edge. Excellent festival material! The first single gives a good impression of what to expect…
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 Charts.
Werner’s Weekly (week 10)
It’s impossible for me to write about all good music that comes out each week. So I must make a selection for this blog. With a few exceptions to the rule, I usually choose brand new artists to feature on Carte Blanche Music, tracks that you probably haven’t heard yet, and that would run the risk of passing by unnoticed if I wouldn’t place them on a pedestal.
But there is so much more… Thankfully, there is Spotify. My Carte Blanche Music playlist has enough room to feature all great new tracks that appear each week. Not only by brand new acts, but also by more established artists like Little Steven, Bush, Lorde, DJ Premier, Di-Rect and Spoon. All of them great acts, with great new songs. Subscribe to that playlist and you’ll never miss any good new music anymore. Promised!
Which brings me to this week’s alphabetically sorted list of my most highly recommended tracks: Werner’s Weekly (which you can subscribe to as well, of course). Listen to these eight songs via the Werner’s Weekly player in the sidebar and read my recommendations by clicking the links.
- San Fermin – No Promises (this week’s Wildcard)
- MisterWives – Machine (last week’s Wildcard)
- Banner. – Compass
- Disciples – On My Mind
- Dreadzone – Area Code
- Groenland – Healing Suns
- Kid Francescoli – The Player
- The Curious Incident – Honey Hunger
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 Charts.
Dreadzone – Area Code
In 1993, former members of Big Audio Dynamite (who were in The Clash before) founded a new band: Dreadzone. They redefined dub by mixing it with elements of dance, rock, folk and breakbeat, gradually building a reputation as an energetic and powerful live act.
Existing for over two decades, the band just released its eighth studio album Dread Times and this is my favourite track on it: Area Code. It features 90’s ragga duo Louchie Lou & Michie One (best known for their hit Shout from 1993) and sounds a little like an updated version of The Selecter’s On My Radio.
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 Charts.
