February 2013 – BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

BILLCS Top 30 #399 – February 25/13

The belated appearance of my personal chart this week finds some recent arrivals zipping into the upper reaches. You can view the full Top 30 using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here. You can hear all of the songs on the chart or watch their videos by clicking on the pics on the chart page. Any free downloads that are identified are sanctioned by the performer. There’s always a tiny place at the bottom of the blog post with tags and the statement “Leave A Comment” – please feel free to do so

Toronto group River Tiber score their second #1 on my chart with “The City”, which displaces Matthew Koma’s “1998” to #2 after Matthew’s 5 chart (10 week) lock on #1 with that song and “Parachute”. River Tiber keep getting more great local gigs in Toronto, at The Drake Hotel again (where they scored majorly on January 3) and tomorrow night at The Horseshoe Tavern. They’ll also be playing The Annex Live on March 23 during Canadian Music Fest (I’ll remind you again about that). Tommy Paxton-Beesley recently dropped a new River Tiber video for another song from their album Synapses (still available as a free download), this time for “The Star Falls”. Watch below.

Scoring another #1 Dance Club Play hit again is Zedd with British singer Foxes on “Clarity”, which moves up to #3. Another killer dance track that the rest of the world hasn’t really got to know yet is “A World Apart” by DJ/producer Davis Redfield, which climbs to #5. Sandwiched in-between is one of the coolest club tracks you will hear that I can’t stop talking about. With a deep house rework of Baby Bash’s “Suga Suga”, Canadians Kwik Fiks & Bongiovanni climb 24-4 with “Lifted”. Download it for free and give a listen below.

The Wallflowers’ “Reboot The Mission” climbs to #8, becoming their first Top Tenner here since I began the chart in 1998. However “One Headlight” was my #1 song of 1997 so I’m well acquainted with the diverse styles of Jakob Dylan and his band. I’m particularly impressed by the production and vocal arrangement on this song. The song seems to be everywhere now (including “Glee”), but “Let Me Love You” by Ne-Yo rises to #9. Those Lawson lads managed another Top 20 placing in the UK with “Learn To Love Again”, arguably their best song to date. It climbs to #11 on the chart. Alas, no North American release in sight yet… Another huge mover on the chart is “Sail Into The Sun” by Gentlemen Hall, up 25-15 – a song you won’t be able to escape for the months to come thanks to impressive inclusion in a Samsung smart camera commercial. Hopefully this exposure will hasten the release of a new album. Great songs to be heard! Listen below and get it for free from the band’s website when you tweet about it.

Other songs still on the rise include those by Mika (and I got a ticket for his April 5 show here 🙂 ), Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z, River Tiber (“Reverie”), The Presets, Passion Pit (“Carried Away”, video below), AVAN LAVA, and Depeche Mode.

I’ve already written about our new arrivals recently. “Lay Your Love On Me” by UK singer James William is just darn near impossible to get out of your head with its crisp pop sound that may have more of an American bent than a British one. The song debuts at #28. You can get it for free through Tweet For A Track and you can hear it below. The other two debuts both belong to FrankMusik. You can read all about my musings on his EP Far From Over with its nifty Brink Magazine spread to great effect. First single “Map” bows at #19 and the rollicking “Captain” is sharp on deck at #24. Hear both songs below and download them for free from FrankMusik’s website.

They’re Back!: Justin Timberlake, Semi-Precious Weapons, Baby Bash (with Miguel), and UK singer Charlie Brown

Justin Timberlake, “Mirrors”

For the next several months, Justin Timberlake is going to be everywhere, as would anyone who has a huge machine behind him to make as much happen as possible. I think he’s going to need all of that exposure, too. The 20/20 Experience, his third album and first in seven years, will need to bring it in more ways than you can slice it. I really like the debut single “Suit & Tie”, but it hasn’t gone over the top, and instead is taking second fiddle to “Harlem Shake” and Rihanna’s “Stay” among others. With a more straight-forward vocal, as we’ve heard in the past on songs like “Cry Me A River” and “What Goes Around…Comes Around”, “Mirrors” is definitely playing to his core audience, which is now seven years older, plus his *N Sync fans, who are now 10 years older. He can croon anything beautifully, but really how exceptional is “Mirrors”? Like “Suit & Tie”, it’s nothing if not solid. Unlike key songs from FutureSex/LoveSounds (my favourite album of 2006, and “SexyBack” was my #1 song of that year), neither song is a game changer. I’m crossing my fingers for some surprises within The 20/20 Experience.

Semi-Precious Weapons, “Aviation High”

I was wondering what Justin Tranter and the boys from NYC were up to after their high profile openings for Lady GaGa on the Monster Ball tour in 2009-10. The band long preceded those gigs with high energy rock ‘n roll shows full of crazy antics which led to the release of their first record We Love You in 2008. So now heading towards releasing their third record, this time through Epic Records, we find a more melodic, softer and soulful sound in “Aviation High”, released earlier this week and still available as a free download on Soundcloud (below). “Aviation High” is definitely more of a group effort but with a big, anthemic quality should sound great in concert. I’m thinking that the best (and more insane and more adventurous) songs are to come. While some fans may scratch their heads at this one, I think Semi-Precious Weapons are just about to take things to the next level.

Baby Bash featuring Miguel, “Slide Over”

It seems somewhat coincidental given my recent raves over “Lifted” by my fellow Canadians Kwik Fiks & Bongiovanni (which is essentially a cover of Baby Bash’s “Suga Suga”) that I happened to discover Baby Bash’s recent song and video, which now appears in this space. 10 years after “Suga Suga” perhaps lightning will strike twice, thanks to the featured vocal by another sweet-voiced singer, recent Grammy winner Miguel (and I’m a huge recent fan of his album Kaleidoscope Dream after his Grammy performance last week). Certainly Miguel’s fans will appreciate this pairing with a soft rap song that still has enough spike from Baby Bash to rise above the rest. This one deserves a shot.

Charlie Brown, “On My Way”

UK blue-eyed soul singer Charlie Brown first came to my attention in 2009 after appearing with a positively sweet vocal in an edgy piece of rap by Wiley called “The Rain”. He then dropped a mixtape (O.M.S. – from it I still play “Don’t Make Me Over” regularly) which epitomized UK soul at the time, and made him one of my 10 Performers To Watch in 2010. The powers that be then decided to try and re-market him as Charlie King, and then he fell off my radar. Now he’s back – as Mr. Brown – with a fine, slick piece of pop/soul that could do some big damage to start in the UK, “On My Way”. Can’t wait till a full album which will tell us what he’s been up to.

Winter Popervescence #3: Pop Gets Smeared by ‘Kiss My Lipstick Off’, plus Willy Moon, Bim, Ryan Silverman, Matthew Kurz, Kim Smith, James William, and Brendan Maclean

I’m getting in my Popervescence dibs while it’s still Winter with lots of great songs to warm you up…

Kiss My Lipstick Off (compilation)

The creators of 2011’s sensational Ballroom Remixed album are back with another compilation set for some real razzle dazzle. All kinds of pop gets smeared by Kiss My Lipstick Off, which naturally focuses on some mighty talented ladies. Like any other compilation, not all of the songs work as well as others, but the fact that so many do means that it’s worth your precious dollars. The songs vary from pure upbeat pop and electronica to those that have a more serious bent about them.

Give me dirty, grimy disco any day with a deep synth line, and here it comes in the form of “XTC” by lovely Liz Primo, who gave us some Hallowe’en tinged fun last year with “The Devil In Me”. “XTC” is for the late night dance crowd and would make a sensationally sexy mashup with 90’s hit “A Little Bit Of Ecstasy” by Jocelyn Enriquez. Georgia Haege’s title song is quite the tease that will instantly grab pop radio listeners’ ears with its Eurotastic rhythm and Kylie-esque vocal. “You Can Always Come Home” is lighter, lyrical fare whose melody recalls another Kylie song – “The Locomotion” – albeit slowed down. Producer Stormby has paired with singer Roz for “Twisted”, which also gets its sexy on.

I was already pre-disposed to the grandeur that is “Yesterday’s Tomorrows” by the lovely Jane Badler, which reached #8 on my chart last year. Stormby is also in the picture here – the version of the song is his “Drama” remix which throws the into stage musical mode. And Nathalie Archangel’s “Next To Me” is back in a new and much improved Ricardo Autobahn Electropop version, such a delight of a simple song set to help relaunch Nathalie’s new album Raven 25 years after her debut release. Martha Wash did it recently too, so Nathalie is in great company.

Four of the songs already have videos, and you can watch those by Spray (animated video), Nathalie, Jane, and Georgia (featuring comedian Stevieweevie) below. Hats off to the singers and creators for an impressive release.

Willy Moon, “My Girl”

I give Willy Moon a lot of credit for blending current electro-pop with a variety of 50’s and 60’s approaches – mainly having to do with fashion, hobbies (billiards, bowling), and short, short songs. His iPod theme “Yeah Yeah” recently got to #2 on my chart – bested only by songs by Matthew Koma. His debut album Here’s Willy Moon is on its way to us on April 1 and it’ll be preceded by another brief but big-sounding pop blast as the next single, “My Girl”. Willy’s got a niche all his own right now and I can see many people finding it very attractive. Listen to “My Girl” below as well as a sampler of the upcoming album.

Bim, “Lady In Red”

Ironically, “Lady In Red” originator Chris de Burgh (a singer frequently on my turntable from mid-70s to mid-80s) has a new record out, so it’s an unlikely tribute to the song that finds UK duo (and one of My 13 Performers To Watch For ’13) putting their own spin on the classic 1986 hit for Valentine’s Day. If it was a straight cover I don’t think it would work and purists would complain. So by making it a duet and changing the tempo, Bim doesn’t take anything away from the original at all, has fun with it, and allows it to offer up its own share of delights. Watch below and download the song for free from Bim’s website.

Ryan Silverman, “If Only In My Mind”

In between stints on Broadway, current “Passion” star Canadian-born Ryan Silverman has been dropping videos that I’m hoping will ultimately extend to a full album release for this multi-talented guy. “If Only In My Mind”, like Ryan’s last video “The Crossing Tree”, is a co-write from Ryan in which the director delights in taunting Ryan as to whether or not his relationship in the video is real or not. Watch below and pick up tickets for “Passion” if you happen to be in New York City 🙂

Matthew Kurz, “Dancing On My Own” (Robyn cover)

He hasn’t officially released anything new yet in 2013, but American singer/songwriter Matthew Kurz, another of my 13 Performers To Watch For ’13, has been busy with viral covers, the best of which recently has been his acoustic take on Robyn’s beloved “Dancing On My Own”. His diverse voice gives this rendition a genuine and gentle appeal all its own. Listen below.

Kim Smith, “Jealous” (Vibekingz Remix)

It’s getting closer! The long awaited release of Australian-born New York City-based cabaret singer Kim Smith’s pop album Nova is almost here. Although it wasn’t what I expected to usher in its release, this Vibekingz remix of “Jealous”, with a fantastic dubsteppy break, is about to charge full steam ahead through dance club doors with intent on slaying audiences worldwide. Listen below, and don’t say you weren’t warned.

James William, “Lay Your Love On Me”

James William appears to be the new name for Manchester-based James Hutchinson, who has been performing in the UK and Germany for the last 10 years in different settings. Another multi-talent, James looks poised to break out with a contemporary male pop sound in “Lay Your Love On Me”. This could easily be a companion piece to the likes of Chris Wallace, Matthew Koma, and Kyle Patrick, who have continued to grace these blog pages and my chart. Like them, James has an immediately identifiable voice and the song itself is pure ear candy. Thanks to EQ Music Blog for the tip – you can get this song for free via Tweet For A Track, or you can listen to it below. Like me, I expect you will listen to this one over and over again once you hear it.

Brendan Maclean, “Stupid”

It has taken me a number of viewings, but I think I finally get it. Australian singer/dancer/actor Brendan Maclean’s video for his new song “Stupid” portrays him in a Mika-esque mode while emotions fly around the room – the singer performing his song and parading around the room; the balloons and “Congratulations” sign still up long after everyone has left; the lone other guest clearly heartbroken despite Brendan performing and whatever has just transpired. This is a promising start for the singer who will appear in the upcoming Baz Luhrmann film “The Great Gatsby” and is highly endorsed by fellow Aussie Darren Hayes, which speaks volumes. Watch below – be prepared to be mesmerized into unexpected deeper thought.

I leave you with the artwork for the just-announced FrankMusik album, titled Between, due on April 1.

Download Far From Over, FrankMusik’s Brilliant New Record

It doesn’t take more than a few listens to realize that FrankMusik has taken a wild path to carve out the latest journey in his music career, arriving with his four song EP Far From Over, in anticipation of a full album release later this year. It’s a leap frog back to his uncompromising style of irreverent electronica that began with Complete Me in 2009 and took a sidestep towards more contemporary pop with Do It In The AM in 2011. But often more than not, the music that he released online for free before and after that last album told the stories which seemed to be stifled by record company disagreements and personal woes.

“Pop, to me, is anything that is mindful of its audience and has an intended structure that is based around deliberate melodic hooks and production techniques.” – FrankMusik

The new four song EP is nothing short of crackerjack. Frequently awash in glimmering, layered synths and effects, the vibrant melodies are led by Vincent Frank’s on-target voice and interesting and often cutting lyrics that are a release from the recent past. Brink Magazine‘s Anais Vaillant had the opportunity to interview FrankMusik in January for Brink’s February/March 2013 edition currently available. She didn’t have to ask many questions for an eager Vince to answer and elaborate further. Read the outstanding interview “The Reinvention of FrankMusik” starting on page 27.

“Inspiration only passes over me when I let the sky fall down on top of me.” – FrankMusik

Vince had already previewed “Captain”, and its frenetic but not chaotic pace keeps your ears glued while you try to keep up. “Map” is the song that sounds off the most, and as the single, it’s a great choice with a particularly accessible melody and rhythm that should find favour in dance clubs (yes, I can’t wait for remixes!). “Thank You” gravitates more towards pop in a gloriously upbeat kiss-off, while the inspiring “The Line” recalls British pop especially from the 70s and early 80s where you could sometimes find entertaining spoken interludes that work well. I can completely relate to the words.

“I want a generation of self-sufficient artists to come up with a definitive sound and style that is truly theirs.” – FrankMusik

I think that Far From Over is about to be an important catalyst for FrankMusik in his current mode as a newly independent performer striving to show that the music industry is made of more than record label-made successes. That he could likely make his mark doing so is impressive – after reading the Brink interview, I can picture him giving a keynote speech at a music conference one day. And it’s exciting to watch everything unfold through the social media. It is like being part of the project where fans and music lovers are taken seriously, allowing the genius and creativity of FrankMusik to flourish into fruition. Far From Over is a record I’ll be playing frequently throughout 2013.

One of the best things you could do in February is to download FrankMusik’s Far From Over for free with an email subscription. While you’re at it, feel free to make a donation to OXFAM. And listen to “Map” below, sung in Japanese!!

SPECIAL THANKS to Brink Magazine for connecting with me to help share their terrific interview with FrankMusik, and for their permission in using excerpts from their feature in this blog post.

FrankMusik “Map” (via Perez Hilton)

Seeing as how I mentioned its imminent release in last night’s blog, you can now listen to FrankMusik’s stunningly upbeat and cutting “Map” through the website of none other than Perez Hilton. I’m sure there’s a story behind this that will be told soon though perhaps Vince didn’t expect this kind of immediate promotion. Nonetheless, no one is going to argue if Perez is happy to to hear a new song from FrankMusik, and his EP Far From Over drops on Thursday. Click on the link below to hear the song through Perez’s site.

FrankMusik “Map”

Vince also posted a pic of the keyboard set up where he recorded Far From Over on Facebook:

BILLCS Top 30 #398 – February 11, 2013

The news on my latest chart is about all of the new songs that look like they will take over within the next few weeks, along with a few asides into songs not on the chart by FrankMusik and (a cover by) Neverest. Exciting! You can view the full Top 30 using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here. You can hear all of the songs on the chart or watch their videos by clicking on the pics on the chart page. Any free downloads that are identified are sanctioned by the performer. There’s always a tiny place at the bottom of the blog post with tags and the statement “Leave A Comment” – please feel free to do so

If you watched the Grammy Awards last night, you will have seen a slim young gent sitting next to Carly Rae Jepsen, who alas didn’t win any of the categories in which she was nominated. That is indeed Matthew Koma, who still resides at the top of my chart with the crunchy rocker “1998”. The challenge in two weeks is to hold on to it against one of the most beautiful songs on release right now. That’s “The City” by Toronto’s River Tiber (below), edging up to #2 (they also have songs at #7 and #20!). “Time Bomb (Walk Away)” by Chris Wallace is up to #3 and you can see Chris again on TV in North America on the Kelly & Michael morning show on ABC in 9 days on Wednesday February 20. Rounding out the Top 5 is another top of the chart contender, “Clarity” by Zedd featuring Foxes.

Passion Pit comes to my city next weekend in a sold out show, and “Take A Walk” climbs to #6, while newest single from their Gossamer album, “Carried Away”, bows at #30. New to the Top 10 are the dance raveup “A World Apart” by Davis Redfield at #9, and “If I Lose Myself” by One Republic at #10 – still waiting for a video for the song as well as the Native album to arrive.

Holding at #8 and not on his upcoming EP Far From Over (due on February 14), but still available as a single on iTunes is “Fast As I Can” by FrankMusik. Far From Over looks to be one of the most riveting releases of 2013. FrankMusik has returned to the inventive electronica that won over so many fans with Complete Me in 2009, after heading in a more pop-oriented direction in 2011 with Do It In The AM. It appears to be about being lost in personal and professional turmoil, only to be rejuvenated and found again by returning to his humble beginnings, recording the EP entirely back in Croydon, England after being in L.A. for three years. The first single, “Map”, is as visceral as it is evocative of his earlier style – old becomes new again! I’ll be writing more about the EP after its release on Thursday. To whet your appetite, below is the artwork for Far From Over.

While the middle part of the chart sees songs on the rise from Ne-Yo, Conor Maynard featuring Ne-Yo, Chris Wallace (“Keep Me Crazy”), The Wallflowers featuring Mick Jones, Mika featuring Ariana Grande, Eric Saade, and Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z’s “Suit & Tie”), the fastest riser on the chart belongs to “Learn To Love Again” by UK foursome Lawson, who have found themselves in the UK Top 20 this week. I had the pleasure of seeing the lads in concert on February 2, and they performed a crisp, solid and generous 75 minute set which won over anyone who didn’t know what to expect – considering their album Chapman Square is still not on release over here (memo to Universal Canada: Make it happen!). First, here’s a snap of the band by yours truly.

A bonus to seeing Lawson for the first time in our country was to find out a week before the show that Toronto quartet Neverest would be opening. While they didn’t play for long (20-25 minutes), they sounded in fine voice and very tight musically after working on their new record. We got to hear their hits “About Us” and “Everything”, and even though I got burned on this song with all of its radio play, Neverest made Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite” sound fresh and engaging again. Video below – looking forward to Neverest’s next release… and more shows!

So, it was time for a little house cleaning on the chart, and the five remaining debuts should definitely go places, not only on my chart, but in the music world. I simply can’t get enough of “Lifted” by Kwik Fiks & Bongiovanni, which I wrote about last week, so it arrives as the highest debut at #24. This is a chilled out, deep house version of “Suga Suga” by Baby Bash & Frankie J, which got to #11 on my chart back in 2003. It’s available as a free download right here. “Sail Into The Sun” by Gentlemen Hall has such a shiny, clear sound, you can hear it beckoning Spring to arrive. It premieres at #25 and you can get it as a free download or buy it on iTunes. It follows The Hall’s 2012 appearance on the chart with “All Our Love”, which peaked at #7. While “Youth In Trouble” disappears from the chart after peaking at #20, a much stronger song from The Presets’ Pacifica album is the positively epic “A.O.”, which bows at #26. This one sounds like Blade Runner met Star Wars in a discotheque, with triumphant vocals and a steady build up reminiscent of the duo’s earlier songs like “My People”. Watch the live clip below.

Rounding out the debuts, at #28 is “Heaven” by Depeche Mode, which I wrote about recently, becoming the venerable band’s third song to appear on the chart since its inception (the first being the #1 “Dream On” in 2001) and their most recent being 2005’s “Precious” (#3). AVAN LAVA is a Brooklyn, NY pop/dance band that arrived on the scene in 2008 and has steadily built a following. I don’t think I’m too late to the game by debuting “It’s Never Over” on the chart at #29 about a year after the release of their EP Flex Fantasy. The trio hovers between beautiful lush pop and gritty nu-disco funk – I’d describe “It’s Never Over” as somewhere between Prince and his proteges and early 90’s pop such as Tara Kemp’s “Hold You Tight”. Watch the video below and download the song for free right here. AVAN LAVA headlines a show on March 2 in Brooklyn at the Music Hall of Williamsburg along with Nomi Ruiz of Jessica 6. Get to that show if you can (simply because I can’t!!).

Winter Popervescence #2 featuring Kwik Fiks & Bongiovanni, Nick, Travis Garland, Collin McLoughlin, Cheesa & Charice, and Ashton Zanecki

Kwik Fiks & Bongiovanni, “Lifted”

It’s a gem just waiting to happen. “Lifted” is a totally cool rework of the 2003 Top 10 hit by Baby Bash & Frankie J, “Suga Suga”. Kwik Fiks is producer/remixer Danny Voicu (you may have downloaded his highly futuristic-sounding remix EP of songs from River Tiber’s From Now On EP) along with Montreal based Victor Bongiovanni. “Lifted” is chilled out deep house that is meticulously produced and will keep even the most casual dance music listener on board. The future is now, folks. When I tweeted about the song last night, I included Baby Bash in a mention. And the highest endorsement can only come from the man himself who said “That was pretty dope!” “Listen below and download it for free!

Nick, “Love and War”

While we await what is anticipated to be a spectacular debut album, Nick Hagelin has dazzled us again with a sparkling cover of Tamar Braxton’s “Love and War”. ‘Blue-eyed soul’ and falsettos are two of my weaknesses so I’m akin to coming back for more and more. And the world is waiting for more Nick. Listen below.

Travis Garland, “Didn’t Stand A Chance”

After encountering and writing about his dynamic mashup of “Adorn” and “Diamonds” recently, I took to downloading Travis Garland’s free EP Fashionably Late from his website. Resembling Enrique Iglesias at times, Travis has made quite the progression from a few years back when I saw him performing “Believe” on TV. Like Nick Hagelin, it turns out that Travis has a lovely falsetto and the EP is full of R&B and hip hop inspired tunes, the best of which is this shiny ballad, made even better by his acoustic performance below.

Collin McLoughlin, “If I Lose Myself”

It’s always a daunting task to record a cover of a current favourite of mine, but former “The Voice” contestant Collin McLoughlin has a knack for making songs his own. I think TV show song choices prevented him from advancing further in “The Voice” competition, but Collin definitely has a bright future ahead if his self-produced cover of One Republic’s “If I Lose Myself” is any indication. Without the fancy high gloss of the original but with added soulful grittiness in Collin’s vocal, this is a mighty noteable alternate version. Not stuck on the video for it but regardless give a good solid listen.

Cheesa featuring Charice, “I’m Not Perfect”

In a most ear-catching pairing we find another “The Voice” contestant, Cheesa (pronounced “Chessa”), matched up with singer/actress Charice (from TV’s “Glee” as Sunshine a few years back). The vocals are highly complimentary but it’s definitely Cheesa’s showcase as “I’m Not Perfect” shows off both her power and restraint. And there’s a sublime, punchy, dubsteppy Max Stark remix that’s just been released to add to the fun. Listen below to both the full song and a teaser of the remix.

Ashton Zanecki, “Want U Back”

Sometimes you have to look past the song choice and go right for the gusto. I’ve never cared for Cher Lloyd’s “Want U Back”, but Pennsylvania singer Ashton Zanecki from Wilkes-Barre obviously does, and he has managed to make the song his own. My friends at EQ Music Blog first took notice, and I’m quickly and happily following along. Ashton proves that his imperfectly perfect voice – and I love voices that have that raw appeal *UHHH* – can deliver the goods. It’s a fantastically good natured, fun video too, and you will be smiling afterwords. Watch for yourself and be convinced (he begins singing after a minute of introductions). You Tube viral cover talent scouts, Ashton Zanecki is someone you shouldn’t miss out on.

Alt-Electro: Depeche Mode, Parralox, BAKER, SIRPAUL, Sergey Lazarev, and Everything Everything

Depeche Mode, “Heaven”

It’s rare that I get to write about a group or performer whose entire career has been roughly the same length as my adult life. So I’ve basically grown up with Depeche Mode from listening to – and not really liking – their first album Speak & Spell back in my college radio days in 1981. In fact I didn’t fully begin appreciating the multi-faceted talents of the band until 1984’s Some Great Reward, when it was extremely clear that they were more than just a new wave synth pop band and had to diversify to survive that era in music. And survive they did; they’ve actually made some of their best and most interesting music in recent years and have a repertoire that any band that’s been in the biz for 30 years would kill for.

“Heaven” (video below) is the first single from Depeche Mode’s upcoming album Delta Machine, due at the end of March, their first for Columbia and latest since 2009’s hit-and-miss Sounds Of The Universe. It’s a languid affair but it does feature a most compelling and passionate vocal by Dave Gahan that definitely pulls you in and brings you back again. I’m sure the band will mix it up for the new album, but think of the song for lack of exact comparisons as “I Feel You” (without the blistering guitar sounds) meets “Stripped” with a dash of “Precious”. Would love to hear some true Depeche Mode fan comments about this one!

Parralox, “Enjoy The Silence” and “Heaven”

In those 30-plus years, Depeche Mode has influenced an endless array of performers. I’ve been writing about Australian electronic duo Parralox recently, and they have been one of the first out of the gate not only with an electronic cover of “Heaven”, but also a reverent and most welcome cover of the band’s biggest North American hit “Enjoy The Silence”. This time John takes on lead vocals from Amii and brings another dimension to the duo’s growing catalogue of songs. It’s no mean feat to carry off covers like these but Parralox performs them in style and they can easily help make them contenders in electro dance this year after already receiving positive notice with “Sharper Than A Knife”. Watch the video for “Enjoy The Silence” and listen to their take on “Heaven” below.

BAKER, “Overload”

It’s only been a few weeks since the video for BAKER’s “If U Love Me” dropped, but after hearing the Red One-produced “Overload”, it’s absolutely no surprise why this one couldn’t wait. This is one of those exceptional powerhouse arpeggio-laden dance records that could send BAKER into the international dance charts. It’s sound goes hand-in-hand with Red One’s contemporaries like Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Ian Carey, and others, but what makes the difference here is BAKER’s stunning vocal, which helps raise the bar even higher. Listen below.

SIRPAUL, “Glow”

SIRPAUL is a New York singer/producer/remixer who has been making music by his own set of rules for the last 15 years. After establishing himself as a force in his own city, his music has been spreading around the world. To be honest, I had only just heard of him when his song “Going Down In La La Land” was a highlight on last year’s absolutely essential This Beat Is…Poptronik Volume One collection. Since then he’s released his latest album The Horse, from which comes the latest single “Glow”, highlighted by an expensive-looking video with some beautiful images below. The song sparkles and has a killer vocal that stands out from the rest.

Sergey Lazarev, “Take It Off”

Some of you may know Sergey Lazarev as one half of Russian group Smash during the last decade. Others may know him from his cover of Johnny Hates Jazz’s “Shattered Dreams”, whose video was clearly shot in my city and looks like Sergey had Yonge Street all to himself (below) 😉 “Take It Off” is from his latest album Lazarev, available on iTunes, a dance track with an upfront flirty intent. You can see how much Sergey’s vocals have progressed since “Shattered Dreams”; you can’t have such a tease of a song without having a commanding vocal. Watch the live performance of “Take It Off” from last summer below. A video for the song has been in production and I hope it will surface.

Everything Everything, “Cough Cough”

Mighty drums are ablaze and surely what will attract you to the latest single from UK quartet Everything Everything. “Cough Cough” comes from the band’s sophomore album Arc, released last month in the UK. It’s definitely an alt.mix of tribal rhythms and electronics that will lift you out of your seat and make you watch and listen, particularly if you like other similar bands such as The Presets or Depeche Mode. The band is signed to The Strokes’ singer Julian Casablancas’ label Cult Records for North American release, and will see an EP of “Cough Cough” on release February 5. Everything Everything also performs two shows at SXSW in March.