May 2014 – Page 3 – BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

Testing Our Limits: “Black Leather” by @SIRPAUL (**Discretion Advised: NSFW video)

SIRPAUL, “Black Leather”

As you previously read in these blog post pages, SIRPAUL’s Seventh Star album is an enjoyable hybrid of accessible pop/dance songs and other darker but playful ones that show both sides of what the talented ‘disco ambassador of love and lust’ has to offer. Shot in Amsterdam by the House of XY, “Black Leather” gets as down and dirty as much as a pop video could do and tests any voyeuristic limits you might have if you are not into the sex ‘n leather scene. It’s a great alternate showcase for SIRPAUL as we’ve seen him waiting for his love in the video for the album’s triumph, “Every Single Moment” (which got to #4 on my personal chart). “Black Leather” is still one of my club banging favourites from his album and when I saw the previews of what was coming I knew that it would be with as few holds barred as possible. It’s almost like a very old school kind of soft porn movie fantasy, and if that is your thing then you will enjoy the video. Take a look – or DON’T, it’s your choice. Kudos to SIRPAUL and his team for testing our limits.

Very Good News Indeed! It’s The Fairy Tale of Zorro Blakk (@zblakk)!

ZORRO BLAKK, The Fairy Tale Of Zorro Blakk

The Fairy Tale of Zorro Blakk is about as enjoyably unconventional as a dance/pop album might be. As I posted about his duet with Lulu Bell on the just lovely “Fireworks” a while back (and it’s included in the album), the good Zorro (aka songwriter Daniel Volpe) has crazy way with melody, and he pulls out all stops in various ways, with some addictive ear candy in the mix. Why do I want to write about Jeff Lynne/ELO-like melodic comparisons? 😉

So we are offered ballads like “Fireworks” and “So Beautiful”; emotional, empathetic dance pop like “The Red BMX” and “I Am The Night”; and full throttle dance blasts, which to me are the showcase pieces of the album, namely the opener “Big City Girls (Don’t Fall In Love With Small Town Boys)” (which needs both Matt Stormby and Ricardo Autobahn remixes, pretty please 😀 ) , and the fine collaboration with Deniz Olivieri on the singalong “Good News (For People Who Love Bad News)” (and a rollicking trance-y Tim Tim remix bound to tease and please club-goers and DJ’s).

Zorro has a slight but fine-sounding boy-next-door kind of voice, and I sure prefer it without the effects… the only song truly out of place here is “Red & Gold” which sounds like it was meant for another record. Otherwise The Fairy Tale of Zorro Blakk is beautifully and carefully produced and a great start to the career of Daniel’s alter ego. Buy it on iTunes and listen below to the premiere of “Good News (For People Who Love Bad News)” on Larry Flick’s Sirius-FM show The Morning Jolt, featuring the one and only My Fizzy Pop (Paul Reynolds) himself.

U Can Dig This: “City Lights” (EP) by @Nickisthetruth (Nick Hagelin)

NICK HAGELIN, City Lights (EP)

I’m so very happy to report that Atlanta-based singer/songwriter Nick Hagelin’s 9 song EP City Lights has arrived at last, his first since 2011’s Take Off EP. It’s available on his website for free download. Thanks to Nick, I’ve been predisposed to its fine songs for the last little while. Nick’s sound now veers more away from mainstream pop on a lot of the songs on City Lights, though the delightfully contagious “Trust It” and the breezy “First Move” are certainly more pure pop songs than the rest. There’s a lot of focus on more R&B-oriented pop, which is obviously Nick’s love and forté.

The initial single (currently available for free download) is the offbeat and addictive “Finest Clothes In Town” (currently #6 on my personal chart). It’s a playful, flirty number which revolves around a vocal sample that sounds a lot like Ray Charles or someone similar of the 50’s Blues/R&B school, and is most deserving of attention. You first heard the ballad “Ex Games” when I posted about it over 2 years ago, and it became the 2nd most read post on this blog site. The song is great storytelling with spoken word interludes which give it a 70’s feel. Also harkening back to the 70’s, but specifically to what sounds like Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” period, you will enjoy “Is This Thing On”, highlighting Nick’s softer vocal at its best.

All of the songs are well-rounded and obviously built by a skilled team. But what’s most important here is the performance, because without it being as strong as it is, they wouldn’t sound this good. Nick is as diverse and honest-sounding a performer as the best of them – you’ll reference Justin Timberlake and Usher for sure. His pop songs will certainly charm you, but you will definitely dig the new school R&B with selective old school influences. Don’t miss out on City Lights! I’ve been saying it for the last several years in these pages – Nick Hagelin is going places.

If you’re in Atlanta on Friday, May 2, check out Nick Hagelin at his City Lights release party at Suite Lounge on Luckie Street.