Monthly Archives: December 2017

The Hardest Part often is “Waiting On You” by @weareJRL & #Ludvigsson featuring @theMaxLandry

JRL & LUDVIGSSON featuring MAX LANDRY, “Waiting On You”

“Waiting On You” is a slice of Swedish pop that sincerely conveys the angst in relationships when waiting for the other half to make an important decision.  Production trio JRL and newcomer Ludvigsson let a bright future bass-influenced melody lead the way while US singer Max Landry, having previously worked with JRL as well as D-12 and Boldy James, sells the story with conviction.  And though “Waiting On You” will be very convincing in clubs come slow dance time, all involved manage to capture the essential elements of pure pop without dominating it with tricks and vocal effects which would detract from the core of what it’s about.  Listen to “Waiting On You” at the link above.

Soulful Holiday Spirit: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by @BrandynBurnette has a laid back #Fugees vibe

BRANDYN BURNETTE, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

It is indeed one of my favourite Christmas songs, but Brandyn Burnette’s spin on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” deserves to be heard because of its chill, soulful vibe that would definitely make Lauryn Hill and Fugees fans proud.  Brandyn reaches into that old-soul bluesy R&B style that surfaces in his songs now and again to bring a contemporary, content and, holiday-happy ambiance to this classic.  The music is minimal and like the best renditions of “Merry Little” it’s all about the vocal and the style.  Add it to your holiday Spotify playlist at the link above.

Toronto’s @Beatchild & @TheSlakadeliqs are back featuring @JustinNozuka in the 60’s throwback “The Only Difference”

BEATCHILD & THE SLAKADELIQS featuring JUSTIN NOZUKA, “The Only Difference”

There are a lot of parallels between the late 60’s and the late ’10’s, mainly the aftermath of unfortunate politics prompting songwriters to focus on writing on songs about love, peace and understanding.  And Beatchild & The Slakadeliqs, in their first release in some time, are all about that, along with featured vocalist Justin Nozuka on “The Only Difference” (as with late 2011’s “Love Controls The Sun”, which I wrote about in a post right here).  So not only thematically is it a throwback to the 60’s, but in my estimation (and I could be wrong) the music, with its simple piano melody, and the harmonic vocals full of symmetry, recall many soul groups of that era like Five Stairsteps, The Delfonics, The Intruders and so on.  The rest of the music is terrific collaborative jamming, making “The Only Difference” go down very easy, and having me wonder what it would all sound like in a live setting.  Check it out at the Spotify link above. 

A New Ode to Berlin: “My Name Is Lola” by @LolaDutronic

LOLA DUTRONIC, “My Name Is Lola”

Veteran Toronto electronic duo Lola Dutronic keeps it simple with their ode to their city of choice, Berlin, called “My Name Is Lola”.  Despite what you might think, no, it’s not an answer song to Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana” 😛  It follows up the duo’s summer redux of Man2Man’s 80’s delight “Male Stripper”.  Musically “My Name is Lola” takes its almost classic melody in a cue from “Prayer In C” by LillyWood & The Prick and Robin Schulz, with even perhaps some lingering traces of 80’s Kraftwerk underneath.  Its video above, featuring singer Stephanie B., as well as some shoutouts in German, is a snappy travelogue that will please fans of the city.  “My Name Is Lola” is easy to sink between your ears and get under your skin and down to your toe-tapping feet, and you can download it on Lola Dutronic’s Bandcamp page right here.

A Taut makeover for “Cities In Dust” by #SiouxsieandtheBanshees c/o remixers @Nazariff_ and @RoseThrone_

SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES, “Cities In Dust” (Nazariff x Rosé Throne remix)

Take it from someone who lived through the era as an adult, and also someone who doesn’t write about older songs remixed very often, American remixers Nazariff and Rosé Throne have done contemporary justice to 1985 alt.rock and dance classic “Cities in Dust” by Siouxsie & The Banshees originally from the Tinderbox album.  It was an important record for Siouxsie.  After many hits in the UK starting in 1978, “Cities In Dust”, with its raw vocal and tribal rhythm, was her US breakthrough, which ultimately culminated in the 1991 pop and dance hit “Kiss Them For Me”, and effectively extending her chart career to 1995 in the UK.  Nazariff and Rosé Throne honour the goth origins of the song, giving it a cinematic, taut makeover that loses nothing in its translation to 2017.  It’s hard to get it right and please everyone, but Siouxsie fans and club DJ’s will certainly embrace this remix.  You can download it for free at the link above.