January 2018 – BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

“Long Way Home” is a thoughtful R&B electropop slice of life by @weareTwoLanes featuring #HYM

https://soundcloud.com/wearetwolanes/longwayhome

TWO LANES featuring HYM, “Long Way Home”

It may just be me, but the first artists I thought of after listening to “Long Way Home” by Two Lanes featuring Berlin-based vocalist HYM were Daryl Hall & John Oates. This warm and thoughtful slice of life has the same R&B/pop flavour, particularly in HYM’s vocal, as many of the duo’s classic songs, particularly in the 70’s. The chipper melodic electronics by Two Lanes – NYC producers and brothers Leo and Rafael following up their remix of San Holo’s “The Future” – enhance the rhythm for some close-together dance floor action. You’ll be humming this one a lot, which will help make it a perfect song for a long late night drive in summery weather. “Long Way Home” is yours for the listening at the link above.

Sometimes, it works out: “Save Us” holds hope for relationships from @Koniofficial

KONI, “Save Us” (free DL)

Even with its underlying wistful melody, Koni’s “Save Us” wants us all to still believe in the power of a good relationship. And even though the one which this song reflects upon for the German producer/guitarist didn’t work out, the song works well as a universal message. Its uncredited vocalists, James Delaney and Gabriella, sing on our behalf, making an appealing audio couple to gently convey the importance of hope. The rhythm is bright and sunny, in deliberate contrast to the tone of the song but in sync with the wishful message. You can enjoy “Save Us” as a free download at the link above.

Producers @Nazariff_ and @RoseThrone_ provide atmospheric ‘witch house’ remix to @SoBelowsound’s “Close”

https://soundcloud.com/rosethrone/so-below-close-nazariff-x-rose-throne-remix

SO BELOW, “Close” (Nazariff x Rosé Throne remix)

When a relationship gets past the point of no return, it’s time to move on, even if the other party wants it to get deeper. So is the message of “Close” by Kiwi alt.pop singer So Below. I wrote not long ago about Nazariff and Rosé Throne’s rather splendid update on “Cities In Dust”, the 80’s new wave hit by Siouxsie & The Banshees. The guys are back with their atmospheric ‘witch house’ remix for So Below which adds ongoing mystery to her heartfelt story. There’s an almost classically repetitive backdrop in the song’s middle verses which sticks in your head like an unobtrusive ticking clock, as well as an unexpected but gentle drop later on with some dazzling keyboards that follow. Overall this remix of “Close” is easy on the ears but soul food for your head. Check it out at the link above.

Ireland’s @realLindaMartin updates 70’s disco throwback “Up In A Puff Of Smoke”

LINDA MARTIN, “Up In A Puff Of Smoke” (Matt Pop Edit)

It’s hard to recapture the halcyon days of early disco pop hits, but Irish Eurovision ’92 winner Linda Martin (for the Irish #1 “Why Me”, also a chart hit in England and The Netherlands) brings her game to “Up In A Puff Of Smoke” for Energise Recordings. It’s hardly the kind of song you might think would see a revival. UK singer Polly Brown, from the band Pickettywitch, had the kind of hit that you don’t see anymore back in 1975. It won over U.S. and Canadian radio and disco fans – a Top 20 hit in both countries, and a Top 5 disco hit on Billboard’s chart – without becoming a UK Top 40 hit. Linda’s vocal sails through the song smoothly, thriving in a buoyant, spot-on mix by Matt Pop. “Up In A Puff Of Smoke”, giddy and fun anomaly that it may be, will definitely leave 70’s pop and disco fans wanting more! Add it to your pure fun Spotify playlist at the link above.

L.A.’s @djTeffler has a potential floor-filler with future bass of “The Spectre”

TEFFLER, “The Spectre”

“The Spectre” is an easy add into the mix for club DJ’s looking for a daunting future bass instrumental to rev up a set. It’s brought to you by L.A.’s Teffler, who most recently offered up a piano-driven slice of classic house with pop potential called “Never Let You Go”. “The Spectre” definitely deserves to be revisited at Hallowe’en for the party circuit at that time. While you’ll wait for that key drop, it doesn’t get too down and dirty, and has a sly underlying 90’s flavour recalling German Eurodisco of the day. I think some remixes would be beneficial to add to the mystery of the song. Add it to your playlist of dark electro-dance instrumentals at the Spotify link above.

German producer @Blinded_Hearts returns with emotional reflection of “Brand New” featuring Sweden’s @LouiseCSmusic

BLINDED HEARTS featuring LOUISE CS, “Brand New”

German producer Blinded Hearts continues to offer genuine and big-hearted electronic dance pop which first came to our attention with last year’s “Human”. “Brand New” goes back to the time when relationships are fresh, a time which most of us want to recapture but is unfortunately in the past, so we have to rely on our memories and are sentiments to continue to invest in our time with our special someone. Swedish singer Louise CS offers a memorable and suitably affecting vocal while the melody tugs at our hearts as we get drawn to its lilting rhythm. “Brand New” also is the first release to kick off 2018 anew for Tipsy Records. Check out Blinding Hearts’ “Brand New” at the link above.

Dallas quartet @NorthernNatl kick off the year with rocking fist pumper “Slow Down”

NORTHERN NATIONAL, “Slow Down”

Despite rock and alternative rock not being the current flavours in pop music, invested musicians like those in Dallas quartet Northern National continue to offer top quality songs like their new single “Slow Down”. The spirit of the song is self-confidence and facing up to a challenge – about not slowing or backing down – brought to you in a similar anthemic style to Imagine Dragons without going over the top. Michael Rossi’s vocal is full of restraint but also unleashes a lot of power when the energy level rises in the song. “Slow Down” would fit perfectly into either mainstream or alternative rock radio and would definitely help bring the house down as a set closer in concert. Add it to your playlist of new rock anthems at the Spotify link above.

“Prisoner” is red, hot and new electronic soul from @BobbyNourmand featuring @MrLaurentJohn

BOBBY NOURMAND featuring LAURENT JOHN, “Prisoner”

You know that when L.A.-based producer Bobby Nourmand drops a new song that it’s going to be solid as well as unpredictable. After flirting with some dynamic hip hop last year, this time “Prisoner” taps into a British soul vibe courtesy of a potent vocal by Laurent John. The dark theme of the song totally suits Laurent’s urgent and gritty vocal. Bobby never ceases to amaze with his creative deep house arrangements, carefully weaving his keyboard work while fusing it with his layered trademark futuristic synth backdrop. Bobby was only a handful of performers to have three songs on my 2017 year end list, and “Prisoner” is destined to become another favourite. Club DJ’s can’t miss with it, perfect for a late night set. Add it to your playlist of gritty, soulful dance tunes using the Spotify link above.

“Everyday, Everyday” is radio-worthy pop/dance from @ManilaKilla featuring #Nevve

MANILA KILLA featuring NEVVE, “Everyday, Everyday”

“Everyday, Everyday” is certainly a bit more of a pop-oriented affair than what might expect from one half of Hotel Garuda, Manila Killa. But his ears are definitely glued to the right places as he employs the versatile voice of Nevve – who we just heard on Robotaki’s “Together We’re Screwed” – to bring the some home. “Everyday, Everyday” therefore goes for the gusto, and I would expect no less than dance music radio stations – and I’m calling it, since they helped turn a song like Sofi Tukker’s “Best Friend” into a massive hit – to jump on it soon. 2018 does appear to be a year for solid midtempo, emotional pop/dance and “Everyday, Everyday” finds its place in that mix. It’s a gentle pop song at its roots that slams big when it should, very reminiscent of the same appeal as San Holo’s “Light”. Add it to your favourites using the Spotify link above.

NYC producer @AireAtlantica returns with sweet dance/pop of “On My Own” featuring @EmilyTerran

AIRE ATLANTICA featuring EMILY TERRAN, “On My Own”

Like other stalwart producers NYC’s Aire Atlantica (aka Joe Pincus) stays a few steps of the game. That he’s chosen to go big with sweet-sounding electronic pop/dance like “On My Own” isn’t really a surprise, but his game is on full throttle with a powerhouse emotional song with a distinct and earnest vocal by Emily Terran. After a deceptively slow beginning, this one changes it up quickly and eagerly awaits dance music radio and club play with a pretty melody and confident chorus that will be chiming in your head for days (“I’ll never be the me you want me to”). “On My Own” is a great progression for Aire Atlantica from his previous songs and I think some much-deserved attention will swing his way this year. Add it to your diverse electronic dance/pop playlists at the Spotify link above.