No preliminary commentary or remarks this week, let the new songs speak for themselves! 🙂
Among the features in the Report, you can check out my pick of the week, along with one from the host of “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus Hunter Wilbur’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers has his Classic Five pop hits feature, transporting us back to 1985-86 this week. You can also find out which songs were #1 on the BILLCS Top 30 over the last 25 years!
The BILLCS New Music Report is a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me @billcs on Twitter @thebillcs on Instagram or @BILLCSMusicProjects on Facebook.
REMINDER: Click the photo above the artist’s name and song title to hear the song or watch the video.
SPOTLIGHTING
CASH CASH, “Bleach (Move On)”
New Jersey dance trio Cash Cash are coming full circle, returning to a vibrant melodic pop/dance style with early 2010’s vibes that also features vocals this time by their own Jean Paul Maklouf. He absolutely kills it on “Bleach (Move On)”, and I hope that means we’ll hear more of his affecting vocal! After considerable success over the last decade, which includes Billboard Hot 100 and dance club play chart smashes and regular residencies in Las Vegas (where I saw them perform last summer), Cash Cash have switched labels and seem to have gotten some of their stylistic freedom back. “Bleach (Move On)” is nothing like what they’ve released recently, and fans of One Republic and Bastille will enjoy it equally as much as dance music fans.
ANGIE STONE, “Good Man”
Angie Stone returns with her first album in four years called Love Language and from it we have this new classic slice of R&B, “Good Man”. It’s solid R&B that goes down easy and does not disappoint. Angie’s silky smooth, expressive voice is the gift that she has shared with us in one form or another for many years. She was a member of one of rap’s first female groups, The Sequence, and spent time in the 90’s in groups Vertical Hold and Devox, before singing on one of the seminal R&B albums of the last 25 years, D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar. She finally got to release her own songs solo soon after, on 1999’s amazing Black Diamond, and is probably best known for the R&B and dance music classic “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” from 2002, which coincidentally debuted on my BILLCS Top 30 chart 21 years ago this week. In the intervening years she’s never stopped working, whether it’s recording albums, playing shows, or taking acting lessons. So even though she’s never been away, “Good Man” is a strong welcome back release that should do well at R&B radio next to the latest Lizzo and Alicia Keys songs.
LUIS TORRES, “Freak Like Me”
Toronto’s Luis Torres is on a roll after recently collaborating with DLMT and Rico 56 on the wonderful “Wildfire” which recently debuted on the BILLCS Top 30, so it’s no wonder that TiĂ«sto’s Musical Freedom label has grabbed this one for release. “Freak Like Me” is actually a rework of Lee Walker’s 2016 take on DJ Deeon’s 90’s house classic featuring vocals by Katy B. Luis pitches up the vocals and builds a slamming new standout rhythm track around the song’s chorus. “Freak Like Me” should be an instant add for clubs and DJ’s can certainly have fun interpolating any one of the remixes of the Lee Walker take from the likes of Armand van Helden or Sonny Fodera with Luis’ version to create something original for their sets.
JAKE HUFFMAN, “Body Talk”
Connecticut singer/songwriter Jake Huffman has just released a four song EP called Younger. I’ve already written about previous singles “Martyr” and “Babe” which are included, but “Body Talk” is an entirely different cup of tea from those solid alternative rock flavoured tracks and my favourite track from the EP. “Body Talk” is a bluesy R&B-flavoured rock track that benefits from a gravelly vocal by Jake and some chunky bass sounds (maybe a mix of bass guitar and synths?). It’s got a simple, catchy chorus and an enticing rhythm which are instantly appealing.
FEATURING
TASBA, “Fantasia” (radio mix)
“Fantasia” is a moody but intriguing slice of instrumental deep house by rising Denver electronic dance producer TASBA (aka Tanya Barrera). I can certainly visualize and sense the excitement of being taken to somewhere dreamy and special, and “Fantasia” has all of the right elements of a progressive electronic production to place yourself there. It’s all about the atmosphere, which is why the beats don’t get too heavy, though it does contain a nice drop (there is also a radio edit of “Fantasia” which you can listen to right here). If you’re in the Denver, Colorado area, you can watch for TASBA in concert and I’m pleased to say that she is performing quite regularly.
TYLER GARRETT, “Automatic”
L.A. -based singer/songwriter Tyler Garrett continues to release complex electronic songs both lyrically and musically, the latest being “Automatic”. This one is definitely aimed at those who enjoy more progressive songs by the likes of Gareth Emery and Illenium. “Automatic” does a good job at showcasing Tyler’s sharp vocal, even though it’s quite a busy, layered production that would really shine if played over stadium speakers. Repeated listens will help draw you in to the dark, intense vibe of the song.
MOBIUS RADIO, “The More You Know”
Mobius Radio is a recent project formed by Canadian singer/songwriter/guitarist Dylan Hennessy, which brings you the single “The More You Know”. The song is a part of an upcoming conceptual self-produced release that revolves around music being played on a pirate radio station. The voice other than Dylan’s which you hear in “The More You Know” is long-time Canadian broadcaster Jeff Woods, who has helped Dylan shepherd and shape the new release, and is featured in the video above along with drummer Alex Van Briggle. “The More You Know” is a stalwart rocker that will appeal to fans of late 90’s, early 00’s Canadian rockers like Our Lady Peace, I Mother Earth, Moist and more, with enough edge to attract fans of 00’s bands like Billy Talent, Three Days Grace, and Black Veil Brides. Dylan’s appealing vocal and an interesting message are also highlights of “The More You Know”.
TISOKI, PAULINE HERR, “Let You Down”
Despite releasing music for most of the last decade, I must admit that I am new to the music of both Tisoki and Pauline Herr, though both are established with electronic music fans. Tisoki (L.A. based British producer Bradley Edwards) has a new EP coming soon called Euphoria, which will also include this new single “Let You Down”, initially recorded as a demo about two years ago. American producer Pauline Herr is popular on the live electronic festival circuit, and this collaboration gels nicely. I’ll call it emo-electronic – it’s carefully crafted, sometimes minimal-sounding electronic music featuring numerous unconventional elements, some of which could be drawn from drum ‘n bass and perhaps even tribal rhythms, as well as a dejected-sounding but empathetic female vocal (which may be Pauline or someone else). Fans of the genre looking for something fresh will be engrossed.
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
My New Music Pick of the Week  is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs more than 20 times/week on online radio stations around the world.
“Telepathic Powers” is by L.A. based rocker Cobi from his album Love In The Wildwood
“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S PICK OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the host of the “Top 40 Timeline” radio program and owner of online stations Radio GTA, Halton Hills Radio Online, & FM108.ca.
Remo Forrer with Switzerland’s EuroVision 2023 powerful entry “Watergun”
HUNTER J. WILBUR’S BOP OF THE WEEK
Hunter J. Wilbur is the host of the online radio shows “Modern Hype” and “Addictive Energy” which can be heard on several online stations including Classic Hits Canada.
Nashville-born alt.pop singer MORGXN with ‘Beacon”
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show heard Tuesdays on Planet Radio Canada. The Classic Five is “pop music 101” of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.
REO Speedwagon – Can’t Fight This Feeling
Bryan Adams – Heaven
John Parr – St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion)
a-ha – Take On Me
Starship – Sara
25 YEARS OF BILLCS TOP 30 #1’s
Songs that rocked my personal chart at this time during the last 25 years.
2022 MERCER Aretha
2021 IDRIS ELBA & INNER CITY featuring STEFFANIE CHRISTI’AN No More Looking Back
2020 PORTER ROBINSON Get Your Wish
2019 M-22 White Lies
2018 MERCER featuring RON CARROLL Satisfy
2017 LOUD LUXURY & RYAN SHEPHERD Fill Me In (Something To Say)
2016 CONNOR PHILLIPS Lost (Young Bombs remix)
2015 COREY NILES featuring ALEX LACASSE Chasing Stars
2014 SAM SMITH Stay With Me
2013 TRAVIS GARLAND Blue Electric Roses
2012 BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT Waiting For The Feeling
2011 ERIC SAADE Popular
2010 PENGUIN PRISON The Worse It Gets
2009 THE FRAY You Found Me (Lenny B mix)
2008 ESTELLE featuring KANYE WEST American Boy
2007 MAROON 5 Makes Me Wonder
2006 THE FRAY Over My Head (Cable Car)
2005 THE CAESARS Jerk It Out
2004 GEORGE MICHAEL Amazing (Full Intention remix)
2003 EVANCESCENCE featuring PAUL McCOY Bring Me To Life
2002 JIMMY EAT WORLD The Middle
2001 DEPECHE MODE Dream On
2000 MATCHBOX TWENTY Bent
1999 RICKY MARTIN Livin’ La Vida Loca
1998 NEXT Too CloseÂ
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