While this week’s report provides its usual diverse selection of new tunes, the music of three British women of varying pop styles is highlighted amid a lot of fine choices. And all of the reviews are of independent releases.
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In the Report, you can also check out my pick of the week, along with a record of the week from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers’ Classic Five selections treat us to a sample of some of the late Quincy Jones’ finest productions, as played on this week’s “3D Variety Show”. If you missed them on Monday, you’ll find out what songs are #1 and the Fastest Riser on the latest BILLCS Top 30.
“Only I” leads off the debut album Dusk by British singer Hayla, who has been for me the talent to watch all year long since I first heard “Shiver” (with John Summit) and saw her perform a brief set in Miami. You may know her even better though for her vocal on John’s “Where You Are” and Kx5’s “Escape” or even the recent “Without You”with Kygo. Common themes throughout the album (including its cover photo) are mystery and extremes. “Only I” by another artist could have been a belter, but Hayla shows beautiful restraint in this brief “what if?” story of losing love. The lyrics are short and to the point and producer Blanke – who himself I saw perform in NYC a few years back – allows us to revel in that vocal for most of the latter part of the song. I’ll say it again – Hayla is the Annie Lennox for the current generation, and I’m in it for the ride to listen and watch it all happen. Dusk contains all of Hayla’s recent solo singles, “Embers” (a BILLCS #1 this year, along with both “Shiver” and “Without You”!) and “Freefall”, as well as a few older songs. I’m also digging “Treading Water”, which I hadn’t heard before and was originally released two years ago. Check it out here: Treading.
It’s been a while since I wrote about a track by British singer/songwriter Eurielle. She had previously released music I enjoyed to which at times I compared it to songs by Enya and Amy Lee of Evanescence, as well as some beautiful, classical-influenced songs which would be perfect fits in movies or videos with gothic or ancient themes. She’s also a trained soprano, which really rises to the fore in “Terrified”. The singer you’re going to think of most with “Terrified” is Kate Bush. While Kate may be preparing her first new music in years, in the meantime Eurielle nails that comparison but more so makes it a showcase for her impeccable range, which I believe is quite a bit wider than Kate’s, as well as a heavier rock-flavoured sound. That makes “Terrified” everything it should be, a compelling listen guaranteed to give you a jolt or two, once again co-written and produced by Ryan Louder with a fresh sound overall that you wouldn’t hear elsewhere. Check out the video above as well.
GT_OFICE, “Someone Else”
Miami dance producer GT_Ofice is on a real roll with his recent releases, with “”Feels Like Us” becoming a national Top 30 dance radio hit earlier this year, and both it and “Ecstasy” reaching the BILLCS Top 10 (#3 and #8 respectively). “Someone Else” though is really quite a beautiful, highly relatable song with an outstanding melody and a fantastic uncredited male vocal that dance music fans will immediately recognize. Dreamy melodic early 2010’s-inspired songs like this never gets old, and while the original mix above is just dandy, GT_Ofice’s VIP mix (which you can listen to at this link: VIP) takes the song up a couple of levels with some well-placed euphoric synths. “Someone Else” is a natural fit for dance music radio, so I’ll wait for those chart numbers to happen.
HARRIET, “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight”
British pop singer Harriet returns with a new album, mostly of cover versions of songs by men from the 1970’s and 1980’s called Trying To Get The Feeling Again. Her warm and expressive voice puts a new spin on many of them, while ace producer Steve Anderson has provided pristine arrangements that retain the appeal of the originals. I’m enjoying “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight”, the timeless 1976 release originally by England Dan & John Ford Coley. It’s more upbeat than many of the song choices and Harriet’s vocal captures the essence of the song. I’ve remarked before how much Harriet sounds like Karen Carpenter at times. Another song to check out on the album is her cover of The Carpenters’ “Yesterday Once More” at this link: Yesterday. It’s not my favourite song by the duo but the vocal comparison is pretty unreal. She also covers a lesser known Carpenters song, “I Need To Be In Love”. I’d recommend checking out “Sailing” (Christopher Cross), “You’ve Got A Friend” (James Taylor, but written by Carole King), and “Old and Wise” (a cool choice of an Alan Parsons Project song) too.
sacha, “Broken Love”
Paris-based multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter Sacha Arnaud until recently released music and performed under the name Johnny Longlegs, but has switched direction from soulful pop to acoustic balladeer with “Broken Love”. It’s a delightful composition that asks us all to look within and find the love that might be deeper inside than what we think. The initial lyrics of the song take a special viewpoint in media res as it were, where no introduction is needed, you’re already here within the story because it’s all about us. sacha’s vocal is very old school, possibly taking inspiration from the likes of Jim Croce, James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Cat Stevens who are all expert in acoustic pop. And that’s hardly a bad thing – “Broken Love” is one of those gentle but sparkly baubles waiting for you to discover it.
FLYGHT CLUB, “Nobody Else Knows”
Flyght Club is the project of India-born, L.A. based multi-talent Shauvik Sharan, who grew up setting his foundation with the classic rock guitar sounds of Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin. His latest release “Nobody Else Knows” gives you a taste of his razzle-dazzle guitar work within, but there’s much more to Shauvik than his fine guitar sounds. “Nobody Else Knows” is about attraction to a woman who has the gal-next-door exterior but seeks different kinds of excitement in private. There’s a focused, jaunty melody and sharp synth work to keep your attention, and Shauvik’s smooth vocal has you locked in from his first few words (which – surprise! – reference a classic rock song. Flyght Club has loads of potential and “Nobody Else Knows” is an inspiring showcase for Shauvik’s talents.
PAULA FONG, “Chestnut Mare”
As readers of this blog know, country and folk are not genres about which I am accustomed to writing about. Simply, I don’t care much for country music and I’m not overly knowledgeable about folk. But when I hear a voice that saaangs, well I’m all ears. Paula Fong is a folk singer from L.A. who has explored a diverse range of styles, from Classical to Chinese Opera to acappella, and anyone who is highlighted for their acappella work gets points in my book. “Chestnut Mare” is a fascinating ode inspired by a poem by Paula’s mother where an adventure unfolds while she’s riding, and apparently under the protection of, her uncle’s chestnut mare in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Paula’s gorgeous voice gets you into the song, but as the story unfolds, its uniqueness keeps you listening, making you reassured at its end. “Chestnut Mare” is just lovely and the title of Paula Fong’s recently released six song EP.
teepee, “mindless”
teepee is a duo from the Czech Republic consisting of Tereza Lavičková and Miroslav Patočka, who put their songs in the growing “dream pop” sub-genre. Their overall sound melds electronics you might hear in the music of Rüfüs Du Sol with soulful Coldplay-flavoured pop. They’ve already acquired attention in Europe (particularly in Berlin) for their live performances, so I’m happy to introduce teepee to you via their recent song and video “mindless” from their new eight-song release Blue Moon Rising. After numerous listens, the lyrics of “mindless” haven’t quite sunk in, but that’s okay, Miroslav’s graceful vocal and the duo’s penchant for a clever melody and fanciful arrangement is more than enough. Take a listen to Rüfüs’s Rose Avenue signee Paraleven or Boston’s Tall Heights (both previously featured in this blog) and you can slide teepee’s “mindless” into a cool mix with their songs.
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, and now debuts each Wednesday at 10pm EST on The Big 20 on Halton Hills Radio Online.
2024 marks the return of British pop/dance vocalist Berri with “Overthinking”
“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the host of the “Top 40 Timeline” radio program and owner of online station Halton Hills Radio Online. You can hear my Retro Pick of the Week which debuts every week on the “Top 40 Timeline”. Russ’ record of the week can also be heard each week on “The Big 20”.
From their sixth album Haven, it’s Marianas Trench with the album track “Nights Like These”
DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK
DJ Hunter is the host of the online radio show “Modern Hype”, which can be heard on several online stations, and is newly anchored at Party Dog Radio, where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week.
It’s Nashville-based, Montana-bred quartet Tophouse with “Airport!”
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show, which is heard Tuesdays at 6pm EST, where you can also now hear my Retro Pick of the Week. The Classic Five is “pop music 101” usually of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.
Lesley Gore – It’s My Party (1963)
Frank Sinatra – Fly Me To The Moon (1964)
Michael Jackson – Off The Wall (1980)
George Benson – Give Me The Night (1980)
Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram – Just Once (1981)
BILL’S RETRO PICK OF THE WEEK
My Retro Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, including those mentioned above. It debuts Saturdays on Russ Horton’s Top 40 Timeline on UK National Radio at 1pm EST.
A classic from Chicago, 1971’s “Colour My World” (the B-side to “Beginnings”, and earlier, “Make Me Smile”)
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
It’s another #1 this year for Dutch dance producer Sam Feldt with “Heart Like Mine” featuring vocalist Rosa Linn
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
TELYKast and Sam Gray have another winner together with “Surrender Your Love” (24-15)
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