In some ways I still feel like I’m in vacation mode after a thoroughly enjoyable Caribbean cruise last week. This week’s music selections offer a variety of electronic, dance, and pop of the soulful and folk varieties.
If you have any suggestions for changes to this blog for the new year, don’t hesitate to hit me up on one of my socials at the following Linktree link www.linktr.ee/billcs777, or email me directly bill@billcsmusic.blog.
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 from the early-to-mid 70’s. In case you missed them I’ll also post the current #1 on the BILLCS Top 30 plus last week’s Fastest Riser on the chart. I’ve also got my picks of the week from both this week and last week, as has been played on “The Big 20” and “Modern Hype” online radio shows.
ANGRYBABY, “Back To Life” (Mashbit VIP remix)
If you don’t already know the music of dance producer Angrybaby, he is definitely one to watch thanks to “Back To Life”, which instantly spells BANGER and SMASH in the same ways that huge ones by John Summit, Joel Corry and Odesza have floored dance music fans over the past few years. The female vocalist is uncredited and I don’t recognize the voice, but her power and expressive performance are a key force in why “Back To Life” is so successful. Angrybaby (aka Sam Agate) is an Asian-American producer from the San Francisco area, and “Back To Life” is my introduction to him, having only been releasing music since 2020. He’s already an obvious master of his craft and displays the same kind of synth and production wizardry of the big names in the genre. Texas-based dance producer Mashbit provides a VIP remix that somehow lifts the track even higher, making “Back To Life” a MUST for dance music fans with potential for national dance music play in its original mix. But for “Back To Life” in this Mashbit VIP remix, its happy place will be blasting out of huge speakers at festivals.
SABAI, BOTCASH, CASEY COOK, “Never Fall”
It’s that time of year in the western hemisphere when summer weather is gone and inevitably a perfect time to release a ballad. And this year there are two releases that came out recently that I’m just loving – “without u” by Gareth Emery and Annabel under the LSR City moniker, and “Never Fall”. This one is brought to you by Canadian-Thai producer SABAI, Thai producer BOTCASH, and L.A.-based go-to dance music singer/songwriter Casey Cook. The highlights in “Never Fall” are the heartwarming piano breaks and Casey’s smooth vocal, definitely one of my favourites by her after hearing her on several releases over the past few years by the likes of Trivecta, Blanke and yetep. “Never Fall” isn’t her first collaboration with SABAI; I’m not familiar with their other songs together but I would gather the fluid melody of “Never Fall” is the result of some great chemistry. BOTCASH is probably better known in Asia and this is my first time hearing his participation on a release. Overall, “Never Fall” is the kind of electronic ballad that you might hear at a stadium and then become a puddle. I’m sure the same effect will be felt by fans of SABAI at his shows.
FRANCESCO YATES, “Acapella”
Following up his fun, full throttle rock EP’s, 2023’s Little Rockstar and 2020’s Superbad, Toronto’s Francesco Yates showcases his soulful pipes in “Acapella”. The only accompaniment for Fran on this track indeed is other vocalists, so “Acapella” is a contemporary doo-wop ballad which finds the singer willing to wait for the object of his affection to come around. We heard Fran let loose with with flashy guitar work and screams on tracks like “Jimi” (a BILLCS Top 30 #1) and “Thunderbomb”, so “Acapella” also takes a few steps over to those fans of his music who enjoy his softer side, such as on earlier hits like “Honey I’m Home” or “Call”. It will be interesting to hear where Francesco Yates is heading next and his precision in “Acapella” easily whets your appetite for more.
WILL CLARKE, KAREN HARDING, “Worship”
British electronic dance producer Will Clarke has come a long way over the past decade to be signed in the past few years with Armada Records and to receive a Grammy nomination for his work on Deadmau5 and Kaskade’s Kx5’s self-titled album. From his recent debut album Midnight Mass comes “Worship”, a trance-flavoured collaboration with British house music queen and frequent blog visitor Karen Harding. For a song called “Worship”, it has a rather sinister-sounding backdrop, and Karen once again shows her versatility on point with her inviting and alluring vocal. Its hypnotic rhythm and polished synth work give additional reasons for electronic music fans to enjoy and embrace “Worship”.
NYNE, K.C. & THE SUNSHINE BAND, “In The Back Of My Cadillac” (Eric Kupper remix)
Dance music veteran Harry Wayne Casey is someone who knows the power of lightning striking not once but several times with K.C. & The Sunshine Band’s bevy of hits from 1974 through to 1980. His band’s Houston-based musical director NYNE – also a nephew of the legendary Dionne Warwick through marriage – steps out from behind the scenes with his debut single “In The Back of My Cadillac”. And like the surprise K.C. comeback “I Get To Love You” (currently sitting at #12 on the BILLCS Top 30), “Cadillac” benefits from an insanely catchy chorus and a solid vocal. On top of that, like “I Get To Love You”, the song comes in every kind of remix you could ask for, but Eric Kupper’s tidy mix surfaces above the rest, though the E39 Coupe Deville remix is crisp and enjoyable too.
RUSKIN ROWE, “You and I” and “Take Me Home”
Ruskin Rowe are a new duo from the Northern Rivers, New South Wales, Australia, whose music straddles pop, rock, folk and country, and have released two singles in advance of a full-length album. Ruskin Rowe consists of Matt Boylan-Smith – who I wrote about last year with his lovely ode “The Only Eyes I’ve Ever Known” – and Ameka Jane. While the pair came together to write a song for a network TV show, their chemistry proved prolific, with “You and I” (above) and “Take Me Home” (below) offering an introduction to their diverse sounds. “You and I” is a country-flavoured ballad guaranteed to make you all cozy and want to cuddle up with your special someone, while “Take Me Home” is my favourite of the two, a buoyant, rock-flavoured track with an infectious acoustic guitar hook that will also appeal to fans of music from Ireland or Newfoundland (Canada), and featuring great vocals by the pair whose differences offset each other stylistically while blending together seamlessly. It’s also the theme to the TV show “Growing Home with Jamie Durie” airing on channel 7 in Australia. There will be much more to come from Ruskin Rowe in 2025.
MAX EHRICH, “Can’t Forget Her Now”
When I wrote about the first new music in a while from singer/actor Max Ehrich, he was riding a Justin Bieber-tinged hip hop pop tip last year with his single “Backroads”. “Can’t Forget Her Now” finds the former “Young & The Restless” star in a soulful, jazzy performance. The first part of the song unveils the story with Max singing against a bare guitar backdrop, and then emotions intensify with a shift to some hard rock guitars and vocal effects which help make the song more memorable before Max finishes it off in a subtle whisper. “Can’t Forget Her Now” comes together nicely as an unexpectedly blues-flavoured alt.pop ballad.
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. Here are my picks for this week and last week.
“mine” is a change in pop sound for Canadian singer/songwriter Dan Talevski
Miami dance producer GT_ofice is back with the vibrant and touching “Someone Else”
“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”. Big Daddy’s record of the week can also be heard each week on “The Big 20”.
“Tongue Tied” is by Massachusetts rising musician Porsh Bet$
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.
“Echoes of Yesterday” by new dance producer Evan Zabel
“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.
Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show – Sylvia’s Mother (1972)
Jonathan Edwards – Sunshine (1972)
Carole King – Sweet Seasons (1972)
Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods – Who Do You Think You Are (1974)
Steppenwolf – Straight Shootin’ Woman (1974)
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.
It’s the first Stock-Aitken-Waterman production to reach #1 in the UK, Dead or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)” (1985)
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
“Heart Like Mine” continues at #1 for producer Sam Feldt and vocalist Rosa Linn
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
Alicia Keys teams up with Swedish House Mafia for the new dance music anthem “Finally” (25-13)
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
You must be logged in to post a comment.