My summer concert season is underway after seeing Canadian rockers Moist this past week for the first time in 11 years. Upcoming: Kiesza (August 23), Above & Beyond (August 29) and TELYKast (August 30)! So between those shows and FanExpo next week and friends visiting from out of town, the BILLCS New Music Report will not publish on August 27 and will return on Wednesday, September 3.
In this edition of the Report, you can also check out my picks of the week from this week and last, 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 has this week’s Classic Five, with choices from 1981 and 1985. Years & Years, Brandon Flowers and Rob Thomas had the #1 songs on the BILLCS Top 30 10, 15, and 20 years ago respectively, which means I have another look at the Top 5 on the BILLCS Top 30 from 5-10-15-20-25 years ago. Enjoy!
Do check out my daughter VXTORIA‘s six song EP Dreamstate, which follows up her her fantastic house collaboration with Toronto-area producer TEARJVCKKD called “More Love” (at the following link: More Love). Dreamstate includes three more new songs, “Awaken”, “TMRW”, and “U&Me”. It includes the previous recent releases, “Back To You”, the afrobeats-flavoured “Lost In Your Love” and “changes”. You can watch her in the video for her debut single “Back To You” at the following link: Back To You. She’s also been working on a couple of cover versions, one for Christmas!
SLANDER, JOSHUA (of SEVENTEEN), “Love Is Gone”
About the artists: SLANDER is the L.A. based electronic production duo of Derek Andersen and Scott Land, who have been making music for more than 10 years now, mainly in the future bass sub-genre, along with some crossovers to other dance styles as well as acoustic tracks. JOSHUA (aka Joshua Hong) is one of 13 members of the immensely popular K-Pop group SEVENTEEN, which has been releasing music for the last 10 years.
About the record: “Love Is Gone” is a redo of SLANDER’s most successful record to date (it has been certified platinum), which featured co-writer Dylan Matthew’s vocals. The original, which was released in 2019, is a classic taste of emotional electronica with a big future bass hook. This new take is essentially an electronic piano ballad, minus any of SLANDER’s future bass production, but it totally evolves into something special, thanks to an amazing vocal performance by JOSHUA. It captures the emotional essence of the original, and is in somewhat of a low-key mode, which makes you hang on every note. It’s achingly beautiful, and while SLANDER has recorded acoustic tracks (including one of the original), their revision of “Love Is Gone” is a pure pop ballad (or, alternately, a pure K-Pop ballad), and if this was the pre-streaming era, it would be a chart smash.
Other comments: Their record label needs to pitch “Love Is Gone” outside of the K-Pop circles for it to spread its wings. You can also check out another new version of the song that features vocals by both Dylan Matthew and JOSHUA to hear what they sound like in harmony.
MICHAEL MEDRANO, “Animal”
About the artist: Michael Medrano is the L.A.-based “disco dad” multi-talent who specializes in risqué dance music for those who like to flirt on the edge. “Animal” follows up his recent sophomore album, The Penthouse.
About the record: The music of Michael Medrano is never short of fun that occasionally teeters into NSFW territory. “Animal” is a bold mix of techno, house and disco with a gritty vocal that wants you to tap into your raw sensuality inside. It’s a quick (2:04) but enjoyably loaded taste into what’s coming next for Michael as his following continues to grow. Clubs really need an extended version or remix of “Animal” to play so that DJ’s can have additional fun with it.
Other comments: Michael recently signed, according to an Instagram post, “the biggest deal of my career”, so we’ll see what that brings to the table for this talented guy.
THE BLOW MONKEYS, “Long Lost Child”
About the artist: UK group The Blow Monkeys are best known for their worldwide 1986 hit “Digging Your Scene”. Led by vocalist/songwriter Dr. Robert (aka Robert Howard), the band recorded five albums before splitting in 1990. Little did many of us know that they got back together in 2008 and have performing and releasing music – seven albums up to 2024.
About the record: Even though it’s been almost 40 years since “Digging Your Scene”, time sometimes feels like it has stopped when you hear songs like “Long Lost Child”. It takes a few pages out of 80’s UK soul-pop of the likes of The Blue Nile, Simply Red, and Boy George & Culture Club with a warm melody and pensive lyrics. Dr. Robert sounds particularly ageless and in another time and place this song has all the makings of what we would consider a hit to be.
Other comments: The Blow Monkeys are releasing their eighth album since 2008, an indie release called Birdsong. If you only know the group for their hit, you can sample the hard-hitting political commentary (directed at then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher) in their 1987 release “The Day After You”, featuring vocals by the late great Curtis Mayfield at this link: The Day After You.
JAY BIRD, “True Love”
About the artist: Jay Bird is Bay-area dance producer Jason Brown, whose releases have been regularly featured in these blog pages for the last eight years. He also runs the dance artist networking group “The Birdhouse”, which has branched off into Birdhouse Records. His recent release, the giddy Fisher-like house bop “Do It Like Me”, got to #7 on the BILLCS Top 30.
About the record: In recent months, Jay Bird has been embracing the power of classic disco vibes to fuse with his mixes of house and other dance music styles. “True Love” takes a page right out of disco’s heyday circa 1979 – trust me, because I was there! Jay Bird has used a powerful uncredited female vocal set against a brisk beat and crisp, soulful background vocals, which remind me so much of records from that era like Change’s “A Lover’s Holiday”, Ashford & Simpson’s “Found A Cure”, or Deniece Williams’ “I’ve Got The Next Dance”.
Other comments: The disco revival, melded with house music, is here folks – you just have to know where to look (and listen)!
RAD CAT, “Lose Control”
About the artist: Rad Cat (previously stylized as Radcat) is San Diego-based dance producer Christian Ariza, whom I’ve written about but not recently, so it’s no surprise that “Lose Control” is part of a new era for him. He has also collaborated in the past with artists such as Dylan Matthew and Dutch Melrose.
About the record: “Lose Control” is a record that was made to stand out, for all the right reasons. Its pulsating beginning segues into a well-conceived mélange of techno, progressive house and hip hop, with brief angelic-sounding female vocals halfway through what is otherwise a sharp-edged instrumental. “Lose Control” is an ear-grabber that will have you shuffling along to to the rhythm in no time.
Other comments: With intriguing fusions of dance styles like this, I’m looking forward to hearing what’s next from Rad Cat.
MELØ , “Follow You, Follow Me”
About the artist: MELØ is Windsor, Ontario multi-talent Carmen Rivolta, who is rolling out his mix of pop, new wave era synth pop, and R&B, following up his album Songs From The Spirit Box. His single “I Don’t Speak French” recently reached #7 on the BILLCS Top 30.
About the record: “Follow You, Follow Me” is another fine original with lots of soulful touches. This one has a more sophisticated and laid back flow, with a long instrumental lead-in (recalling some 70’s disco tracks) that works when many do not. Rich production, shimmering synths, and some nice harmonies make “Follow You, Follow Me” go down easily. MELØ calls it “a goodbye wrapped in a memory”.
Other comments: MELØ’s upcoming album is called Architects Of A Revolution. The song’s cinematic and dreamy qualities can be explored further in its video at the following link: Follow You.
EKONOVAH, “Feel The Beat”
About the artist: Ekonovah is Phoenix-based electronic dance producer Stephen Scotti who has made two appearances on the BILLCS Top 30 to date. He continues to play shows around North America, mainly in the south west US.
About the record: “Feel The Beat” is an infectious salute to why we listen to (and dance to) music – to borrow from Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand” TV show, it’s got a great beat and you can dance to it! Ekonovah has crafted this fun tune with a solid beat and memorable hooks, and it works on all levels.
Other comments: Often a simple song can be difficult to create because you have to put aside the excess, and Ekonovah does a great job of making it all sound effortless.
THE FLASHCUBES, “The Sweet Spot”
About the artist: Last month I introduced you to The Flashcubes, a 4-piece Syracuse, New York based power pop band, who had a brief run in the late 1970’s before regrouping in 1993. They are members of the Power Pop Hall of Fame. I’ve already written about “Reminisce”, and the band continues to release their first new music in years.
About the record: “The Sweet Spot” is a delectable power pop bop that recalls the early 80’s sounds of groups like The Romantics and The Plimsouls, with strong melodies and edgy guitar and percussion work. Like with “Reminisce”, there is an affinity to associate this kind of music with the summery, west coast of The Beach Boys and their contemporaries. You can’t go wrong with a song like this where all of the elements just gel together naturally.
Other comments: The Flashcubes have such a following that “The Sweet Spot” will be included alongside covers of their songs in a tribute album coming soon called Make Something Happen! A Tribute To The Flashcubes.
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.
It’s the collaboration between Martin Garrix and Alesso featuring Shaun Farrugia, “Inside Our Hearts”
“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”.
Big Daddy says this collaboration “sounds like a dessert”, so if you’re sweet on Marshmello and Jelly Roll, check out “Holy Water”
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 anchored at Party Dog Radio, where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week. Hunter also has a new show on Fridays at 8pm EST called “Hot Hits with Hunter” on UK station Dodge Radio, and it also includes the New Music Pick.
It’s Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae’s recent #1 collaboration, “What I Want”
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show , where you can 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.
Pat Benatar – Sex As A Weapon (1985)
Rush – The Big Money (1985)
Genesis – Abacab (1981)
Goddo – Pretty Bad Boy (1981)
The Police – Spirits In The Material World (1981)
THE BILLCS TOP 30 – 5-10-15-20-25…
The Top 5 songs from the BILLCS Top 30 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years ago…
2020
01 RAIN ON ME, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande
02 NEVER LET ME DOWN, VIZE, Tom Gregory
03 WHAT I DESERVE, Victor Perry
04 DANCING NEXT TO ME, Greyson Chance
05 BAD DECISIONS, Francesco Yates
2015
01 SHINE, Years & Years
02 I WANNA BE (FREE), Brandyn Burnette
03 GUILTY AS SIN, Dan Talevski
04 KISS ME QUICK, Nathan Sykes
05 SHOW ME THE WAY, Penguin Prison
2010
01 CROSSFIRE, Brandon Flowers
02 A NEW WORD TO SAY, Bright Light Bright Light
03 8BIT HEART, Simon Curtis
04 SOMETHING GOOD CAN WORK, Two Door Cinema Club
05 PUMPKIN PIE, Evan Taubenfeld
2005
01 THIS IS HOW A HEART BREAKS, Rob Thomas
02 WORDPLAY, Jason Mraz
03 THE WORLD IS MINE, David Guetta, J.D. Davis
04 ALL THESE THINGS THAT I’VE DONE, Killers
05 END OF TIME, The Bitch Hotel, Rivaz
2000
01 LET ME KNOW, Jake
02 A SONG FOR THE LOVERS, Richard Ashcroft
03 ETERNAL LIFE (Mystery White Boy live version), Jeff Buckley
04 BANG BANG BOOM, The Moffatts
05 THE NEXT EPISODE, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg
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