While I took a break last week to regroup a bit and clear my head, it was also sad to see my radio show The Big 20 come to a sudden end after 283 episodes. Producer “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, co-host “The Musicman” James Rogers and I featured over 5,500 songs, many of them by independent, new, or rising artists, and now all happily in Halton Hills Radio Online’s massive music library. And that is something we can all be proud of reflecting back on the last five and a half years. Onward and upward – my new show The MAPL Tapes is flourishing, and there is a lot of potential on the horizon, so we’ll see what the summer brings.
In this edition of the Report, you can also check out my new music and retro picks of the week along with a record of the week from “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers’ Classic Five mix is a variety pack from 1980. Please do check out the playlists for shows 11 and 12 of my all-Canadian hour, The MAPL Tapes, featuring the music of Juno Award winners Kiesza (show 11) and Preston Pablo (show 12). You’ll also find out what songs are #1 and the Fastest Riser of the latest edition of the BILLCS Top 30.
Reminder: Click on the photos to listen to the songs on Spotify.
SCOTT HELMAN, “Faith in Humanity”
About the artist: Scott Helman is a Toronto-born pop/alternative artist who has had several Canadian radio hits including “Bungalow”, “PDA”, “Hang Ups”, and more recently, “Every Time (Drive By)”. He has been an independent artist since his last major label album release Nonsuch Park (SA) in 2020.
About the record: “Faith in Humanity” comprises so many things I like about Scott Helman, particularly after seeing him perform in concert a number of years ago, when I watched what a great storyteller he was with a lot of humorous asides. But I guess what stands out here is how good-natured this folk-flavoured singalong song is, one to which you can shake off all your troubles and let loose. It actually reminds me of the vibe throughout Paul Simon’s Graceland album. The song is a light, fun follow-up to the more mysterious “Something About Julien”.
Other comments: Scott married his longtime partner Kat last June after knowing each other since they were 15. His third album and first in six years has been announced, called Pipsqueak. Scott is also performing on July 3 at the Calgary Stampede.
808 BEACH, BELLE HUMBLE, “Here’s Where the Story Ends”
About the artists: UK/US production duo 808 Beach is producers/remixers John “J.C.” Carr and Bill Coleman. Between them over several years they have worked with a storied set of artists including Vanessa Williams, Erasure, Deee-Lite, Sia, Sofi Tukker, Ultra Naté, and many, many more. UK singer/songwriter Belle Humble is a frequent collaborator with them.
About the record: I’ve heard the vocal and stylistic influence of Harriet Wheeler of The Sundays in more new women vocalists of the 2020’s then probably any other singer. So this cover of the group’s alternative pop classic “Here’s Where the Story Ends” is a very learned and delightful choice to receive a classy, uplifting dance rework. The artists’ splendid work here will easily appease any manic fan of The Sundays who would turn their nose up at this kind of redo. Belle’s vocals don’t try to imitate Harriet’s and instead act as a solid tribute. “Here’s Where the Story Ends” has finesse covered at all levels.
Other comments: The deluxe package of the single features remixes by Zac Samuel, Byron The Aquarius, DANK & GLADIUS, Slowz, Juan von Carlos, and 808 Beach themselves.
STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK, “The Sky Isn’t Falling”
About the artist: Just in case you thought you misread the artist’s name – yes THAT Strawberry Alarm Clock of 1967’s #1 “Incense and Peppermints” fame. The group is a sextet with FIVE original members which came back together in the early 2000’s. They resurfaced for the first time on record since 2012 last fall at Hallowe’en with “Monsters” from a compilation album called Chilling, Thrilling Hooks And Haunted Harmonies.
About the record: Gone may be the psychedelia of the band’s early days nearly 60 years ago, but what’s present in “The Sky Isn’t Falling” is the keen sense of melody and harmony, as well as some downright impressive guitar work. The song is about the inter-connectedness of everything right down to our souls, and the guitar work and vocals are by the group’s newest member of 40 years, Howie Anderson. “The Sky Isn’t Falling” is the well-executed sum of all of its parts which includes great band chemistry.
Other comments: The Strawberry Alarm Clock’s new album, called Where’s One, is due this summer. A bit of trivia: “Incense and Peppermints” was sung by 16 year old Greg Munford, a friend of the band who happened to be in the studio at the time of recording and whose voice was chosen as the best fit the song, but he was not an official member of the band. Greg ultimately went on to have a highly successful career in direct mail marketing.
COEUR ACIDE, “Let’s Sweat”
About the artist: Coeur Acide is the new collaborative project between Vancouver-born producer Pat Lok and Haitian-Mexican vocalist F-MACK. Pat Lok has been releasing music for most of the last decade, sometimes in collaborations or remixes with the likes of Party Pupils, Will Sass and Keys ‘N Krates. F-MACK is Fermilus Mackenson Fils Lenor, who relocated from his native Haiti to Mexico City, and fuses Haitian jazz with R&B and dance music styles.
About the record: “Let’s Sweat” modernizes 90’s garage house and techno flavours and with a lively, colourful vocal by F-MACK, it’s obviously intended to be THE key party song in a club set. And I could see that succeeding for Coeur Acide. The invested house rhythm and sometimes clanky effects provide a lot of zest to mesh the 90’s with the 2020’s. Classic songs by Masters at Work and Armand van Helden come to mind as sources, and both of those artists produced many a fine party track. “Let’s Sweat” could lift any club set with ease only to own it in the end.
Other comments: Next up is Coeur Acide’s self-titled EP, which will fuse futuristic-sounding dance music and R&B, and is bound to be one for the ravers.
JORGE WILSON, “Life Goes On”
About the artist: Jorge Wilson is one of my fab new indie finds of 2025, hailing from Stoke-on-Trent in northern England. It all started for me with “Gemini” just before the top of the year, a rocking bop if there ever was one, which reached #3 on the BILLCS Top 30 and just recently departed the chart after 20 weeks.
About the record: “Life Goes On” is a breezy slice of pop/rock that’s the lone new song in his debut EP JPW. The song is an aftermath to a relationship when you’re finally in a place where you can think about moving on. Life’s not quite the beach yet, but there’s a solace to being alone with the entire world in front of you to enjoy. I enjoy Jorge’s writing style, which I knew right away comes from an honest, well thought-out place. The production and mix give the songs a huge lift with a full and appealing soundscape. Props to Jorge too for his falsetto and fluid guitar work.
Other comments: Jorge’s new EP JPW also includes the previous singles that I’ve written about, “Gemini” and “This Means Nothing (To Me)”, both of which are big current favourites of mine.
MICHAEL GILAS, “You Don’t Get to Say Goodbye”
About the artist: Michael Gilas is a San Diego-based singer/songwriter who only turned to music a few years ago after a near-fatal horseback writing accident. He has since had three charting singles on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart and released his debut album earlier this year.
About the record: Michael’s music goes down easy despite obvious complexities in his lyrics. “You Don’t Get to Say Goodbye” is about being “lovebombed”, only to find the relationship ending as fast as it began. And it’s a defensive position that the title of the song takes to tell one’s ex, meaning there’s no closure for that person, on their terms anyway. Michael has a beautiful tone in his voice, and the song, like previous releases, takes a lot of musical cues from the 80’s – Steely Dan, Michael McDonald and other “yacht rock” acts for this song particularly, and that’s never a bad thing.
Other comments: It appears another album might be on its way, as Michael’s Instagram indicates a release called Dress Rehearsal is out on May 16.
KEN TIZZARD & MUSIC FOR GOATS, “If You Were Wrong”
About the artist: Ken Tizzard & Music for Goats is a Canadian trio that blends rock, country and folk influences. It features singer, songwriter and bassist Ken (ex-Watchmen/Thornley), bassist Ken Grain and guitarist Neil Lucy. Thus far they have released a live album, a studio album, and a Christmas EP as well as several singles. “If You Were Wrong” follows up their recent cover of Gen X’s 70’s punk classic “Kiss Me Deadly”.
About the record: “If You Were Wrong” is actually a 20th anniversary remake of a song from Ken’s 2006 album Quiet Storey House – An Introduction. I’m not familiar with the original but it has been updated to experience a more contemporary arrangement with different musicians. At times, “If You Were Wrong” reminds me of a mix of songs from David Usher/Moist, Bush, and Live. Ken has a flair for weaving similar stories as the other artists while perceptively revitalizing a late 90’s rock sound, right down to the fuzzy guitar at the end, that he lived and performed through. It’s becoming increasingly appealing and fascinating to a younger generation 20+ years later, and I’d pitch this song to them as much as I would fans of the performers I’ve mentioned.
Other comments: Ken Tizzard & Music for Goats are currently working on their studio album follow-up to 2024’s The Dagg Sessions.
THE MOSS, “Big Blue Moon”
About the artist: The Moss is an indie Salt Lake City-based alternative rock trio led by singer/songwriter and guitarist Tyke James. Big Blue Moon is also the title of their third album and first since 2021.
About the record: “Big Blue Moon” harvests a blend of melodies that are alternately throwbacks to 80’s/90’s bands like The Replacements and comparable to others of today like Twenty-One Pilots. The overall sound is gritty, but with a romantic side, and this song has a light reggae rhythm which helps it stand apart from other songs on the album. It also uses a production technique similar to Sombr’s vocals which sounds semi-distorted. “Big Blue Moon” keeps you listening because it doesn’t hesitate to switch things up during the song and thus takes you on an interesting mini-adventure.
Other comments: The Moss wraps up a short US tour in Fort Collins and Englewood, Colorado, today and tomorrow, and finally in Salt Lake City on the 16th.
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.
This week:
Hayla’s soothing electronic ballad “Heal”
Last week:
A new beauty from Conan Gray’s deluxe edition of Wishbone called “Door”
“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the owner and program director of online station Halton Hills Radio Online.
Big Daddy’s record of the week will return
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, including Chicago-based Lake Radio Online where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week. Hunter is also on air Fridays on “Hot Hits with Hunter” on UK station Dodge Radio, and it too broadcasts the New Music Pick. Check the schedule for my New Music Pick of the Week on the blog home page near the bottom.`
It’s previous EuroVision contestant, Finland’s Käärijä, teaming up with Sweden’s Basshunter for “Ja Eller Nej”
BILL’S RETRO PICK OF THE WEEK
My Retro Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that currently airs on The Musicman James Rogers’ “The 3D Variety Show” and KPHR Kat Power Radio.
It’s “You Could Have Been a Lady” by Canada’s April Wine from 1972, a cover of the UK hit by Hot Chocolate
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show (6 – 9pm EST Tuesdays). 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.
The Classic five will return
Show #12 featuring Preston Pablo:
Show #11 featuring Kiesza:
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
Will Swinton gets his first #1 on the chart with “Better Off”
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
Zayn’s “Sideways” to me is the focal track from his recent album KONNAKOL and moves up 26-9
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
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