Canadian radio lost one of its legendary heroes when David Marsden passed away last Friday at age 85. His innovative work as Program Director in the formative years of CFNY-FM (now Toronto’s Edge 102.1) was when it transitioned from its physical locale in a small house in Brampton to studios in Toronto. CFNY was college radio taken a few steps up a notch with well-researched music programming that included a lot of imported punk and new wave tracks for which many of us lined up at downtown Toronto record stores to purchase before their domestic releases (and sometimes that didn’t happen). David Marsden’s openness to a variety of radio shows hosted by DJ’s who clearly loved the music they played was the stark alternative to the radio formats of the early 80’s which were growing stale – the signpost of today’s sad state of pop radio had already begun. If you wanted something fresh, new, stimulating and sometimes challenging, you tuned into CFNY.
In this edition of the Report, you can also check out my new music and retro picks of the week, as well as a record of the week from “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, and “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. This week, “The Musicman” James Rogers’ Classic Five choices reflect the pop, rock and alternative sounds of 1984 (coincidentally including my retro pick of the week). Please do check out the playlist for my all-Canadian hour, The MAPL Tapes, with Show #31 and songs by featured artist Kardinal Offishall. You’ll also find out what songs were in the Top 5 of the BILLCS Top 30 5-10-15-20-25 years ago!
Reminder: Click on the photos to listen to the songs on Spotify.
TAME, ARI., “Psycho”
About the artists: TAME is a 16 year old dance producer from Germany who has already released a song with Sam Feldt and is releasing on Sam’s Heartfeldt label in conjunction with One Seven Music. The vocalist ARI. (real name Hannes Volz) is also from Germany, and has been releasing music in collaborations with other artists for the last five years.
About the record: “Psycho” could be a signpost for a new era in German Eurodance given the young age of its ace producer TAME. It’s a bouncy bop graced by the soft but attentive tones of vocalist ARI., as well as fluid lyrics with an infectious beat. “Psycho” grows on you quickly and is a refreshing release among many multi-layered EDM releases that are drenched in effects. TAME and his team keep the production vibrant and clean.
Other comments: If TAME is a new prodigy of Sam Feldt, then we will be hearing a lot more from him, just like we did Martin Garrix, Oliver Heldens, Whethan, Throttle and others.
K.C. & THE SUNSHINE BAND, “I Feel You” (StoneBridge remix)
About the artist: K.C. (aka Harry Wayne Casey) and his Sunshine Band continue to release new contemporary dance music that doesn’t sound much like their halcyon disco days, but that’s not a bad thing at all. Having remixes like this by the likes of StoneBridge is a bonus.
About the record: “I Feel You” is a lovely, lyrically minimalist release that has huge potential for dance clubs, especially for late nights. In particular, StoneBridge’s remix provides a nice refresh on the original mix, incorporating an acoustic guitar riff sound that is one of its hooks. K.C. sounds great too on this one. He’s got a deeper range now but when his voice soars it really enhances the song. I think this one will be a favourite of mine in the coming months.
Other comments: I found out about this release through Ray Caviano’s Facebook posts, as his company RFC is promoting the song. Sadly Ray, a disco/dance legendary record label executive and promoter, passed away suddenly on Tuesday age 75, so this release now has a bittersweet side to it.
WE ARE FURY, newshapes, “Begging for a Host”
About the artists: We Are Fury is an electronic production duo from Vancouver consisting of Joachim and Stuart, and I’ve written about their songs several times, but not for a few years. “Begging for a Host” is their first release in two years. newshapes is a hard rock singer from Scotland.
About the record: Just when interest in future bass is reigniting, the release of “Begging for a Host” could not be better timed for We Are Fury. With the presence of vocalist newshapes, “Begging” is a hard-hitting, well done electronic record which is screamed-sung effectively by newshapes. The song truly has a creepy side to it, almost like a parasite looking to find the right kind of weakened host to possess. So there’s huge appeal here for both heavy electronic music fans as well as those who enjoy their rock on the harder side, i.e. metal core, death metal, etc.
Other comments: “Begging for a Host” is the title track from We Are Fury’s second album and their first in six years, due October 30.
MALE ORDER BRIDES, “They Don’t Know”
About the artist: Male Order Brides is an indie Toronto-area rock quartet which originally formed in 1991 and released an album three years later, but have reunited in recent years – I caught them in concert a while back opening up for The James Clark Institute.
About the record: “They Don’t Know” is a cover of the song written by the late great Kirsty MacColl but popularized as a North American hit for British singer/comedian Tracey Ullman in 1984. I’m pretty sure they performed it when I saw the band’s show, and it’s an amped up rendition that replaces Tracey’s cute vocal with the brash tones of vocalists John Markun and Sonny Navarro, sweetened with harmony vocals by Leah Markun. This version of “They Don’t Know” is really too cool to resist and very deserving of your attention. It’s a timely cover of a song not often heard anymore but still sounding fresh and vibrant in a rocking arrangement.
Other comments: “They Don’t Know” appears on Male Order Brides’ 2025 album release Downtown Love.
MICHAEL DIMUCCIO, “Split”
About the artist: Michael DiMuccio is a 24 year old singer/songwriter from Toronto but now based in L.A. He has a large social media following across platforms, but is relatively new to releasing music. “Split” is his fourth single release.
About the record: Michael is definitely on his A-game with “Split”, an infectious pop single that will appeal to fans of fellow Canadians Alex Sampson and Johnny Orlando. He and his team have the chops to write and produce some fine songs and Michael’s voice has a fresh kind of appeal that will sound good on the radio.
Other comments: Michael opened Crash Adams’ show in Toronto a few weeks back. His on stage appeal combined with solid songs instantly won over the audience.
JENNY JAM, “Toy Proof”
About the artist: London-born, L.A.-based Jenny JAM (née Jennifer Moxham) is a singer/songwriter and actress whose influences pull from multiple genres including pop, R&B and jazz, while her fashion motif is a modern spin on 1920’s glamour. “Toy Proof” is her first single in four years.
About the record: “Toy Proof” may initially strike you as a whimsical, bouncy pop release, but what’s on the surface masks a story of heartbreak and the painful realization that a relationship may have not been what she thought it was. Fortunately, from most of such personal events, there is the opportunity to regroup and so the song becomes an unheralded anthem about resiliance and self-recognition, and the ability to move on to better things. Jenny JAM has a diverse and powerful voice with an impressive range, and the sophisticated sound of “Toy Proof” gives her the opportunity to make your ears ring with those talents.
Other comments: “Toy Proof” comes from Jenny JAM’s upcoming debut album, Trains, Planes and Airports.
RACHEL BOCHNER, “Collar”
About the artist: Rachel Bochner follows up her recent single “Say That You Don’t”, which I wrote about recently. She’s a Brooklyn-based queer indie alt.pop singer/songwriter who writes candidly about the complexities of life and its relationships.
About the record: “Collar” explores treading into provocative territory – the thought of a relationship with someone who is currently taken. The thing is, cheating on someone happens all the time in the world, so “Collar” works from the vantage point of a good person trying to come to grips with her attraction and serving as a potential muse to someone who clearly wants the attention. Fans of Olivia Rodrigo, Avril Lavigne and even Conan Gray will enjoy the wavering mix of emotions against a guitar-filled rock backdrop that serves inconclusively as a springboard for your own thoughts on the subject matter.
Other comments: “Collar” comes from Rachel’s second album I Guess a Sure Thing Couldn’t Go Down Gently, which is now available on all streaming platforms.
HEKLER, EKONOVAH, “My Own Thing”
About the artists: Hekler and Ekonovah are American electronic dance producers. Hekler (aka Shaun Bacus) specializes in dubstep and future bass productions, while Ekonovah (aka Stephen Scotti), about whom I’ve written several times, fuses house and bass music.
About the record: “My Own Thing” is a fun instrumental mix of dubstep and bass music that’s guaranteed to give your speakers or headphones a good shake. The producers provide some solid structure yet layered enough to sound pretty random at times, and generate some memorable hooks along the way. There are loads of sync and video game possibilities for this track, and fans of the producers’ sub-genres will certainly make the most of it.
Other comments: The current interest forming again around future bass should help “My Own Thing” get attention.
Show #31 with songs by featured artist Kardinal Offishall
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
Oliver Heldens covers Freeez’s 1983 hit “IOU” as “AEIOU” with British producers Kryder and The Young Punx
BILL’S RETRO PICK OF THE WEEK
It’s the acapella cover of Yazoo’s “Only You” by The Flying Pickets (1983)
“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.
The legendary Chaka Khan returns with “Curious Subject” from her first album in seven years, Chakzilla
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 Sweden’s Galantis with “Do You Mind”
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show (6 – 9pm EST Tuesdays, now on vacation until October 20). 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.
Genesis – Illegal Alien
The Flying Pickets – Only You (see my Retro Pick above for link to the song)
Howard Jones – New Song
Saga – Scratching The Surface
Pukka Orchestra – Listen To The Radio
THE BILLCS TOP 30 – 5-10-15-20-25…
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