I have no additional commentary in this week’s BILLCS New Music Report, so I’ll let the music speak to you for itself!
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 mixes it up in his selections from late 1974 and early 1975. Please do check out the playlist for my all-Canadian hour, The MAPL Tapes, with Show #32 and songs by featured artist Tegan & Sara with their first new music in four years. You’ll also find out what songs are #1 and the Fastest Riser in the latest edition of the BILLCS Top 30!
Reminder: Click on the photos to listen to the songs on Spotify.
OLIVER HELDENS, WILL CLARKE, “Lost in Music”
About the artists: Oliver Heldens is the Dutch producer who arrived on the scene in 2014 at age 18 with his UK #1 “Gecko (Overdrive)” and has been on the A List of EDM producers ever since. Will Clarke arrived on the scene in the early 2000’s at age 17 and also had an immediate rise into performing at festivals. He was one of the songwriters on Deadmaus & Kaskade’s Grammy-nominated Kx5 album project.
About the record: “Lost in Music” was a huge hit in the UK and Europe for Sister Sledge despite missing all but the R&B chart the US in 1979. It has over the years reached anthem status in the dance music community, and Oliver and Will have seized the perfect moment in time to fashion their own version. It’s incredibly faithful to the original thanks to prominent samples of the original, but digs down much deeper in its bass groove to become a contemporary disco house track. Dance radio and DJ’s should be all over this one and bravo to Oliver and Will for making a great choice which follows quick on the heels of Oliver’s other cover, “AEIOU”, which just arrived on the BILLCS Top 30 at #25.
Other comments: “Lost in Music” was actually a hit in the UK and Europe THREE times. It reached the Top 10 in its 1984 Nile Rodgers remix, and was remixed again in 1993. The original is from Sister Sledge’s classic Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards-produced disco album We Are Family.
KINGA, “Loving”
About the artist: Kinga is a Toronto pop/dance singer/songwriter who returned to music after a 35 year absence. His latest releases have been collaborations with legendary Swedish dance producer StoneBridge and veteran British producers Luv Foundation (UK).
About the record: This time, “Loving” is once again produced by Luv Foundation (UK), and takes some cues from British and European house rhythms of the 90’s but with a revved up arrangement for fans of Kinga’s recent electronic bop, “Pump”, which is now over 30K streams on Spotify alone. Kinga’s vocal is similarly energized and urgent, and those house beats are sure to grab the listener to get those bodies shaking, so perhaps more will ensue on the dance floor. Club DJ’s looking for a song to anchor a fast-paced house set need look no further.
Other comments: “Pump” continues to rise up the BILLCS Top 30, now sitting pretty at #15, following “Just Play the Music” (with StoneBridge) which recently peaked at #5.
ALAN GERBER, “Over Again”
About the artist: Alan Gerber was a member of 60’s rock group Rhinoceros for its first two albums and has been a solo artist for over 30 years specializing in a bluesy rock style. I recently wrote about the title track to his latest album, The Well.
About the record: “Over Again” is classic, old school-styled bluesy rock, and all you need to do is listen to hear the effortless appeal of the track and the artist’s more than 55 years of experience. You can feel the enthusiasm and zeal for his craft in the passionate vocal and the resignation to the adage “if you can’t get it right, do it again”. I’m sure he’s had more than his fair share of redo’s over the years, and today’s technology provides older musicians with the opportunity to create fine new music if they are no longer performing shows. “Over Again” is the sum of all of its top notch parts.
Other comments: Most of the songs on The Well were co-written with Alan’s long-time songwriting partner Rolf Kempt, who sadly passed away shortly before the album’s release.
GENE CHAMPAGNE, “I’m Disconnected”
About the artist: Hamilton, Ontario’s Gene Champagne is both a solo artist and the current drummer for long-time Canadian rock favourites, Teenage Head.
About the record: “I’m Disconnected” is another fun romp that marries late 70’s punk style and ideology with contemporary alternative rock. It’s an appealing and succinct three minutes+ blend of what Gene does best with his band and his vocal is solid. College and alternative radio stations can’t go wrong with this melodic bop that retains its grittiness throughout.
Other comments: Gene Champagne has recently released his debut solo album with a terrific title, Too Pop for Punk…Too Punk to Care, which contains four new songs, “I’m Disconnected” among them. It also includes the previous single releases which I’ve written about, “I Can’t Pretend”, “Gimme Ammunition”, and his faithful cover of The Ohio Express’ 1968 hit “Yummy Yummy Yummy”.
GARY CALAMAR, MARK MOTHERSBAUGH, “I Got an Idea”
About the artist: NYC born Gary Calamar wears many hats besides indie singer/songwriter. He is an L.A. radio host, currently on The SoCal Sound (KCSN), and before that for many years on KCRW. He’s also a Grammy-nominated music supervisor who has TV shows like Six Feet Under, True Blood, Entourage, and Dexter among his credits. He’s been a published author, band manager and a record store manager too.
About the record: Among his many musician friends, Gary enlisted Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh as guest vocalist and co-writer to collaborate with him on “I Got an Idea”, which is a rework of a song from Gary’s debut EP on Atlantic from 2014, You Are What You Listen To. It’s a fresh-sounding paean to the brisk new wave that was fashioned by bands like Devo in the late 70’s. A key to the whimsical sound of this release is to keep the lyrics and arrangement simple. And it’s just got enough electronic effects to make it that much more interesting and memorable.
Other comments: “I Got an Idea” was first recorded in the 90’s by a band that Gary managed called Eggplant. Gary’s new version will appear on his debut album Odd Numb3rs and Slanted Rhymes, which also includes a guest appearance by alternative rock fave Robyn Hitchcock.
ANDRIES, “Bird of Paradise”
About the artist: Andries is electronic musician Trevor Metz from Ventura, California, who by day is a veteran sound effects editor with credits such as “Jennifer’s Body”, “17 Again”, and “Lost in Space”.
About the record: With all of his experience in the motion picture arts, Andries knows how to keep the intrigue level up with an almost 7 minute instrumental like “Bird of Paradise”. The production is pristine, but best of all is how he shapes the song and lets it progress in unpredictably commanding ways. This will assuredly make his music of keen interest to sync supervisors for video games, short films and TV shows.
Other comments: This is the first of what I anticipate will be many releases by Andries, whose music I expect will find footing first through word of mouth.
Show #32 with songs by featured artist Tegan & Sara
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
It’s Dallas dance producer MashBit and Atlanta vocalist Alto Moon with “My Love”
BILL’S RETRO PICK OF THE WEEK
The retro pick will return in two weeks.
“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.
It’s “I Kinda Like That” by Atlanta punk-pop quartet The Paradox
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.
“I Will Come for You” is by southern California duo MAAPS with vocalist Sam Martin
“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.
Billy Swan – I Can Help
Carol Douglas – Doctor’s Orders
Jethro Tull – Bungle In The Jungle
James Leroy & Denim – Lady Ellen
Gloria Gaynor – Never Can Say Goodbye
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
Scott Helman holds at #1 with “Mr. Record Label”. He also announced shows in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto in December.
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
It’s UK producer WH0 with the fun and rollicking “Who Can Dance” (20-11)
You must be logged in to post a comment.