When @ChetPorter drops a new song you pay attention, and “The Longest Day Ever” sounds like nothing else out there

CHET PORTER, “The Longest Day Ever”

Aside from remixes, an original Chet Porter release is becoming an event in the electronic and dance music genres.  So a few weeks back, social media was all abuzz about “The Longest Day Ever”, the talented Canadian producer’s first release in about three years.  Like when you first heard the music of Porter Robinson and Illenium, you’ll find that Chet’s music is both innovative and challenging.  He seems to find that place in-between genres and fills a void that you didn’t even know was there.  “The Longest Day Ever” is progressive electronica, essentially an instrumental with a classical-styled melody.  When not basking in that melody, Chet fuels some big beats with powerful synth rhythms which will be head-turners at festivals and in clubs.  Set your emotions to ‘open’ because “The Longest Day Ever” takes you on a 5 minute ride that you will hope will continue in some shape or form.  I don’t think it will be another three years, so let’s listen for what Chet will bring us next.

“London” is L.A.’s @MollyMooremusic at her most sultry, soulful, and diverse

MOLLY MOORE, “London”

After a couple of quieter, perhaps more experimental singles, L.A. singer/songwriter Molly Moore has turned her talents towards a sultry, soulful side that we haven’t seen too much with “London”.  I’m sure this song was inspired by a recent trip to that city, and sometimes with new places come new perspectives.  “London” also taps into classic jazz influences that we’ve previously heard, making it a standout release in her growing catalogue of recordings.  If you like Jessie Ware, Dusty Springfield, or Lisa Stansfield, then be sure to add “London” to a similar playlist.  Hint: A 4 or 5 song EP in this style would be more than welcome!!

The voice of Scotland’s Ben Davidson @bdavidsonmusic shines on both the @HandbagHouse remix of “Anything” and @DSMmusic’s ballad “In The Rain”

BEN DAVIDSON, “Anything” (Handbag House remix)

DSM and BEN DAVIDSON, “In The Rain”

Scotland’s Ben Davidson has one of those captivating voices that will alternately make an uptempo song more vibrant or let a softer song make you melt.  

Ben recently released the single “Anything” for Energise Records, but in its original mix I find his vocal doesn’t so much go hand-in-hand with the production’s additional layers of sparkle.  In its remix by Handbag House, “Anything” is so well suited for the deep house genre that you would think it was the original mix.  Like with Sam Dickinson’s “Wild Sun” last year, Handbag House offers a solid alternative for dance clubs to relish.

While Ben co-wrote “Anything”, it and “In The Rain” were co-written by Dan Scholes, a veteran British producer who also records as DSM.  Instead of Ben, “In The Rain” was co-written with Canadian Kim Williams, and it’s an independent release that puts Ben into more-than-comfortable ballad territory, which invokes a story of a past relationship and being constantly haunted by the anguish some memories can cause.  DSM and Ben are so in tune together, making “In The Rain” a stylish and memorable treat for those who like softer music with a great voice to lead the way.

New pop flavours mix with the progressive sounds of electronic producer @iamtheElephante with “Diamond Days”

ELEPHANTE, “Diamond Days”

After touring the hell out of North America for more than the last year, US progressive electronic producer Elephante (aka Tim Wu) has still found time to make more new music.  To follow up his 2018 release Glass Mansion, Elephante brings us “Diamond Days”.  And with this release, he has offered up his own quite pleasing voice to sing the song.  It’s a downright lovely and reflective song, much more personal-sounding than some of his other recent songs which have been sung by powerhouse singers which took them to another level, especially the dance music radio hit “The In-Between”.  “Diamond Days” brings the intensity down a few notches in the vocal department, but it’s compensated by some big beats and rich electronics that transform the song after its chorus.  It’s quite refreshing and will make you recall when you first heard one of his very best known songs, “Closer”, more than three years ago.  Elephante continues to surprise with each of his releases, but I’ll take a few more like “Diamond Days”, thank you.

Electronic performer @Frankmusik is back with a pleasing new house-flavoured original, “Do What”

FRANKMUSIK, “Do What”

Now based out of Los Angeles, British electronic performer Frankmusik, written about much in these blog pages over the years, returns with his first new solo music in two years called “Do What”.  This one could be an extension and update of some of Vincent Frank’s best known music from 2013’s Between album, such as, “Captain”, “Map” or “Cake”.  He now may have stepped aside from his highly personal and melodic independent releases of the past few years, “AW17”, “Daybreak” and “For You”, in favour of returning to dance music.  “Do What” is definitely a welcome reboot, with Vince playing with and distorting his own wonderful voice to interesting effect.  The rhythm is carried by consistently punchy house beats and piano riffs which will sound perfect in clubs.  And the pitched-up vocal near the end definitely provides the whacked-out feel of the earlier songs mentioned above without being as frenetic.  I’m hoping that this new amusing and entertaining Frankmusik sound in “Do What” is back to stay!

New Atlanta pop/electronic duo Vedado, featuring returning producer @Popeska, do it their way with “Messing Around”

VEDADO, “Messing Around”

Vedado is Atlanta duo Ralf Popescu – aka electronic producer Popeska, making a return to the music scene after a lengthy absence – and Matt Petters, two friends who first started writing together 5 years ago, and are now committing music to recording with their debut single “Messing Around”.  It’s got a tight pop/rock sound thanks to the surprising ample presence of electric guitar, which carries the song’s melody all the way through, and lets synths and other instruments play second fiddle to flesh it all out.  To be honest I’m not sure what the song is all about and yeah, perhaps the guys aren’t 100% on the mark with the vocal.  But it’s an infectious song that definitely gives you what Vedado hoped – a fun, light-hearted, collaborative vibe. And who could knock them for that?

Nashville R&B/pop singer @RLumRmusic is on the bubble with major label release “Cold”

R.LUM.R., “Cold”

A lot has happened since last October when I first wrote about R&B/pop singer/songwriter R.LUM.R.  He signed to Island Records, has had millions of plays on Spotify, has been written up in Rolling Stone, is being booked for festivals… yeah the kind of stuff to which most performers look forward.  And his debut album Surfacing is out on October 4/19.  It’s been preceded by the single “Cold”, the story of when romance simply dies in a relationship, in this case reassuring that it’s nobody’s fault.  R.LUM.R.’s voice is equally effective when it’s quiet or soaring, and “Cold” offers both.  It’s for those who like their R&B with alternative flavours, and could do well on open-minded radio stations who like to play newer talent before other stations.  “Cold” is very convincing and would likely be best heard live in a small club setting.

Prolific Boston singer/songwriter @AlmostOwenmusic will entertain you with “From The Outside”

ALMOST OWEN, “From The Outside”

Boston’s Almost Owen is definitely one of the new talents of 2019 to whom you should pay attention.  While he’s an indie singer/songwriter and bedroom producer, with entertaining stories like “From The Outside” signalling why his music might be meant for more than that.  Every song he releases is distinctly different yet quite recognizable as Almost Owen.  I’m still digging his fun, brief and in-your-face “We Out Here”, which is an interesting contrast to “From The Outside”, a song that seems to take a lot of cues from late 70’s AM radio pop – taking me back to Kenny Nolan’s “I Like Dreaming” for story, and Starbuck’s “Moonlight Feels Right” for melody – as well as classic performers like his mentor Paul Simon and James Taylor.  Almost Owen creates fresh slices of life carried by lovely melodies and infectious rhythms, and “From The Outside” puts him another notch ahead.

L.A. singer/songwriter @AllyHills straddles dance and pop with earworm “Not Now”

ALLY HILLS, “Not Now”

L.A. singer/songwriter Ally Hills is not only a multi-instrumentalist – guitar, drums, keys – but she’s also a You Tube vlogger who often posts about LGBTQ issues and has over 700,000 followers there.  “Not Now” apparently breaks away from two previous darker sounding songs in favour of a chipper melody that carries the story of someone who denies that a relationship has ended, spending time reveling in what-could-have’s and what-might-have’s.  It’s an instantly likeable, breezy earworm with a playful but knowing vocal that deserves attention alongside those new Ariana Grande and Lana Del Rey songs.

Jamaica-born Caymanian singer/songwriter/producer @LonneyLove celebrates new love with “Waiting 4 U”

LONNEY LOVE, “Waiting 4 U”

Even if his last name wasn’t Love, you could easily tell that R&B/pop singer Lonney Love is a romantic, given his passionate vocal on his new single “Waiting 4 U” from his upcoming EP.  The singer, songwriter and producer has absolutely gorgeous tone in his voice that is reminiscent of Seal.  Although “Waiting 4 U” weaves an honest and interesting story of love whose hook definitely sinks in after a few listens, I find it a bit too deliberately paced.  It’s a fine enough introduction though and I definitely want to hear more from Lonney Love.