It’s a bit of a stretch away from the electronic dance/pop with which we’ve become familiar with L.A. duo Cosmos & Creature through their own releases or their numerous features over the last few years. This time, Molly Moore and Brandyn Burnette get some huge and intriguing assists from Steve Aoki, who produced and co-wrote “The Wonder”. It’s an other-worldy, trippy, trappy-sounding effort on which Molly (who also co-wrote) is most showcased this time. The song seems to use echoes as a device to represent either an overload of emotions or information that leave us caught up in wonder, only to be taken away from it, willingly or not. “The Wonder” is C&C at their most experimental and creative and fans will definitely dig it.
“I’m Not Alright” has a lot going forward for it to land it onto dance club playlists and keep the worldwide radio audiences happy who found Toronto’s Loud Luxury (Andrew and Joe) through the massive “Body”. And with a penchant for including unique vocalists like both brando (“Body”) and Anders (“Love No More”), this time the boys partner with the very chill but always fun Bryce Vine. I caught Bryce’s show last year and he knows how to captivate an audience with his good-natured, self-deprecating humour. “I’m Not Alright” sometimes comes off as a close cousin of Milky Chance’s “Stolen Dance”, but with a deep house melody that is also reminiscent of Kungs & Cookin on 3 Burners’ “This Girl”. Bryce’s voice is often set against a quieter acoustic portion of the song before the bass rhythm kicks in. While “I’m Not Alright” isn’t quite as easy a sell as “Body”, Loud Luxury have another winner that will please their fans and keep the radio airplay prominent.
You’ve already met singer/actor and sometime voice actor Will Bowes through this blog with both his solo songs and his music as singer with the R&B/pop collective called Gold Complex. “Runway Lights” is his new single and its appealing melody and uplifting lyrics are just what pop radio needs right now in Canada to help cut through a lot of samey-sounding dross. Will has a rich, soulful and expressive tone which makes every word mean something, and could be a breakout talent to watch this year. The production is straight-forward and compliments both melody and voice. Sometimes you can’t ask for more than a pop song that has the goods and “Runway Lights” should do well and perhaps attract attention from beyond Canada in the process.
Will Bowes plays The Drake Hotel in Toronto on Monday, July 22 – see you there!
Who says you can’t have a great time dancing the night away and still appreciate the person that you rely on, to be there when you need them the most? That’s the appeal of “When It Goes Down” by SoCal singer/songwriter Dree Mon. She returns to spread the easy going dance/pop we previously heard in songs like “No Chill” and “Rebel Soul” last year. With a song like “When It Goes Down”, summer can indeed be all year round, and Dree’s enthusiasm in her vocal is contagious, along with an undeniable hook that owes much to classic 70’s and 80’s hits. When the bass keeps thumping that beat out a good time will be had by all, positive messages conveyed in the process. “When It Goes Down” will find a happy place on any summer dance music playlist.
If last month’s “Runaway” was an interesting slice of alt.dance music, then “Rather Be Friends”, by Toronto duo Homestead (producer/guitarist Liam DeBoer and vocalist Joël), ups the intrigue ante a few more notches. You must stick with this one. The beginning definitely starts off a little slow, but just after the minute mark things start to brew, and electronics creep in. Then with some change-ups to Joël’s vocal, at times sung/spoken, the mystery of the song starts to reveal itself – who is it that would actually ‘rather be friends’ here? The last minute of the song is well worth waiting for, as Joël’s vocal totally rocks out and catches you by surprise. Like with “Runaway”, there’s a lot of mystique in “Rather Be Friends”, but this time it’s more rock-flavoured and could appeal to fans of Toronto’s Edge 102 or Indie-88, where it should find favour on either of their playlists. I guess we will never entirely know what’s up Liam’s and Joël’s sleeves, and because of this, a few songs in, Homestead as a project has a lot of potential.
There’s a lot happening on the new chart. And it’s a bit of a strange week, because most of the debuts from two weeks ago don’t move up very much, except one, which is the Fastest Riser on the chart. That’s because a number of long-term favourites are still very much in play up near the top of the chart, and they’ve created a bit of a roadblock which will ease over the next month. But two classic singers reappear on the chart along with a strong independent release on the rise.
Not about to let go of #1 anytime soon is “Good Things Fall Apart”, the definitive slice of emotional electronica which seems to have increased in popularity this year, by Illenium and singer/songwriter Jon Bellion.
Nashville’s Mokita has a song about reconciling his feelings for a past relationship called “Kiss And Tell” (above) that advances to #3, which is where his previous song “London” peaked a couple of months ago. And he’s followed up “Kiss And Tell” with a gentle new electronic pop song called “ICLYA”, which stands for “I Can’t Love You Anymore” (below).
Canadian producer Famba has his second solid radio hit locally with “Swear To God”, and it becomes his second Top 10 song on this chart, moving 11-6. “Right Here Right Now” got to #2 back in late 2016.
A number of veteran dance producers are releasing some of the best music of their careers this year, and Australia’s Timmy Trumpet is one of them. The compelling “World At Our Feet” (above) climbs 13-7. Check our Danny Avila’s spot-on remix below.
Another producer making his Top 10 debut on the chart is France’s Kidswaste, with vocalist KOLE, with the slight melodies of “Sleeping Pills” climbing 12-10.
The next song is definitely competing with other strong songs from Mark Ronson’s Late Night Feelings album, including songs featuring Lykki Li and Camila Cabello. But it’s “Don’t Leave Me Lonely”, featuring the stunning YEBBA, which takes hold of this chart and moves up 17-11.
Manila Killa recently announced another leg of his 1993 tour, which will actually stop this time in Toronto at the Velvet Underground in October 🙂 In the meantime “Atypical” (featuring GiGi) climbs up a few more notches 16-13.
Breaking through all six of the new entries from two weeks ago to become the Fastest Riser is “Monday Blues”, the super cool house track from L.A.’s Eric Sharp and vocalist Zhao. It soars 25-18.
Also making a big move is “Even In Confusion” by Italy’s Eric Zava and DJ Mirko B featuring singer Daniel Gorash, rising 28-23. Mirko previously appeared on the chart at the top of 2017 with “#Bomber” (#17) with Beatmarthz.
The Highest Debut at a stellar #16 is “Higher Love”, the cover of the 1986 #1 hit by Steve Winwood as recorded by Norway’s Kygo, who was given the opportunity of working with archive tapes from the estate of Whitney Houston to bring her classic voice, circa 1990, to a new audience. It’s a timely release for its message; Arista Records wouldn’t include it in the I’m Your Baby Tonight album at the time because they wanted her to get away from recording cover versions, and the original was still fairly fresh at the time. But bravo to Kygo and those on the estate who trusted him to represent the singer well – which he does perfectly 🙂 Strangely, it’s Kygo’s first appearance on this chart. Last year’s “Remind Me To Forget” with Miguel should have charted but I didn’t hear it till well after it peaked. Whitney only appeared three times on the chart in her lifetime, with “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” and “My Love Is Your Love” (both #9) in 1999, and the underrated duet with Enrique Iglesias, “Could I Have This Kiss Forever” (#15), in 2000.
After reaching #5 on this chart late last year with “Wild Sun”, UK singer/songwriter Sam Dickinson is back with the hearfelt “All We Are” at #26. This one is receiving regular BBC radio play and hopefully its audience will grow with each spin. Like with “Higher Love”, the message is extremely timely. It’s from Sam’s new EP From The Glass House Part 2. “All We Are”, like “Wild Sun”, is also available on an EP of a variety of remixes for your dancing pleasure.
The third debut is from a performer who last appeared on this chart in 2003, which to date has been her only appearance. That’s Celine Dion, whose new song “Flying On My Own”, is nothing short of inspiring and bows at #29. Her previous entry on the chart? Her cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “I Drove All Night”, which in its Hex Hector remix version reached #16. Watch the live performance of “Flying On My Own” above.
View the full BILLCS Top 30right here! Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!
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I must admit I do not listen to full album releases much these days. But after a couple of promising single releases, you owe it to yourself to check out Nashville duo Apollo LTD’s debut album Out Of Body. It puts all of their singles and two previous EP’s into one convenient place, and shows how cohesive these songs sound when you listen to them all consecutively.
Call it today’s Power Pop – incredibly strong melodies that naturally blend pop, rock, and dance genres, featuring multi-layered stories that can apply to anyone. The tight production has a wall-of-sound effect which gives the music a retro-classic kind of feel. Jordan Phillips is the vocalist with the affecting tones while Adam Stark handles production but both handle the various instrumentation. The combined sounds of synths with live instruments also offers a big, full sound on the album.
I’ve already written about “Misfits”, “On The Way Up”, and the ballad “Heaven (All Around You)”. The latter song also appears in its more uptempo version, while “On The Way Up” has been re-recorded and seems to emphasize more anthemic dance qualities than the mainstream sound of the original. “On The Way Up 2.0” (above) is probably my favourite on the album, with “Misfits”, “Supernatural” (also above), “Drive”, and “Tired Of L.A.” all memorable in their own special ways.
Out Of Body is a consistent effort from Apollo LTD with undeniably fine songwriting and production that sets their songs apart from the rest.
With loads of talent stemming from My Darkest Days, Smashing Satellites, I Mother Earth, finger eleven and Default, Bonds Of Mara is ready to put good old Canadian rock and roll back on the map with “Lights Out”. The singer is Brian Byrne, on guitar and vocals we have Sal Costa, Dave Benedict is on bass, and Rich Beddoe is the drummer, and when they all came together there was so much synergy that it was enough to kickstart a new, if unexpected, collaboration. “Lights Out” doesn’t offer much that’s new but it offers solid contemporary rock and roll by performers who know how to do it right. You’ll remember Brian Byrne’s ragged, inspired vocals from I Mother Earth’s 90’s hit “Summertime In The Void”, and guitarist supreme Sal Costa from My Darkest Days and Smashing Satellites is back from a long break to weave his magic. “Lights Out” has got the goods, and Canadian rock radio is already all over it, so if you like your rock hard but melodic then Bonds Of Mara is for you.
Bonds Of Mara plays Lee’s Palace in Toronto on Thursday July 25.
After calling it quits about 4 years ago, Ukrainian dance ensemble Kazaky is back with “Push”. It’s a compelling strutter, perfect for transitioning into the wee hours in clubs, and is accompanied by the requisite video with yet again amazing choreography which they were doing long before BTS. You know you’re in for a treat when those heels emerge, and the video takes a not unexpectedly darker turn. Kazaky is now a quintet, with focus on original member Artur Gaspar in “Push”. The song is extremely catchy and memorable, reminding me of Malcolm McLaren’s “Deep In Vogue” somewhat in attitude and approach, and will appeal to those who enjoy Madonna’s more seductive works (Kazaky made an appearance in Madonna’s “Girl Gone Wild” some years back). Club DJ’s should definitely get behind this winner and its eye-popping, extremely well-directed choreography which you can witness in the video up top.
Following up the amazing “Closure” from earlier this year (which got to #1 on my personal chart), Dutch producer Steve Void returns with “Ain’t Got You”. It’s a shiny, summery slice of dance pop, and to sing it he’s brought along British vocalist Louisa, the Ex Factor winner from a few years back who has since scored hits with Clean Bandit, Olly Murs and 2 Chainz among others. It’s bright pop with tropical synth flavours that simply spells out sunshine and fun at the beach. Louisa’s vocal shimmers and exudes the love and desire of the story. So chalk up another winner for Steve Void and his Strange Fruits team!
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