Dutch producer is a household name in his home country and well known in south east Asia too, where he’s performed at several festivals. Over the last six years, he’s worked with the best of the dance music biz from Zedd to Laidback Luke to Nicky Romero to Afrojack, and recorded with almost every major indie dance label. This time Tipsy Records has his latest, more pop-inflected release, “Out Of Touch”. Its slick sound and anthemic hook is matched by an on-point uncredited male vocal, which all make “Out Of Touch” stand out in a set of tunes. I think remixes could up the ante for “Out Of Touch” but as is Marc Benjamin has a far above average pop/dance release which should continue to get attention from those friends in high places!
Taking cues from some of the last decade’s best UK male singers – James Morrison, Damien Rice for example – and about to join the ranks of Ed Sheeran and James Bay is Welsh singer/songwriter John Adams. Following up his album You Never Know Who’s Listening is “Flames”, the lead off single from his upcoming EP No White Lies. It’s graceful, soulful pop sung by the kind of timeless voice you can listen to for hours. “Flames” is accompanied by an intriguing, lyrical dance video which you can watch over and over again and still be fascinated. The song’s about trying to save a relationship while everything else crumbles around you, not the kind of situation one ever hopes to be in, but I suppose we all experience it to lesser degrees of some sort. “Flames” is a beautiful song, and I think it will just be a matter of time before bigger things happen, so John definitely is one to keep on your radar.
NYC’s Matt Beilis has been steadily releasing his own pop songs and becoming a go-to voice in the dance genre for the most part of this decade, with his uplifting vocal in Electric Bodega’s “Rest Of My Life” a few years back a highlight for me. He’s also a classically trained pianist. “Chemistry or Chemicals” is one of his strongest, catchiest originals, with a snappy hook that stands out alongside Matt’s vocal, which has an Adam Levine flavour with a touch of a rasp. Matt’s a rarity, having a voice that can likely sing just about any kind of song and make it work. “Chemistry” is both witty and telling, a smart song that will keep you coming back to play it again and again.
I suppose a revival was due and fortunately UK producer Anton Powers and Dutch duo Redondo make it all fresh again with “Make Your Move. Anton of course is no stranger to the charts, with the Top 5 UK hit “Alone No More” with Philip George and famed A&R guy for 3 Beat Productions (think ‘This Girl” by Kungs & Cookin on 3 Burners). You also heard Redondo paired recently with Alyx Ander for “Casually”. Think way back to 2004 when Junior Jack’s “Stupidisco” created a worldwide smash around the chorus of one of The Pointer Sisters’ best 80’s songs “Dare Me”. This time, take some added lyrics, a winning set of vocals, and brisk (and not campy Junior Jack) production and you have “Make Your Move”. It’s a fun throwback and should have no problem winning over dance club goers anywhere.
“Breathless (Like This)” is an intriguing collaboration between German producer PYNGU and British vocalist Loveday. Though the name is new to the scene, PYNGU is really not! Until recently known as Kyco, he scored 16 million streams for his remix of “Oasis” by The Him, and has been supported by Martin Garrix and Tiesto for his own original songs such as “Little Bit Closer”. This collaboration shifts PYNGU’s sounds to something more exotic and enticing, with Loveday’s vocal sometimes evoking the vulnerable qualities of Lana Del Rey, Elohim, or Sky Ferreira, alternately sounding detached or dreamy. Overall, PYNGU and Loveday have partnered for a song that is both elegant and mysterious, with some unique synth sounds giving it both a steady bass groove and minimalist high end melodies.
Quickly following up their sparse but friendly song “Simple” about a month later, once again for the Strange Fruits label, Dutch duo Fannypack offer another side to their talents with “Just A Bitch”. Using another slight arrangement that gradually exudes a midtempo, funky rhythm, “Just A Bitch” is sweetly sung to portray the subject clearly in love while still being totally at odds with her, and the lyrics don’t mince any words. It all works quite well, and Fannypack definitely have an unusual but likable song to which many of us will still relate. Check it out at the link above.
STEAM PHUNK and CARRIE LANE, “Hometown” (Uniryde remix)
“Hometown” by Germany’s Steam Phunk featuring American singer Carrie Lane was released about a year ago as a mid-tempo dance track that recalls songs like “Closer” by The Chainsmokers. This spirited remix by new producer Uniryde could definitely reignite interest in the song. The remix captures the poignancy and reflective appeal of the original, but aims to make you bounce along to a more carefree, fast paced rhythm track. “Hometown” will definitely grab your ears and your feet, so be sure to check it out at the link above.
I don’t know anything about new producer Smile or singer Philip Strand who’ve created the single “Good About Us” but it’s a solid, fresh pop/dance release with a lot of sparkle that easily passes the blind taste test! Philip has an earthy gravel to his voice which gives a genuine sound to “Good About Us”, while the synths pop and glisten and win you over. Ever seeking top quality releases, Tipsy Records is passionately behind this one, and a fine, positive song like this will win us over every time. There’s loads of pop potential here so don’t miss it.
In this new chart, there’s somewhat more movement and four debuts, but in the coming weeks you’ll be seeing the chart shed many of its favourites from late 2018.
Nonetheless, this time around you’ll still find A-Trak and Todd Terry up top with “DJ’s Gotta Dance More” for a 3rd appearance (6 weeks) at #1, with former #1 “Loyal” by Odesza hanging tight right behind. But that’s where things start to change up.
Mahalo and Le:Blanc’s perky bop “In My Arms” becomes Mahalo’s 4th Top 5 placing song up 8-3 on this chart, Illenium holds on to #4, albeit with a different song this time, with “God Damnit” in a pairing with Call Me Karizma climbs 9-4, as “Crawl Outta Love” slips down to #18.
The only artist from Luxembourg to ever grace this chart is producer White Chocolate, and his contemporary take on disco, “Mister Love”, moves 14-8. Right behind is the effervescent pop/dance of “Play” by Jax Jones and Years & Years, climbing 15-9.
The fastest riser on the chart is the fantastic new song by Steve Void featuring Andy Marsh called “Closure”, which soars 19-10.
Keep your eyes on these relative newcomers in the next month or so. NYC-based singer/songwriter Ryan Gibeau has the enlightening “Flying Away” moving up 22-16, while The Him’s anthemic “Look At Us Now” looks like another winner rising 23-17. “Bite My Tongue” by Australia’s Sam Bluer (27-19) has a unique charm, while Stephen Puth’s “Sexual Vibe” (28-21) knows exactly what it wants. Molly Moore’s great vocal helps define the urgency of “Be Here Now”, moving up 25-22.
As Revelries’ “Naked” departs the chart, it’s immediately replaced by what is likely the Netherlands-based Emirati lads’ best of the most recent trio of releases to date. In collaboration with Sam Smyers and featuring a commanding vocal by Oktavian, “Don’t Think Twice” has the highest debut on the chart at #20.
It’s everywhere and especially in the UK where it’s been #1 for almost a month – soon to be replaced by Ariana Grande methinks – it’s American singer Ava Max at #25 with “Sweet But Psycho”. Right behind it is a gentle love song for the colder months that could be a pop breakthrough for R3HAB with “All Into Nothing” at #26 in partnership with Nashville singer Mokita.
And last but hardly least at #30 is “Paradise” by Parralox featuring singer Marcella Detroit. It’s the flashy house mix by Eric Kupper that reinvents the song to make it fresh. “Paradise”. It’s the fourth entry for Australia’s Parralox (aka John von Ahlen and friends), whose previous three songs all reached the Top 10, particularly 2015’s “Aeronaut” (#4).
View the full BILLCS Top 30 right here! Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!
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HORSE MEAT DISCO and AMY DOUGLAS, “Let’s Go Dancing” (Dimitri From Paris remix)
Maybe the songs just gravitate to me and find me somehow because I grew up as a teen in the era, and I’ve written about many recent records in the last few years that I’ve labelled “discotastic” or something similar to indicate a reprise in Disco music is in order. Well I’m getting mighty convinced that’s it’s well in the works when I hear songs like “Let’s Go Dancing” by the British collective/concert promoters that are Horse Meat Disco featuring US vocalist Amy Douglas. This is a major flashback to around early 1977 pre-Saturday Night Fever when a good part of the music scene was still trying to convince people to party, dance and have a great time to disco music. Could it be that movement is starting again? “Let’s Go Dancing” shows clips from Horse Meat Disco’s British and European events called Glitterbox that show people actually dancing together without the celebrity and faux chi-chi of places like Studio 54. Similar but less well-established events are occurring in NYC so I’m hoping other major cities in North America catch on. “Let’s Go Dancing” can easily be the good-natured theme for this resurgence, it’s beautifully sung and lots of fun. Check out the video below and the remix from none other than the fabulous Dimitri From Paris above.
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