TWO FRIENDS featuring COSMOS & CREATURE, “Out Of Love” (Sean Turk remix) (free DL)
The title song from the recent EP of originals which I wrote about earlier this year by faves Two Friends and Cosmos & Creature – Molly Moore and Brandyn Burnette – receives the Sean Turk treatment bedroom bass-style. You’ll recall that Sean also showed another side to Brandyn’s own “Closer” last year. But bedroom bass-style for “Out of Love” means he’s puts a laid back but sexy spin on the more urgent and anthemic original. It’s never too chillaxed to move you entirely off the dance floor, in fact “Out Of Love” now inspires you to get closer to your partner than ever, sway and spin to the music, with release accomplished à la bedroom bass. I guess what we need next is that EP of Sean’s remixes for the supreme Sean Turk experience. Until then, partner or no partner, indulge in “Out of Love”, which you can pick up for free at the link above.
Some of my favourite alternative rock and dance music of the 80’s was written and performed by London’s Matt Johnson, better known to you as the constant behind The The for more than 35 years. I was also fortunate to see The The perform in Toronto in 1990 (and it seems maybe one other time). The The returns as the subject of an upcoming documentary called “The Inertia Variations” with “We Can’t Stop What’s Coming”, in tribute to Matt’s late brother Andy. It’s a captivating, gentle song about getting older and realizing there’s not much time left to accomplish what you want. The The has often laid out controversial issues front and centre in its songs and videos, so one should expect nothing but honesty and realism here. In the video you’ll even see flashbacks to early The The videos such as “This Is The Day” and “Infected”, and Johnny Marr returns to contribute guitar work to “We Can’t Stop What’s Coming” too. I hope this new song is the start of more new music from The The after more than a decade’s absence. Matt’s voice sounds older and resigned in this song but as warmly engaging as ever.
I can’t think of anyone better to cover an Ace of Base hit successfully than L.A.-based singer/songwriter MCEWEN, written up many times in these blog posts as none other than Adam Tyler! Celebrating his two year marriage anniversary on May 24 to Erik (soon to be parents of twins too) and using their last name to launch the MCEWEN project, “Don’t Turn Around” receives a reverent, appropriately bouncy rework of the Ace of Base version, which was previously also a hit for Aswad in 1988. It’s Adam’s first new music in a few years – so great to hear the playful enthusiasm in his vocal – and as MCEWEN he will issue the EP 90’s Kid in June. I can’t think of many people who know or are inspired by 90’s music much more than Adam after we met up when I was in L.A. last year – we could talk for hours about anything to do with music, particularly the 90’s! I’m looking forward to the next preview of 90’s Kid but in the meantime I know you’ll have lots of fun bopping to “Don’t Turn Around”, available for free at the MCEWEN official website above.
While you may not know his name, you’ve almost certainly seen singer and actor Reeve Carney in recent years (his great uncle was Oscar-winner and comedian Art Carney). I first wrote about him back in 2011 when he won the lead on Broadway as Spider-man, whose theatrical soundtrack offered the uplifting and catchy “Rise Above 1” as a single featuring Bono and The Edge from U2 (I saw the fine play when I was in NYC but Reeve didn’t perform that evening). He’s played on and off in New York with his brother in their band Carney, and has more recently become better known as Dorian Gray in HBO’s “Penny Dreadful” and bringing a new spin to Riff Raff in the TV remake of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” last year. But Reeve has never been away from music, having built his own studio, and his debut album Youth Is Wasted was released late last year. It’s full of jazz-tinged, classic-rock-bred originals with a unique whimsical side – Rod Stewart meets Amy Winehouse via Paul McCartney. My favourite song this far is an album track called “Truth”, a rhythmic, somewhat bluesy, but lyrically edgy song that shows off Reeve’s alternately soft or raspy but wide-ranging voice, reminding me a lot of Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham, and it’s very radio-friendly. Reeve is currently on tour supporting Youth Is Wasted, so get a taste of what he has to offer by checking out “Truth” at the Spotify link above.
Reeve Carney plays The Drake Hotel in Toronto on Saturday, May 27 and I will be there 🙂
After touring the hell out of North America since last Fall, L.A.-based Elephante follows up his well-received EP I Am The Elephante with a new original, “Troubled”, featuring fellow L.A.-based singer Deb’s Daughter, who has recently collaborated with Audien as well as scoring a Billboard club play #1 with Dimitri Vegas, Like Mike and Diplo on “Hey Baby”. “Troubled” is a fine emotional song with a folk edge to it, which is ultimately carried by a shiny chorus that will make you sway away. I like to hear different voices in dance music and Elephante is certainly bringing that to the table with many of his songs. Deb’s Daughter has an earthy Sheryl Crow meets Wynonna Judd vibe about her voice and it totally suits the song. “Troubled” may not have as much wow-factor as last year’s “Closer” or “Plans” but it’s definitely got me intrigued to see where Elephante is headed next. Give it a spin at the Spotify link above.
Naming himself after the Chicago-area village where he grew up, NYC-based inverness is definitely waving the ‘here comes summer’ flag with the bright and buoyant “Working On You” for the BonFire label. Having worked recently with the likes of KRANE and SoupAndreas, the traditionally-trained inverness is carving his own path with some soulful 80’s influences – specifically think dashes of new jack swing – in “Working On You”. Blend that with a contemporary bounce and a confident, almost Broadway-sounding vocal and the result is something a touch different in the pop/dance vein that will stand out in a large crowd. I’m sure we’ll be hearing much more from inverness, so now’s the time to check out “Working On You” at the link above.
Enigmatic producer/DJ Meatport premieres with “The Troll” via Vinyl City. It’s a bold, wild ride of a song that straddles fun as much as it might infuriate you with its alternately ominous and goofy chorus. Musically it surfs a seriously ambitious wave of 90’s techno-house colliding with drum ‘n bass and trap elements along the way – put early Armand Van Helden and DaRude in a room with Martin Garrix and Pegboard Nerds and you might get a sense of where the song might head for you. And if you’re game – well, welcome to the #MeatFam with much more zaniness to come, meat-helmet included 🙂 There is no second-guessing that Meatport knows his craft well! Check out the tight radio edit up top or the full enchilada with all of the hot sauce and jalapeño peppers below, and pick it up at your favourite digital store.
It’s easy for producers and remixers to get comfortable in one genre and repeat the formula that gave them their greatest success. Michael Christofi is certainly a producer/DJ to watch, particularly with recent remixes of songs by Elohim and Opia as well as his own originals, and walls of genre and sub-genre don’t seem to matter much to him. Here he accentuates the vibrant but softer alt.pop of “Future” by L.A.-based quartet Transviolet, who you may have seen on tour with Mikky Ekko or LANY within the last year or so. Christofi has peppered the song with enough of a bright, bouncy house vibe that clubs should easily embrace this remix. Fans of the song will enjoy how true Christofi has also stayed to the melody and intent of “Future” in this official remix, as well as to vocalist Sarah’s unique style. You can also see Transviolet this month if you’re in LA as they play some local shows. Check it out at the link above and get it for free.
For the first time since March, following “Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay, which stayed up top for 4 appearances (8 weeks) as did Brandon Skeie’s “So Bad” last summer, there is a new #1 on the BILLCS Top 30, and a few more contenders bubbling below!
My fellow Torontonians, Loud Luxury and Ryan Shepherd ascend to the top with “Something To Say”, their brilliant deep house rework of Craig David’s “Fill Me In”. It’s the first time since another fellow Torontonian finished out 2016 at #1, that being The Weeknd with Daft Punk and “Starboy”.
Mahalo and Cat Lewis continue to rise in the Top 5 as the rollicking “WTFYWF” arrives at #3.
One of the most unique songs out there in every good sense of that word is Brandyn Burnette’s “Manifest”, and this song from his third EP Feature Films jumps 7-4.
Eyeing the Top 5 and the top of the chart is Alesso’s huge club hit “Falling”, which moves up 10-6.
The sweet soul of L.A.’s Axel Mansoor lands in the Top 10 with “Wasted My Love” climbing 12-9.
L.A.-based producer Spirix gets his second Top 10 hit here with “Runaway”, featuring pop/hip hop duo Xuitcasecity on vocals, to make an addictive blend of EDM, pop, soul and hip hop. It bounds into the Top 10 soaring 17-10.
Movin’ On Up
Harry Styles looks to be the bona fide pop star formerly of One Direction, as “Sign Of The Times” from his new self-titled album winds its way up to the outskirts of the Top 10, rising 15-11.
L.A.-based singer/songwriter Eddy Faulkner is halfway up the chart with his first entry “Cruel”, a slick blend of pop and dance styles with rich production, moving 18-15.
Check out Steve Void’s fun new video for “West L.A.” below, as I’m hardly done yet with his previous single “Never Been Better” (above), which climbs 21-16. The memorable, commanding uncredited vocal is by British singer Grace Tither.
The fastest riser on the chart has one of the quirkiest hooks around which will grow on you big time. With its blend of soulful pop and EDM, Philadelphia duo NiGHTS vault 29-17 with “Party”.
NYC’s Andy Suzuki & The Method have announced upcoming tour dates in (natch) NYC, but also Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Boston, which is always a great way to feel the energy they bring to their music. “I Need You Now (The More You Leave)” is from their second album The Glass Hour, and rises 24-19.
They co-produced “Break Up Every Night”, a song on The Chainsmokers’ album Memories… Do Not Open. The trio Captain Cuts joins The ‘Smokers on the chart with “Love Like We Used To” (Young Bombs remix), climbing 27-22.
Debuts
25 year old singer/songwriter/producer Charlie Puth is back with a song from his upcoming second album. “Attention” is as infectious as it gets, with a slightly dirty and soulful rhythm to counter Charlie’s knowing vocal. It bows at #23 and becomes Charlie’s 4th entry on the chart, the last being “We Don’t Talk Anymore” (with Selena Gomez), which peaked at #5.
L.A. producer/DJ Bobby Nourmand grabbed a #1 song here earlier in the year with the crazy “D E E P In NY” (featuring great verses rapped by D.O.C. and Goodmorning). He returns with the first bright light of summer for those of us in colder climates called “D U S T”. It’s a mini-epic for a long drive up a sandy beach on a clear night, and bows at #24 – and it’s Bobby’s gift to you as a free download 🙂
New to the chart are Germany’s Lars Beck and Henri Purnell with their deep house production “Silent Games” featuring Hawaiian vocalist Zekt at #26. This mix of EDM, soul and folk styles will catch you immediately and draw you in with Zekt’s classic way of unfolding a story. You can get “Silent Games” as a free download for a limited time.
View the full BILLCS Top 30right here, and be sure to click on the photos to hear all of the songs.
Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify:BILLCS Top 30 Songs
“Emily” is the latest rich catchy piece of business from Matt and Eli, aka much-respected and fun L.A. producers Two Friends, who have their friends at Armada Trice working on this one. Continuing with more originals, like their best works, “Emily” will be irresistible for club-goers and DJ’s, thanks to a gorgeous high end piano chorus which is augmented by the splendidly unique vocals of James Delaney. It’s not over-burdened by effects, which allows “Emily” to shine for exactly what it is. You simply won’t be able to get it out of your head – so head over to your favourite digital music store and pick it up.
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