Livin’ Large: “This Is Bounce” by Italy’s @WhiteLowreal

https://soundcloud.com/balmungdigitalrecords/whitelow-this-is-bounce

WHITELOW, “This Is Bounce”

“This Is Bounce” is the kind of song that will dominate a DJ set and take no prisoners.  Wait what was that we just heard?  Forgot about it already? All you remember is “This Is Bounce”? 😛  Bologna, Italy production duo WhiteLow (Enrico and Stefano) take their cues perhaps from songs like DVBBS and MOTi’s’ “This Is Dirty” or Dimitri Vegas/Martin Garrix/Like Mike’s “Tremor” as well as the Melbourne Bounce style and effortlessly create a song that will sweep under your feet and make you ride a fast, crazy wave till it’s over.  I recently wrote about Garmiani’s intense remix of Axwell /\ Ingrosso’s “Dream Bigger” and “This Is Bounce” is a great companion to that remix.  It’s the first release for new label Balmung Digital Recordings, off to a fantastic start with a real zinger!  Just Bounce 🙂  

ContempoRetro: New @Parralox in generous “Subculture”

PARRALOX, Subculture

You can never knock a Parralox album for being anything less than a high quality venture from Australian producer/vocalist/synthmaster and all round nice guy John von Ahlen.  It’s a journey through almost every possible synth sound created between the late 70’s and now, with songs that are shaped to give you major feels for parts of all of those eras – a couple of the songs sound like they were teleported in from the late 1979 disco/new wave melting pot in particular!  Subculture, Parralox’s 10th long-player and also the title of one of my very favourite New Order songs 🙂 is the sum of all of its parts and more featuring vocals by John and several friends/guests.  

Out of 14 generous tracks, the opener “Paradise” features the acclaimed Marcella Detroit, most noted as one half of Shakespear’s Sister but with a storied career before that as songwriter and session singer.  John’s rich production is the perfect match for a crisp and savvy vocal by Marcella which brings out the heartache in the song.  Equally ear-catching but on a totally different bent is “Last Man Standing” featuring fellow Aussie Peter Wilson, which has a 70’s pop radio flavour to contrast its driving beat.  “A Question Of Love” makes an unofficial trilogy from the Depeche Mode songs “A Question Of Lust” and “A Question Of Time”, one of the darker more brooding songs in Subculture featuring a lovely vocal by Louise Love.  

Elsewhere on the album you’ll hear Human League bassist Ian Burden (especially on “Overdrive”), and vocals by Johanna Gervin and Lillia, plus two redone Parralox songs, “Rocket Science II” and “Voyager II”.  One of the best songs also is all John on “Change Of Heart”.  Subculture is as much disco as it is mid-80’s post-new wave electronicas as it is contemporary house music.

Always bold and adventurous and as contemporary as retro, John von Ahlen and Parralox’s Subculture is a feast for the ears, the heart and your dancing shoes.  Hear it all at the link above and buy it at your favourite online music store.

Dutch producer/DJ @SteveVoidmusic is on fire with pop-tastic “Never Been Better”

STEVE VOID, “Never Been Better”

Following up his collaboration with No Mondays and Clara Mae on the futuristic-tinged “Chemistry” (#10 on the BILLCS Top 30!) is Dutch producer/DJ Steve Void with “Never Been Better”, which like “Chemistry” has been picked up by Sony for worldwide release.  “Never Been Better” isn’t anywhere near as busy as “Chemistry” but it shows how slick Steve can get when he has his hands on a strong pop song with a commanding vocal (by an uncredited singer).  “Never Been Better” really stands out in a crowd and is one of those songs that you can incorporate into a set that will set the tone for a brisk pace.  After supporting Matoma throughout most of 2016 on his North American tour, Steve is about to take his show on the road in Europe, with more great new music to come.  Steve Void is one of the brightest new talents in the EDM world to watch right now and “Never Been Better” spells out most of the reasons why 🙂  Check it out at the link above.

Producer/vocalist @Memoryy returns with inspired electropop of “I Thought You Needed My Love” featuring @OddYearmusic

MEMORYY featuring ODD YEAR, “I Thought You Needed My Love”

Albuquerque-based (after relocating from Brooklyn) producer and vocalist Memoryy (Shaun Hettinger) first found his way into these blog pages last summer with “Turning The Page”, a mysterious taste of electropop that had a resounding emotional chorus to carry it.  Memoryy has since been working on his upcoming album Skeletons, and the new arrival from it is “I Thought You Needed My Love”, featuring additional production by California-based Odd Year.  “I Thought” again rides Memoryy’s talent for creating an engaging chorus that anchors the song, helping to ease the misunderstood breakup revealed in the story of the song.  While highly danceable and with a great bounce, “I Thought” is more of an electronic pop song thanks to standout lyrics and a resilient vocal.  Be sure to give it a listen at the link above.

Born to re-do it: Toronto’s @LoudLuxury & @RyShepherdmusic making @CraigDavid proud with “Something To Say”

https://soundcloud.com/loudluxury/sets/something-to-say

LOUD LUXURY x RYAN SHEPHERD, “Something To Say”

It looks like Toronto duo Loud Luxury pairing up with fellow 6er Ryan Shepherd and Spinnin’ could have a real breakthrough with “Something To Say”.  In case you didn’t pick it up from the headline, “Something To Say” is a killer redux of Craig David’s “Fill Me In”, a real homage to the song, performer (on a huge comeback tip in the UK) and house music of the early 2000’s that still sounds so great today.  It’s all about the bass and (I think) slightly pitched down vocal to make it what I would call ultra deep house.  There’s no reason why club DJ’s won’t go wild over “Something To Say” and it definitely has dance music radio hit stamped all over it.  Listen above and pick it up at your favourite digital music store.

“Forever” is lush and romantic uptempo #EDM from @RicoandMiella

https://soundcloud.com/revealed-recordings/ricomiella-forever

RICO & MIELLA, “Forever”

“Forever” is a beautiful new EDM track from classically-inspired NYC duo Rico & Miella, who you will recall from last year’s pairing with Telykast on “Worth Fighting For”.  What’s great about it is that “Forever” – released by Hardwell’s Revealed Recordings – is a full-on dance track, not about to be a part of a lot of this banal downtempo stuff that will send club crowds off to drink rather than dance.  “Forever” is attractively lush, with an ear-catching vocal by Miella.  It then morphs into even more of a dance song as the tempo picks up in the last minute.  “Forever” has got a lot of breathtaking qualities about it that are going to take Rico & Miella further with the great pop/dance hybrid that they already promote.  Take a listen at the link above.

Hypnotic and powerful,”Another Friend” is the latest by L.A.’s @DanaAndTheWolf

https://soundcloud.com/danaandthewolf/another-friend-1

DANA AND THE WOLF, “Another Friend” (free DL)

I tell ya, L.A.’s alt.rock duo Dana And The Wolf are going to have one winner of an EP or album, should all of the songs be as musically consistent and diverse stylistically and lyrically as their most recent three, the latest of which is “Another Friend”.  Take an at times Amy Winehouse-ish jazz/blues soaked-vocal, send it through to the anguish of the end of a relationship, and augment it with a powerful soundscape with nightmarish highlights (and a beautiful high note near the end), and “Another Friend” may just be for you.  I’ve already compared Dana Hobson’s voice to Shirley Manson, Florence Welch, and Pat Benatar – she’s got true chameleon qualities.  “Another Friend” is equally as compelling as previously released (and blogged about) “Attitude” and “Close Enough”, with Daniel Wolf’s wall of drums, synths and guitars that doesn’t let up after a pause around the 1:20 mark.  Keep ’em coming Dana and Daniel – download “Another Friend” at the link above for free.

#BILLCSTop30 #502 – February 6/17

There’s not a whole lot of big movement on the new chart, but I’ve got a new #1 for you and a runner up that looks like it will take charge in two weeks.  There are also four debuts to keep the influx of new tunes coming!

The Top 10

  • It’s one of the most different #1’s ever on my chart, but L.A.’s Bobby Nourmand takes the top with “D E E P in NY”.  This is a redux of his instrumental “D E E P”, with added hip hop vocals by D.O.C. and Goodmorning.  It’s a really innovative and fun mix that stands way out in a crowd.  And it hung in behind Pet Shop Boys (who slip all the way to #13), of all performers, for a month to settle in at #1.

  • The Chainsmokers are truly on a roll with songs that people can relate to, with “Paris” vaulting 15-2.  The inevitable backlash is occurring because of their success and that’s to be expected.  But with an album and massive tour on the way – I have my ticket 🙂 – can they be stopped? 🙂  I’m just waiting for a banger like “Let You Go” personally!

  • Uptempo feel-good song of the moment is “Say Yes” by Tony Moran & Jason Walker, which leaps 6-4.
  • Victor Perry’s piano cover of Everything But The Girl’s “Missing” rises 8-6, and keeps on finding new friends, such that I hear there are remixes in the works, which will be fantastic news to those who adore EBTG’s Todd Terry mix 🙂
  • Besides “Paris”, the other newcomer to the Top 10 is “Chemistry” by Steve Void & No Mondays featuring Clara Mae, up 11-10.  Watch for my upcoming post this week on Steve’s hot new single “Never Been Better” after its release! 🙂

Movin’ On Up

  • Both Mahalo’s “Be My Love” (featuring Cat Lewis, above), and Phil Good’s “Sleeping In” (Sean Turk remix, below) get stuck behind the busy Top 10 at #11 and #12 respectively, but both should get there in two weeks.
  • Wrapping up their current North American tour in the next week or so is DNCE, who have really done well with their unexpected success of “Cake By The Ocean” and self-titled album.  “Naked”, one of its best songs, climbs 19-16.

  • The other big mover besides “Paris” is Alyx Ander’s gorgeous and frenetic “Memories of You”, featuring a seductive vocal by Srey Davi, which rises 27-19.
  • If you’re into some raucous Italohouse inspired by 90’s techno then “#Bomber!” by BeatmartHz and DJ Mirko B is for you, rising 23-20.  Mirko has started up a new label, Balmung Digital Recordings, and I will have more about its first release in the week!

  • KDA’s big club hit “Just Say”, featuring Tinashe in a Cassius remix, also makes a nice move, climbing 28-22.

Debuts

  • Another feel-good song, more on the pop/dance tip and just in advance of Valentine’s Day is “Mad About You” by Germany’s Koni featuring American singer Danelle.  It crashes into the chart at #23.  Koni is also present on the chart at #3 as one half of Saxity with “Brothers”.
  • It’s a long song, and beautifully lyrical in a Jim Steinman kind of way, but Crywolf’s “Windswept” bows on the chart at #26.  Justin Phillips has a magnificent voice and I can’t wait to hear it when he comes to my city in March as part of his North American tour.

  • Another great unique vocal belongs to singer Jordan Radics, with some fine sultry low notes in “Lethal” by his Toronto group Blajk, which arrives at #27 from their EP called Limited.  Looking forward to hearing more about this band!
  • The final debut is an instant recent favourite of mine, a joyous and playful remix by Michael Christofi of Elohim’s “Hallucinating”, which bows at #28.

View the full BILLCS Top 30 right 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

Listen for me on http://www.planetradio.ca live on Tuesday evenings, and with my Pick of the Week segment throughout the week at 2:20 6:20 10:20 AM/PM EST 🙂  

Presenting “Euphoria#004” mix from @Phonographmusic featuring songs from the #BILLCSMusicBlog :)

“EUPHORIA#004” dance mix by Phonograph Music

Yes, you read the headline right!  My friends Ricardo and Carlos over at Phonograph Music put together an exclusive mix as part of their “Euphoria” series inspired by songs from this blog!  In fact I’ve written about the first three – “In Time” by DROELOE featuring Belle Doran, “For You” by JPB featuring Luke Cusato, and “Brothers” by Saxity featuring Strøm.

Needless to say I’m extremely flattered and grateful, after supporting some of these guys’ work as producers/remixers in my blog as well.  And “Euphoria#004” features a great weekend party mix, whether you’re looking for more pop-oriented flavours by Maroon 5 & Kendrick Lamar or Clean Bandit, to the music you read in this blog, as well as remixed versions of songs by the likes of Katelyn Tarver, NERVO & Timmy Trumpet, Pegboard Nerds & Krewella (Aero Chord remix!), and ARMNHMR & YDG, or new originals by Luca Lush, Øutsiders, or Daspen.  Bring all those club vibes into your home stereo for an hour of fun.

Turn it up loud and listen at the You Tube link up top 🙂  

The You Tube channel Phonograph Music was created in 2016 by two brothers who love music. The main objective of this channel is to share new producers with our closest friends . Over time the channel has grown larger but the goal remains the same, “share the best music of the new producers”. Any producer can have their best music on Phonograph Music, just send an email to Ricardo and Carlos at phonograph.channel@gmail.com.

Track listing:

17:28 KATELYN TARVER – PLANEZ (NEON TRIBE REMIX) : https://soundcloud.com/neontribemusic/katelyn-tarver-planez-neon-tribe-remix
24:37 Alex Sloane – Dynasty (blnd IN. & REZarin Remix) : https://soundcloud.com/daydoseofhouse/alex-sloane-dynasty-blnd-in-rezarin-remix
28:03 ARMNHMR & YDG – NEED YOU : https://soundcloud.com/armnhmr/armnhmr-ydg-need-you
31:47 Tobias Dray – We Are Gonna Be Alright : https://soundcloud.com/tobias-dray/wearegonnabealright
34:11 Pegboard Nerds  NGHTMRE   Superstar ft Krewella (Aero Chord Remix)
37:47 MAGNÜS & Easteroute – Motion (ft. Alex Hackett) : https://soundcloud.com/onthehouse/magnus-easteroute-motion-ft-alex-hackett
42:19 LUCA LUSH – DROP TOP : https://soundcloud.com/lucalush/drop-top
46:41 Nervo ft. Timmy Trumpet – Anywhere You Go (Cloudsz Remix) : https://soundcloud.com/cloudszmusic/nervo-ft-timmy-trumpet-anywhere-you-go-cloudsz-remix-1
50:16 Prismo – Careless Whisper : https://soundcloud.com/prismomusic/carelesswhisper
53:00 Clean Bandit – Rockabye (Hibell Remix) : https://soundcloud.com/auxdeep/hibell
56:51 Paul Mayson ft. The Hi – Run (Jasper Dietze Remix) : https://soundcloud.com/jasperdietze/run-jasperdietze-remix

“I Wonder”switches it up for @TheHim with softer, melodic deep house featuring @LissAofficial

THE HIM featuring LissA, “I Wonder”

After capturing my ears in 2016 with their rollicking deep house track “Balance” (featuring Oktavian), Dutch duo The Him return with a song that’s been a long time coming called “I Wonder” featuring a poignant vocal by LissA.  Still in deep house mode, Jeroen and Steven turned a very good song around that I got to hear in an earlier unreleased version, with a richer mix that highlights the high end and LissA’s well-suited vocal.  As a result, it’s probably the perfect companion song to “Paris” by The Chainsmokers, another song that took a while before we all got to hear it.  So you’ll have to play them back-to-back to find out!  Listen to “I Wonder” on Spotify above.