Yet another talented young Dutchman, WRLD, had a banner year in 2016 but was constantly switching it up, with originals like “Galaxies” with Father Dude and remixes like the 70’s disco retro “BB (Four Missed Texts)” by Kid Froopy. So it should come as no surprise that freshness continues in 2017 with “Hideaway” for the Heroic label, in which he’s paired up with Australian EDM artist Savoi. The flow of “Hideaway” totally works, it’s a great companion to The Chainsmokers’ more pop-oriented recent efforts, and it’s such a great pop song overall. Savoi’s sometimes gritty raw-ish vocal initially seems out of place, but the production makes it fly. WRLD continues to go to the next level with songs like “Hideaway”. For now, you can download “Hideaway” for free at the link above.
ANDY SUZUKI & THE METHOD, “I Need You More (The More You Leave)”
Keeping it way more than interesting as we approach the release date of their second album The Glass Hour is NYC’s Andy Suzuki & The Method. To coincide with the US election the group offered up “Fight”, an urgent personalized and rocking call-to-arms that’s all about choice and standing up for what you believe in. “I Need You More” on the other hand is vibrant pop with a heavy, uplifting Gospel chorus that fuels the emotions of wanting someone even more after they are gone. Andy Suzuki is in excellent vocal form and he and formidable percussionist pal Kozza show that they are destined never to be packaged in one stylistic box. Feast your ears on the inspiring “I Need You More (The More You Leave)” at the link above.
It’s probably the only current but unlikely single out there where you would find two Grammy nominees working together from different decades of dance music. Of course twice-nominated Morgan Page has been well-respected for years with his Las Vegas residencies, and is likely best known for his acclaimed In The Air album, with the title song featuring Sultan + Ned Shepard and BT. Steve James is not yet out of his teens – he would not have even been 10 when Morgan’s star was rising – and newly nominated, for co-writing and co-producing the title song from Justin Bieber’s Purpose album, no less. So their collaboration of “Candles” is more of a tightly-woven pop/dance record than one I suspect would be geared for heavy club play, though remixes could help change that. It’s got a knowing and earnest message with an urgent delivery by a fine but uncredited vocalist that goes a long way. You can expect this one to fly out of dance radio stations with a thrust for pop radio as Proximity’s first (and very loaded) release. Listen to “Candles” at the link above.
One of the most enigmatic songs to come out of 2014 and slay everything in sight was “Faded” by ZHU, a #1 dance hit which even copped a Grammy nomination. “In The Morning” (the first single from the acclaimed GenerationWhy album) likely stands out most because of ZHU’s strangely seductive vocal, which is captured nicely for effect in this remix by L.A.’s Mahalo. While set to a graceful late-nite deep house rhythm, it’s a perfect song to drive off into the night to arrive for the pleasures of the morning. Mahalo has already got a great thing happening too with collaborations with vocalist Cat Lewis such as “Be My Love” with more to come in 2017. You can download this highly recommended remix of “In The Morning” at the link above.
You never know what a solid set of songs on a shining EP might start! Southern Georgia-based R&B/pop singer Victor Perry’s 4 A.M. Nostalgia begat the simply lovely “Rainbows” and a slew of intriguing remix interpretations. Zewmob’s Ryan Lee has got the goods with “Nostalgia”, which gleams colourful 1990’s dance party but is also spiked with 80’s synth drum sounds and lots of high end to compliment Victor’s shining vocal (and wait for a glorious few moments before the 4 minute mark). You can’t go wrong with this joyous, happy song 🙂 but be sure to pick up your copy using the “BUY” button at the link above (you may just be able to get it for free, too).
Ty Andelman is the L.A.-based singer/songwriter and erstwhile half of duo Lyonn who brought us their first foray into EDM pop last year with “The Symphony”. This time Ty has partnered with Montreal producer Gerard Peters for “Love Me”. It’s a sincere, euphoric kind of song about the right kind of infatuation, with Ty’s convincing vocal sending it home, and the duo give it a unique melodic bounce that makes it burst easily from a nice big set of speakers. It might go on a touch too long even at 3:12 but check it out at the link above and share with your dance music loving friends 🙂
Dutch duo DROELOE continue to impress with their ability to draw you into their songs, whether it be remixing a Charlie Puth hit or weaving Asian elements into an instrumental like “Shibuya”. This time for Lowly Palace, “In Time” incorporates many flavours into the mix but they’re all pretty subtle whether drawing from Folk or maybe even Classical. “In Time” becomes this tidy but creative EDM track with many well-placed ups and downs, including percussion and bass drops, and Belle Doran’s expressive voice gets treated like an instrument within, chopped up for effect at times but that’s not out of place at all. When “In Time” gets really quite at close to the 1:40 mark you are totally sold because the song will only get bigger as you listen. Check it out at the link above.
It would likely be over 1,000 editions had I published my chart weekly, but from January 1998 to January 2017 and we are at 500 charts 🙂 Thanks to all of you who continue to follow my personal chart, which is exactly that – personal. No mathematics, very few rules (only to keep the chart fresh with new music), these are my favourite 30 songs of the moment. This edition has a bit of post-holiday housecleaning with 5 debuts and The Weeknd & Daft Punk give way to a new #1 by some familiar faces…
The Top 10
While they would have had several chart toppers in their popularity heyday, Pet Shop Boys make it twice to grace the top of my chart with the disco-tastic “Burn”. The song is not a single, but I’m hoping it will be #4 from the album Super, following #3 “The Pop Kids” (#17 of 2016), “Twenty-Something”, and “Say It To Me”. Their other #1 on my chart was in 2013 with “Vocal” from Electric, which was also my #1 song of that year.
New to the Top 5 are “Brothers” by Saxity featuring Strøm (above), vaulting 8 to 4 and still available for free download, as well as Stefan Alexander’s compelling “Skeleton” (below) which climbs 6 to 5.
Two newcomers to the Top 10 are the Fastest Riser on the chart, “Say Yes” by Tony Moran & Jason Walker (ab0ve), which rises 16-9 and their second Top 10 following last year’s “So Happy” (#3 and #20 of 2016), followed by Victor Perry’s lovely take on Everything But The Girl’s “Missing” (below), also his second Top Tenner following last year’s “Rainbows” (#7 and #42 of 2016). It’s still available as a free download too!
Movin’ On Up
“False Alarm” by The Weeknd encroaches on the Top 10, but it’s a powerful song that’s been in the shadow of “Starboy”. We’ll see what the next single from the album will be. “False Alarm” jumps 13-11.
Big things are coming from young Dutchman Steve Void in 2017, and his pairing with No Mondays featuring vocalist Clara Mae on “Chemistry” leaps 19-13.
Right behind is Canada’s Felix Cartal with “Drifting Away” (featuring vocalist Ofelia K) as we all daydream about driving down the east or west coasts of the States in perfect warm weather. It moves up 22-17, and Felix has another song debuting on the chart below…
“Light” by The Netherlands’ San Holo is raising a lot of ears with its infectious but low key EDM, and it rises 23-18.
The last chart’s other two debuts make fine inroads, both climbing 7 notes to #19 and #20. #19 is Molly Moore’s “Imaginary Friends” (above), also in Telykast and Pluto remixes, and #20 is JPB’s “For You” (below) featuring a soulful vocal from British singer Luke Cusato.
As his remix of “Closer” by Brandyn Burnette (#7 and #51 of 2016) departs the chart, another Sean Turk remix arrives with the sexy ‘bedroom bass’ style of EDM in “Sleeping In” by Phil Good at #22. And of course the song is more about what we do when we’re ‘sleeping in’ rather than actually sleeping… it’s also a free download for now.
And keeping sex centre stage at #25 is an excellent album track by DNCE from their self-titled album called “Naked”. I saw them first perform this one in November 2015 and I’m glad it made the cut for the album because it was one of the least things we thought Joe Jonas might be singing about 😛 DNCE’s “Cake By The Ocean” reached #2 on my chart well before it was in the Top 10 nationally, and was my #15 song of 2015.
Definitely something a little different for us in 2017 comes from rising young Australian producer Throttle (aka Robbie Bergin), who has taken Michael Buble’s cover of Frank Sinatra’s “My Kind Of Girl” and juggled the jazz rhythms with some riveting house beats. While it’s not to everyone’s taste, it’s a whole lotta fun and arrives at #26. “My Kind Of Girl” was Throttle’s Christmas present to his listeners, and it’s a free download.
At #27 is the second entry from Felix Cartal, this time featuring prominent session vocalist Steph Jones on “Keep Up”, as an official remix by fellow Canadian Ben Zamora. Felix is on a roll with much more to come in 2017. This remix and others are also available as free downloads for now.
And the last debut at #29 is a real rebel-rouser, perfect for sporting events… It’s “#Bomber!” by Italy’s BeatmartHz and DJ Mirko B, a classic mix of Italohouse and techno.
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
Listen for me on http://www.planetradio.ca live on Tuesday evenings, and with my Pick of the Week segment throughout the week 🙂 See below for details!
It may seem an unlikely move, but in a classic teaming of Major Lazer and Dutch EDM veterans Showtek, the artists have made their new song “Believer” into an affecting video (above) that sympathizes with the plight of refugees, in particular those from Syria. The song itself has a great synth hook, trading off a progressive techno vibe against some Caribbean flavours, totally fitting the story line that has been crafted to show that there is still hope amid tragedy. You’ll be wanting to watch this one multiple times, and “Believer” is definitely a must for dance clubs and radio. Another score for Diplo’s Mad Decent label with almost 2 million views for the video in four days. 🙂
Calgary’s Kiesza scored internationally two years ago, particularly in the dance music scene with the hit “Hideaway” from her major label debut Sound Of A Woman. This led to her winning three of Canada’s Juno Awards and some Canadian radio awards as well, plus featured vocals on albums by Duran Duran and Tribe Society. Kiesza steps away from dance music for the rock-inflected, guitar-led “Dearly Beloved”. Her vocal recalls mid-80’s Pat Benatar and while the rock ante is stepped up, “Dearly Beloved” continues to be an uplifting, danceable tune that is in turn a beautiful tribute to a friend who passed away recently. The song will hit home with anyone and is a natural for radio play despite the shift in style. We’ll see what her new album brings us later in the year. Watch the video – and check out that colourful outfit 🙂 – above.
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