Le langage and la musique: @DavidUsher and @MarieMaireal give “Black Black Heart” a redux en français

DAVID USHER featuring MARIE-MAI, “Black Black Heart”

After reuniting with Moist in 2014 for an album and a cross-Canada tour – including a top-notch show that I saw in Toronto – David Usher returns to recording his own music by reintroducing one of his most famous songs, but in French.  This rerecording of “Black Black Heart” – my favourite song by him – with reknown Quebec singer Marie-Mai (who recorded an alternate version of it previously with him) is a terrific idea, which will help you ponder how language can affect and perhaps alter a song.  For this version of “Black Black Heart” is not a direct translation of the original, it has new lyrics written by Marie-Mai and Fred St-Gelais, and I’m going to have to brush off the rust on my own bilingual skills to try and tackle what they are singing about.  And this is key to David’s upcoming album Let It Play, where he is releasing English adaptations of songs recorded in French.  It sounds fascinating and he tells you all about it on his website right here.  I can’t wait to hear it, and in the meantime we now have another version of “Black Black Heart” to dazzle us.

Welcome back to Toronto’s Nathan John & @TheMidwayState with “Crystallized”

NATHAN JOHN & THE MIDWAY STATE, “Crystallized”

I’ve long felt that Toronto’s The Midway State were one of the finest, most sincere and approachable bands from Toronto to acquire some national success between 2008 and 2012 with the release of two solid albums, and I’ve written about them extensively.  That time frame also saw them perform with Lady Gaga on the MuchMusic Video Awards and singer/songwriter Nathan John Ferraro to be nominated for a Juno Award for songwriter of the year.  The quartet – also consisting of Mike Wise, Mike Kirsh and Daenon Kael – performed regularly throughout Canada, and after 2012 everything about The Midway State on social media went quiet.  So I was surprised to find that a new song, “Crystallized”, had surfaced inauspiciously with the band rebranded as Nathan John & The Midway State.  The deeper, electronic sound marries successfully with the anthemic qualities that the band lend to many of their songs, while not being as understated as some of the songs from their 2011 release, the Coldplay-ish Paris Or India.  With songs like “Crystallized”, I don’t think previous fans will waste any time welcoming back and spreading the word about the music of Nathan John & The Midway State, and I hope some live shows will be forthcoming soon. 

Toronto octet @GoldComplexband fires up rich soulful jazzy pop with “Backbone”

GOLD COMPLEX, “Backbone”

It’s hard enough alone to keep eight members of a band in sync and focused on a consistent overall sound, but when it’s as tight and polished as what Toronto’s Gold Complex brings us with “Backbone” then you know you will have a great time with it.  I can’t say what they offer is new – jazzy soulful pop – but it’s exceptionally well done.  Lead singer Will Bowes has one of those riveting voices that makes his songs more powerful than if someone else sang them.  The instrumentation, including all of those luscious horns, is all on-point, and “Backbone” is a fine example of a song about staying true in relationships that will resonate with the most casual listener.  Watch the video above to get a flavour of what Gold Complex might be like in concert.  “Backbone” comes from the recent deluxe edition of Gold Complex’s self-titled EP.

goldcomplex

“Under The Grave” is another pop score for @ROZESsounds

ROZES, “Under The Grave”

About a year ago, “Roses” by The Chainsmokers featuring Rozes started a slow journey to become one of 2016’s biggest and most surprising worldwide pop hits.  And the singer of that song of course has continued with a number of most worthy pop and EDM records that spiral out of that journey with her now highly recognizable voice and style.  “Under The Grave” is most reminiscent of Pink from Rozes’ other songs, a song about disillusionment with a relationship to the point that you’re numb.  It’s a winning performance right up to the last note that has the makings of a pop radio hit, following Rozes’ earlier EP Burn Wild and a recent featured vocal for Electric Bodega in “Hangin’ On”.  When 2016 is over, pop fans will not forget about Rozes any time soon!  Listen to “Under The Grave” at the above link.

90’s vibes run through “Taking Chances” by @officialFlush featuring @AvaGoldworld

FLUSH featuring AVA GOLD, “Taking Chances”

It’s a common theme in music about learning lessons in relationships and doing things differently next time.  So “Taking Chances”, which is the debut release from producers Flush featuring singer Ava Gold, adds to the long list of many other songs but with a bright and empowering backdrop.  The influences here seem to range from 70’s disco to 90’s Daft Punk – that guitar riff recalls Stardust’s “Music Sounds Better With You”.  And vocalist Ava has a way with those words to not only make them meaningful but sound great against the refreshing melody.  Ebullient horns round it all out well.  Give it a listen at the link above.

Get to know the far-reaching voice of @StefanAlxndr with “Skeleton”

STEFAN ALEXANDER, “Skeleton”

It may take a few listens, but it’s well worth it to discover the far-reaching powerful voice of NYC’s Stefan Alexander.  “Skeleton” is the perfect introduction as he marries a slick, kicking R&B style with classic pop roots and percussive layers that will appeal to those who enjoy a diversity of dance music from Usher through to Mika.  He also fits in nicely with the progressive soul style currently being popularized by the likes of Brandyn Burnette, Crywolf, and RKCB.  Be sure to fit “Skeleton” into your Hallowe’en playlists and mixes – give it a listen above.

Boogie down with the disco-flavoured @WRLDmusic remix of”BB (Four Missed Texts)” by @KidFroopy

KID FROOPY, “BB (Four Missed Texts)” (WRLD remix) (free DL)

Young Dutchman WRLD continues to expand his EDM horizons with this seemingly unlikely candidate for one of his remixes, “BB (Four Missed Texts)” by the mysterious Kid Froopy.  It’s essentially disco-flavoured European-style R&B, taking many pages out of the mid-70’s songbooks, and much ado about nothing lyrically.  Vocally I think of 70’s doyennes like Silver Convention, Penny McLean and Tina Charles – long forgotten names who left behind several worldwide pop and dance hits.  This mix is all about the boogie and beat, and sometimes that is all you need 🙂  You can investigate by listening at the link above and downloading it for free.

“Always” by @GreatGoodFineOK simmers and sizzles in a @weareAnden remix

GREAT GOOD FINE OK, “Always” (Anden remix)

Songs by NYC duo Great Good Fine OK often sound so good on their own, you just want to leave them as is.  “Always” is the kind of glorious pop/dance tune that GGFO fans have got accustomed to particularly when it blows up powerfully in concert.  NYC-based producers and brothers Anden made a splash on the BILLCS Top 30 on the weekend with their percolating remix of Satchmode’s “Undertow”.  Their official remix of “Always” could go far, and testament to that is the first two minutes of the song, which just glide along beautifully, matching Jon Sandler’s major vocal when it starts to soar after the first minute.  It may not be in entirely the same wheelhouse, but the remix sounds like a logical update of Erasure’s early 90’s music, but trading electropop for soulfulness and staccato high end for rich tones.  “Always” is the song to get club sets going after a mid-or-down tempo break.  Check it out at the link above and pick it up on your favourite digital platform.

So sick and dirty: @Snowmassbeats remixes “Bad Kids” by @iamConvex & @TimmyTitus

https://soundcloud.com/snowmassmusic/convex-ft-titus-bad-kids-snowmass-remix

CONVEX featuring TITUS, “Bad Kids” (Snøwmass remix)

When Chicago’s Snøwmass picks a song and wants to make it ultra sick and dirty, watch out.  So in his hands, “Bad Kids” by L.A.’s Convex featuring New Jersey hip hop vocalist Titus becomes “dirty evil EDM kids from outer space”.  It’s a song that will get everyone out on the dance floor acting in whatever crazy fool way they want and no one will think the lesser for it.  Between Convex’s slick synths, Titus’ commanding sneer, and the crunch of those Snøwmass wobble house beats, this is deep down dirty bass house at its finest.  Download “Bad Kids” for free above and if you find yourself trying to bust moves that you’ve never tried before… don’t say you weren’t warned first!

Atmospheric “City Lights” scores for Sebastian Carter (@SebastianC_ch) featuring #JuliaChurch

SEBASTIAN CARTER featuring JULIA CHURCH, “City Lights”

“City Lights” by Swiss producer Sebastian Carter is one of those songs that sounds at the same like many different house tracks and none of them at all.  It’s got an atmospheric backdrop, some great ear-catching synth work, and a timeless, forlorn-sounding vocal by singer Julia Church.  Club DJ’s will love it because it will blend with so many songs, but patrons will be Shazaming it when those key instrumental and vocal moments arrive.  “City Lights” has a crisp European flavour that you won’t find in your everyday North American deep house track.  You can pay it some deserving attention at the link above.