@OsvaldoSupino … the Tease…

Would this hard-working Italian guy lie to you? 🙂

 

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I can’t be too certain, though pictures tend to say many more words… in this case “Reset”….

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All Anew: “Beginning Everyday” by @Naommon

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NAOMMON, Beginning Everyday (EP)

“Beginning Everyday” is the fresh start you need to hear as the summer months approach.  It’s one of those songs you want to hear on a beautiful sunny morning, even though you’ll know that there is a serious undercurrent to it.  Its singer, Naommon, hails from France but is based out of London.  He’s got a fine, restrained voice that shows off a lovely timbre on “Beginning Everyday”.  Think of Sweden’s Darin with a slightly deeper voice, and a somewhat minimal sound that would go hand-in-hand with fellow French dance artist The Aikiu, who I wrote about not long ago.  “Beginning Everyday”  (video below) is a pleasant alterna-pop record that might just need an edit for radio play, being a little long at close to 5:00.  Also included in its EP are five remixes.  Australia’s Parralox comes off best, giving a gracious house-lite flavour to the song.  The other remixes succeed in not blowing the song up into a dance anthem and capture its subtle qualities quite nicely.  Beginning Everyday is available on iTunes.  You might also check out Naommon’s cover of Blur’s “Girls And Boys” (also below), which trades in-yer-face middle-finger-salute sarcasm of the original and replaces it with a droll and contemporary disco cabaret rendition.

From Out Of Nowhere: @KongosMusic’s Album “Lunatic”

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KONGOS, Lunatic

You’ve already heard the single “Come With Me Now” blasting out of car stereos, but aside from being one of those winning kind of hit songs, you probably don’t know anything about the group behind it, Kongos.  Kongos is the last name of the four brothers in the band (Johnny, Jesse, Dylan and Daniel) and they are all sons of the South African singer John Kongos, who’s best known for his minor 1970 hit “He’s Gonna Step On You Again”.  The brothers grew up in both South Africa and England, and their sound is heavily influenced by their father’s homeland.

The band’s diverse sound stems from classic rock, late 70’s punk like Elvis Costello, as well as traditional South African elements which you can hear through the accordion and the odd Umbaqanga rhythms.  It’s not like Paul Simon’s Graceland or Ladysmith Black Mambazo thank goodness; Lunatic is best when it rocks out.  I love the deep bassy rhythm of “Hey I Don’t Know” (below) and the Reggae influence on “I Want To Know” is infectious.  You can hear that Umbaqanga rhythm (best exemplified by Johnny Clegg’s bands Juluka and Savuka) on “Sex On The Radio”.  “It’s A Good Life” is a standout because it sounds like a natural follow up to “Come With Me Now” without sounding like anything else within Lunatic.  This is a tight band of brothers who know their stuff and produced a record that took a long time before a major record label (Epic) re-released it earlier this year.

So now that you know more about the brothers Kongos, you will not be hearing the last of them.  They just played my city and I’m sure will be back again.  No one hit wonders these guys!

Dancing Shoes On? Give Thanks to the EDM “Music Gods” by Davis Redfield & @CarlManMusic

DAVIS REDFIELD featuring CARL MAN, “Music Gods”

HOUSE ROCKERZ featuring DAVIS REDFIELD & CARL MAN, “Electrify The Night”

You’ll recall both of these gents from blog posts written during the last year, German DJ/producer Davis Redfield from his “A World Apart” glory on my personal chart (peaked at #4), and Carl Man from a blog post I wrote about a previous single last Fall.  Davis’ energetic and relentless EDM style suits Carl’s voice to a ‘T’ (or perhaps to a ‘C’ 😉 ) on “Music Gods”.  It’s a cut way above the rest of a lot of Europop out there!

Even more fab is Davis Redfield and Carl Man’s collaboration with House Rockerz on the blistering “Electrify The Night”, which so far in my research only appears available on a European dance compilation.  But the songs are from the same songwriting pedigree (Charlie Mason and ever-so-reliable team, also responsible for “A World Apart”), which makes “Music Gods” and “Electrify The Night” two of a perfect pair.  “Electrify The Night” though has the potential to be one of those dance floor anthems that you will hear forever more!

The dance floor will compel you to give in and flourish under the multi-coloured disco lights, allowing the “Music Gods” to accomplish their mission – trippy, emotion-draining bliss that will indeed electrify your night 🙂

You can buy both songs on iTunes.  Watch the lyrics video for “Music Gods” above and you can hear a sample of “Electrify The Night” right here.

Edgy Classical Rock with Heart: “Citadels” by Galt Aureus (@GaltMusic)

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GALT AUREUS, “Citadels”

Galt Aureus certainly got my attention when “Citadels” arrived for me to hear.  It’s rock music that should be played in castles!!  Imagine the fusion of Green Day, AFI, or My Chemical Romance with breathtaking classical melody influenced heavily by Chopin or Beethoven.  Galt Aureus then adds emotional depth that you might find in the music of Jeff Buckley or Bush into the mix, making “Citadels” irresistibly compelling.  Galt Aureus is a duo – Saher Galt (vocal, piano, guitar) and Susan Williams (vocal, guitar) who met in Paris and obviously shared the same inspirations of pop, punk, classical, and gothic music and styles, which all come across well in “Citadels”.  Wait for that 25 second symphonic interlude!  Their album is also called Citadels and you can purchase it on iTunes or on their website which has a pretty cool design to it.  Their fans are their Legion, Legio Aurei – the old Latin student in me loves it!!  Listen below to “Citadels”.

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Classically Driven: “Subtle” by @AboutPoetry

ABOUT POETRY, “Subtle”

“Subtle” is an engaging pop song by the new Estonian singer who calls herself About Poetry.  You’re thrust right into its classical influences from the start which might make you think it’s Loreena McKennitt or Sarah McLachlan, and you wouldn’t be far off.  It’s got a beautiful, enchanting piano melody underneath to help keep its story interesting.  The singer herself sounds like a hybrid of Carole King and Regina Spektor, but with a bit of the accent that helps lend charm to the song.  “Subtle” will make you want to hear more from About Poetry, and it comes from her album To Console The Inconsolable, which you can sample and purchase on About Poetry’s Bandcamp site.  Play it alongside UK singer Eurielle’s EP The Incarnation.

Hummable Hook: “United In Scream” by @ChaseForceMusic

CHASE FORCE, “United In Scream”

Sometimes all a great song needs is a winning hook to make you lend it your ears.  “United In Scream” by 26 year old Norwegian singer and law student Chase Force has just that.  To us in North America, this doesn’t sound like anything you would hear on the radio or in a club.  In fact it reminds me of a lot of fun European records I heard in the early 80’s.  “United In Scream” is synth-driven but with folky elements and a powerful vocal when it needs to be.  But that “oh oh oh” hook followed by a perky sax riff will become embedded in your brain and I dare you not to find yourself humming it for days!  Watch the lyric video above, and you can buy “United In Scream” on iTunes.

BILLCS Top 30 #430 – May 5/14

There’s a whole lot of movement this week on the chart, with one debut… but that only means more new songs will arrive in two weeks!  Lots of ‘bubbling under’ happening.

The Top 10

  • Sam Smith gets his second #1 after “Money On My Mind” with his pairing with Disclosure on “Latch”.  It’s a song that works well as a dance floor killer as well as an acoustic ballad.  Cannot get enough of my young last-namesake.  His concert in Toronto was an utter delight and I would go back anytime to see a Sam Smith show.
  • Look who’s closing in on #1 again… Martin Garrix!  His free download “Proxy” (#2) is one of the best songs I’ve heard by him, so get it while it’s free.  I’ve already written about other potential Garrix hits “Helicopter” and most recently “Tremor” (with Belgian bros Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike).  Watch for more chart entries soon 😛
  • “Electric Valentine” by Adam Tyler, also a free download, inches up to #4 and matches the peak of “Friction” from 2010 (has it been that long??) as Adam’s highest charting entry.  I’m not sure if “Electric Valentine” will be available on the upcoming Shattered Ice (deluxe edition) album.  So give it a listen and get it for free.  But Adam’s already posted a new collaboration with Australian producer Paul Hetherington, “Only One”, which has a different but danceable flavour for Adam, and a reloaded remix of “Taking Back My Love” courtesy of “Electric Valentine” producer Sky Felix.  Hear them all below!
  • Nick Hagelin made his City Lights (EP) for free download last week, and you might want to check out my blog post about it if you already hadn’t!  In the meantime, “Finest Clothes In Town” is cooking at #5.
  • No shortages of Sam Smith songs on this chart!  “Stay With Me” advances to #6 – top of the chart isn’t out of the question sometime soon!
  • “Love Space” by Convulsic is such a unique song for the dubstep sub-genre.  It climbs to #7.
  • The fastest riser on the chart is by Rixton, who in the past week gave a supurb performance on “The Voice”, which won them another performance and fan in Ellen DeGeneres for her show.  The distinct “Me And My Broken Heart” soars 17-9.
  • The third new song to the Top 10 is by Steve Grand, whose All American Boy album looks to be released now in June instead of May, which means just in time for his tour around North America!  The pensive “Back To California” is #10.

 7 (Moving) Up!

  • Wrathschild (Simon Curtis and Wolfy) are already shooting their next video!  While that’s all happening, “Fall Into Love” closes in on the Top 10 at #11!
  • I wrote about FrankMusik’s exceptional By Nicole album yesterday, and you can read it here if you missed it.  “Dear Nicole” continues to climb at #13.  After listening to his album, “Go” continues to be stuck in my head 🙂
  • Still more Sam Smith… the heart-wrenching “Not In That Way” moves up 7 to #15!
  • Aussies 5 Seconds Of Summer have done a great job in conquering North America so far.  “She Looks So Perfect” should be a bigger hit come summertime and it’s now at #16 on my chart.
  • Also with a 7 point jump is the taut and inviting “The Day You Left”, the second appearance by Convulsic on the chart, at #17.
  • “Back Home” by Andy Grammer looks to be a contender for an end-of-school song this year.  It moves up to #22.
  • Be sure to catch a set by Kendal Thompson when she plays shows in the Toronto area.  Her free download single “Be Mine” advances to #25.

The Lone Debut

  • Joining hot song companions by Martin Garrix, Showtek/Justin Prime/Matthew Koma, and Convulsic are Canadian lads DVBBS who have paired up with MOTi for the cinematic and majestic sounding rave up “This Is Dirty”, available on Beatport.  It bows at #23.  Read my post about it here.

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart.

02 01 LATCH Disclosure featuring Sam Smith
03 02 PROXY Martin Garrix
01 03 CANNONBALL (EARTHQUAKE) Showtek & Justin Prime featuring Matthew Koma
05 04 ELECTRIC VALENTINE Adam Tyler
06 05 FINEST CLOTHES IN TOWN Nick Hagelin
11 06 STAY WITH ME Sam Smith
09 07 LOVE SPACE Convulsic
04 08 FIND YOU Zedd featuring Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant
17 09 ME AND MY BROKEN HEART Rixton
13 10 BACK TO CALIFORNIA Steve Grand
15 11 FALL INTO LOVE Wrathschild
14 12 I WISH WE WERE LEAVING Bright Light Bright Light & Elton John
18 13 DEAR NICOLE Frankmusik
08 14 MONEY ON MY MIND Sam Smith
22 15 NOT IN THAT WAY Sam Smith
21 16 SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT 5 Seconds Of Summer
24 17 THE DAY YOU LEFT Convulsic
19 18 HORNY Lonnie Gordon
07 19 LOVE ME AGAIN John Newman
10 20 ADDICTED TO YOU Avicii featuring Audra Mae
12 21 DRINK Semi-Precious Weapons
28 22 BACK HOME Andy Grammer
New 23 THIS IS DIRTY DVBBS & MOTi
16 24 READY FOR YOU NOW Sean O’Reilly
29 25 BE MINE Kendal Thompson
20 26 DARE YOU Hardwell featuring Matthew Koma
23 27 TALK DIRTY Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz
25 28 F FOR YOU Disclosure featuring Mary J. Blige
26 29 TAKE COVER Neverest
27 30 COLLIDE Jake Miller  

 

Powerful Stuff: @TheFrankMusik, “By Nicole”

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FRANKMUSIK, By Nicole

The last few FrankMusik releases have not been easy listens, which in some ways adds up to making them full of some of the best music he’s made to date.  

Complex with layers of music and melody, By Nicole is the aftermath of a short relationship which quickly took a downward spiral, though nothing like the subject of Vincent Frank’s last album Between, but still enough to fuel a full album’s worth of intriguing songs.  Some of the songs within are simply difficult to immerse yourself in (“Misdemeanor”, “Fire”, and “Stabilizher”), but others pull you in even not if at first listen.

“Go” is one that will get stuck in your head both as a singalong and lyrics that are easily relateable.  “Crash and Burn” (listen below) has Vince in a duet with Natasha Bedingfield that scores, though I wouldn’t pick it as a single.  That would probably go to “Uh Oh”, which captures the instant when you know a relationship is not going where you thought it was.  “Call To Arms” is the strongest and most ferocious song vocally on the record, and “Fled”, which immediately follows, is a close second.  We’ve already had another vocal tour-de-force. “Dear Nicole”, as a single, as well as the jaunty postscript “These Streets”, and the reflective “Ephermeral Summer”.  A major bonus on By Nicole is having real instruments instead of it all being programmed.  The ensemble that Vince has created is tightly supportive of his music with the fine arrangements.  

I probably still enjoy Between and Do It In The A.M. more, but I think By Nicole will be a real grower over time and recognized as once of FrankMusik’s best records.

Busting A Bold Move: @JamesPoole_ Covers “Dirty Diana”

JAMES POOLE, “Dirty Diana”

I don’t usually get caught up in following viral videos by many singers, but for those that I do, and they are few, it’s a great investment in watching the talent develop.  

James Poole will be a big star one day.  While I’m still wrapped up in his covers of “Titanium” and “Glad You Came” particularly, it is incredibly brave and bold to cover Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana”, which happens to be one of my favourites by MJ.  For one thing, the song is so goddamn hard to sing!!!  It is about something very specific, and if you don’t tap into that, then you might has well be singing just any old song.  

James’ version isn’t 100% successful.  To me (and I’m not a singer), the beginning is a bit rough, and has to get past the minute mark.  BUT by the second minute mark, he is totally nailing it and incorporating his own style too.  So don’t get me wrong, James’ cover of “Dirty Diana” is excellent or I would not be writing about it.  My reference point for a cover/interpretation of the song though is The Weeknd’s version called “D.D.”.  

Bravo James for having the confidence to cover this classic and for keeping it compelling because the last half of the song is brilliant.  Keep up to date with James’ videos on his You Tube page.