If you’re looking for music mixed with old school trance by the likes of The Chemical Brothers or early BT, but mixed with contemporary progressive house that you’d hear on a Fisher release, then Marten Hørger’s “Another Dimension’ will have no problem winning you over. It’s familiar but incredibly playful, as you’ll find when you reach the halfway mark and this remarkable, attention-grabbing pause occurs and then rebuilds over 40 seconds, reminding me a lot actually of the mid-section of “Setting Sun”. Club DJ’s will enjoy how the song will keep their crowd on the dance floor not knowing what to expect next. “Another Dimension” is the kind of song that will gain traction over the coming months and into winter festival season.
While I’ve been somewhat critical of his latest ‘comeback’ songs, Atlanta house producer Popeska’s “Like This” is easily his best release of the year. It’s carried by an engaging uncredited female vocal, a chorus that could easily become a sing-a-long, and a synth hook that will have heads bobbing on the dance floor. When I’m not writing about songs I love outright, I’m always looking for potential. Popeska has the pedigree from the early part of the decade, which needed to be translated into music that will last beyond 2019. “Like This” is even quite radio friendly, with a big, effortless sound that will pull in listeners, and will appeal to fans of Zedd, Kygo and Kaskade.
Lexxi Raine is a talented new singer/songwriter from Buffalo, New York who arrives with her 7 song EP Fun While It Lasted. While all of the songs aren’t entirely successful, with too sparse production sometimes a culprit, the EP focuses on showcasing her razor sharp songwriting skills, and to me, her songs are easily transferable to be promoted to and recorded by other artists as well. She has a great way with words and telling a story like so many other songwriters cannot do. She calls her style “pop-punk” but it’s really cut from the same cloth that made The Go-Go’s, The Bangles, The Waitresses, and other women artists all the rage in the 80’s, which also influenced male bands like Green Day and Blink-182. The songs are often acoustic, with vocals not always on key (but someone tell that to team Billie Eilish 😉 ), but the best ones rock out with full band effect. So I’ll draw your attention to the gritty “He Says, She Says” and the cutting “Dear Kellie”, both below. But don’t get me wrong, Lexxi Raine is on a very contemporary path with the telling and provocative video for “What The Lonely People Do” (above), where the protagonist wants a relationship to be all about her and not about others. Lexxi Raine has just completed a small tour of the UK where she is obviously establishing a fan base. She’s someone to check out at this ground-level stage and has the potential to go far with the right songs and production.
With his new EP Collusion, veteran Russian dance producer Proxy brings you four songs with fellow conspirators DZA, Armadine, The Paxmen, and the world renown A.C. Slater for a variety of dance music flavours in the progressive and future bass genres. And I’ve gotta say that the joint experiences between Proxy and A.C. Slater are in full bloom on “Have Some Fun”, which is a no-brainer for clubs. It’s one rollicking progressive house track that doesn’t want to let up, reminding me of some songs by Australian duo The Presets. Proxy and The Paxmen also create a fun dance floor trip with “Fitness”, which offers up the humour you’d find in a Showtek track carried by infectious an infectious rhythm and a quirky female vocal that says the title as “feet-ness”. Proxy’s collaboration with Armadine, “No More”, is slick UK-influenced house, but “Poltora” with DZA misses with being a bit too obtuse for me. Proxy has proven himself over the years at many of the biggest worldwide festivals and although he’s never really been away from the scene, there’s no doubt that this EP will re-establish him with club DJ’s and attract many new fans.
My last chart of the year, and decade, is here, which means my year end Top Songs list will be following on December 31. What a year it’s been for music! Though it doesn’t compare as much to other years in this decade, it still had so much to offer. There are four debuts on this new chart, and a contender for the top in two weeks.
A reminder that the music from my chart and blog will be featured regularly on the new online radio station Radio GTA. You can hear their Big 20 on Wednesday evenings with ‘The Musicman’ James Rogers and listen for songs from the chart too 🙂 Scroll down the station’s main page to listen to lots of variety from across the decades! I’m the new music consultant for the station so you can expect even more in 2020 🙂 You can start by joining our new interactive Facebook group too!!
It’s Harry Styles Week in most of the world, at least according to the album charts. Fine Line is the top album in North America and elsewhere in the world, and deservedly so with its find blend of contemporary and many past styles which make an incredibly diverse album that goes down really easy. Oh, and can I mention Harry’s super vocals yet again? 🙂 Not only does “Lights Up” (above) get a third appearance (6th week) at #1 on this chart, but “Watermelon Sugar” advances 25-19 and “Adore You” (below) has the highest debut two positions down at #21!
It seems likely that Tritonal and Henry Dark could take Harry Styles away from #1 in two weeks as the new Sanskrit-chanted festival anthem for 2020, “Shivohum”, soars 9-2. This riveting song keeps your ears glued and your feet very happy.
I never thought I’d see Dolly Parton in my Top 5 in the 2010’s or 2020’s, but here she is with dance superstars Galantis retooling John Hiatt’s “Have A Little Faith In Me” into the jubilant and fun dance track, “Faith”, rising 7-5. Dolly’s classic, recognizable vocal goes so well with Mr. Probz’s soulful one too.
Speaking of soul on a dance music song, Aloe Blacc lends his trademark voice to Hellberg’s “Punching In The Dark”, which glides 11-7.
Also new in the Top 10 are “Mad” by Brandon Colbein (12-9, above, with a tender, acoustic, stripped down version), his second following the #1 “So Bad” in 2016 (billed then as Brandon Skeie), and Sam Smith’s glorious cover of Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” (13-10, below). It’s Sam’s tenth top tenner here, including his featured vocals with Disclosure on “Latch” and “Omen”.
Peter Foldy’s “Toxic World” is a wonderful new release by the veteran Canadian singer/songwriter and it rises 15-11.
The Fastest Riser on the chart belongs to R3HAB, Zayn and Jungleboi with the short but deeply involving “Flames”, which goes into fast gear, up 20-12. Zayn with his compelling vocal as a demon or the devil? Yes please!!
L.A. indie alt.rock quartet Awolnation has one of the most infectious songs out there with “The Best”, which climbs 22-16.
I’m hoping that pop radio will jump all over “if we never met” by Florida-based singer/songwriter John.k soon. It moves up 21-17.
Halifax dance producer Famba acquires his first American dance radio Top 10 hit with my second new entry, which is “Storm”, featuring vocalist Kyra Mastro at #27. It’s from Famba’s upcoming release Wishes Vol. 1, due just after the new year, and follows his Canadian radio hits “Wish You Well” and “Swear To God” (which peaked at #3 on this chart). I’m waiting for Canadian stations to jump all over it – what are you waiting for?
I’m also surprised that radio in general is ignoring Adam Lambert’s sensational performance in covering Cher’s “Believe”, brought to life over a year ago at the Kennedy Centre Honours performances (above), and bows at #28. It’s Adam’s first appearance on the chart since 2016, which was on the last charting hit by our #2 song’s lead act Tritonal called “Broken” (#4). Fascinatin’ fact: “Breaking Hearts” (#15) singer Benedict Cork co-wrote Adam’s single from earlier in the year “Feel Something”.
Pulling in at #30 is “Hard To Say Goodbye”, another in a series of excellent emotional electronic songs, this time in collaboration with Vancouver’s Ekali and Denver’s Illenium, and a heart-wrenching vocal by Chloe Angelides. It’s Ekali’s second chart entry following last year’s #12 “Blame” with ZHU, and is Illenium’s 6th chart appearance (including the current #8 “Broken Ones”).
View the full BILLCS Top 30right here! Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!
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
While most of Canadian producer Chet Porter’s releases thus far have focused on outstanding, gorgeous melodies, Chet wraps up his new song “Secrets” with all that and big beats too. Thus, we have a new winter music festival favourite in our midst. Between the choir-like vocals, the old school European melodic house styled backdrop, and some truly wicked synth work with futuristic house elements. “Secrets” will reel in not only Chet’s many fans, but club DJ’s and house music fans too. Don’t let this one slip by – “Secrets” is a winner!
Compilation albums seem to be coming a thing of the past. After all, aren’t streaming playlists essentially the same thing? I’ve long been of the mind that these compilations should be focused on similar styles of dance music to appeal to those who enjoy it. But for those who want to taste a little bit of everything in the dance music scene and still like to purchase their music, Ultra 2020 is definitely for you, and you’ll almost always find something you really enjoy. So for me the highlights here are:
“So Blue” by British duo Sondr, likely the best of the 22 songs within, which could be a surprising floor filler thanks to the use of some of the lyrics and a pitched down melody from Eiffel 65’s “Blue” (and thankfully minus most of the ‘Da Ba Dee”‘s)
Steve Aoki’s second high-powered collaboration with South Korea’s BTS, “Waste It On Me”
Sofi Tukker’s playful “Swing”, for fans of songs of theirs like “Batshit”
The slick electronic pop of “25 Miles To Vegas” by The Tribe Of Good
The deep down and dirty “Tits On A Tricycle” by SNBRN, which reminds me of something Showtek would record
The dreamy electropop of Dutchkid’s “Flight”
“GOMF” (featuring BRIDGE), which has already become a hit for DVBBS in our native Canada
“Pica” by Deorro and Henry Fong, spiced up with an Elvis Crespo vocal
The rest I could take or leave. But regardless if you’re looking for an enjoyable stocking stuffer for your dance music-loving friend or family member, you can’t go with an Ultra compilation like 2020.
Continuing with his successful blend of progressive electronic music with gritty alt.rock music, deep house, and trap, Los Angeles-based producer PatrickReza is back with “November”. After repackaging last year’s first forays into this stylish mix with “Tip Toe” and “The Wall” into the EP Strung Out (featuring the title song), as well as his white-listed remix of Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” (which she shared in her socials and has acquired 3.5 million plays on Soundcloud alone), “November” offers a herky-jerky Nine Inch Nails melody, downbeat guitar work, and a disaffected semi-spoken vocal. It’s a taut blend that gets revved up briefly about halfway through, but it all works quite well. Modern rock radio would have fun with this one as would clubs for late night play.
It’s not a cover of the Britney Spears smash, but “Toxic” will certainly appeal to fans of that song as well as anyone who likes their deep house with a mysterious side and a burbling synth melody underneath. I wrote about Miggy Milla’s “Tragedy” not long ago, and this is quite a different turn from the Austin singer of Filipino heritage. Miggy definitely turns on the charm again with his soft, provocative vocal, which easily draws you in while the rich synth work and production take care of the dancing department. “Toxic” is an ear-turner that’s definitely a step in the right direction for Miggy Milla.
It’s the second last BILLCS Top 30 of 2019 already! Unlike others I don’t tally up my year end chart until after my last chart is published. In the meantime, I have a new chart that is chock full of debuts… in fact, there are six of ’em, with another lineup of songs waiting to join them in two weeks. So this blog post will be focused on the newcomers!
A reminder that the music from my chart and blog will be featured regularly on the new online radio station Radio GTA. You can hear their Big 20 on Wednesday evenings with ‘The Musicman’ James Rogers and listen for songs from the chart too 🙂 Scroll down the station’s main page to listen to lots of variety from across the decades! I’m driving Russ Horton crazy each week by sending him lots of new music from the blog and chart to join the mix too!
It’s amazing how pop music can cause you to shift styles and genres at the drop of a hat. So while I’ve been caught up with Illenium’s music these past few months – and he’s still on the chart with “Broken Ones” joining the Top 10, and another collaboration, this time with Canada’s own Ekali, on deck in two weeks – all ears are now on Harry Styles as “Lights Up” (above) continues at #1. Not only that, but “Watermelon Sugar” debuts at #25, and the third single from Fine Line, “Adore You” (below, if you haven’t seen it yet) has arrived with a triumph of a video and is also in waiting for the chart for two weeks from now.
Talk about staying power! Lostchild’s “Like Like” in its OKJAMES remix gets a fourth appearance at #2 (that’s eight weeks).
Slow-burners “Breaking Hearts” by Benedict Cork (4-3, above) and “Flicker” by Anden (6-4, below) both move up to new peaks.
The remaining new arrival in the Top 10 is also the Fastest Riser on the chart. It’s the intense, provocative, and joyous banger “Shivohum” by Tritonal and Henry Dark, which soars 21-9, with designs on the top of the chart!
There are several songs waiting to make their big moves mid-chart, but the ones making the most noise on their own are Sam Smith’s jolting cover of Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” (17-13, above); Peter Foldy’s pensive and positive ode to today with “Toxic World” (19-15, also above); and John.k’s delightful “if we never met” (27-21, below).
And I have to get a quick word in about Sam Fender, who is selling out shows across the UK thanks to the success of his album Hypersonic Missiles. “Will We Talk” is from that album and climbs 20-17. And one of the happiest moments on Twitter that you will see this week is Sam greeting a really young fan backstage. That’s what magic moments are made of!
Leading the six debuts at an impressive #20 is “Flames” by R3HAB, Zayn and Jungleboi. Dutch legend R3HAB is having a monster year, with one of his biggest club hits being the cover of the A*Teens’ “All Around The World”. And on “Flames”, his second chart entry here following “All Into Nothing” with Mokita (#15), he and Jungleboi manage to pull out what I believe is Zayn’s best vocal to date. “Flames” isn’t really a dance song, it’s definitely more pop radio friendly, and a nice follow up on Zayn’s underrated Icarus Falls album.
It seems that it’s time for alt.rock and dance music to become friends again, and I’m hearing more successful blends of these genres for the first time in many years. Is it the ‘new’ new wave when songs like “The Best” by Los Angeles group AWOLNATION start to get my attention? It’s the band’s first appearance on the chart, bowing in at #22.
The Weeknd is back and has been listening to a lot of 80’s new wave, if the keyboard riffing in “Blinding Lights” is any indication. The song arrives at #26 – a far cry from his other single “Heartless”, which I don’t care for at all – becoming my Scarborough neighbourhood boy Abel Tesfaye’s 6th chart entry. The Weeknd got to #1 on the chart in 2016 with “Starboy”.
Battling it out for the last two positions on the chart are: “Dirty Mirrors” by Scotland’s Ben Davidson and England’s Sean Smith in a smashing duet that lands at #29 in its Matt Pop edit (above). It’s Ben’s debut on the chart, while Sean has got to the Top 10 twice, with the Andy Sikorski remix of “Magic” in 2017, and last year with Peter Wilson in another duet called “Verona”; and at #30 is “Ain’t Deep Enough” (below), slick Chicago house from production duo Autograf featuring a fine vocal by Jared Lee, who just left the chart with Midnight Kids on “Those Were The Days” (#5).
View the full BILLCS Top 30right here! Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!
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
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