CADEN JESTER featuring CHRISTOPHER BLAKE, “Fireplaces”
If you like your EDM splashed with a smooth alternative R&B style but with enough topline rhythm to shuffle you out on to the dance floor, then “Fireplaces” is for you, courtesy of 18 year old San Diego producer/remixer Caden Jester and vocalist Christopher Blake via PRMD.  I’m getting a bit jealous of all of these talented teens who have been producing great stuff in 2016 đ It’s definitely one to get cozy and personal with, a solid companion to other moody, romantic songs that might include ones by Bryson Tiller, Anderson.Paak, RKCB or Opia.  Perhaps not as progressive or deep down soulful as other recent releases, “Fireplaces” still has plenty of positive, lazy vibes to enjoy, particularly if you’re in colder climates like me in December.  Enjoy “Fireplaces” at the link above.
“Warped Tides” is a new progressive instrumental EDM track by relative newcomer, Boston’s CRVE U (aka producer/remixer Jared Rapoza) brought to us via Lowly Palace. Â It’s a layered, sometimes chilled-out track that takes its time to build, and could sound great in an early evening set to draw folks out on to the dance floor. Â It more than sustains its four minute length by coming on full throttle in the last minute when it’s so critical to hold people’s attention, after a middle part that might be a little repetitive. Â But stick with “Warped Tides” throughout – it’s one of those songs that you’ll want to hear multiple times before it sinks in. Â CRVE U is off to a fine start with this original and you can download it for free at the above link.
“Sofia” is the lead track from the upcoming album by Columbus, Georgia-based hip hop performer PM Lowe, amusingly titled Don’t Let Me Die Before Dating Sofia Carson.  How the Disney Channel star feels about this, we may never know đ  But “Sofia” slams in all the right places, and will instantly appeal to fans of performers as diverse as Kanye, R. Kelly, T-Pain, Future, and Party Next Door, while finding its own deep rhythm and direct delivery courtesy of producers The Alumni.  I think perhaps the rigid pace at times could have been broken up a bit more with other elements but nonetheless PM Lowe and his team do a great job with getting you to both listen and groove to “Sofia”.  Download it for free at the link above and watch for more from the upcoming album soon.
You first encountered UK duo Lily and Mick, aka YES BABEZ!, in these blog pages in June with their smile-worthy doo wop-meets-Scandinavian-styled electronica in “Madame Beaujolais”. Â The pair returns with the even more decidedly different crowd-pleaser “Round Around”, and hey if Avicii and others can add Country elements to dance music, then YES BABEZ! can flirt with Bluegrass-flavoured indie pop. Â The showcase here again is on the effortless vocals, which are imperfectly unpolished and totally suited to the raw Bluegrass and Country tones of “Round Around”. Â It’s a brisk 3:25 blast that will win you over like a crisp breeze of morning air. Â Check it out at the above link.
Only three more charts until 2016 is over, and some favourites will depart in the next few weeks, making room for a lot of new music that’s been waiting patiently to get into the higher reaches of my chart. Â As a result, there are only two debuts this week, but a changeover at the top…
The New Number One
The power of a fantastic melody and amazing production is what gives The Weeknd his first #1 on this chart with “Starboy”, featuring Daft Punk, who also get their first #1, after having three previous Top 10 entries (“One More Time” in 2001; “Stronger” with Kanye West in 2007, and “Get Lucky” in 2013). Â It’s so great seeing someone from my neck of the woods – Abel grew up near my neighbourhood in Scarborough, Ontario (east Toronto) – knock it out of the park and I look forward to hearing the entire album. Â “False Alarm” (below) also moves up 27-21. Â And part of what has helped the appeal of “Starboy” for me is the cover also below by producer/remixer Koni featuring vocalist Johannes Weber, the best one I’ve heard to date (and a free download). Â “Starboy” replaces Gramatik & Leo Napier’s “Native Son Prequel” (Jenaux remix) after three appearances at the top (now down to #4), which will depart the chart after the maximum 10 appearances.
The Top 10
Elephante’s “Plans”, featuring Brandyn Burnette, advances to #2, one of the top songs from the I Am The Elephante EP. Â Brandyn also figures prominently in the Top 10 with his gal Molly Moore at #6 with “Just A Dream” (below) and at #7 in a Sean Turk remix of his own “Closer”.
“High” (Young Bombs remix) by Norway’s Jesper Jenset remains at a strong #3, and has been followed up by his great new single “Lies”, which I wrote about recently.
“In My Head” by Steve James featuring vocal duo RKCB, continues to move up 6-5.  Check out the recently released remix with Australia’s Joe Mason below, which is a free download đ
“Luminary” by NYC trio Liquid Diet from their Double Life album (below) grabs #8 on the new chart, while Rihanna’s retro-flavoured “Love On The Brain” advances to #9, and Bright Light Bright Light’s disco-tastic “I Only Want To Please You” (featuring Scissor Sisters’ Ana Matronic) climbs to #10.
Movin’ On Up
While a continuing log-jam below the Top 10 results in new peaks by songs by Fabian Luttenberger, Satchmode, Cole Plante, and Stefan Alexander, most of the bigger moves are from our debuts two weeks ago (such as the aforementioned “False Alarm” by The Weeknd).
“Right Here Right Now” is a fun EDM track with a cool narration by Halifax native Famba, which rises 20-16.
“D E E P in NY” by Bobby Nourmand featuring DOC & Goodmorning is Bobby’s hip hop reinvention of his infectious instrumental “D E E P”, which advances 22-17. Â It recently received release on The Magician’s Potion label đ
The fastest riser on the chart is “Burn” by Pet Shop Boys from their album Super, musically a throwback to their 1987 hit “It’s A Sin”. Â It climbs 26-18.
Despite its title, “The Thirst” by Eric Sharp featuring vocalist Kenny Zhao is a more seductive and memorable house track rather than an aggressive one. Â It moves up 25-20.
NYC singer/songwriter Ayer mixes emotional pop with lighter EDM for “My Hands” which moves up 28-22.
Two Debuts
“Brothers” by German producers/DJs/musicians Saxity and featuring Norwegian vocalist Strøm arrives at #25.  It’s a charming, warm songthat I wrote about a while back, and I was the one who instigated the connection between the Saxity lads and the songwriters, which led to the birth of “Brothers” đ
I wrote about“All The Way” by Sweden’s Hellberg late in the summer, but it has stuck with me so much that I had to add it to the chart. Â It’s a potent feel-good EDM instrumental from this talented producer who brought us “Synchronize” and “Care For Me” (with Toronto’s Dzeko & Torres) earlier this year. Â “All The Way” bounces on to the chart at #26.
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! Â Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify:Â Â BILLCS Top 30 Songs
Listen for me with my Pick of the Week at 2:20/6:20/10:20 AM/PM EST onhttp://www.planetradio.ca most days Monday through Sunday, and my flashbacks to a Toronto Top 10 of yesteryear Tuesdays at 9pm EST!Â
ANGGER DIMAS & APOCALYPTO featuring LOUISE LABELLE, “Out My Mind”
“Out My Mind” is indeed a cross-continental collaboration by the rising Indonesian DJ/producer Angger Dimas and Australia’s Apocalypto featuring powerhouse vox by British singer Louise LaBelle.  “Out My Mind” is the best of two EDM worlds – a riveting ear-catching singalong in a dirty, progressive, futuristic mix full of bass to slay you in your boots on the dance floor.  It doesn’t let up with intents on leaving you breathless in a nasty kind of way đ  Check it out above; it’s culled from the four song EP Angger Dimas & Friends.
Can it be four or five years now since I first heard “Fairytale” by NYC’s Andy Suzuki & The Method?  Riding high on devout fandom from the Malaysian country of Brunei, the duo of singer/songwriter/guitarist Andy Suzuki and songwriter/percussionist Kozza Babumba (grandon of Grammy-winning Nigerian drummer Babatunde Olatunji) returned to their city, playing club gigs around the USA to support their EP Ghost Stories.  Come 2014 they issued a top notch mix of country, folk, rock, and pop in their album Born Out Of Mischief, and I caught the hella-nice pair performing in NYC on one of my visits.  Up next, after touring on rock music cruises as well as with Joshua Radin, Marc Broussard, Amanda Palmer, and others, is a brand new album in early ’17 called The Glass Hour.  In advance of the album we have post-USA election encouragement with “Fight”, sure to be a crowd-pleaser.  I particularly enjoy the arrangement, which sends the bass in and out of the mix to focus on the high end of the song.  This is definitely not the diverse kind of rock music you’ll hear on the radio, but it has everything it needs to attract more new fans, and maybe even get them back to Brunei đ  Check out “Fight” at the link above.Â
After the complex but captivating “Quantum Immortality” comes “Windswept” by California EDM performer Crywolf (aka Justin Phillips).  It’s an epic heartbreaker that returns to the same ground set by “Slow Burn” earlier this year.  Both songs are connected by stories of relationships that went so sour that they resulted in being emotionally trapped.  “Windswept” is full of torrents of ups and downs that would be perfectly suited to be acted out in front of us on stage, much in the way that Jim Steinman wrote for rocker Meat Loaf.  The quiet moments of anguish will have you tearing up, while the majestic rebounds will have you leading the charge to abandon all thoughts of that relationship once and for all, but by then there is nothing left but the existential question asked at the end.  Crywolf’s “Windswept” is powerful stuff, long at 6:27 but worth every second at the link above.
L.A. duo Stalgia bring us the hypnotic and sexy “BDY” for our consideration. Â Fortunately, it’s one of the most unique songs you will hear over the next while. Â It slides easily from pop/R&B flavour to hip hop-inspired EDM. Â Lauren Day’s vocal is dynamic and affecting, conveying not only the sensual aspects of the melody but the emotional rapture of the lyrics. Â Partner Brandon Leslie creates an effortless pulse and the result is memorable with a singalong chorus that will make you want to hear “BDY” again and again. Â Give it a listen at the link above.
L.A. duo Dana and the Wolf have some great things happening with their song “Close Enough”. Â What might sound initially like it might be another routine Lorde-inspired track quickly leaves those thoughts in the dust as the arrangement constantly shakes up the proceedings where other songs start to fall apart. Â In fact by the time around the 2 minute mark occurs, you realize that singer Dana Hobson has a fierce voice that perhaps draws influence more from Florence Welch and Shirley Manson. Â She totally attacks the biting core of the song while partner and producer/multi-instrumentalist Daniel Wolf engages you with the drama with pounding drums and unrelenting synths. Â All of this makes “Close Enough” a magnetic, complete package that you can hear at the above link.
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 