Tag Archives: electronica

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.

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.

Very Good News Indeed! It’s The Fairy Tale of Zorro Blakk (@zblakk)!

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ZORRO BLAKK, The Fairy Tale Of Zorro Blakk

The Fairy Tale of Zorro Blakk is about as enjoyably unconventional as a dance/pop album might be.  As I posted about his duet with Lulu Bell on the just lovely “Fireworks” a while back (and it’s included in the album), the good Zorro (aka songwriter Daniel Volpe) has crazy way with melody, and he pulls out all stops in various ways, with some addictive ear candy in the mix.  Why do I want to write about Jeff Lynne/ELO-like melodic comparisons? 😉

So we are offered ballads like “Fireworks” and “So Beautiful”; emotional, empathetic dance pop like “The Red BMX” and “I Am The Night”; and full throttle dance blasts, which to me are the showcase pieces of the album, namely the opener “Big City Girls (Don’t Fall In Love With Small Town Boys)” (which needs both Matt Stormby and Ricardo Autobahn remixes, pretty please 😀 ) , and the fine collaboration with Deniz Olivieri on the singalong “Good News (For People Who Love Bad News)” (and a rollicking trance-y Tim Tim remix bound to tease and please club-goers and DJ’s).  

Zorro has a slight but fine-sounding boy-next-door kind of voice, and I sure prefer it without the effects… the only song truly out of place here is “Red & Gold” which sounds like it was meant for another record.  Otherwise The Fairy Tale of Zorro Blakk is beautifully and carefully produced and a great start to the career of Daniel’s alter ego.  Buy it on iTunes and listen below to the premiere of “Good News (For People Who Love Bad News)” on Larry Flick’s Sirius-FM show The Morning Jolt, featuring the one and only My Fizzy Pop (Paul Reynolds) himself.  

Shake It: @DimitriVegas + @MartinGarrix + @LikeMike = “Tremor”

dimitrivegasmartingarrixlikemike

DIMITRI VEGAS, MARTIN GARRIX & LIKE MIKE, “Tremor”

It had been previewed for quite a while, but “Tremor” finally dropped at last.  It’s a wild pairing of the talented young Dutchman about whom I’ve written much lately, with the Belgium-based brothers who have been well established for DJ work and remixes over the last six years.  “Tremor” is the perfect companion to (my #1 song on my personal chart) “Cannonball (Earthquake)” by Showtek, Justin Prime & Matthew Koma.  It’s a wild ride sending you up and over and around and back again, from sparkling quiet moments, to those massive ones that you want to feel in your bones.  And get a load of those crowd scenes in the official video below.  Three of a perfect pair (who recently played the Ultra Music festival), for sure – get “Tremor” on Beatport.

Smack That Groove: “Strangers” by @Convulsic

CONVULSIC, “Strangers”

One of the happiest discoveries I’ve had this year is San Diego-based Convulsic, and this is especially notable since I think a lot of dubstep sounds alike.  Not so with Convulsic’s songs, which are chock full of melody, interesting voices, and dazzling effects and drops.  “Love Space” and “The Day You Left” are both currently placed on my personal chart at #9 and #24 respectively, and if you’ve checked them out then “Strangers” should impress you as well.  Convulsic has the ability to template his sound and change it up every time, keeping it fresh while you want to smack that bottom groove and lose control just a bit.  Listen above.

 

A Voice That Soars: “Titanium” by @JamesPoole_

jamespoole

JAMES POOLE, “Titanium”

I often enjoy reading posts from my fellow bloggers as much as I do writing them.  And there are the times that I must write about the same performer I’ve just read about 🙂

Such is the case with James Poole, former member of London sextet Class A, who is now striking out on his own with a few online covers.  My Fizzy Pop himself has a way with words that just do not come out onto my blog pages the same way, so do check out his recent endorsement of James.  I heartily concur.  David Guetta & Sia’s “Titanium” is so often covered, and many who post You Tube videos just cannot even come close to the Sia performance (someone like Matthew John Kurz’s rendition notwithstanding 🙂 ).  James’ wide-ranging voice starts out low, gains momentum, and has such natural power in the chorus that it not only will send goosebumps through you, but it will nail you deep down.  This is a voice made to sing… whatever the heck he wants, really.  I’ll be sure to check out his other recent covers, but hopefully some originals are forthcoming that will showcase his voice.  

Picture a younger Matt Dusk sound with what My Fizzy Pop says is “classical operatic quality” to his voice… and there you have James Poole.  More – much more – please 🙂

BILLCS Top 30 #429 – April 21/14

If it’s one performer that this edition of my new personal chart is all about, it’s UK pop/soul singer Sam Smith.  There are 4 Sam Smith entries, including a former #1 (now at #8) and another debut!  Plus, I get to see him in concert on Wednesday April 23 at the Virgin Mod Club in Toronto 🙂

 The Top 10:

  • The killer dance tune that is “Cannonball (Earthquake)” holds #1 down handily for Showtek, Justin Prime & Matthew Koma, as the song debuts at #29 in the UK 🙂
  • We may be a touch late on it in North America, but “Latch” by Disclosure and Sam Smith vaults to #2 to challenge for the top in two weeks.
  • Martin Garrix may have a say as to who succeeds “Cannonball (Earthquake)” at #1.  His free download of “Proxy” soars 13-3 to tie for the fastest riser on the chart.  And Martin has plenty in store for us over the next few months to keep us busy!
  • All of this activity has left “Find You” by Zedd, Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant at #4, and free download “Electric Valentine” by Adam Tyler at #5, each holding for a second appearance.
  • It looks like Nick Hagelin’s long-awaited EP City Lights will see release in the first week of May.  His fun and ace pop/soul/hip hop song with an old school sample or two “Finest Clothes In Town” (available again as a free download) moves up 9-6 🙂
  • “Love Me Again” by John Newman continues to climb, moving 8-7 on the new chart.
  • The only other new Top 10 entry is a zinger for San Diego’s EDM/dubstep rising star Convulsic.  “Love Space” jumps 12-9 while another of his songs debuts below…

Onward and Upward:

  • It’s a stellar week for Sam Smith, two songs in the Top 10, and the soul ballad “Stay With Me” ties with “Proxy” as the fastest riser, soaring 21-11.
  • It’s release week for the Aviation album for Semi-Precious Weapons amid shows throughout the U.S.!  “Drink” continues to climb my chart at #12.
  • May and June will be important months for Steve Grand as his All American Boy album will see release and then he will be touring the blazes out of it, appearing at numerous Gay Pride events in North America.  The pensive “Back To California” jumps 17-13 on my chart.
  • This past week Rod Thomas (aka Bright Light Bright Light) will in fact be opening for Elton John on some dates on his European tour!  That’s an amazing feat for an independent performer and Elton has shown great interest in new acts this past year.  Their marvellous duet on “I Wish We Were Leaving” moves up 19-14.
  • The engaging and colourful video for Wrathschild’s “Fall Into Love” continues to attract new fans.  The song rises 22-15 as the duo of Simon Curtis and Wolfy record another new song.
  • Rixton’s “Me And My Broken Heart” is one of those songs that has you reeled in from its first note, very remiscent of Maroon 5 meets Lawson for the UK band.  It moves up 26-17 – let’s get these boys over here in North American for shows!
  • FrankMusik announced that his By Nicole album will be issued on Monday, April 28.  So many releases to look forward to over the next few weeks!  In the meantime, “Dear Nicole”, which features one of the singer’s most powerful vocals just past the half way mark, moves up 24-18.
  • I suppose over 2 million Twitter followers might signal a sell out, which indeed 5 Seconds Of Summer had with their Toronto show last Saturday.  The song with that underwear video, “She Looks So Perfect”, rises 27-21.

 New to the Chart:

  • Not to sound like a broken record, but leading the way once again on the new chart is another beautiful Sam Smith song, this time it’s “Not In That Way” from his upcoming album In The Lonely Hour, which is slated for a June release, which seems a long way off, though you can get “Not In That Way” on iTunes already.  Check out the live performance of the song at the top of this blog post.  “Not In That Way” bows at #22.
  • Next up is “The Day You Left”, another infectious EDM single from Convulsic, which has a steadier female vocal than “Love Space” and is full of powerful drops that will make your eardrums pop.  It arrives at #24 and is available on iTunes.
  • Andy Grammer’s positive vibe of “Keep Your Head Up” sent the song to #9 on my chart back in 2011, and after one album and an EP, the heartwarming “Back Home” leads the way for a new album.  The song debuts at #28.
  • Toronto-based singer Kendal Thompson dropped “Be Mine” as a free ‘thank you’ download on Valentine’s Day, along with a mysterious and eye-catching video.  “Be Mine” enters the chart at #29.

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.

 

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

 

A Joyful Celebration: “Fall Into Love” by @Wrathschild (video)

wrathschild3

WRATHSCHILD, “Fall Into Love (video)

I’ve already written about (and charted) “Fall Into Love” by Wrathschild, the new name for the duo of Simon Curtis and Wolfy (Ro Danishei).  Their slightly sci-fi themed video for the song arrived on Friday and it’s a joyful celebration of being carefree while falling in love.  The duo and their director have captured this beautifully with bright colours (pink, for sure), some truly natural smiles in happy close-ups, the beach, playing games, Wolfy in fur (yeah in L.A., but that’s normal 😉 ), and Simon in a comfy unique onesie (stop the frame and take a look at the buttons he’s wearing too).  Huge props to all involved for deciding to make a feel good song and video.  There is a reason why Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” is #1 around the world and Wrathschild taps into that vibe.