electronica – Page 188 – BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

15th Anniversary Edition: BILLCS Top 30 #388 – September 24/12

In some ways it seems like a lifetime ago, in other ways it’s like yesterday. 15 years ago this week I began posting my personal chart online on a regular basis.

As I was discovering the ‘Net through our dial-up connection in 1996/97, I was able to find message boards and chart sites where, yes, there were actually music chart geeks like me, who created their own lists of favourites, or sometimes a list of songs that were heavily influenced by radio play of the day. I had compiled my own charts back in the 70’s, but abandoned that when I joined my university radio station, where I influenced their chart and my fellow DJ’s, and eventually became in charge of producing their chart! I continued to assist with this well past graduation and into my free-lance writing days. After that, I still produced my own lists but they weren’t charts, just a way to keep track of what I liked and what was current.

So the rabid presence of all kinds of music on the Internet has been and will continue to be a blessing for me, and I’ll keep on producing my chart as long as people are interested in reading it and chatting with me about it and its songs. I posted charts now and again throughout 1997 online, but I don’t have copies of any of those charts until January 1998 when I began saving them and documenting them, because I just knew this wasn’t going to go away, though “Turn My Head” by Live was my #1 in September 1997. So I’m 388 bi-weekly editions in (the first 8 months had a Top 10 only), and here’s what’s happening 🙂

His Push Rewind album goes several songs deeper, but “Remember When (Push Rewind)” by Chris Wallace holds at #1 for a 3rd appearance (6th week), with “Dreams Are Gold” by DATABOY not giving up second place yet. This makes it difficult when two fun and engaging songs, “Go For Gold” by Kyle Patrick, and “Spectrum” by Zedd & Matthew Koma, each advance within the Top 5. They are joined by “Houdini” by Foster the People, making it 3 for 3 for the trio following fellow Top Fivers “Pumped Up Kicks” and “Call It What You Want”. Also – Mark Foster’s tweets under @FosterThePeople are so worth following. He’s definitely got interesting opinions but also tweets about great things, including the challenge he gave to a photographer to lose weight over a number of months, with the reward being a financial amount from Mark himself. Inspiring!

You’ll notice that “Spectrum” by Florence & The Machine is now out of the Top 5 at #7 and “Timebomb” by Kylie Minogue rests at #14. But despite reaching #3 and #4 respectively, both songs will rank highly at year’s ends, possibly higher than some of my #1’s! We’ll see! Markus Riva’s “We Dance 4 Reason” climbs to a new peak at #9.

You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here. You can hear all of the songs on the chart or watch their videos by clicking on the pics on the chart page. Any free downloads that are identified are sanctioned by the performer. There’s always a tiny place at the bottom of the blog post with tags and the statement “Leave A Comment” – please feel free to do so

The fastest riser on the chart, for a second time, is the completely crazy and irresistible “Music Makes You Lose Control” by Carlos Nóbrega, which leaps over his own “Turn It Up” (at #11), to move 17-8. You can listen to the full song near the top of this post or below on Soundcloud. Once “MMYLC” grabs you, it doesn’t let go, so you can find it on iTunes – and right now I’m waiting for remixes! Carlos is just finishing off his album, and you’ll know more about that from me as it happens. Joining “MMYLC” in the Top 10 for the first time is the irrepressible “Genius” by DATABOY at #10. That song can also be found on the duo’s Dreams Are Gold album.

Lots of great new songs continue to move up. A massive hit in Sweden, “Long Time” by John De Sohn & Andreas Moe climbs to #12. Andreas also recorded an acoustic version on his Collecting Sunlight EP which I wrote about a while back. “Anything Could Happen” by Ellie Goulding is whetting fans’ appetites while she’s on tour in anticipation of the Halcyon album, and rises to #13. Jeronimo’s “Unheard” isn’t released as a single anywhere, but it’s my next favourite song to the title track of his album One Kiss and jumps to #15. “Unheard” is just one of those singalongs where the lyrics just find their way easily into your mouth. Jeronimo is starring in a new movie called “My Dad’s A Detective – The Battle”, and a video for his beautiful ballad “Firefly” includes snippets of scenes from that movie. I’m not sure if we’ll see this movie in North America, but our young Netherlander is obviously a double threat! Watch the video below.

Songs 16 through 21 keep the chart looking busy – as they should because every song on this chart is a winner regardless of where it peaks. The offbeat melodies and lyrics of songs on Saint Motel’s Voyeur album are really appealing to me, and the clarinet-sample-led “Benny Goodman” is at #16. “Over It” by Colin Munroe looks to follow “The Fight Of My Life” into the Top 10 and rises to #17. “Feel It” is the latest single by Bright Light Bright Light, featuring Mykal Kilgore, and soars to #18. Of course, Rod Thomas (aka BLx2) has double-whammied us once again with a new video for the song, and a mashup for free download called “Let’s Have A Feel”, which has great fun in setting Scissor Sisters’ #1 club hit “Let’s Have A Kiki” to the music of “Feel It”. Watch the video and listen to the mashup below.

UK duo Bim are busy working on an album, and you’ll find out more when you go to their website and download “Lights Out”, which resides at #19. Despite the blond look on the cover of his EP We Should, Kyle Brylin has returned to short brown hair for a new single, the piano ballad “Ain’t The Same” (which you can hear below and download for free from Soundcloud right here). In the meantime, the chart sticks to the electro-house of the poignant “Hurricane”, which climbs to #20. There’s always a place for a theatrical sound on my chart from time to time, and “Yesterday’s Tomorrows” by Jane Badler nails it in spades and rises to #21.

Rounding out the chart are three debuts. I wrote about “Evolved” by Minnesota singer Vague-à-bonde (aka Nicole Brenny) a little while back. The combination of soft, genuine vocals and one of the best chorus hooks you’ll hear this year sends the song into the chart at an impressive #24. You can download it for free right here. It’s taken a little longer than usual for “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons to sink in, but the opening episode of this season’s “Glee” has kept the song in my head (especially in its Penguin Prison remix, which you can get on iTunes). “It’s Time” bows at #26 (watch the video at the bottom of the post if you’re not yet familiar with it). And this past week I wrote about “Between The Raindrops”, the single from the upcoming new Lifehouse album, which features Natasha Bedingfield in a well-placed guest appearance. The song arrives at #27 and is Lifehouse’s 9th entry on the chart since debuting back at the end of 2000 with one of my all time favourite songs, “Hanging By A Moment”. Here’s the complete list:

“Hanging By A Moment”, #1, 2001
“Sick Cycle Carousel”, #20, 2001
“Everything”, #3, 2001
“Spin” #1, 2002
“You And Me”, #3, 2005
“Halfway Gone”, #3, 2010
“Had Enough” (with Chris Daughtry), “#11, 2010
“All In”, #8, 2010

End Of Summer Pop Blast

BT & Arty featuring Nadia Ali “Must Be The Love”

BT is back and ready to take over dance clubs and radio with “Must Be The Love” in partnership with Arty and featuring the always compelling Nadia Ali on vocals. It’s a radiant 9:52 that moves by in the blink of an eye. That’s because its gradual buildup lasts three and a half minutes, but by the four and a half point, you are now hostage with no way out but to revel in it till the end. This is 2012’s return to Trance the way it should be done, and there’s no one who can take you for a better ride, with all of the glorious details, than BT.

Lifehouse featuring Natasha Bedingfield, “Between The Raindrops”

I was so worried when I found out the new single by Lifehouse would include a featured artist. But it was all for nought when I found out that Natasha Bedingfield was the collaborator on “Between The Raindrops”. In advance of the band’s sixth album, I find that this might be a little softer pop for Lifehouse outside of its ballads, but Jason Wade’s convincing vocals countered by Natasha’s charm make this way better than what I might have imagined.

Richard Barone “I Belong To Me”

It’s not a new song, but not one that you’re likely to know. You can change all of that with this free download which precedes the 25th anniversary of Richard’s seminal Cool Blue Halo album, from which the song comes. I’m a huge fan of the former Bongos singer’s solo albums Primal Dream, Clouds Over Eden, and 2010’s Glow. At the time, I found Cool Blue Halo to be offbeat for me and I didn’t enjoy its stripped away production. But after Richard’s impressive body of pop music work, I’m looking to get reacquainted with its songs again. Watch a recent video of Richard performing “I Belong To Me” below and find out more about the celebration around Cool Blue Halo at Richard’s website.

Adaku “Silent Treatment”

I introduced you a little while ago to Nigeria-born Adaku, with her comfort food for the soul in the form of “Or You Can”. She continues to dazzle, in a quiet but confident and impressive way with alternative soul in the form of “Silent Treatment”. The song sits comfortably next to others by Frank Ocean, Jill Scott, Eric Benet, and Alicia Keys. Download “Silent Treatment” for free right here, and keep your ears peeled for more Adaku.

Stone Walters “Dancing In The Dark”

UK singer Stone Walters has been a constant in this blog throughout the year, starting with the stunning heart tugger “Home”, and then with the hopeful “World Keeps Turning”. Now he takes a chilled out approach to Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing In The Dark”- and you can’t mess with a song like this unless you can truly sing it. Listen to the song below, and download it for free by heading over to Stone’s website with your email address.

Nik Miles “Beautiful People” (live snippet)\

Not many pop singers will abandon everything at their fingertips in New York City for Malmo, Sweden. But as you know from these pages and from those of other bloggers, Sweden could at any point take over the pop world, and not just in a retro Ace Of Base kind of way. So singer/actor Nik Miles is in good hands if the danceable pop of “Beautiful People” is any indication. He has a powerful, versatile voice that can transform nicely if given the right kind of song to sing. But as you’ll see from the live snippet, he’s got the personality, energy, and commitment to make it happen too. Much is in the works, so look to hear more from Nik Miles before the end of the year.

And don’t forget to check out:

The mind-blowing Skrillex-influenced Birdy Nam Nam remix from left field of Ellie Goulding’s “Anything Could Happen” that blew up last weekend.

The lyric video for “Dreams Are Gold”, the first single and title track of the debut album by DATABOY, which you owe it to yourself to have in your collection.

And one of the best and wildest EP’s you’ll hear all year from the reliable and unpredictable FrankMusik (in disguise as his Vincent Did It moniker) with The SOPA Opera EP, now available to hear via Soundcloud. Plus, Vince has a daffy and funky instrumental “Grasping At Nothing” available for free download, as well as his remix of “Flesh” by Simon Curtis.

BILLCS Chart #387 – September 10/12

I often refer to my bi-weekly chart as a list of my favourite songs of the moment, but it also serves as a recap of what I’ve been listening to over the last few weeks.

Suffice it to say, my last week has been filled with Chris Wallace songs from his solo album Push Rewind, which was released last Monday, and I posted my thoughts about it in the week. Lead single “Remember When (Push Rewind)” holds on to #1 on my chart quite handily, the first of what I expect will be a few appearances for Chris on the chart in the coming months. With three songs on the chart, DATABOY is hardly out of the picture, with “Dreams Are Gold” ranking #2 and the fun “Genius” rising to #13. Both “Spectrum”s on the chart now surround “Go For Gold” by Kyle Patrick, which rises to #4. Florence & The Machine stay at #3 with the Calvin Harris remix, and Zedd & Matthew Koma soar to #5 (the video is below if you’ve missed it). Who will succeed Chris Wallace at #1. Frankly, I just don’t know yet!

Also climbing within the Top 10 is Bright Light Bright Light with “Moves” from Make Me Believe In Hope at #6 – though it’s not the second single from the album (more on that below). Right below is “Houdini” in a free download Green Children remix by Foster The People. New to the Top 10 are Baiyu’s “Hunter” at #9 and “We Dance 4 Reason” from Markus Riva at #10. Baiyu may get a wild card spot on “The Next” TV show in coming episodes due to her strong performance in the New York City round. Markus has another single up his sleeve, with a video being shot soon for “Chase”. The video for “Reason” is below.

Portugal’s Carlos Nóbrega is close to descending on the Top 10 with two songs, “Turn It Up”, which rises to #11, and the big, bouncy anthem “Music Makes Me Lose Control”, which is the fastest riser, vaulting 23-17. The trance-oriented “Long Time” by Sweden’s John De Sohn featuring Andreas Moe on vocals moves up to #14 (strange but eye-catching video below), Ellie Goulding’s infectious single “Anything Could Happen” from her upcoming Halcyon album rises to 16, “Benny Goodman” by Saint Motel is up to #19, “Lights Out” by UK duo Bim jumps to #22 as a free download, and “Hurricane” by Kyle Brylin is at #25.

Three familiar faces comprise 3/4 of our debuts. My next favourite song from young Netherlands singer Jeronimo’s album One Kiss after the title track is the jaunty “Unheard” (listen below), which bows at #20 as “One Kiss” spends its last appearance on the chart after a maximum of 10 (20 weeks). Then, Toronto’s Colin Munroe unleashed his latest mixtape Unsung Hero mid-last week, and I’ll have some detailed words on that in the week. In the meantime, his free download of the empowering “Over It”, which I wrote about last week, arrives at #23. The second official single from Bright Light Bright Light’s Make Me Believe In Hope is in fact the tailored-for-clubs “Feel It”, featuring Mykal Kilgore in a shimmering remix below, at #26. The last debut, if you didn’t guess it from yesterday’s blog post, is “Yesterday’s Tomorrows” by Jane Badler at #28.

September Pop Grab Bag: Colin Munroe, Sky Ferreira, Vague-à-bonde, Sam Sparro, River Tiber, Vista Cruiser, Elle Vee, and Jane Badler

Colin Munroe “Over It”

Colin’s new Unsung Hero mixtape finally dropped today, but preceding it last week was “Over It”, which isn’t as heavy as “Fight Of My Life” and “Invincible”. Even in more of an accessible pop vein like this, the Toronto performer’s sympathetic vocals and resolute lyrics are extremely powerful. Expect more of the same grittiness in the mixtape, but I’ll save my comments about Unsung Hero for later in the week. In the meantime start yourself with “Over It” by downloading it right here.

Sky Ferreira featuring Blood Orange “Everything Is Embarrassing”

At last, it’s a Sky Ferreira song that captures the sexiness and vulnerability I saw on stage in New York City in April 2011. It’s a pretty sparse and fragile sound from her upcoming EP Ghost that could easily put the much-praised Sky in the same leagues as Ellie Goulding in no time. More like this please… and remixes could send clubs positively spinning.

Vague-à-bonde “Evolved”

Hailing from Minneapolis, Nicole Brenny has recorded her second album under the name Vague-à-bonde, and in advance of it comes “Evolved”. Not far removed from Sky Ferreira or Ellie Goulding but with the tough edges we find with Pink and Rihanna, “Evolved” starts out gently unassuming and then seemingly out of nowhere comes this amazingly hooky chorus that will simply slay you. After all what would a vague-à-bonde be if not restless? I can’t wait to hear a live performance of “Evolved”. Get the free download right here and look for more soon from Vague-à-bonde.

Sam Sparro “We Could Fly”

Backtracking to the soul/funk and emotional pop combo of Sam Sparro’s sophomore album Return To Paradise, I would like to humbly suggest “We Could Fly” as the next single. After the video of the the downbeat but cathartic “I Wish I Never Miss You”, “Fly” could serve as a reprise of the vibe of the first single “Happiness” and with some innovative remixes will help this intriguing album gain momentum again.

River Tiber “What Are You Afraid Of”

As regular readers know, I consider Toronto band River Tiber to be one of The Finds of 2012. I adore the many moods of the debut album From Now On, particularly “Someday” and “Symmetry”, which reached #1 and #2 on my personal chart. Led by singer and multi-instrumentalist Tommy Paxton-Beesley, River Tiber segues into more experimental electronic pop/rock on “Afraid”, full of gorgeous smatterings of electric guitar, which all resonate through the images in the video. Watch below, and look for many more fine things to come from Tommy and River Tiber this Fall.

Vista Cruiser featuring Vanessa Barfod “I Dig, You Dig”

A humorous party rock song will always get my attention if the whole package rises among the generally inane setting. Such is the case with Montreal’s Vista Cruiser, comprising Mich and Andy Manaras, who were more known for rocking out a decade ago than the fun electropop behind “I Dig, You Dig” would let on. But with platinum award-winning producer John Nathaniel somewhat uncharacteristically at the helm, and a clever, eye-popping video, you will have a tough time getting the song out of your head. So party on…

Elle Vee featuring Tek-neek “I Like Girls”

Hailing from L.A., Elle Vee is Lindsay Vinarsky, a diverse songwriter whose “I Like Girls” puts her definitively in Britney Spears sounding territory but with lyrical bite that takes no prisoners along along with a well-placed rap. Give a listen below and check out numerous other songs, which show some other sides of Elle Vee on her Soundcloud page.

A reminder, in anticipation of its video launch on Saturday, September 8, do check out Jane Badler‘s wonderful “Yesterday’s Tomorrows” below in all of its original glorious drama and then in the so chi chi Stormby’s Drama Mix. I’ll have the video coverage on the weekend. There are all kinds of details on Jane’s Facebook page .

BILLCS Chart #386 – August 27/12 – Be Kind, Push Rewind!

The top of my personal chart is tighter than ever, as DATABOY’s “Dreams Are Gold” gives way ever so slightly to “Remember When (Push Rewind)” by Indiana-born Chris Wallace, which advances to #1 just before the release date of his album Push Rewind (album cover art above, reprise of the video below). There’s a lot of the Top 10 that stays the same – with good reason, the songs on this chart are especially strong – but in the midst there is some notable movement.

Kyle Patrick has been to Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia these past few weeks. The house that The Click Five built over there is significant, and Kyle’s “Go For Gold” is making great strides on their charts. From his self-titled EP, “Gold” is definitely winning, and climbs to #6 on the chart. Down further there are two new entries to the Top 10. The spry Green Children remix of Foster The People’s “Houdini” works its magic at #9, while fastest riser “Spectrum” by Zedd featuring Matthew Koma is headed for the upper reaches, advancing 21-10.

Mark Thursday, August 30 on your calendar to watch the New York episode of The CW network’s new show “The Next”. The supremely talented Baiyu is one of four contestants – and her competition had better be on their game! Best of luck to Baiyu 🙂 Her song “Hunter” climbs to #11 on my chart. Her coach on the show is none other than Nelly.

Several other upwardly mobile songs continue towards the Top 10. “We Dance 4 Reason” by Latvian dancer, model, DJ/producer, and singer, Poptronik performer Markus Riva vaults 20-14, followed directly by the long-lasting “When She Was Mine” by Lawson at #15. Watch their video for the UK Top 5 hit “Taking Over Me” below. The third chart entry for DATABOY, the splendiforous “Genius”, jumps to #16, with “Long Time” by Sweden’s John De Sohn and singer/songwriter Andreas Moe (also still residing at #7 with “Collecting Sunlight” himself) rising to #17. The feel good vibe of L.A.’s Saint Motel continues at #22 with the swinging “Benny Goodman”, while “Emergency” by Audio Playground with Snoop Dogg is up to #24.

All of our new entries are by performers who have already visited the chart, some more recently than others. We’ll start with a couple of doubles, please. The highest new entry at #20 is the instantaneously ear-pleasing pop of Ellie Goulding with her first single from the upcoming Halcyon album (artwork above) with “Anything Could Happen”. While “Lights” took its sweet time getting to the upper reaches of the international charts, the response to “Anything” should be swifter. Ellie’s free download cover of The Weeknd’s “High For This” continues to climb at #19. Then we have the good natured dance floor fun brought to us by Portugal’s Carlos Nóbrega, whose latest song “Music Makes You Lose Control” (#23) will be sure to inspire much dancing at those upcoming Hallowe’en parties. The anthemic “Turn It Up” is lifted to #12 as well.

After “Scream” from this past Spring, one could see that UK duo Bim are headed in the right direction as they create songs for their upcoming sophomore album. Their latest single, “Lights Out” (video reprise below), is a free download that combines the emotion of the songs from Scatterheart and some wickedly powerful vocals to create a song that is completely captivating and arrives at #27. Their “Head Over Heels” got to #3 on my chart in 2010. Lastly Kyle Brylin is back with some slick electronica featuring catchy melodies and hooks like we heard last year in “Everything I’m Missing” (#5) and “Never Love A DJ” (#8). From his latest 4 song EP comes the emotional house track “Hurricane” at #28. So that makes Kyle (Patrick), Kyle (Brylin), and Kylie on the chart – a nice triple play 🙂

AND DON’T FORGET: A year in the making, the Poptronik festival in Sitges, Spain will be a dream come true for electronica fans on September 1 and 2. Needless to say I’m jealous of all those who can party on the beach to some great performers, including Andy Bell of Erasure, Markus Riva, Adam Tyler, SIRPAUL, Garcon Garcon, and many more. Best of luck to all involved!

REEEE-CAP… and a Dance Popervescence Mix for You!

Zedd featuring Matthew Koma “Spectrum”

One of my current songs of the moment is Zedd’s irresistible “Spectrum”. A truly captivating, feel good (despite the end) video, featuring “Sons of Anarchy”‘s Taryn Manning, makes it one of the best views and listens around. Look fast for both Zedd and Matthew!

Kyle Brylin “Hurricane”

Our Kyle keeps the electronica comin’ on his new 4 song EP We Should, which features this rich emotional house song, which keeps you thinking while you get your work out. This is Kyle’s most promising original effort since last year’s similarly clubby “Never Love A DJ”. Other songs include the biting title track, “Making Memories”, and “Inferno”. Do blonds have more fun? Get it on iTunes.

Kid Massive featuring DATABOY “Good Girlfriend”

We all know what happened when fave duo DATABOY went Danish and met up with DJ/producer Rune RK – we got the mesmerizing “Memorize Me”. Fellow Dane DJ/producer Kid Massive (aka Benjamin Pedersen) brings the boys into the mix for his upcoming release with the new single “Good Girlfriend”, which is a rollicking and slamming good time, and we would expect absolutely nothing less.

Marco “Heartbeat”

18 year old Marco Santarlasci is the latest young buck from NYC to cause young hearts to flutter with his earnest and soulful debut single “Heartbeat”. He’s got a lovely imperfectly charming voice that carries the genteel video storyboard along. Watch for great things from Marco – put him about halfway between Conor Maynard and Jesse McCartney.

Ross Lynch “Heard It On The Radio”

I don’t normally slide over to the Disney side of the fence to write about one of their performers too often, but 16 year old Ross Lynch (Austin on TV’s “Austin & Ally”) has a natural screen presence, and seems to have the musical chops as well, playing guitar, drums, bass and keyboards. So his debut single “Heard It On The Radio” is a breezy and joyous summer day on the beach whose chorus stays in your head afterwards. He’s also in the band R5, featuring his brother Ryder, who is one of the Warblers on TV’s “Glee”.

And here’s a new dance mix for you, featuring excerpts of 18 songs in 39 minutes. This is what you’re getting into 😉 : The Zedd/Matthew Koma and Kyle Brylin songs above, plus others (many on my current chart – shameless plug) by RAC/Penguin Prison, Baiyu, Foster The People, Florence & The Machine, The Knocks/Mandy Lee, Bright Light Bright Light, Darren Hayes, Lana Del Rey, Markus Riva, John De Sohn/Andreas Moe, Nina, DATABOY, Ellie Goulding, Bim, Sky Santos/Carlos Nóbrega, and The Weeknd. Guaranteed to make you move in all kinds of different ways! Let me know what you think – I’m particularly proud of a couple of the mixes, since I haven’t done this in a while 🙂

BILLCS Chart #385 – August 13, 2012 – Might Be My Favourite Top 4 of ’12!

Here’s the list of my current Top 30 favourites, published bi-weekly in these pages, but currently subject to a bit of technical difficulty as I move to new software for formatting purposes. EDIT: The prettier web version of the chart is available by clicking right here 🙂

01 01 DREAMS ARE GOLD DATABOY
02 02 REMEMBER WHEN (PUSH REWIND) Chris Wallace
07 03 SPECTRUM (Calvin Harris remix) Florence & The Machine
04 04 TIME BOMB Kylie Minogue
06 05 HOLLYWOOD RAC F/ Penguin Prison
08 06 LOTION DATABOY
09 07 COLLECTING SUNLIGHT Andreas Moe
11 08 MOVES Bright Light Bright Light
14 09 GO FOR GOLD Kyle Patrick
03 10 ONE KISS Jeronimo
12 11 ANGEL Darren Hayes
05 12 SECRET FEAR Daniel Bedingfield
15 13 HUNTER Baiyu
19 14 TURN IT UP Carlos Nóbrega
23 15 HOUDINI (Green Children remix) Foster The People
16 16 CHASING THE SUN The Wanted
17 17 TURN UP YOUR RADIO Monti Montañez
10 18 ALL OUR LOVE Gentlemen Hall
20 19 WHEN SHE WAS MINE Lawson
24 20 WE DANCE 4 REASON Markus Riva F/ Ralph (PER)
New 21 SPECTRUM Zedd F/ Matthew Koma
26 22 HIGH FOR THIS Ellie Goulding
New 23 GENIUS DATABOY
New 24 LONG TIME John De Sohn F/ Andreas Moe
New 25 BENNY GOODMAN Saint Motel
28 26 EMERGENCY Audio Playground F/ Snoop Dogg
13 27 THESE ARE CENTURIES River Tiber
18 28 WAITING FOR THE FEELING Bright Light Bright Light
21 29 NOTICE ME Vincent Did It F/ Quigley
25 30 CELEB Tao Hypah

My current Top 4 songs are going to be hard to dislodge. This could in fact be my favourite Top 4 of ’12, and only a few other songs released earlier in the year – including Rune RK & DATABOY’S “Memorize Me”, Eric Saade & Dev’s “Hotter Than Fire”, and “Someday” by River Tiber – would be in the mix with them! What’s going to be interesting is to see who gets a turn at #1, which could happen as early as two weeks from now! Stay tuned 🙂 PS Chris Wallace’s debut album Push Rewind will be out September 4 as “Remember When” starts to crack radio airplay!!

Fleshing out the Top 10 are some joyous tunes by RAC & Penguin Prison, DATABOY (making it two out of three), former #1 Jeronimo, and Andreas “he’s everywhere (including elsewhere on the chart)” Moe, with new Top Tenners not surprisingly from Bright Light Bright Light (currently kicking it in France – so jealous!) and Kyle Patrick (coping with massive Singapore love).

Special mentions outside of the Top 10 must go to Baiyu, with the title song of her Hunter mixtape resting at #13, as she appears on The CW Network’s new show “The Next” starting Thursday. Best of luck, love 😀 Then there’s the ever-so-busy Carlos Nóbrega, whose powerful dancefloor filler “Turn It Up” climbs to #14 as he releases yet another new song, “Music Makes You Lose Control”. This one is Carlos at his best, fun and dramatic at the same time! Listen to the snippet below – you won’t want to miss out on the full song, so get it on iTunes!

Foster The People’s Green Children remix of “Houdini” magically becomes the fastest riser, leaping 23-15 while singer Mark journeys through India. Also on the rise are Darren Hayes’ delightful take on Madonna’s “Angel”, “When She Was Mine” by rising UK quartet Lawson, and “We Dance 4 Reason” by Latvian star and radio DJ Markus Riva. You won’t be able to go anywhere soon without hearing Ellie Goulding’s magnificent new “Anything Could Happen”, as I wrote about on the weekend, but in the meantime her rendition of The Weeknd’s “High For This” is up to #22.

A common theme throughout 2012 has been a series of unique voices. One such young man, who, like Andreas Moe, is popping up everywhere especially in dance music circles, is Matthew Koma (ab0ve), who hails from Long Island and was once in a group called Bandcamp. One of the brightest songs of ’12 and a current Top 5 Dance Club Play hit is the second song in the chart called “Spectrum” by German DJ Zedd, featuring Matthew’s ear-catching vocals that sound like nothing this year has had to offer, as well as some dreamy lyrics (“breathing you in when I want you out…”). He’s also featured in Alesso’s latest club hit “Years”, and will be touring some upcoming dates with Owl City. You can hear both songs below plus excerpts of Matthew’s EP Parachute, available on iTunes.

The next debut is of course more from DATABOY, whose Dreams Are Gold album is the full length release that is resonating with me most throughout the year. Its emotional content, smart stories, and of course amazing beats and rhythms put smiles on my face each time I hear it. I’ve grown a bit attached to opening song “Genius” – it’s simply a fun song to listen to in the car, and it definitely throws people for a loop the first time they hear it. I humbly suggest you keep in mind the TV show The Big Bang Theory and a certain animated self-proclaimed genius when listening 🙂 But you’ll have to give it a preview on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Genius/dp/B008F9FV7U and buy it there or on iTunes!

At #24 is “Long Time” by John De Sohn, featuring Sweden’s Andreas Moe, and currently in the Billboard Top 25 of the Dance Club Play chart. I had some comments about it in a recent blog post. The full length version appears on Tiësto’s Club Life Volume 2: Miami compilation. You’ll hear a lot more from Andreas before the year is out!

Lastly at #25 is the quirky “Benny Goodman” by L.A.’s Saint Motel, currently touring their album Voyeur, which I wrote about recently. Below is a video of the band jazzing up the song and swinging along in a studio performance. They also released an equally quirky video for “1997”, which you can also check out below. The band has this neat way of making you watch… 😉

Ellie Goulding’s New Smash, and Songs from ZACPOOR, Pet Shop Boys, The Presets, Bim, and a K-Pop hit from Psy

Ellie Goulding “Anything Could Happen”

Clearly, the song of the week, and possibly for the next several months, until the arrival of her new album Halcyon, is Ellie Goulding’s “Anything Could Happen”. Right from its first bar, it bridges the gap nicely between alt.pop fans of Kate Bush and the massively successful sound for those who enjoy Adele. Its tidy, sparse sound will resonate from stereos and radios and draw people in instantly. I enjoyed Ellie’s last record, preferring songs like “Starry Eyed” and her free download of The Weeknd’s “High For This” over the growing radio success of “Lights”. “Anything Could Happen” also to me contains her best vocal – especially at the soulful acapella part. It will be absolutely everywhere in the Fall, so be prepared!

ZACPOOR “Skyscraper” and “Lego House”

Now you must know that I won’t bring you a cover version (or two) unless I think it’s special. L.A. singer ZACPOOR first came to my attention a couple of years ago with a fine mid-tempo ballad called “She’ll Be Breaking Hearts”. Since then, all kinds of good has happened to him, connecting with hot producer MDL. As advance notice of ZACPOOR’s upcoming full release, we have a taste of the collaboration with covers of Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper” and Ed Sheeran’s “Lego House”. Yes, I know covers of both songs have been viral in volume since their releases. But it’s ZACPOOR’s voice, which has progressed so much since I first heard him, that makes both cover versions much bigger than life. “Skyscraper” (a free download, no less!), in fact, blows Demi’s original right out of the water, it’s such a goddamn hard song to sing anyway, and ZACPOOR completely nails it. His version of “Lego House” has a strong element of class about it that isn’t present in the original. Both songs are for those who truly appreciate interpretations of songs that turn out so unique. Absolutely can’t wait till ZACPOOR’s album is upon us! Listen to both below.

Pet Shop Boys “A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi”

Unlike the much-too-low key “Winner”, ” A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi”, from the EP of “Winner”, which is due in Canada on August 28, is classic PSB, in good company with their equally charming songs such as “What Have I Done To Deserve This?”, “Love, Etc.”, and “I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing”, with a Neil Tennant vocal at its finest and a great rhythm and melody for summer driving. Listen (and of course dance to it) below.

The Presets “Ghosts”

While I’m still digging the initial release of “Youth In Trouble” from their upcoming album Pacifica, Aussie duo The Presets have released the official first single, “Ghosts”. As with “Youth” and many of their most popular songs like “My People”, “Ghosts” has incredible atmosphere with Julian’s commanding and anthemic vocal – why do I envision him on a pirate ship? 😉 Sure to fill the dance floors everywhere, look for Pacifica to be The Presets’ best and most successful effort yet. The three years between albums will be well worth the wait.

Bim “Lights Out”

Following the very different sounding but entertaining “Scream” from this past Spring, UK male/female duo Bim are back with “Lights Out”, available to you as a free download in anticipation of their next full album following 2010’s gorgeous Scatterheart. “Lights Out”, like “Scream”, is a lot more forceful and urgent than the songs on the downside of love which we heard from Bim on Scatterheart. Bigger choruses, and more alternating vocals between the singers, go hand in hand with their talent of making songs with stunning climactic moments. Listen closely and revel in this one – more great songs coming from this talented pair. Watch the video below.

Psy “Gangnam Style”

K-Pop looks to finally break out huge worldwide thanks to Psy’s “Gangnam Style”, and in particular its very flashy and fun video. I’m not much of a fan of the song, which is an updated knockoff of Technotronic’s “Pump Up The Jam”, among others. But the good time delivery by singer as well as its knockout video – especially the choreography in the last minute or so – will mean that you will be hearing it at weddings and other similar events for years to come.

More Summer Popervescence: Baiyu featuring Paul Kim, Jessie Ware, Roz Bell, and Russ Chimes

Baiyu featuring Paul Kim “Make Believe”

It’s arrived so quickly after the initial video of “Invisible” from the Hunter mixtape, but it’s all about the exposure for delightful new talent Baiyu, as she will appear on August 16 on the CW’s new show The Next as a contestant. Fortunately, “Make Believe”, featuring match-made-in-heaven duet vocals by American Idol 6 contestant Paul Kim, is one of the best songs from Hunter. The simple video, with use of eye-catching colours and featuring both singers, should help enhance the buzz for Baiyu and ignite some interest for Paul Kim, whose voice just soars. Watch the video below and mark August 16 on your calendars!

Jessie Ware “Wildest Moments”

Similar to the triumphant breakthrough that was afforded to Lana Del Rey at the end of last year, largely on the basis of online word-of-mouth, we are now introduced to 26 year old UK singer Jessie Ware, whose debut album Devotion will be upon us in the coming weeks. Aside from an initial single and an appearance with SBTRKT, we now have “Wildest Moments”, which places her potent voice somewhere between Leona Lewis and Florence Welch. Not a bad place to be at all, with a most unique-sounding single despite somewhat deliberate pacing. Watch below.

Roz Bell “Ur Place Or Mine”

Toronto singer Roz Bell has so many flavours of pop music up his sleeve that it’s dizzying 😉 We heard from him in the Spring with a Nashville-inspired bluesy hard luck story called “Half A Man Down”. His latest, “Ur Place Or Mine”, harkens back to a pick-me-up like 2009’s “Endless Summer Night”, with a melody that goes hand-in-hand with the end of summer and featuring some of Roz’s higher register a little more too. Can’t wait to hear the full album package of what Roz has been recording for the last while too. Listen to “Ur Place Or Mine” below.

Russ Chimes “Back 2 You”

I’ve been waiting to hear what renown DJ/producer Russ Chimes would come up with after the successful triad of 2010’s “Midnight Club” songs and videos “Never Look Back”, “Tertre Rouge”, and “Targa”, as well as his enjoyable Expressway mixes. Out on Beatport now, but coming to iTunes in September is “Back 2 You”, in which Russ doesn’t let go of any momentum, building and building the power of the record until its soulful climax. Listen below via Soundcloud and try to stay still 😉

Long Weekend Playlist: Andreas Moe, Gentlemen Hall, Shawn Desman, plus new faces Devon Pax and Zach Matari

On the Bubble: Andreas Moe

John DeSohn featuring Andreas Moe “Long Time”

Norman Doray featuring Andreas Moe “Cracks”

Andreas Moe “Long Time (acoustic)”

It seems like only yesterday that Swedish-born London-based singer/songwriter Andreas Moe came to my attention because of his sparkling and understated “Collecting Sunlight”, which currently resides at #9 on my personal chart. But that song and its accompanying EP seem to be the solo culmination of a lot of work that’s been happening behind the scenes.

For one thing, I learned not long ago that he is also the vocalist on Avicii’s “Fade Into Darkness”, which became a hit overseas late last year. It has obviously been overshadowed in North America by the chart success of “Levels” – but not enough to prevent Andreas from being flown to Tokyo last month to sing it in front of a crowd of 5,000! Another hit overseas is now materializing into a dance club success in North America. That’s “Long Time” as featured in John De Sohn’s song, which went multi-platinum in Sweden. Andreas recorded a pensive version of it acoustically for his Collecting Sunlight EP. Listen to both below.

Just this past week, a song Andreas co-wrote got to #1 in the Netherlands. That’s “Alles Overwinnen” by Nick & Simon (listen below – even if you don’t know Dutch 🙂 ). And another song came to my attention, more in the dance vein, which is “Cracks” as featured in the Norman Doray release. This song has the potential to be a great dance club companion piece to “Long Time”. Listen below. There is no doubt in my mind that with all of this activity, Andreas Moe is going to be beyond the bubble in the very near future! 🙂

Gentlemen Hall “Makes Me Feel Alive”

Starting this past week, Gentlemen Hall are posting songs from their upcoming album every month. After generously offering their fine EP When We All Disappear for free – still on my active playlist after all these months, with “All Our Love” getting to #7 on my personal chart – the sextet is taking its time to get their album just right while soliciting active feedback from their fans about the new songs. “Makes Me Feel Alive” sounds sparse at some times and then multi-layered at others. It’s a compelling showcase for all that they can do both musically and vocally. Every instrument gets its due and the harmonies are wicked. Give a listen below and watch online for more!

Shawn Desman “Nobody Does It Like You”

After some national success last year with songs like “Electric”, Toronto’s Shawn Desman is back with an easy going, funky, sexy vibe in “Nobody Does It Like You”. The groove just makes you want to sway and dance, or get up close and personal with your love. Shawn has a slick new look and his vocals are top notch. He’s come a long way since local dance hit “Don’t Wanna Lose You” back in 1999 and has been no stranger to my chart over the years. Watch the video below. Dancing is encouraged.

Devon Pax featuring Jeronimo “The One”

I am just such a sucker for an R&B ballad, but after listening blindfolded it might surprise you that “The One” comes from a young white Dutchman named Devon Pax. A bonus attraction is a featured vocal from the talented fellow Netherlander Jeronimo, who just recently reached #1 on my personal chart with his jaunty “One Kiss”. While it suffers a bit from too much studio trickery to accompany such simple lyrics, Devon’s vocal prowess shows through in this lovely song. Give a listen below.

Zach Matari “What You Are To Me”

R&B songs seem to be finding their way to me lately, and I was particularly impressed by “What You Are To Me” by a 17 year old from New Jersey, Zach Matari. It’s a sweet song that crushes on Zach’s object of his affection, accompanied by the snazzy video below which shows off many fine shots of New York City. Zach’s voice has a nice mix of inspiration from the likes of Ne-Yo, Omarion, and other fine singers. It would hardly surprise me if Zach Matari doesn’t get to the next level with this song. I’m looking forward to more from him 🙂