In the not-so-long-ago, the enigmatic L.A.-based producer PatrickReza put his unique touches on other people’s work through remixes for most of the major dance labels, and then released some solo songs that got lost in the pop/dance spectrum. A few years ago he found his groove in the progressive electronic/dubstep genre, and has returned with the taut and dark “Tears” from his 3-song EP “Blood, Sweat, Tears”, featuring a song with each of those words. “Tears” to me is by far the most intriguing, with haunting imagery that recalls 90’s Massive Attack that would be interesting to see put into visual form. The deliberate but focused production keeps you hanging on whatever comes next both musically and lyrically, making “Tears” the kind of song that would instill a hush over a noisy crowd when played in a club or in concert. “Tears” isn’t for everyone but open-minded listeners with a bent for unpredictable electronic production will love it.
Toronto’s Dabin Lee currently works double time, on his own releases as well as being one of Illenium’s right hand stars on record and in performance for the last five years. Somehow, his latest single “Holding On” from his recent album Between Broken, has cut through the red tape and landed on Canadian radio. And it couldn’t happen to a nicer song to bring some electronic flavour and wizardry to radio after Illenium’s own brilliant collaboration with Jon Bellion, “Good Things Fall Apart”, cracked through in 2019. It’s a poignant but unsettling song about finding oneself back with or wanting the same lover even after you’ve broken up. Singer Lowell is a fellow Canadian and, like Dabin, hardly a newcomer, having released two albums of her own, and shows her strong songwriting skills on “Holding On”. She co-wrote last year’s “La Di Die” by Nessa Barrett and jxdn (which got to #8 on my chart), and has also written for Bülow, Madison Beer, Hailee Steinfeld, Tate McRae, and several others over the last few years. It’s a super collaboration that I hope American radio will also recognize soon.
Strange Advance is one of the most beloved Canadian groups to arrive out of the new wave scene in 1982, which yielded a number of domestic hits such as “We Run”, “Love Becomes Electric”, “She Controls Me” and the alternative radio classic “Worlds Away”. According to a recent TV interview, the death of David Bowie five years ago compelled leader Drew Arnott to record new songs and perform live, over 30 years after the release of their third album The Distance Between (which was reissued in 2016). Plans to play live until recently were scuttled by the pandemic, so Strange Advance have now released the album Strange Advance 4. Time took no hiatus from Strange Advance’s unique sound, a blend of 80’s new wave, pop, and progressive rock, so the songs on 4 sound more like a continuation of their 80’s music rather than an entirely new start. 4 is a solid album of many moods, but the punchy, big sound of “In Your Mind” (above) is the standout. It offers a fulsome band sound rather than one strictly carried by synthesizers, and leaves you with anticipation about further live performances that Strange Advance has scheduled for next spring, in Vancouver and Toronto to start. Strange Advance also recently recorded a faithful cover of the 1982 Canadian smash “Nova Heart” by then-contemporaries Spoons for the recent compilation Spoons tribute album Spoons Echoes, which you can hear below. Let’s have a big welcome back for Strange Advance and do check out Strange Advance 4 as well.
Vancouver producers We Are Fury (Joachim and Stuart) are out to make heads turn with their latest track, one of their best yet, called “Belong”. For it’s a progressive anthemic drum ‘n bass track in collaboration with producer if found and Norway-based vocalist Stirling (both of whom co-wrote it too) that ruminates on the feeling of being alone and and cut off in person from family and friends during the pandemic. But the guys turn that weary message around and make the song an inspiring anthem for fans who are ‘family’ to performers – where everyone belongs! The beats are fresh and furious, with drops that will use stage lights as their playthings in concert, and a very fine every-guy vocal by Stirling.
Back at the end of summer, I introduced you to Polish singer Helaine Vis and her single “Ice”, a moody, jazzy track about heartache. Continuing in that theme is “Go On”, which, like “Ice”, is a stand out from her new album Pretty Cliché. “Go On” mixes in electronics with electric guitars for a Cocteau Twins-meets-Lily Allen kind of sonic experience. Lyrically, “Go On” seems to want to avoid heartache all together through indecision by dissolving a relationship before it ever gets a chance to grow. It’s a longer than usual track that takes its time getting to its resolve, leaving the progressive backdrop to carry on long after the singing stops. It’s not for everyone but “Go On” leaves you wanting to know more. Helaine’s vocal is suitably slight and hollow-sounding, and she succeeds in creating a compelling, unusual song.
While some say progressive trance music may have had its peak in the early 2000’s, it has since continued to cultivate fans of its brooding, mysterious songs and its multi-layered, often stunning synth melodies. With a release like Above & Beyond’s “Almost Home” now becoming a national dance radio hit, a trance revival appears to be underway, which will make room for songs by artists such as San Diego’s K3SS (aka Ken Sierra, and pronounced “KESS”). The first part of “Tell Me” is hypnotic, with Nanda Hay’s potent delivery suiting the futuristic setting and creating an atmosphere of lust and desire. The rest of the song is a trippy and enigmatic instrumental, taking you on an indefinite journey, prospectively to your deepest thoughts and wishes. “Tell Me” has significant sync possibilities for soundtracks to video games and short films. K3SS is in the midst of enjoying a prolific set of recent releases, and “Tell Me” is ripe for your attention.
“Invoke” is dance music for creative thinkers, as British producer Zen Dub pulls drum and bass melody and beats front and centre for the first time in a long while. Culled from his ambitious 10 track album Enigma, “Invoke” reminds me a bit of what Tritonal were trying to achieve with their Sanskrit mantra “Shivohum” last year. Zen Dub uses Asian influences to help make “Invoke” a unique experience, and the compelling vocal makes it more than just the average drum and bass electronic release. It’s as challenging as Disclosure’s recent releases, and the album title reminds me of the same-named 90’s project by German producer Michael Cretu which brought other styles and cultures to Top 40 radio with tracks like “Return To Innocence”. “Invoke” is a highly recommended step away from the big beats of today’s dance music and demonstrates enjoyable alternate flavours that are available for more progressive electronic music fans.
If you haven’t already done so, get those dancing shoes ready for the rest of the summer because there is plenty of hot dance music of all sub-genres for you to enjoy, and part of the fun is finding out about it through sources like my blog or theONLINE RADIO AFFILIATES(see details after the post). Once again, we have a new #1 from an artist who has been to the top before and just released a new album on Friday!!
That artist of course is Denver-based electronic producer Illenium, whose fourth album Fallen Embers dropped on Friday. While not as strong a release as Ascend, it has plenty of highlights and emotional shifts that will keep you totally engrossed. Illenium’s recent single “Sideways”, which is now a North American dance radio hit – a bit surprising considering it’s usually harder than what dance radio normally plays – featuring Valerie Broussard’s stunning vocal and production partner Nurko. You can also check out the album opener “Blame Myself” below, featuring an out-of-character but bang on appearance by Tori Kelly.
Trying to get a place in line for the top is the glorious “The Feels” by Cash Cash and the amazing Alex Newell, which rises 9-4. Though not a single – a strange move by the record company – it can be found on Cash Cash’s latest album Say It Like You Feel It.
Also contending for the top is “Can’t Stay Away” by Sweden’s Darin, his first English language release in about eight years. It soars 14-7. It’s his highest peaking song since 2009’s “Girl Next Door” (#5).
I’m totally loving Greyson Chance’s quirky and infectious “Hellboy” from his album Trophies, which moves up 11-8 to become his second Top 10 on this chart following last year’s “Dancing Next To Me” (#2).
Arriving in the Top 10 for the first are social media stars Nessa Barrett and jxdn, who have two great voices that deserve attention with “La Di Die”, which climbs 13-10.
The Fastest Riser on the chart is some deep house bliss from England courtesy of Charlie Lane, Gold 88 and vocalist Kate Wild with “Give Me That” zipping up the chart 19-11.
Toronto indie pop/rock duo Crash Adams have a new personal best on the chart. “Symphony” rises 15-12, surpassing the #13 peak of last year’s “Too Hot To Touch”.
While “Myself In You” yields the pole position to “Sideways”, “Slip Away” by French producer Kislaw and NYC singer/songwriter Victor Perry continues to build momentum, up 17-13.
“You” by Regard, Troye Sivan and Canada’s own Tate McRae is one of the more distinct songs you’ll hear on pop and dance radio, and it climbs 21-15.
The “Reprise version” of Moby’s “Natural Blues” as passionately sung by Gregory Porter and Amythyst Kiah moves up 24-17, from Moby’s recent album of retooled songs called Reprise.
New Toronto solo artist CMagic5 continues to climb with her recent “Love Me If You Can” (23-18) from her independent release Ready To Run.
And look who gets the Highest Debut – Ed Sheeran!! I’m highlighting this because it’s the first time he’s appeared on my chart and “Bad Habits” is one helluva way to do that, bowing at an exceptional #20. It’s definitely one of the songs of Summer ’21. He’ll continue with the mathematically-titled albums with The Quadratic Formula, coming soon.
Premiering at #28 is one fun song that doesn’t let up, thanks to its party vibe and multi-lingual versus (sung in Portuguese, French, and African language Bambara (check out the cool video above, which just dropped today). It’s “Mon Cheri” by US dance music mainstays and Grammy nominees Sofi Tukker in collaboration with fellow Grammy-nominated Mali duo Amadou & Mariam. It’s culled from the new Red, Hot + Free album, which has proceeds going to three LGBTQ2S+ charities: The Trevor Project – http://www.thetrevorproject.org; The Ally Coalition – https://theallycoalition.org; and SAGE – https://www.sageusa.org. “Mon Cheri” is Sofi Tukker’s first chart appearance since their 2018 #1 with Benny Benassi “Everybody Needs A Kiss” and fourth overall.
The third debut at #30 is “Back To You” by Chicago electronic dance producer Aash Mehta with fellow producer Charlotte’s ephem, a terrific house track for summer that’s guaranteed to make you dance. Regular blog readers know I’ve been writing about Aash’s music for about five years and it’s his first appearance on the chart.
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
Radio GTA– listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs mixed with classics and songs you haven’t heard in a while. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
Halton Hills Online– “Your Weekend Music Mix” has a second home on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 8pm to Midnight! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free, proudly brought to you by Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge in Georgetown, Ontario!
Planet Radio Canada – currently on hiatus but returning in August, listen to the “3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers. I’m featured every Tuesday between 7 and 7:30 pm with my New Music Pick of the Week, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past as well as the occasional live segment.
Back in early May, I wrote about Indian producer Ashwyn‘s rock flavoured electronic track “Sell My Soul”, which features awesome guitar work and an intriguing story sung with a committed vocal. Continuing to find gaps to tell his own musical story, Ashwyn has followed up “Sell My Soul” with the decidedly different “Déjà Vu”. This one is likely to appeal to rock music fans even more than “Sell My Soul”, while still capturing progressive electronic music fans’ attention with its rich production which would sound fantastic in a stadium setting. With a big nod to Pink Floyd, the song starts with two minutes of instrumentation before Ashwyn’s vocal kicks in to tell the story about looking outside of the box while routine and history repeat themselves. Amid the beautiful instrumentation are the sounds of a live string quartet orchestrated by Spanish composer Pedro Osuna. “Déjà Vu” is all about mystery, quality and experience, and the real instruments give the song warmth and depth. It’s hardly what you might have expected after “Sell My Soul” and might be a transitional release as a result, but there’s no denying that Ashwyn’s music can stand apart from the rest and hold its own.
The path for Jay Bird continues upward with his latest release “Gone Tomorrow”. With this track, Jay creates a second collaboration with singer/songwriter Clay Agnew (the first being 2019’s “Hold On”) that mixes nicely with other anthemic songs from the styles of Arty through to Seven Lions. Still maintaining a progressive direction, the production is richly layered and creates an inspiring and euphoric setting for a theme that we all need to keep in mind as we live our lives. Continuing to stay one step ahead of the game, including his frequent outreach with his audience as well as fellow producers, will help Jay Bird latch on to new fans as his talents grow and evolve.
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