Read my 6 of the best from Charlie & pals from 2015 here
Last year I started a new annual review of people whose music had proliferated my life throughout the year, but whose names did not appear on the (metaphorical) record sleeves of the artists who sang and performed their songs. Consider this a salute to the talented folk who pour their heart and souls into creative artistry but don't always get the recognition they deserve. Eurovision winning writer, Charlie Mason (Rise Like A Phoenix) is one of these admirable folk. He works with a genius pool of people who to reduce to the title of "& pals" in the heading of this article is entirely reductive (Blogger would only let me have so many characters though). I'll say their names loud and proud here - Charlie Mason, Daniel Volpe, Ricardo Autobahn, Thomas Lipp and Jonas Thander; thank you for making music that got me (and many others) through a tough 2016. I salute each and every one of you. Here are just six of the songs you worked on this year that sparkled and shone like the brightest stars. Kudos too, to the artists who bought them to life. Now, just one last request before the countdown - if I have to kidnap Daniel Volpe in order to bring Zorro Blakk out of semi-retirement, I'm willing to do it!
06 ~ Saxity ft Strom, Brothers: A key song this year for showing me that talent can be mixed with cutting edge technology to provide something meaningful and elevating. Just when I despaired over the cookie-cutter beats dominating the charts, Brothers came along and gave me life. The lyrics give the listener full on bromance, bringing to life that magical feeling when you are hanging with your best bud and so in tune with getting the goodness out of life. It provides a stirring narrative that encapsulates the burgeoning rush of adrenaline and euphoria that accompanies such intuitive friendships - and Strøm does an excellent job of imbuing the words with both an earnest sincerity and giddy enthusiasm. Just magical each and every time I listen to it...
05 ~ Sunset Child, The More That I Love: The More That I Love has gorgeous, expressive lyrics that examine how opening up and showing love can be one of the riskiest gambits we take but can lead to wonderfully fulfilling rewards. These sentiments are powered forward by a deep, soulful vocsl that oozes with emotion and sincerity, infusing the words with an urgent passion that is hard to resist. It is this vocal that anchors the music, guiding the melody through a euphoric melange of deep house sounds. Piano chords bounce off the commanding bassline, while electro effects swirl alongside a rhythmic grrove so mesmerising it makes you want to grab the one you love and shimmy - hard. Repeated listens of this song unveil just how textured and intricate the instrumental is - and, combined with the song's message and sterling vocal, leaves the listener in a giddy state of elation that lingers long after the sing finishes.
04 ~ Peter Sax, Sun Dance: Hurrah! Sun Dance remains a mid-summer night dream of delicious proportions. Peter has summoned Balaeric beats from the ethers, fused them to a compelling, mesmerising rhythmic groove, and bought it to life not only with his engaging vocal refrain but also his exuberant saxophone playing. His singing is buoyed by his natural enthusiasm and the sax is so deliriously giddy with infectious vibes that you will be grabbing the one you love and shimmying in no time. It is a creative endeavour that, whatever the weather, teases images of sandy beaches, tropical shores and balmy nights into your mind's eye. Impossible to play just once, Peter Sax guarantees that everywhere you go, you'll always take the weather with you. I repeat - Hurrah!!
03 ~ Jonas Lengstrand, I Will Be Loved Again: This is like a hug from an old friend - a wonderfully crafted traditional ballad that, against a current music backdrop of trendy studio magic and fad chasing beats, feels refreshing with it's organic approach to composition and delivery. This stunning elegant and elegiac song doesn't seek to be anything other than what it is - an instant classic that will endure through the ages to become a timeless standard that generations ahead can discover and fall in love with. Jonas gives an aching vocal that sees him reminisce about a broken relationship and the hurt & desolation he is still feeling as a result of this. Jonas has this ability to make the song feel like an intimate conversation between two long-time friends, his wounds open and raw yet clearly finding salvation in singing through his pain. Although melancholy in theme, it is this (combined with a gently soaring instrumental) that gives the song hope and optimism.
02 ~ Brendan Velasquez, Disappearing: There is something so intimate and personal about Disappearing. It represents a personal reflection that is so moving and poignant that it feels like they've reached in and taken the very words from that still, small voice inside of you. Such honest and open introspection could not and would not be successful without a beautifully delivered vocal that embodies every emotion and sentiment that the narrative provides. Brendan is a man who is more than up to the task and infuses the words with the wisdom of his own experience. It's this vocal that is an equal partner with lyrics and music in bringing the song to life - he's bruised and vulnerable in parts of the song, yet at other times he is empowered by the resolve of his decision (indeed, rightly or wrongly making that decision can be freeing in terms of leaving the internal turmoil behind). He's accompanied by a lush, textured wall of sound that is powered by shimmering synths, compelling percussion and a groove so insistent that you'll be lost in the music (caught in a trap) in no time at all.
01 ~ Donny Montell, Fly: It was a neck and neck race between all six of these tracks to be my favourite of all the compositions presented here. Another day, a slightly different mood and any could have risen to the top. Here is why Fly, the exuberant euro-pop stomper, continues to delight me whenever I'm feeling blue...
- He has a pop star name that rolls off the tongue as lyrically as the phenomenal chorus in the Charlie Mason - Jonas Thander crafted gem;
- His vocal style is as jubilant and euphoric as the words he so expressively sings - an aural winning lottery ticket for the mind and soul, if you will;
- The song is a celebration of all things pop - an unabashed party with vibrant melody, exciting musical flourishes and a galloping beat that races along with a zest for life;
- ...and it is that zest for life in the music that accentuates the narrative. For this isn't just a celebration of pop - it is a celebration of the human spirit; our ability to heal ourselves and others. It should be prescribed by doctors for anyone with the blues.
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