Crème de la crème: TOP 20 BEST OF APRIL 2016

Crème de la crème April 2016 Artwork by Les Cullinan Designs

20 (N) "Keep It Movin'" - Jungle Brown (self-released)

19 (N) "Fones" - MssingNo (XL Recordings)

18 (N) "Call Me" - Fantastic Fantastic (self-released)

17 (N) "Ultimate Syndrome" - Gnučči feat. Tami Tamaki (self-released)

16 (N) "Young Blood" - Gymnast (Color Station)

15 (N) "Precious Possession" - Anna Wise (self-released)

14 (N) "Lipslap" - Kero Kero Bonito (self-released)

13 (N) "Geschichten aus erster Hand" - Klaus Johann Grobe (Trouble In Mind)

12 (N) "Face The Truth" - Shaun J. Wright & Alinka (Crosstown Rebels)

11 (N) "More Crazyness" - Sébastien Tellier (Record Makers)

10 (N) "Boy" - BoyBoy (self-released)

9 (1) "VV Violence" - Jessy Lanza (Hyperdub)

8 (N) "Time Wind" - M83 feat. Beck (Naïve)

7 (N) "Dive" - Blondage (Tambourhinoceros)

6 (N) "In Your River" - Snoh Aalegra (Artium)

5 (N) "Grip" - GL (Plastic World/Midnight Feature)

4 (N) "Zombi Świat" - Reni Jusis (Sony Music Entertainment Poland)

3 (N) "Manque d'amour" - Juliette Armanet (Barclay)

2 (N) "Boo Hoo" - Nite Jewel (Gloriette)

1 (N) "Mastermind" - Róisín Murphy (Play It Again Sam)

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SHREM'S SPECIAL: THE RETURN OF THE BIG BALLAD [Juliette Armanet + M83 feat. Susanne Sundfør + Kadhja Bonet]

Very unlike the sounds you normally find on my carousel of tunes, I'd like to dedicate this special one-off post to the good old-fashioned ballads. All three tracks I have selected for you are actually new but they're all paying exquisite homages to the golden eras of 1970's and 80's song-writing and balladry. Epic, big, irresistibly melodic and charmingly kitschy these 3 gems will take you on a bizarrely sentimental journey.

I have first come across Juliette Armanet on "Colette French Kiss" - jewel of a compilation, filled with up and coming French talents. Armanet's delicious slice of electro pop "L'amour en Solitaire", produced by the mighty Yuksek, was an instant favourite. Now the Parisian Pop mermaid returns, beguiling us with her angelic voice even more, with a Chanson Française à la vintage "Manque d'amour" which announces the release of her brand new EP "Cavalier Seule". This classic French Pop composition with subtle yet sumptuous production left me astounded. Françoise Hardy meets Air.

M83's latest album "Junk" seems to have divided not only their fanbase but the whole blogosphere. I have been completely enchanted by its concept and spectacular guest appearances. While "Time Wind" featuring Beck may be the catchiest moment on the entire album it's the magnificent collaboration with Norway's prime synth-pop diva Susanne Sundfør that stole the show for me. Accompanied by Sundfør's flawless vocal performance, the saxophone laden, wondrously camp "For The Kids" really does reminisce some obscure 80's lost classics. Irresistibly nostalgic and intentionally tacky.

"Remember The Rain" is a marvellous, richly arranged ballad from Los Angeles jazz vocalist Kadhja Bonet. The self-released single brought back some 70's vibes, intricate and generous string arrangements, timeless key changes and sophisticated melody hooks, delicately echoing Barbra Streisand's "Woman In Love". Heavenly.

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Crème de la crème: TOP 20 BEST OF MARCH 2016

Crème de la crème March 2016 Artwork by Les Cullinan Designs

20 (N) "Stepping" - Bonzai (Anchor Point)

19 (N) "Rinse & Repeat" - Riton feat. Kah-Lo (Riton Time)

18 (N) "Butter" - Weirdo (unreleased)

17 (N) "Works For You" - Σtella (Inner Ear Records)

16 (N) "One In A Million" - Midnight To Monaco (Future Classic)

15 (N) "Reformer" - Darkstar & Empress Of (Warp)

14 (N) "Make Me Fall In Love (Tiga Vs. Audion Pop Version)" - Tiga (Counter Records)

13 (N) "LANDCRUISIN'" - A.K. Paul (self released)

12 (N) "Bejbi Siter" - Reni Jusis (Sony Music Entertainment Poland)

11 (N) "Daydream" - Leo Kalyan (self released)

10 (N) "Marilyn Monroe" - Sevdaliza (self released)

9 (N) "Do It, Try It" - M83 (Naïve)

8 (N) "Beau Sovereign" - Leon Vynehall (Running Back)

7 (N) "Nest" - Rainbow Chan (Silo Arts & Records)

6 (N) "Drone Bomb Me" - ANOHNI (Rough Trade)

5 (1) "It Means I Love You" - Jessy Lanza (Hyperdub)

4 (N) "Every Step Every Way" - Majid Jordan (OVO Sound/Warner Bros)

3 (N) "New York 93" - Yaeji (GODMODE)

2 (N) "Action" - Cassius feat. Cat Power feat. Mike D. (Love Justice SARL)

1 (N) "VV Violence" - Jessy Lanza (Hyperdub)

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THE DECADE IN SONGS: 20 - 11

1000 hits guys!!! Thank u, thank u, thank u. I am sooo happy. Can't believe we're in top 20 already...

20 - MACHINE GUN - Portishead - noisy, industrial and breathtakingly beautiful return of Portishead in 2008

19 - YOU KNOW ME BETTER - Róisín Murphy - pure dance fest, magnificent from a songwriting point of view, visually stunning in a video hommage 2 Cindy Sherman and an electrifying experience at any of Róisín's live performances

18 - MOONLIGHT DANCE - Sally Shapiro - from the wonderful "MY GUILTY PLEASURE" comes this slickly produced gorgeous little song



17 - ANTHONIO - Annie - Bergen based Anne Lilia Berge Strand teaming up with electro-magician Richard X guarantees first class electro pop productions, additionally with such witty lyrics this might just have 2 b Annie's brightest moment



16 - DEER STOP - Goldfrapp - they're about 2 release their 5th album, this is a rather low-key however dazzling and unworldly track taken from their debut "FELT MOUNTAIN"...

15 - UP! - M83 - French dream pop dressed in exquisite harmonious stereophonic sounds spectacular:-), teşekkür ederim Yeşim 4 introducing me 2 this incredible piece of music



14 - MUSIC - Madonna - La Ciccone-meets-Kraftwerk in a super-hyper-mega production by certain Mirwais Ahmadzaï, 10 years after its release still stands out among all Madonna's singles

13 - RAMALAMA (BANG BANG) - Róisín Murphy - La Murphy's biggest solo song not in a commercial dimension as well as her most bizarre one:



12 - BLIND - Hercules & Love Affair - fascinating tune by a fascinating disco-reinterpreting collective, who would have thought that Antony Hegarty's vocals would suit dancefloor orientated material more than anybody else's... Hugely impressed hearing it 4 the first time back in January 2007 I have decided 2 blog 4 the very first time (on myspace)



11 - DISCOTRAXX - Ladytron - "604" was such a cutting-edge album, not a weak song on it, the one I picked is no less than my most favourite of all Ladytron tunes, that intro in Bulgarian gives me goosebumps each time, DA BOMB!!!

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THE DECADE IN SONGS 40 - 31

40 - HOUSE OF JEALOUS LOVERS - The Rapture - when all of a sudden in 2002 all music geeks were talking about was "DISCO-PUNK" again, just like in the early 80's...

39 - GET IT RIGHT - Y.A.S. - Mirwais Ahmadzaï and Yasmine Hamdan teaming up yet again 4 last year's biggest hit that never was... I have already been applauding it HERE

38 - SUNSHINE - Nicolette - it was the first single taken from her 3rd album LIFE LOVES US, the single version is just ace, Nicolette is a very rare and exceptional talent HERE is a link 2 Nicolette's facebook page which promises 2 premiere some of her brand new material very soon



37 - MOSES - Elizabeth Fraser - mesmerising long awaited come back of Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser, the most angelic vocals of England...



36 - IN FOR THE KILL - La Roux



35 - GOODBYE/FAREWELL - M83 - there's something very French about this piece... Very atmospheric, almost visual soundscapes, sends a shiver down my spine every single time...



34 - LIFE AFTER SUNDOWN - Glass Candy - another treasure of a song from their fabulous B/E/A/T/B/O/X

33 - CALL OF THE WILD - Gus Gus Feat. Jimi Tenor - nearly 8 minutes long electro-symphony that builds and builds and builds and leaves you dazed at its breathtaking beauty... Inspirational, inimitable and one-of-a-kind, another example of Gus Gus' genius here additionally accompanied by Finnish electronic wizard Jimi Tenor. Here's an edited video version:



32 - LOVE IN INDIGO - Escort - Studio 54 re-interpreted by this rather super-talented New York collective

31 - HUNG UP - Madonna - the most clever usage of sampling of the decade! No-one would dare 2 deny the pure brilliance of using ABBA's track in La Ciccone's best selling single of her entire career

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