Hot Half Dozen January 5, 2021

We received 48 submissions.  Here are our 6 favs for starting your new year.

Peter Stamfel’s 20^th Century by Peter Stampfel, produced by Mark Bingham.  A 100-song collection 100 songs, 18 years of record, a century’s worth of music. A gargantuan effort by any measure – and as hugely rewarding a musical experience as you’d expect. Available Jan 22 on all platforms.peterstampfels20thcentury.com

Smoke From Fire, single by Bas & The Hics. Dreamy rap that tells a powerful story by the Dreamville Sudanese-American artist teamed up with the  London-based  Hics duo, Sam Paul Evans and Rox Barker, that focuses on the Ugandan musician-turned activist, Bobi Wine. Available on all platforms

Walk on Water, by Electrohorse, Francesca Capasso and Philip Richie, Jr. From the south side of Chicago comes this DJ and his new  sound,  CDM (Country Dance Music). So much fun. Available on Spotify. Info at https://www.facebook.com/elektrohorse

Nothings The Same (Acoustic) singleby Alexander 23, Jeremy Zucker. A gut grabbing nod to the feeling of uncertainty and the seclusion we’re all facing throughout the quarantine. Available on all platforms; video on YouTube.

Love Games, single by Lani Renaldo. From her new EP NOHEARTBREAK2020. The song takes you on a syncopated trip through her evolving emotions with guitar distortion, a vocoder, synths and a touch of funk.  Very, very nice, as is the entire EP.  Stream on Spotify.

Today I Do Became I Don’t,  single and video by Michael Coleman and William J. Ubbing.  A product of Phoenix-based See Your Shadow Songwriting collaborative of musicians it is a country anthem for women going through a divorce.  Foot-tapping, great hooks.  Video at https://bit.ly/38hV2cj. Stream on Spotify.

New Year’s bonus:  Warm Winter album by Natalie Nicole Gilbert. This arrived too late for us to review before we took our Christmas break, so I am just now letting it wash over me through my headphones. While it is a seasonal album and leans heavily toward classical, her voice and instrumentation make it a wonderful door to open on your new year. On all platforms

Patrick O’Heffernan, Host, Music Sin Fronteras radio