Nathalie Archangel - Next To Me (Official video)

When the quality of the song is high enough, you don't need a flashy video to make it more than what it is.  The idea behind this song of having that special person with you, throughout the good and the bad times, is what's important.  Knowing that you are going to get through the rough patches when things aren't as steady as they could be.  What I love the most about this video is seeing the couples in it.  There weren't any models or people that are totally unobtainable.  They were real people with real love to share with their friends and lovers.  That's what makes this video better than anything produced by Spike Jonze or choreographed by all star choreographers.  It's real and it's honest, like the thought and the sentiment behind the song.

I did a write up on the track way back in September and you can read what I had to say then by clicking here.

It's one of my restorative songs that I listen to when the world has beaten me around the head because it restores my faith in what could be and really should be.

Ninthwave Records - Kiss My Lipstick Off (Track-by-Track)

This album does something incredible.  It takes these 11 songs that shouldn't work together and by the sheer nature of the project they all come together into this amazing compilation of anthemic empowering songs that will have you bouncing along before you know it.  This album could easily be imagined as a fall fashion line.  All the tracks have their own individual style and work great on their own but bring them all together and you have something more powerful and the individual parts.  I am a fan of everything about this album; the songs, the track order, the selection of artists... all of it.  I don't think a better album could have been created.



1.  "Kiss My Lipstick Off"
Georgia Haege of Liquid Diet kicks off this incredible compilation with the scorching title track, "Kiss My Lipstick Off".  It's an incredibly cheeky single and the perfect way to let you know what's to come in the next  40 minutes.

2.  "You Can Always Come Home"
England's Synthpop duo, Spray pick up the reins next with "You Can Always Come Home", an awesome reminder that no matter where you are in your journey there will always be a place for you.  The song kind of lampoons itself with a bit of sarcastic wit and self deprecation that adds a sense of honesty and it doesn't matter if things are the way they should be or if life has just given you the boot, there is a place for you.

3.  "Twisted"
Producer extraordinaire Stormby is up with "Twisted" featuring the vocals of Roz.  This is his second release with Roz and it's brilliant.  Much like "In Dreams" both producer and vocalist use their amazing talents to produce a track that for lack of better words, leaves you twisted.

4.  "XTC"
Liz Primo takes the album up a notch with this track.  The bass line throbs and pulsates behind her super sexy voice.  There's no way you're not moving along with this track.  It's a helluva dance track that adds a sense of danger to the album.  I have come to believe that's Liz's middle name, Danger, because she has a quality to her music that is a bit unsafe, like a bit of rough trade.

5.  "Next To Me"
The song that I want to play for the person I decide to spend the rest of my life with brings the album back from being dangerous follows Liz and reminds us that even a 20 year hiatus can't stop the magic that is Nathalie Archangel.  Her voice is as solid today as it was in the 80s and I feel as critically acclaimed as ever. This song is the musical equivalent of sitting on a porch swing with your love drinking coffee on a Sunday monrning.

6.  "Make You Sorry"
In what starts as a ballad-y type of track, Swedish rocker Teresia quickly throws that notion away and cranks up the revenge machine.  Karma is a bitch and now so am I because you pushed me to it.  The lyrics are as sharp as the blade she used to pop your tires and you better just back away slowly before you make it worse.

7.  "Baby, Run! Run!"
Another entry into the "Get the hell out of here" section of the album, Carina Lirola  is just giving you a friendly piece of advice and it's to your benefit to just run.  The amount of synth in this song is incredible.  It's Dale Bozzio meets Julie Brown and it's gorgeous.  Probably one of my favorite tracks on the album.

8.  "Rise of Venus"
Girl power reigns supreme on this track.  It's one part new age meets one part synth with a bit of astrology wrapped up in a neat little package.  This is Chelsea Chavis' first commercial release and if she continues this way, it shouldn't be her last.  With artists like Sky Ferreria, Grimes and Charlie XCX paving the way, Chelsea has an awesome place waiting for her. I could easily see her sharing the stage with Neon Hitch, in a very gypsy style concert like Nomads across America.

9.  "Frozen People"
We'll take a bit of gypsy pop and throw some glitch and wub in it to create something new with Doomsday Affair's addition to the album.  It's a bit dub and it's brings a bit of darkness with.  I am a fan of Darkwave and Olivia has a bit of Ellie Goulding to her voice that is totally set off by the strings and the electronica.  I am a fast fan of this group.

10. "Yesterday's Tomorrows"
My favorite chanteuse is up next and it's gorgeous.  I love Jane Badler and this mix, "Stormby's Drama Mix" takes a brilliant single and amps it up to Alexis and Crystal levels of drama.  Jane has such a presence to her that just draws you in and demands your attention.  When she takes the stage, you will watch her because she is dazzling.

11.  "Bubblegum"
The album comes to a close with Jamie Lovett's ode to being done wrong.  But it's not a cry in your drink song.  It's empowered and it's a bit angry and it's a great way to close things out.  I really dig her voice and want to hear more from her.

Kiss My Lipstick Off is available at all major music outlets or you can pick up the individual singles on Amazon or iTunes.  I say get the whole damn thing because you will be entertained from start to finish.  This is probably going to go into heavy rotation in my library because it all just works together in an incredible way.

Nathalie Archangel - Next To Me

This blog has given me so many opportunities to hear so much new music and it has introduced me to so many new artists.  One of these new artists isn't new to the music industry but she is new to me.  Nathalie Archangel has been making music since the 80s but unless you were on the cutting edge of the synth pop/ New Wave movement, you probably never got the opportunity to hear her.  Here is a quick video primer as to what I think she's all about.

Not only did the song have one of the most amazing sax solos in the 80s but the video had all the trappings of what could have been an amazing video.  Beautiful songstress, exotic locales, romance...it had it all.  What happened with our flaxen haired ingenue seemed to be the cause of potentially shoddy management and not the right kind of push from her record label.  She fell by the wayside after releasing her first album but went on to release one more album and now she's back with a new single, "Next To Me". And I have to tell you, it's what I want someone to tell me over and over for the rest of my life.  The song is super dreamy and has romance written all over it.



"If you promise when I stumble, when I trip and take a tumble.  Same as now you will be, the fuddy duddy next to me"

It's a classic song of staying with the person you love until the end of time.  It reminds me of a quote A.A. Milne wrote, “If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you.”  Songs like this restore my faith in love and what it means to be loved in return.  As a bonus for being awesome readers of my blog, I have been given the authority by the powers that be to give you (yes you) a copy of this amazing song for free.  All you have to do is right click here and choose "Save As" and you will have your very own copy of this brilliant track.  By the way, this is the first exclusive track to be offered as a download from this very blog.  Hopefully it won't be the last.... looking at you recording artists and managers!!

If you want to buy the single and get a couple of awesome remixes, you can do so at Amazon by clicking here.  It is also going to be on the upcoming compilation, Kiss My Lipstick Off (which also features songs by England's Spray, Georgia Haege of Liquid Diet, Liz Primo and producer extraordinaire Stormby, among others).