Composed by?Universal Production Music US?Senior Music Director?John Lentz, the below excerpt from?John's weekly New Releases email contains a quick synopsis of each of our new album releases from?Universal Production Music US?for the current week.
For all of my #radio friends,
John Lentz
had a radio theme this week!
"Welcome to UPM Top 40. This week we have 40 of the best new releases in the business. Now, on with the countdown:?
- True Stories, TRU183 Simple Folk, #1, Spring In Your Step – Yes, it is simple folk but when one listens closely, many of the tracks are acoustic underscores. There are a few that tracks that feature more of a folk sound, but the majority have the sound of advertising in moods such as happy, content, bright, fun, simple, cheerful, etc. The perfect sound for selling nearly anything. The album also works for DIY, promos, travel, cooking shows, and daytime TV.
- Chappell, CHAP544 Positivity in Motion, #3, Spring Blossoms – Motion and positivity often equals ad music, and this album delivers that. Bright, warm, and lighthearted tracks featuring piano and small orchestra that have varying degrees of motion in the mix. The result is music ideal for selling almost any product or service. The motion in the tracks lends the music to DIY and training videos. Documentary and nature productions will love the album, too.
- Sound Pocket Music, PKT240 Jingle Beats, #1, Jingle Bells Remix – Another Christmas album? Mostly yes but there is more. Each track has a Christmas and non-Christmas version making the album versatile for usage all year long. The Christmas tracks are creative and wonderful for Christmas commercials and promos that need to stand out with a modern sound. The non-Christmas versions can work for youth lifestyle, promos, and ads. The pop and sometimes rhythmic sound will get the attention of the younger demographic.
- Atmosphere, ATMOS524 Positively Percussive, #1, Get To It – Energetic, positive, and attention getting…necessary ingredients for great ad music and all of that is on Atmosphere’s latest release. The percussive nature of each track moves the music along in playful, groovy, and fun moods. Perfect for commercials of many types, DIY, cooking shows, promos, and perhaps education. Fun and effective.
- UNDERscore Music Library, UND-59 Undervalued, #1, Factoid Explosion – The electronic percussion gives this album some punch, but in a mild and non-evasive way. On top of the percussion is listener friendly electronica that is soft yet energetic to keep the motion going. Imagine an electric version of an acoustic underscore and that is a good comparison. The positive and sometimes bouncy sound was made for commercials, promos, DIY, cooking shows, daytime TV, and perhaps a couple can work for technology, too. Corporate can also find some tracks to work for their image and employee training.
- Zone Plus, ZONE663 Hey Mr Bassman!, #4, Soul Pickin' – Roll the calendar back to the 1970s when the bass was at the forefront of some of the best funk ever produced. Zone Plus captures that legendary sound with 14 tracks of movin’ and groovin’ tunes that will get anyone out of their chair. The music has influences of pop, soul, blues, and funk making it good for documentaries, sports, commercials, promos, and anything that can use a legitimate funky sound from yesteryear.
- Galerie, GAL276 Ballroom Swing, #1, Cocktail Serenade – The toned down big band sounds of the 1940s/50s are here in a relaxed swinging/ballroom mood. The music is easy, flowing, and nostalgic. Good for productions that need a nod from that time, film/TV, and some commercials for timeless products that make people smile like lemonade or ice cream.
- Aurora Production Music, AUPM150 Limitless, #2, Strength Of The Heart – The sound of success and future earnings. Motivational and energetic tracks that build with positivity and an excitement for the future. Moods of hope, inspiration, and euphoria drive these tracks into the hands of corporate imaging and branding. The music also works for commercials, promos, prestige, and achievement. Positivity and success are what this album is all about.
- Ninja Tune Production Music, NTP329 Meticulous Mallets, #1, Fireflies – This album is not necessarily aimed at corporate, but it sounds like it could work for many corporations…especially ones in a creative industry. The mallet percussion drives the music of cheerful, hopeful, bright, and playful moods creating a useful sound for business, commercials, promos, documentaries, daytime TV, and education.
- BBC Production Music, BBCPM151 British Heritage Tracks, #1, Symphony No 1: Allegro – Famous classical tracks that evoke a decided British feel. Stately and regal, these works are proud, emotional, and pastoral for usage in depicting royalty and sophistication with a distinct British flavor. The coronation of King Charles will happen next year, and this album will be ideal for promos and content for coverage of the historical event.
- Chalk, CHALK056 L U N A R - Cinematic Hybrid Score, #1, Requisite For Peace – An album of film score orchestral music that is lush and flowing. Wonderment, beauty, and emotion make the album essential for documentaries, nature productions, emotional drama (not too heavy, though), and some promos. Gorgeous.
- Chappell, CHAP545 Documentary Voices, #2, Whale Talk – Documentary music is normally instrumental only. The latest from Chappell adds vocal texturing to the mix creating an attention grabbing sound that works for space exploration, nature, science, and innovation. Some of the tracks dip into darker moods, but none are too heavy. Good for documentaries, human drama, and mysteries, too.
- BBC Production Music, BBCPM149 The Search, #1, The Search – Ambient hybrid tracks that provide a background for investigative, surveillance, discovery, and mystery. The moody atmospheres often paint an uncertain immediate future supporting video without interfering with it. CSI shows will love the music as well as human drama and documentaries.
- BBC Production Music, BBCPM150 Dark Futures, #3, Abandoned City 3 – A dystopian future full of dark overtones and little hope are what this album is all about. There is little in the way of positivity making the album work well for human drama, disturbing documentaries, depictions of disasters, and human suffering. While the subject matter is not terribly delightful, the music on this album is perfect for it.
- Abbey Road Masters, ARX034 Drama Drones, #1, Hidden Truth – Drones with enough of a dramatic mood to create a background of darkness, doubt, and tension. Given that the music has the feel of a soundscape, those moods never get too intense making the music great for documentaries, emotional dramas, nature, and science/technology.
- BBC Production Music, BBCPM152 Sad Stories, #1, A Lonely Journey – The title could not be more accurate. Sadness dominates the tracks in varying degrees and moods. The music is on the understated side with a cinematic sound depicting, loss, aftermath, melancholy, tragedy, and straight up sadness. A few tracks offer a glimpse of hope, but the overall idea is to depict the sadness of humans and humanity. The piano and strings on the album do this very well.
- Elias Music, EM3056 CityWatch, #1, Uneasy Streets – String orchestra and some electronics create tension and mystery on Elias Music’s latest release. The tracks have some bite and are not content to live in the background. Many build to a powerful groove that leaves no doubt about the matter at hand. These were made for promos, but film/TV can use these for specific drama driven scenes, action, city scenes, and some can work for the right documentaries, too.
- Nuvotone Antimatter, NUVA1039 Ticking Tension, #1, Convincing Madness – Clients still ask for tracks with ticking in the music and this album is all about that. Tension in an underscorish presentation that builds all the while with various ticking sounds in the mix. The result is an uneasy feeling of drama and anticipation. Clients will find the album useful for promos, investigative, mystery, film/TV, and some can work for trailers.
- Capitol Studio Masters, CAP117 Pompous Circumstances, #1, Downstairs Upstairs – Neo classical tracks that are playful, over the top, humorous, and lighthearted all with a flavor of royalty. There are a few tunes that maintain a more serious attitude, but not too intense. For most of the album scenes of mild royal chaos come to mind. The sound is pristine, and the moods are immediate in the music. This can work for promos, drama that needs a somewhat stately sound, and documentaries. John Cleese would enjoy this.
- Hypersonic Music, HYPR036 - Golden Age : Classic Hollywood Orchestral Scores, #8, Hollywood Overture – That classic orchestral sound of old Hollywood is alive and well on this album. There are tracks that work for film score, fantasy, romance, emotional, and the best of all…awards show music! The album can work for anything needing a large and up front orchestra that screams big time films. There are several tracks that are designed for awards show season, and they are among the best in the library. Music for grand entrances, reveals, and fitting finales.
- In Reality, IRL083 Hip Hop Underscores 8, #1, All Tensed Up – One of the finest marriages of hip hop and underscores in the catalog. The hip hop sound is never lost but it also does not dominate, like hip hop usually commands. These underscores find their groove and ride with it creating optimum beds for so many applications. Those include reality TV, sports, promos, commercials, and some youth lifestyle.
- Ninja Tune Production Music, NTP330 Cyberpunk, #2, Digital Highway – A journey to tomorrow’s technology. This sound is more futuristic and less, “in the laboratory”, and it sometimes dips into a dystopian mood. But the science/tech sounds are prevalent with synths and driving beats creating a futuristic soundscape. The music is good for documentaries (space, tech, science, etc.), possibly some gaming, and future tech.
- Sonic Beat Records, SBR267 Orchestral Hip Hop, #1, Ain't No Stoppin – The combination of orchestra and hip hop is one of the best sounds for sports and Sonic Beat has created one of the finest albums in the catalog for that. Highlights and back stories can find plenty of good tracks that feature some drama and determination in a cinematic style that also can work well for sports news features, too. This is the sound of today’s sports music.
- Nuvotone Lime, NUVL1043 Break Euphoria, #4, Funky Trunk – Energetic and fast paced breakbeats drive the 15 tracks on the album. A funky vibe is present on several tracks, and all have a pop feel that works so well for sports, promos, and daytime TV. The mood is positive and the energy endless.
- Ninja Tune Production Music, NTP326 Epic Orchestral, #1, Heroes Arise – Everything one might expect from a trailer album. Orchestra, building, action, epic, and choir. The classic trailer sound is on full display for film/TV, drama, adventure, and heroic applications.
- Ninja Tune Production Music, NTP328 Qemists Scores presents Epic Electronic, #2, Hit It Off – Gritty, driving, and powerful electronica for trailers and drama. The punchy sounds of dubstep enhance the tracks to keep the music modern sounding. Great for drama, trailers, cutting edge corporate, extreme sports, and some technology.
- SaraoMusic, SA125 Nu Epic 3, #3, Smoke and Dust – Cinematic sounding orchestra and a dramatic edge create optimal trailer tracks. Some have choir and all build to a powerful ending. Instrumentals are the main tracks while the horns/strings/synths/vocal mixes are the alternative tracks. Perfect trailer music that also works for drama, heroic, and action scenes.
- Ninja Tune Production Music, NTP325 Trailers: Supersized Darkness, #2, Ave Maria XXL – The darker side of trailer and dramatic music with vocals that are guaranteed to add an element of darkness to these hard hitting trailer tracks. Those vocals can work as featured music, trailers, and some sports applications. Track #2, “Ave Maria”, is an interesting take on the classic song…well worth a listen.
- Koka, KOK2605 World Impressions, #1, Travel Invitations – An acoustic approach to music from other lands. The Middle East, Africa, South America, India, and Asia are all represented on the album. Sometimes fun, sometimes mystical, but not cliché as the music is always indicative of the region portrayed and suitable for travel, documentary, and nature programming.
- 10 Miles, 10MILES159 Upbeat 4 - Mid East Mediterranea, #1, Dancing Delilah – World music from the Mediterranean, Middle East, and South Asia with an energetic pace. Regionally authentic instruments are used with western instruments to create appealing world music tracks with a modern feel that can work well for travel, documentaries, and some for scene supporting music for film/TV.
- AFROSONIC, AFRS076 AFRO BOOST! 2 - High Energy Afro Hits, #1, Afro Boost – Energetic Afro Pop that is contemporary, anthemic, and beat driven. These sounds are ideal for travel aimed at a young demographic, fashion, and some sports. Styles include Afrobeat, Amapiano, and Gqom. An excellent representation of modern African music.
- MasterSource, MSTR348 Alt R&B 2, #3, Every Little Thing I Do – Modern Alt R&B with vocals that are cool, funky, chill, and lush. These radio worthy tracks have lyrics relating to love and passion and everything that goes with it. Film/TV will want to include these in their projects as source music while the instrumentals can work well for advertising (especially upscale/luxury), Valentine’s Day, and promos.
- Ninja Tune Production Music, NTP324 Francis EP, #1, Francis – One of the more interesting albums in this week’s collection. Experimental beats that entertain rather than repel with vocals that can be unusual. While all of that sounds strange, it strangely works! Pop, electronic, and hip hop influences can be found but they never dominate the creative approach to the EP. Film/TV that wants something different might embrace the sound. Some youth productions might like the instrumentals for something different.
- Pedigree Cuts, PEDF137 Titans Of Alt Pop, #1, Follow My Lead – Impactful and driving tracks with lyrics about resistance and winning…perfect for sports. The alternative pop meets rock with electronica sound creates a bold and irresistible vibe. The tracks have a confident attitude that in both the sound and the lyrics. The vocals can work for productions that need to deliver a, “we can overcome”, type of message while the instrumentals are great for sports, promos, and youth lifestyle.
- UNDERscore Music Library, UND-60 Under The Radar v3, #7, Con Man Con Woman – Indie/alt rock that is energetic or builds to an energy that makes these tracks sound fresh and exciting. Driving and exciting making the album great for sports, promos, youth lifestyle, and some can work for commercials, too.
- Berlin Production Music, BER1325 Grainy Beat Dust, #1, Don't Want Your Love – Described as, “atmospheric and raw”…two sounds not normally associated with each other. But on this album that combination delivers an often lo-fi sound that can be hypnotic while not also being too repetitive. There are some sampled vocals in some of the tunes and the hip hop influence makes the album ideal for youth lifestyle, promos, and some sports.
- Indigo, INDG011 Ruckspin - Melonphonic, #1, Full of Beans – Ruckspin is an artist/producer with over 22k listeners on Spotify. This six track EP has good variety with orchestral/electronic, atmospheric, club dance, future bass, and house styled music that all have a percussive edge. The beats are sometimes frenzied and sometimes cool and lush. Good for youth lifestyle, late night, some sports productions, and productions that want something a bit different.
- Raydia, RAYDIA108 Kaleidoscope - Psychedelic Rock, #3, Psychedelic Haze Brigade – While psychedelic rock’s heyday was long ago, the latest from Raydia revives the sound with modern production giving it a fresh remake. And that remake tones down the wildness some while adding modern beats and a pop influence making it more commercial sounding. Yes, it still has those fuzzy psychedelic guitars and trippy mood, but with a more focused approach. The album is good for promos, youth lifestyle, perhaps film/TV background music, and some sports. A fun revival.
- Berlin Production Music TV, BERTV016 Boulevard House, #8, Feel Good Breeze – House music in all its glory and a variety of flavors. The beats are nonstop, and the tunes are always entertaining. Every track is made for youth lifestyle and can also work for promos, sports, and anything that might need an energetic and entertaining background.
- Sketch Music, SKE027 Indie Heartstoppers, #1, Sunshine and Sunscreen – The made for each other combination of feelgood and pop is alive and well on this album of ten exciting and energetic tracks. Many of the tracks have a rock influence that only strengthens the vibe and attitude. This album is essential for promos, commercials, youth lifestyle, sports, and possibly corporate. Heck, put this album on in the morning and see how much more gets accomplished during the day.
Whew! That was a lot of music. We will be back next week with another round of great tunes so keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars."
