Sunday, September 25, 2016

Cocktail Nation 423 Narco Lounge Combo

Tune in Saturday nights at 18:00 EST Toronto time (6:00 pm) for a Sneak Preview of the week's show. Shake that martini, and relax in your bachelor pad as Koop Kooper takes us on a musical journey through that Exotica and Tiki world of the 50's and 60's.

This week, a new release from British lounge band, The NARCO Lounge Combo, news on a brand new book I have just released, and some swank advice to help you through life.



Dave Stryker - When Doves Cry
The Sharps - Tenor Madness
Narco Lounge Combo - My Night With Sinatra
Sergio Medes and Brasil 66 - Mas Que Nada
Walter Wanderley - Girl From Ipanema
Tikiyaki 5-0 - Song of Delilah
Tiki Lounge Crew - Cheezo Cha Cha
Beegie Adair - Blue Skies
Buddy Greco - My Last Night In Rome
Oscar Peterson - I’ve got a Crush On You
Mark Copeland - I Love Paris
Leith Stevens - Private Blues
Hollywood  Film Music Orchestra - Likely Lads
James Morrison - Manner Dangerous


Saturday, September 24, 2016

The Top Ten - week ending 24 September 2016


Saturday has finally come around. What a wonderful feeling! It's amazing how Mother Nature knows when the season is supposed to change. Here, on the first day of Autumn, it was a hot and humid 29C! The next morning, by 11:00 AM, the temperature dropped at least 10 degrees, accompanied by clouds and drizzling rain. Yuck!

But as I always say, seasons are not always physical. They are also a state of mind. From that warm beach feeling to that chilly Winter feeling. The one constant in all the season for us loungers? The music! 

And the music in this week's Top Ten is an interesting mix. I must say, however, that we seem to have more chillout than jazz happening here. I think the staff here needs to start digging through the Jazz charts and other sources to uncover some great new sounds for all of you listeners.

I want to extend a shoutout this week to Guido at Guido's Lounge Cafe for his wonderful mix released today, entitled Summer Moon. Having chosen Poolz track, Is it, Or is it not, as the opening track, it's safe to say that he's a listener of This is Lounge, and a reader of The Top Ten.  But we all know, it's a shoutout to the artist for creating the music. Everyone, please click on the link and enjoy Summer Moon, along with Guido's many other wonderful Cafe sessions.

This week, Peter Pearson remains atop the chart, as Massive Attack jumps into second, ahead of Afterlife. Biggest leap this week goes to Michael e, as his latest single, Day by Day, (love the children's choir in there, by the way) leap frogs into fourth. 

This week, we welcome Canadian artist, Charlotte Day Wilson into the Top Ten with the ambient opening track to her new CDW EP.  I urge you to check out the rest of this wonderful artist's work, including the single, Work. She has such a wonderful tone. 

One new release this week of interest is the video and single release of the title track from their latest EP:  Athol Brose by Nouvelle Vague. I'm sure most of you are familiar with their lounge/ bossa beat covers of New Wave and Alternative hits. Athol Brose doesn't disappoint as the song gives us a touch more subdued side of the band, with this Cocteau Twins cover. There's still that underlying bossa beat, but the melody builds, revealing a more romantic side as it slowly fades away to the sounds of echoing piano and chirping birds. Very nice. No doubt this Bubbling Under entry will soon be climbing the Top Ten. Those of you interested in hearing the original Twins' version, can listen here.

Thanks for listening to the station. Your votes at www.thisislounge.com are always welcome. Leave me a Comment, if you like. It's always good to hear from listeners, wherever you are in the world.

One thing I must apologize for is the recent addition of ads, four times every hour, on the station. Please understand that this is NOT my doing. I hate that the music flow is broken with the intrusion of these ads. Unfortunately, the station host, Radionomy, has inserted them. (Part of our updated agreement.) I'm sure that this is the result of the recent lawsuit with Sony. Adding insult to injury, the station owners, like me, don't see any piece of that revenue being collected, as it most likely will go to Sony. It may come to the point where I shall have to find another host. We shall see.....

But enough of my ranting! On to the chart!



Bubbling Under



Thanks for tuning in. Thanks for voting. But most of all, thanks for supporting the artists!
Your purchases help keep the music alive.

Saturday, September 17, 2016

The Top Ten - week ending 17 September 2016


Happy Saturday, my fellow loungers!

First off, let me begin by saying something about the ads being inserted into the station four times an hour. No doubt, this is part of the outcome regarding Sony's lawsuit against Radionomy earlier this year. The new broadcaster agreement says that this must be done, no doubt to appease the corporte giant with remunerations. 

I am seeking to have it changed from "instream" to "preroll", which means when you go to log on to the station, you will hear an ad prior to the station kicking in. I find this far less intrusive, if it means the ambiance and the flow of the station is uninterrupted. Stay tuned.

As the summer draws to an end, it is heartwarming to see everyone continuing to listen - actually the numbers are growing! Wonderful! Spread the news, everyone! It just goes to show that these sounds are not considered seasonal. The sounds take you to the Summer season, whatever the time of year.

It's been a crazy week at the station, after my iTunes suddenly decided not to work, revealing a popular error message, there was obviously some freaking out happening. It wasn't until last night (after much research on the net) that I finally cracked the problem, thanks to a post from an Apple technician. 

That being said, it has been impossible this week to add any new music. 

But the Top Ten continues on. Thanks to your votes, and those here at the station,  the Top Ten makes it's weekly shuffle. Peter Pearson's romantic, In Love With You, comes in at number one this week, followed by indie artist, Emapea and his track, Baby Mind. Steve Miller's Afterlife holds fast, as well, at number three.

Biggest jump this week appears to come from station fave, Michael e, as he resides in the middle of the chart at number six, behind Luederwaldt.

Making the leap this week from Bubbling Under to the Top Ten, is indie ambient Dutch artist, Poolz.... a welcome addition to the playlist. I hope you enjoy.

As usual, please continue to support the artists and the station. Cast your votes at www.thisislounge.com. Purchase songs through your favourite legal sites, or from the artist directly. 

Keep the music alive.



Bubbling Under






Monday, September 5, 2016

Cocktail Nation 420 Classic Comedy Jay Lawrence

Tune in Saturday nights at 18:00 EST Toronto time (6:00 pm) for a Sneak Preview of the week's show. Shake that martini, and relax in your bachelor pad as Koop Kooper takes us on a musical journey through that Exotica and Tiki world of the 50's and 60's.


Some classic comedy with Jay Lawrence this week, Cherry Capri has some wise words for us, plus the passing of Dean Martin’s ex wife.




The Naugthy Ones - Harlem Nocturne
Tikiyaki 5-0 - Song Of Delilah
Machiniso - Vampire Jazz
Octobop - Jeru
The Sharps - Caravan
Rebecca Angel - Jet Samba
Mancini - Blue Mantilla
Robert Drasnin - South Of The Sulu Sea
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Cruel Spell
Jack Sheldon - Days Of Wine And Roses
Jet Set SWE - The Man From THRUSH
Bert Kaempfert - Bert’s Bossa Nova
Diana Krall - Devil May Care


Saturday, September 3, 2016

The Top Ten - week ending 3 September 2016


Wow! It's September already!

Well, Summer continues to hang in on this side of the world. I hope you're feeling it as well.

Music knows no season, though. A song will remind you of a season, but new releases (unless, of course, they are Christmas tunes) are not dependent on the weather. As a lounger, you are well aware of being mentally transported to an idyllic location. Videos of chillout tunes abound throughout You Tube depicting the stereotypical sunsets, beaches, and beautiful women. This all adds to the illusory perception of the endless Summer.

And we are but one station in the world helping to promote that stereotype. But I'd like to think, we are just a little bit different from the rest.

Our Top Ten is a very popular look at only a handful of the new releases available each week through many different sources. From iTunes to Soundcloud. From Bandcamp to Beatport. I'm sure you are all well aware. Thanks for supporting these artists, by the way.

For those new listeners/ readers out there, the Top Ten is a compendium of hand-picked tracks from the world of chillout, ambient, and jazz, with an occasional surprise, just for fun. 

And this week's collection is a wonderful selection. So, please tune in 24/7 for a commercial-free selection that will surely please you.

Now, for the Top Ten!

It seems our friend, Torsten Luederwaldt continues to have a fan base voting for him at www.thisislounge.com. His beautiful song, Namida, is back at number one this week, after a couple of ups and downs. Other top picks, as voted by you and the staff here, are Afterlife and the hip hop/jazz influenced, Emapea.  A special mention should be made of Lounge favourite, Peter Pearson as his latest track, the romantically chilled In Love With You, clocks in a number four.

Speaking of Afterlife, somehow back in May, a collaboration between Afterlife and Lenny Ibizarre resulted in a three track EP release, entitled The Lost Tapes, was missed! This week, that wrong has been righted as a three month old release finally makes it to this week's Top Ten. Please enjoy the meditative Transcendental, now playing on This is Lounge.

 I would be remiss not mentioning the great Michael e and Day by Day, as it bubbles under, waiting for your votes to break it free into the Top Ten. C'mon everyone! Bring him up!

Joining Michael this week are two new artists. Poolz hails from the homeland of our friend Guido van der Meulen - specifically, Den Haag. His ambient soundscapes are a welcome chillout experience to the station. I hope you will agree. (Note to Guido - a excellent choice for a future Lounge cafe mix!)

Fellow Torontonian, Charlotte Day Wilson, is an interesting find. iTunes classifies her as Soul, but she's much more than that. With shades of the Strauss classic, Also Sprach Zarathustra, the ambience of the opening track to her album, On Your Own, will have you mesmerized by her vocal tone. Coming across like a collaboration with other locals Snowday (would love to get these two together in a studio), she's not one to be pigeonholed by that sound, as the rest of the tracks on the EP confirm. Along with chill and soul, there are gospel and jazz influences as well. A nice discovery all round.

Hailing from opposite sides of the world, but coming together this week, joining Michael e, a warm This is Lounge welcome to Poolz and Charlotte Day Wilson.


Bubbling Under