Janosch Troehler

It will be a shorter read than usual. I'm writing today's edition in Manchester. The Foundation Coffee House buzzes while I'm sitting on the window, filtering mediocre music to find the sonic pearls.

My throat is still sore from all the singing and shouting at the White Lies concert at The Academy. A sold-out gig in a big and charmless hall. And yet, the venue's lack of character didn't matter since the British audience—jugging pitchers of beer and wine—went entirely off the rails as usual. The energy sparked between sweating bodies, and a choir of a thousand lungs delivered an otherwordly performance:

Keep on running
Keep, keep on running
There's no place like home
There's no place like home

It's a stark contrast to a live experience in Switzerland where the audience often remains frozen and distanced, afraid others might judge them for losing control. But music is an emotional, cathartic experience that requires letting your guard down.

That said, I won't distract you any further. Enjoy today's selection.

Best,

Don't Kill The Beast – Secret

Five years have passed since Switzerland's Don't Kill The Beast have released their debut record, Cupid Bite. Now, they're back with an astonishing new single. Secret is an overwhelming track, meandering between shoegaze and straightforward pop music. But the composition of Secret is so dense and tight that it washes over your mind like a big wave. Never has drowning felt more liberating.

Secret, by Don’t Kill The Beast

track by Don’t Kill The Beast

Don't Kill The BeastBandcamp New & Notable Mar 11, 2022

Curses – Miriam

On Friday, Berlin-based Curses dropped their latest album, Incarnadine. Their blend of post-punk, new wave, and goth rock is a guarantee for every underground gothic dancefloor. The record's opening track, Miriam, is a blueprint genre track. There's a prominent lineage to The Sisters of Mercy in this song. However, I recommend you listen to the entire record and discover the musical blend with EBM.

Honestly, it was quite difficult to do the Weekly5. Not because there were too few good songs, quite the contrary actually, but because of the current state of the world.

Stumbling out of pandemic-enforced isolation, we're hoping for some long-needed normality. But now, an open war in Ukraine and the recently published IPCC report on climate change draw an even darker picture. All while the sun shines bright and warm in Switzerland, announcing the first ambassadors of spring. It feels quite disconnected.

Nevertheless, doom-scrolling the news doesn't help us nor the ones affected. So I hope that today's Weekly5—filled with beautiful and genius voices, songwriting, and sounds—may give you a moment of escape and calm.

Best,

Jacob Banks – Just When I Thought

I vividly remember the very first gig by Jacob Banks in Switzerland. The Mascotte club in Zurich was completely sold out, the queue went around the block. This was almost five years ago.

With his EP The Boy Who Cried Freedom and its hit single Chainsmoking, the British artist became an instant phenomenon. Unknown (To You), an insanely sad ballad, cemented Banks reputation.

Just when I thought you were ready for me
Kingdoms of the heavens falling
Just when I thought you were ready for me
Thunder and rain is pouring

Now, the man with the voice of a god is back with a new song, Just When I Thought. It's a single that, like Chainsmoking, combines a contemporary sound with the original soul. It slowly drags, synths uncomfortably buzzing in the background.

But just after half of its runtime, Just When I Thought changes gear dramatically, morphing into a warm gospel song. The contrast is shocking, but it works surprisingly well. And listening to Banks' voice is simply pure pleasure.

Violence – Honey

The post-punk revival is getting stronger with every release. Fresh bands like Grundeis or VLURE bring this short sonic era back to the present. Part of this new movement in musical darkness and melancholy are Kopenhagen's Violence.

It was obvious that this week will be a challenge to curate as many songs, albums and EPs were bound to be released. But I couldn't imagine that I could actually fill up the Weekly5 three times over without cutting corners.

However, I reminded myself of the Weekly5 values—especially diversity—to select five tracks. So artists that were previously featured had to fall short this time.

Nevertheless, I can highly recommend The Angel, the latest single by London's upcoming songwriter Louis Dunford. And you should definitely check out The Dream of Reason, the brilliant debut by ZUSTRA, and Fishbach's long-awaited sophomore record Avec les yeux.

Moving to today's recommendations: It's a constant contrast, a back and forth between avant-garde, jazz, ambient and deep, futuristic beats. Flowing lines and hammering bass, ornate capers and ecstatic hooks.

Enjoy,

Binker and Moses – Accelerometer Overdose

Binker and Moses are rising stars in London's vibrant jazz scene, turning heads and captivating ears with their colourful free jazz filled with culturally diverse influences. Feeding The Machine is the third record by Binker Golding and Moses Boyd, who got support from Max Luthert to create the stunning soundscapes.