reLISTEN #3: Songs against War
In this edition of reLISTEN, I recommend four relatively unknown songs against war and one of the all-time classics.
On Thursday morning, the world woke up in shock as we learned that Russia had started to invade Ukraine. It's still hard to process that there's again open war in Europe.
But it's even more challenging; no, it's impossible to comprehend what the people go through right now. The fear, the despair, the pain, the bleakness, the violence.
The news left me stunned, angry, helpless, and worried about local people I know.
In these incredible times, I again turn to songs that channel my emotions into a cathartic experience. To the lyrics that express my anger, frustration, and hope.
In this edition of reLISTEN, I recommend four relatively unknown anti-war songs and one of the all-time classics, hoping that they might work for you too.
And since the songs best speak for themselves, I don't write the usual review but mostly quote the impactful lines in the lyrics.
💙💛
The Beauty of Gemina – King's Men Come
The Beauty of Gemina's King's Men Come is a dark and desperate hymn, a bleak march in the beginning that merges into a heartbreaking plea.
And all the men die
All these king’s men come
And all the men die
All this king’s men come
When you’re blind to see they’re tired
To die in battle
Then you want me to forget
The Beauty of GeminaZoë
Groovy
Edition #41 with tracks by Moderat, Future Islands, Pauls Jets, Alas The Sun, and the White Lies.
This week's episode was a bit of a struggle. I had trouble finding five tracks I deemed worthy of our attention, mainly because I received mostly promotional emails talking about releases that are weeks or even months away.
However, I think so far that we might be in for a couple of excellent records in the near future.
With that said, today's curation has some sort of a groovy vibe. But what does groove actually mean? Wikipedia states: "In music, the groove is the sense of an effect ('feel') of changing pattern in a propulsive rhythm or sense of swing."
If we agree on this (still quite vague) description, we can conclude that any genre can feel groovy. And obviously, the Weekly5 again offers you an array of different musical styles—from otherworldly electronic sounds to galloping indie tunes.
Enjoy,
Moderat – FAST LAND
You don't have to be an underground electronica nerd to know who Moderat are. The supergroup of Apparat and Modeselektor is about to release a new record, MORE D4TA (Preorder link below).
The single FAST TRACK not only comes with a visually stunning video clip but already proves to be a visceral opener for the upcoming album. Buzzing synthesizers meander to a slow-paced beat as if Moderat don't dare to drag you in too quickly into their captivating universe.
Moderatseattlemeows
Future Islands – King of Sweden
I first fell for the Future Island when I heard their song Ran from The Far Field (2017). And with last year's single release, Peach, the honeymoon phase got a revival.
reLISTEN #2: Dark Times
An exploration of stylistic approaches to the gloomy ambience.
Welcome, dear members, to the second edition of reLISTEN—the format that recommends five older songs you might enjoy.
Today's recommendations roam on the fringes of sombre sonic realms. Although the five songs don't share the same genre, they transport a certain obscure, sometimes even spooky, atmosphere.
I occasionally find joy in so-called "happy songs"; however, I find myself more often drawn to darker themes and sounds. It's hard to pinpoint the reasons. Maybe music, to me, acts as a counterbalance to a society that frowns upon negative emotions like sadness, fear, pain, loneliness, or heartbreak.
I wouldn't necessarily state that hard times create better art. But the depth of emotions, the human soul, and its vulnerability seems to give artists more opportunities to explore and express themselves.
And honestly, there's simply not much to relate to in the hundredth song about sex, drugs, and parties.
With that being said, today's edition won't render you depressive either. Instead, it's a comprehensive exploration of stylistic approaches to the gloomy ambience, yet there are still peaks of excitement and excess.
You'll encounter soaring guitars, restless rhythms, cinematic experiences, and epic storytelling.
I hope this edition will leave you inspired and intrigued.
Safari Riot – Where Is My Mind
Pixies' Where Is My Mind wasn't exactly prone to become a significant alternative hit. But the song became a phenomenon with its inclusion in the movie Fight Club. Since then, it sparked a couple of cover versions—like the piano rendition by Maxence Cyrin.
However, the most haunting version was done by Safari Riot, a Los Angeles-based artist development company. Co-founder Grayson Sanders delivers the lyrics. The cinematic drama in Safari Riot's performance is no coincidence, as the song was used in the trailer for the video game Dying Light 2.
Safari Riot transforms the original's alternative rock vibe into a dystopian, post-apocalyptic storm. It's simultaneously atmospheric, almost ambient-like, and rampaging with its rumbling techno beat. But there's nothing straightforward about this rendition. Instead, it's chopped up, stops and starts, again and again, constantly changing pace and ambience.
Fresh Start
Weekly5 switches to Ghost. Here's why and what you need to know right now.
As a journalist, who has gone product manager, I know that there's just one certainty: Change is the new constant. What's true for my daily work once again proves to be valid for my side-project as well.
After initially starting on Revue, I moved to Substack in early 2021 as a platform to publish and distribute the Weekly5 newsletter. Substack provided exciting features that I was eager to incorporate into my service.
However, there's also a fair share of controversy around Substack. They pay high-profile writers directly, some of them with questionable views. The platform has the same problem as Spotify, as demonstrated by the Joe Rogan debate: As soon as you pay content creators, you become a publisher, which comes with new responsibilities.
Now, I never explicitly explained the business model of Substack. They take 10% of every paid subscription on the platform. For those, who support the Weekly5 with a membership, this means: $5.5 of your yearly payment goes to Substack.
With that said, I don't have an issue with Substack taking their fair share (some might argue the percentage is too high), but I struggle more with their handling of the controversies. Substack, nonetheless, remains an intriguing product.
The Case For Ghost
Nonetheless, it's not what annoys me about Substack, but what excites me about Ghost as a new platform for this newsletter.
First, Ghost aligns perfectly with Weekly5's values. It's an open-source project driven by a non-profit community. It's even possible to host the service yourself; however, I'm not educated well enough to achieve this at the moment.
Second, Ghost's business model is based on regular payments by the creators. So I now pay a yearly fee of $108 to use the hosted service, but I can keep the total amount charged for the membership.
Third, the whole user experience and design are, in my opinion, way better—also from a creator-perspective.
What does it mean for you?
Short answer: Nothing.
If you're a free subscriber to the newsletter, you'll continue to receive five new songs each Sunday. But please consider becoming a member and supporting the Weekly5.
With a membership, you keep this platform ad-free and independent. And you'll get full access to the archive and receive special formats like reLISTEN.
In celebration of the switch to Ghost, you can get 20% off of your yearly membership. Take this opportunity today:
If you are already a paying member: Your subscription continues frictionlessly. You can check out your profile here. Just log in with the email address you're using for your existing subscription.
If you need any assistance or have any questions, please reach out to me.
There are still some tasks remaining. Most importantly, I need to work together with the support team of Ghost to import the previous Weekly5 editions and specials into the new environment. And as always, with a migration, things will pop up here and there. Thanks in advance for your patience.
Longing, Pain, and Revenge
Edition #40 • Sharon Van Etten, Casper, King Hannah, LAWN CHAIR, TEMMIS
A beautiful day awaits. Not necessarily just weather-related, but also musically.
In today‘s edition, you can discover cinematic experiences, infinitely vast like a science fiction flic or grainy, dusty like a western. There is a tragedy based on actual events and a coming-of-age love story.
And if you love at least one recommendation, please share this post with your friends. It helps me very much to create a more extensive community that shares our passion for music.
Sharon Van Etten – Porta
Sharon Van Etten doesn’t need an introduction. The US singer and songwriter has long made a name for herself with songs like Seventeen or Every Time the Sun Comes Up. And last year, she collaborated with Angel Olsen to create Like I Used To.
Van Etten’s latest single, however, pivots away from her original influences in American folk and country. Instead, Porta is an infinitely atmospheric hymn, referencing powerful, ethereal pop music. It’s a song of grand gestures and a dreamy ambience.
Above the wide, expansive composition, Sharon Van Etten’s crystal clear voice sails like an almighty eagle. Porta propels longing and desire with every note and tone.
Casper – Billie Jo
The jangly guitar intro gives nothing away, but then, the hi-hats hint that something intense is about to happen. Then, suddenly, Billie Jo explodes.
The latest track by Casper, the artist that coined the genre “emo rap”, is a dramatic epos with a sweeping arrangement. And yes, a ton of pathos that some might find too much to swallow.
However, it’s not a fictional story of a PTSD-suffering Iraq veteran gunning down his kids and wife before setting the house on fire before killing himself that Casper tells with his raspy voice. On Instagram, the rapper explains:
Billie Jo was the name of my cousin from the USA and the song is about her life. I wondered for a long time if I wanted to tell this story. Who cares at all. But it's been on my mind for a long time and I have a lot of questions. A lot of anger too.
King Hannah – Big Big Baby
The heavy bassline indicates that Big Big Baby by King Hannah will be an exciting piece of a Western noir song. The soundtrack to a duel on dusty roads. The tension is rising, but the calm, conspirational voice of Hannah Merrick adds slow motion to the scene.
I hope you choke on, on a dupling
At least that would be midly fun
And more exciting than just sitting
Watching you eat them one-by-one
King Hannah, the duo consisting of Merrick and Craig Whittle, formed in 2017 in Liverpool, delivers with Big Big Baby a dark, creeping rock song, an act of sonic revenge to a former lover.
Transition
Edition #39 • Portmonee, Perel, VHS Collection, beGun, Matthias Gusset
After last week’s post about Spotify’s questionable handling of their policies and misinformation, I thought a lot about my behaviour around music consumption. Unfortunately, I doubt that the company’s latest announcement regarding the issue will bring substantial change.
Also, I learned about the $100 million investment by Spotify CEO Daniel Ek into a military company. This news slipped through my radar last November.
At the end of my post, I urged:
However, if you really want to support an artist in good conscience, buy tickets to their shows, buy merchandise, physical records, or at least a digital copy.
However, I never promoted links in Weekly5 to buy the featured songs. Therefore, I decided to change that in the most platform-agnostic way possible since there are very walled options both on Android and iOS devices.
So from now on, I will also add links to Bandcamp whenever a track is available there. Furthermore, I pledge to buy each song available myself since integrity is one of Weekly5’s core values. I will also buy the music when I actually have a free promotional download.
You can verify my commitment yourself on the Weekly5 Bandcamp profile.
And if you feel that with everything going on around Spotify, you don’t want to use their product anymore, here’s a helpful tool to easily export your songs and playlists onto another service.
So, about today’s selection. It transitions from a rough, violent sound to more pleasing, danceable tracks and finally arrives at wonderous ambient sonic experiences.
Best wishes,
Portmonee – Küss mich
A song about love that sounds like a threat? It’s no coincidence that Küss mich, the latest single release by Berlin-based Portmonee sounds so dangerous. The band explains:
In Germany, it still happens that people are beaten (half) to death because of their sexual orientation. In this song, we don't tell our own story, but that of a gay friend. We thought long and hard about whether we should do this, but it's too important not to.
Küss mich is a violent burst, chopping itself up over and over again. The bassline dominates the track’s foundation, supported by shattering drums, torn apart by aggressive, pushy delivery.
The sextett creates an unbearable tension; the pressure is constantly rising. Küss mich isn’t your everyday rock song; it painfully burns itself into your mind.
Perel – Real
It’s been about four years since I first encountered Perel. Back then, I discovered Alles, an astounding electronic track that feels more like post-punk than what you might expect by an artist of Berlin’s underground techno jungle.
Annegret Fiedler, aka Perel, escapes any attempt of definition. However, there’s still a unique sonic trademark to each of her tracks. Her latest single, Real, isn’t an exception and manages to split between a swirling synth melody and mysterious, sombre singing. And yes, like in Alles, the new track sounds reminiscent of the glimmery-gloomy 80s.
Never has questioning reality felt so breathless and addictive. Real’s deep bass vibrates through skin, flesh, and bones. It’s pure ecstasy.
Stomps and Sweets
Edition #38 • Kat Frankie, Christin Nichols, Albertine Sarges, Fishbach, Egopusher
Initially, I wanted to shortly write about this week’s biggest music news: Neil Young leaving Spotify in protest. However, it got out of hand, and words kept flowing. So now, there’s a whole separate post for this topic if you’re interested in my thoughts:
Weekly5Janosch Troehler
The problem, however, is that I don’t know what to write here instead. So rather than wasting your valuable time with some half-baked intro, I let four great female artists do the talking with their songs, ranging from driven indie-pop to stomping pacifism.
In the end, a Swiss male duo will accompany you into an endless sea.
And if you enjoyed today’s recommendations, don’t forget to share them with your friends. It helps me to grow this community of music enthusiasts.
Thanks,
Christin Nichols – I’m Fine
German-British actor and musician Christin Nichols recently released her solo debut record, I’m Fine. After being part of the punk-rock duo Prada Meinhoff, Nichols explores the realms of pop and indie rock.
I’m Fine—the record’s namesake opener—is a shimmering hymn. Simultaneously, Nichols evokes euphoria with the track’s driven rock vibe and drowns in melancholy with her sombre voice.
The fascinating, ambivalent nature of I’m Fine peaks in its chorus, which has the ecstatic quality of a summer hit but is delivered in such a bittersweet, sarcastic way that it feels beautifully torn apart.
The Spotify Dilemma
How do we see and treat the world's most influential streaming service?