Janosch Troehler
Editor
Edition #136
This week, we recommend the new songs by IDER, Jack White, Welsh Wolf, Oh Hazar, and AVEC.
❶ IDER – Know How It Hurts
UK’s duo IDER tease their upcoming album with another single, Know How It Hurts. With an intriguing 80s electropop groove, the song is a feminist anthem that, unfortunately, is more relevant than ever. Despite its depressing theme, Know How It Hurts finds the strength to keep on fighting through empathy.
❷ Welsh Wolf – When You Cry
As a songwriter and musician for big names like James Blunt, Chris Cornell, or Robbie Williams, Paul Freeman has nothing to prove. Now, he kicks off his solo career as Welsh Wolf, and the second single, When You Cry, sounds like a threesome between Springsteen, Rod Steward, and The Killers.
❸ Jack White – You Got Me Searching
The walking anachronism is in a release frenzy. Relentlessly pushing for handmade music, Jack White praises heavy blues rock again in the latest single, You Got Me Searching. The wild guitar sounds misplaced in today’s music landscape, yet refreshing for exactly that reason. Rock’s never dying.
❹ Oh Hazar – Down
Introducing the German-Dutch art-pop band Oh Hazar: Their new track, Down, is a juxtaposition of relaxed verses and an explosive and loud blues rock chorus. The groove is addictive, and if one listens carefully, there are many playful details hidden in the escalating composition.
❺ AVEC – Everywhere
The Austrian artist AVEC has a unique sensibility for emotive pop songs, shaded with folky aesthetics and walking the line between accessibility and complexity. Everywhere again demonstrates her skills impressively. A galloping rhythm meets touching vocals, highlighted with sprinkles of guitar decorations.
Lose Yourself In Kush K’s «Humble In Your Highspeed»
Today, we host the video premiere for Kush K’s brand new single «Humble In Your Highspeed»—a song that pulls you in and keeps you there.
Between the feeling of drowning and a feverish dream, a song from the beyond hails. A subtle and nuanced composition seeking infinity and finding beauty in the minutest of details.
This is Humble In Your Highspeed, the new single from Zurich’s quartet Kush K, celebrating the video premiere with Negative White.
Humble In Your Highspeed is, initially, at least, soft to the touch. The guitar pulls you into an endless, dark space—accompanied by the whispering voice. But you can already hear many things moving out of your sight.
And so the song gets louder, wilder, almost chaotic. The repetitions add to a psychedelic quality. Towards the end, Humble In Your Highspeed is literally hammering away. Slow, stomping, with only the vocals remaining in the realm of dreams.
It is, by all means, a bold song. One that doesn’t compromise and requires your entire attention, and then, in a sort of demanding and merciless act, draws you into its paralysing power.
After the album Your Humming in 2021, Kush K announced—with Humble In Your Highspeed as a first teaser—their new EP, Drum Therapy, scheduled for December 6.
Florence Besch presents new video for «Gathering Hearts»
Today, Negative White hosts the premiere of Florence Besch’s new video for «Gathering Hearts.» The song is the perfect introduction to her soothing yet punkish sound.
The beauty of Florence Besch lies in the juxtaposition. Her soothing and velvety voice collides with energetic and almost punkish instruments. A pinch of the 90s alternative completes her sound to something one could describe as dream grunge.
Gathering Hearts is the title of this Luxemburgian-German artist, which was released last Friday. But it’s also the namesake song that receives special attention with a new video premiering here with Negative White today.
Gathering Hearts, the song, remembers difficult moments. Without sugar-coating, Besch still emphasises perseverance. «Gathering hearts, growing my skin / Collecting sparks of who we have been,» she sings, symbolising finding strength within one’s own identity.
The song’s message here isn’t convoluted; it’s staring you in the face. And it highlights the two sides of struggles: Vulnerability and even despair, represented in Florence Besch’s soft voice. And the new strength from which one can virtually resurrect from such times which is reflected in the unflinching rock sound.
Edition #135
This week, we recommend the new songs by Dews Pegahorn, Friska Viljor, Yellow Couch Music, yourboykiran, and semiotic sakura & fae.
Let's forget the world for a while and enjoy new music. We have a hip-hop artist dabbling with new wave, a Swedish duo revisiting a song, and a collective driven by a passion for diversity and excellence.
A boundaries-pushing collaboration and a UK producer await you with surprises. Dig in, the Weekly5 are served.
Dews Pegahorn – Son Of A Gun
German rising star Dews Pegahorn presents his next single, Son Of A Gun. Adolescent urge collides with a smoky, raspy voice—sinking into a bed of 80s wave attitude and contemporary beats. It's a far cry from his hip-hop roots but a promising cry nonetheless.
Friska Viljor – Inbreeds (Revisited)
The Swedish duo Friska Viljor is currently revisiting some of their older songs. Inbreeds, originally released on 2022's Don't Save the Last Dance, transforms from a dense composition to a reduced folk song with a poignant highlight by the nostalgic trumpet. An excellent rework.
yourboykiran – Elixir
UK's yourboykiran has a new EP, Out Of Control, out. Taken from the release, Elixir is a thumping masterpiece of breakbeat, lined with thick basses and an oriental-inspired synth hook. Around every corner, there lures something unexpected.
Yellow Couch Music – Locust Walk (feat. H. Alonzo Jennings & Lars Haake)
Hailing from Brooklyn, Yellow Couch Music is a collaborative project helmed by Layton Weedeman. Locust Walk is a fusion of jazz and spoken word, a tribute to the jazz pioneer Sun Ra. It sounds unusual and might take getting used to, yet you can feel the musicians' passion in every note.
semiotic sakura & fae – tes ailes
The collaboration between semiotic sakura and fae that led to tes ailes pushes the boundaries, meandering between sinister ambient and angelic voices, shattering techno beats, and nocturnal synth sounds. Dark yet somehow of haunting beauty.
