reLISTEN #16: Recently Discovered
We share some of our recent discoveries in today's edition—random in subject but great in variety.
In most cases, reLISTEN revolves around a specific topic, like goosebumps provocation, that connects the featured songs.
However, today's edition presents itself curated by time rather than subject. I will share some of my more recent and random discoveries across different genres.
Death Of Lovers – The Absolute
Death of Lovers, a Philadelphia-based shoegaze band, draws from the darkened underbelly of the 80s, from post-punk and goth vibes. The Absolute from their 2018 album The Acrobat is a classic melancholic post-punk song at first glance. However, the quartet adds a bold saxophone to the bridge, adding a fresh flavour to the song's thoughtful sound.
Kwengface, Joy Orbison, Overmono – Freedom 2
Kwengface, a child of London's drill scene, released Freedom as part of his 2023 album The Memoir. While the original is already a force to behold, the collaboration with Overmono's Joy Orbison catapults Freedom 2 into new spheres: The fusion of drill and UK garage, supported by a rumbling bass, works perfectly, morphing the track into something enjoyable for both hip-hop and electronic fans.
My Top 5 Metal Discoveries
Throughout the past months, a handful of astonishing metal bands crossed our paths for the first time. Here are some of our editor's favourites.
The power of metal to captivate and enthral its listeners is truly unique. The intense sound created by heavy riffs, thundering drums, and hellish vocals evokes deep feelings in those who appreciate the genre.
Especially when experienced live on stage, the music's raw energy and emotional expression bring people together, creating a sense of unity that is hard to find in other forms of music—something I witnessed once again when I attended this year's Summer Breeze Festival in Dinkelsbühl, Germany.
Although only a small portion of my personal heavy rotation accounts for metal, the sound these bands produce is undeniably fascinating. Today, I share five metal acts I recently discovered—some of them rather late, others on their way up.
Blackbraid
Sgah’gahsowáh, the artist behind the one-man band Blackbraid, combines Black Metal's heavy sounds with a focus on nature. Stumbling over a New York Times feature anticipating the second album, Blackbraid II, the combination of themes rooted in his Native American heritage and the raw sound of Norwegian's Black Metal origins instantly intrigued me.
Initially, I expected a more progressive approach to the Black Metal sound, as seen with Zeal & Ardor. However, Blackbraid's sound remains traditionalist, offering pure, aggressive, but excellent compositions.
Exploding
Edition #93 brings you fresh tracks by Dolphin Love, Willow Parlo, Angie McMahon, Stilla Havet, and Löwenzahnhonig.
Exclusive Video Premiere: Marissa Burwell – You're Not Trying Very Hard
Today, we exclusively present Marissa Burwell's new video to her song «You're Not Trying Very Hard».
Moments of reflection lead to the songs that Marissa Burwell's second EP, Either Way. The Canadian singer-songwriter effortlessly unites folk and rock with direct lyrics to a heartfelt, levitating sound.
The EP's namesake song, Either Way, a tender and folky composition, was featured not long ago in our Weekly5. The conclusion: «Either Way, the song and the EP, are the perfect soundtrack to roam in one's heart and soul.»
Today, Negative White presents another of Marissa Burwell's works on Either Way as we celebrate the exclusive video premiere for You're Not Trying Very Hard.
Directed by Emma New, filmed and edited by Andrew Parry, the music video embraces a warm, glowing vintage look. It invites us to a lush, candle-lit birthday party—all seems perfect. Yet, Marissa Burwell's performance is deliberately disconnected from the exuberant joy.
I used to cry on my birthday,
Now I'm crying on yours
You're Not Trying Very Hard is a mind game: What if you enter a relationship you know will not end well? How do you deal with the anxiety that only a sliver of interest might bring you pain? «Every answer is the wrong one,» sings Burwell. And one can physically feel the torn inside.
The song's intimacy and difficult questions create dire despair, counteracted by the hauntingly beautiful music and the video's perfectly staged frames.
Una Noche Más
Edition #92 brings you new tracks by Blanco White, Bombino, Soft Loft, Train Blues Duo, and Sperling.
Community Essentials #1: The 1990s
The first edition of Community Essentials assembles some of the best of the 90s.
Welcome to the first edition of Community Essentials, where you decide which songs are featured. Two weeks ago, we asked you which 1990s song has to be on this essential playlist—and thankfully—some of you participated.
Without further ado, let's dive into what you consider the essential 1990s songs:
Pulp – Common People
Pulp, the British band formed as early as 1978, belongs to the most significant outfits of Brit Pop. Their track Common People introduced our long-time member Richard to the rising genre: «I have never been really into Brit Pop, but when I saw the video of this song occasionally on TV around 1994, I realised a new style of powerful music. Since then, I have liked Pulp.»
Deftones – My Own Summer
Vinzenz submitted Californian alternative rockers and Nu Metal pioneers Deftones. «My Own Summer is not only one of the very first and best Nu Metal songs but also opened a completely new world to me,» he writes. «The spheric singing, the high-pitched screams, the rough riffs in the verses and a chorus I am slowly sinking into capture me every time until today—and influenced at least two generations of metal and rock musicians.»
Either Way
Edition #91 recommends the new songs by Marissa Burwell, kinda fragile, Deeper, Seed to Tree, and Cornelia Murr & Alice Boman.
BlauBlau Records Cuts Ties With Artist After Allegations of Sexual Harassment
The Zurich-based indie label BlauBlau Records has removed an artist after allegations of sexual harassment.
According to an Instagram post, the Zurich-based indie label BlauBlau Records cuts ties with one of its artist collectives. The label has removed the collective and two of its albums from its catalogue after allegations of sexual harassment were raised against one man of the duo.
BlauBlau Records management writes in its statement:
«The public disclosure of a years-long practice of power abuse and sexualised boundary crossing by a person who has also released music under our symbolic umbrella continues to concern us.»
Swiss public broadcaster SRF first raised the allegations publicly at the end of August as the suspect is also a praised and prize-winning journalist who was lastly employed by the young member-funded outlet «Republik». Investigations into the allegations are underway.
The now-former BlauBlau Records artist has been featured once in our curation format Weekly5. Nevertheless, we chose neither to explicitly disclose the artist's name nor to remove the feature from the website. Instead, we added contextual information about the allegations in the article, which will be updated in case of further development.
