Weekly5

On Thursday, I wrote about the different perceptions of real music, about instrumental skills and computed sounds. In today's edition, the German trio Klangphonics challenges preconceived notions.

And you'll find songs to dance, dream, and drift away, respectively. Ambient compositions greet dusty psychedelia, and grittiness interchanges with fragility. Clear the stage for a new Weekly5:

Klangphonics & Anna Metko – Ghost (Find Me Again)

Techno, manually crafted with instruments. Germany's Klangphonics collaborated again with Anna Metko to create Ghost (Find Me Again). The result is a beautiful contrast of Metko's angelic yet sombre vocals and ecstatic electronic sound. And, oh my, the drop at 4:55 is otherwordly.

Worries And Other Plants – Yal

Taken from the freshly released debut album Travel in Cycles, the song Yal combines Worries And Other Plants' compositional finesse, a tiny hint of psychedelic rock, and on the horizon, you can spot the dusty prairie. This song evocates psychedelia, sophistication and a familiar warmth.

Farré – Early Riser

Farré, the collaboration between guitar virtuoso NOTI and excellent pianist Matthias Gusset, is a dialogue between two instruments facilitated by a soft electronic fabric. Early Riser effortlessly fuses chillout vibes with an almost classical-seeming composition. Gorgeous, fragile, yet defiant.

LLOREN – Mad Woman

Grappling with societal expectations towards women, British singer LLOREN's Mad Woman is a demure, winding pop song à la Lana Del Rey, highlighting the vocals with a subtle, rock-esque sound that distinguishes the track from the usual vibrant colours of pop music.

Alex Henry Foster – Thoughtful Descent

Dark, almost dangerously sinister, Thoughtful Descent by Canadian Alex Henry Foster leads us in the expressive ambient soundscape of his new work, A Measure of Shape and Sounds. Despite or maybe because of the threatening ambience, the song radiates a prepossessing fascination.

With its chilling grasp, autumn has suddenly packed Switzerland. But today's Weekly5 recommends five songs radiating an intriguing warmth and a soft melodic touch.

Supernova Easy – Supernova Easy (feat. Cori Nora)

Supernova Easy, a new project by esteemed musician and songwriter Nick Furrer, released their second single. In collaboration with Cori Nora, the song Supernova Easy meanders through hazy and dreamy landscapes. A song to let your mind drift away into infinity.

The Beauty of Gemina – Countless (There's No Home)

Countless (There's No Home) from The Beauty of Gemina's newly released album Songs of Homecoming is one of the many highlights. The repetitive lyrics add to the hypnotic quality. Light and dark, sombre and optimistic—all simultaneously. It reminds me of Joy Division's Atmosphere, but a tad happier.

Suzan Köcher's Suprafon – Living In A Bad Place

Announcing the upcoming album, In These Dying Times, Suzan Köcher's Suprafon releases another single. Like the track Seventeen, the new song Living In A Bad Place is an exceptional rock song that highlights Köcher's vocals and poetry without sacrificing the sound's energy.

Softlander – California

With a soothingly smooth groove, Softlander create a compelling track with California that isn't about longing for the sunshine state but exploring self-improvement and giving others advice. There's a pinch of satire in the lyrics, wrapped with a crisp vintage rock sound.

Mnevis – Curiosity

Mnevis have already proved their prowess in crafting tender explosions in sound with T.K. Collider. A vast universe opens up when they play, once again demonstrated by Curiosity that creatively fuses indie-rock, psychedelic elements, and electronic trickery into a mind-altering cocktail.

Lost in space or lost in the fog? Today's recommendations range from soothing sounds to angry and fiery rock escapades to ambient explorations.

Alexia Thomas – Lost in Space

A soothing melange of soulful indie rock and dream pop takes you away in Swiss artist Alexia Thomas' new single, Lost in Space. Playful instruments, evocative songwriting, and a sense of melancholic longing make this song a well-rounded and pleasing experience.

Baby Schillaci – Blunt Force Trauma

Welsh group Baby Schillaci wanders the paths of the likes of Fugazi. Blunt Force Trauma, a critical dissection of the USA, is a raw outburst of noise rock and post-punk, refined with sharp spoken word lyrics and an exquisite explosive crescendo.

The Vices – Gold

Fiery, breathless rock with a gritty undertone but stadium attitude—it has become a rare sight. Enter Gold by the Dutch band The Vices, unearthing memories of indie high times while arguing against the notion of constant growth and improvement.

Jesper Munk – Tiny Heart

From blue to black: Jesper Munk was hailed as one of Germany's promising blues upstarts. However, Munk dabbles deeply in The Cure's territory with his latest single, Tiny Heart. A deep bassline somberly promotes darkness.

Soela – Lost In the Fog

Taken from the eclectic album Dark Portrait, Soela's Lost In the Fog features wandering synths accompanied by thumping bass heartbeats. All wrapped in an ethereal atmosphere, the song meanders between ambient electronica and sonic exploration of beauty.

Welcome to the second season of Weekly5 this year. After an extended hiatus during the summer, we are back with our weekly song recommendations—delivered straight to your inbox on Sunday morning.

And an especially warm welcome to all new subscribers. If you are curious about how a Weekly5 edition is created, check out this behind-the-scenes story.

Without further ado, let us dive straight into today's selection:

Long Tall Jefferson – figure it out

Switzerland's troubadour, Long Tall Jefferson, has crafted a beautiful piece with figure it out. His velvety voice, accompanied by a driven, folky, and country-esque composition, makes for an exquisite listen with just the right amount of nostalgia.

Drea – Want Me Dead

Want Me Dead is the captivating display of Norway's indie newcomer Drea—a song that plays with contrasts: Andrea Ådland's voice is both fragile and determined, the sound filigree and gritty. Latest with this track, Drea should be on your watchlist.

School of X – Caroline

School of X teases his upcoming album with the second single, Caroline. After the monumental Bad Design, the new track again balances indie and kitsch-coated pop sound—perceived through a veil of teary heartbreak but with an addictive drive.

Billie Bird – La nuit (solo)

Simplicity is a piercing knife, and the solo version of Billie Bird's La nuit demonstrates this to great effect. The Swiss artist's voice, accompanied only by a reverbing electric guitar, gains an overwhelming quality. And I'd argue that La nuit (solo) easily surpasses the original.

Ciaran Lavery & Liz Lawrence – Ctrl Alt Del

The crackling, stomping beat obfuscates that Ctrl Alt Del by Northern Irish artist Ciaran Lavery, in duett with Liz Lawrence, is a folk song at its core. It is a bold approach to a generation-old genre, expressing familiarity but also challenging what came before.