Weekly5

🎵 About today's curation: You'll find a predominantly electronically driven set of tracks that house a particular sinister or archaic atmosphere. Breaking up the stomping beats are two songs residing in hauntingly beautiful indie-pop and dreamy hip-hop.

Rue Oberkampf & GEISTHA – Moths

Munich's Rue Oberkampf collaborated with GEISTHA, the non-binary artist featured previously, to create Months, a fusion of their 80s-inspired EBM and GHEISTA's goth pop sound. The result is as melancholic and mysterious as ecstatic and exhilarating—a dark hymn made for the dancefloor.

Panik Deluxe – god complex

Developing from a technoid beat, Panik Deluxe's third single, god complex, wanders off into the night with the deep vastness and restrained anger that is always at the brink of breaking out but never does. There's a fascinating duality in god complex between extending drama and refined minimalism.

PANIK DELUXE - GOD COMPLEX, by Panik Deluxe

1 track album

Seayou RecordsBandcamp New & Notable Mar 2, 2023

Soft Loft – Is It Me

Is It Me is the debut single of Swiss artist Jorina Stamm's band project Soft Loft. The subtle composition creates a dreamy yet driven canvas on which Stamm casts a vocal painting of vulnerability, uncertainty, pain, and heartbreak, delivered with haunting urgency and almost despairing emphasis.

Bethan Lloyd – Aria

Welsh artist Bethan Lloyd, whose track Cutting Circuit was featured last December, just released the inscrutable Aria—juxtaposing a fanatic industrial sound with her trance-inducing vocals that wash over the composition like waves. Aria has an ancient quality, a long-forgotten ritual chant catapulted in the 21st century.

Aria, by Bethan Lloyd

track by Bethan Lloyd

Bethan LloydBethan Lloyd

Audio Dope & Rome Fortune – Flowers

Swiss producer Audio Dope has been a frequent guest here and teases his next record one last time with the single Flowers. Collaborating with Atlanta-based rapper Rome Fortune, Audio Dope displays the many-sidedness of his tunes which work perfectly in the hip-hop setting while maintaining a sense of wonder and dream.

It’s rare that a regular edition comes together and unifies in a common theme. However, once in a while, it surprisingly happens like today.

This week’s five carefully curated tracks feature the perfect Sunday morning soundtrack when you feel a bit lazy and maybe still a bit sleepy, yet the sunshine hitting your bedsheets promises a beautiful day.

Shoot The Satellite – Da wo die Sonne scheint

In his side project, Shoot The Satellite, Swiss artist Thomas Seidmann (Yet No Yokai) melts his experience in krautrock and kraut pop with electronic beats. Da wo die Sonne scheint is driven by a psychedelic groove, brilliant guitar work, and a feeling of longing. There’s an earthy warmth to this stunning track.

Da wo die Sonne scheint EP, by Shoot The Satellite

3 track album

Shoot The SatelliteBandcamp New & Notable Dec 4, 2022

Funeral Lakes – No More Now Forever

Somewhere between the hazy groove of The Velvet Underground and the 80’s captivating synth groove, the Toronto-based duo Funeral Lakes is hauntingly performing No More Now Forever. Mixing in sprinkles of folky feel with their complementary vocal duet, their latest single is slowly embroiling itself into your mind.

No More Now Forever, by Funeral Lakes

track by Funeral Lakes

Funeral LakesBandcamp New & Notable May 1, 2022

Bayonne – Words

Texan Roger Sellers, aka Bayonne, is known for his experimental compositions. With Words, the US artist embraces a towering and vast piece with complex rhythms and overwhelming layers of sounds but tying all together through his intimate approach and dreaming vocals. What a wonderful experience!

Words, by Bayonne

track by Bayonne

BayonneBandcamp New & Notable Feb 27, 2023

Fishbach – Démodé (Zimmer Remix)

Zimmer, a French electronic artist, took on Fishbach’s Démodé from her 2022 album Avec les yeux. It’s a subtle remix that hardly takes away from the nostalgia lying in Fishbach’s original performance yet carefully highlights the electronic elements and adds to its composition's eternal ambience and vastness.

Addeyee – I need her

Being a sought-after live and studio musician for the likes of Linn Koch-Emmery, Swedish multi-instrumentalist Adrian Norén, alias Addeyee, also shines brightly as a solo artist. I need her is quirky, grooving, and upbeat yet relaxed and flowing—all while the track steadily grows and shortly bursts out in the end to an exciting climax.

Press play and dive into my latest curation—as always compiled by hand and driven by the passion for exciting new music. And today, also a bit of patriotism with three acts representing Switzerland’s sparkling creativity.

Sensu – Fuse

After last year’s fantastic EP Numéro LDN, Swiss electronic producer Sensu returns with the fiercely raving track Fuse. Dialling back the UK garage vibe, her latest song is a constant rush of fast-paced beats, foggy synthesisers, and an alarming melody. Sensu again marks her spot amongst Switzerland’s most exciting dance music artists.

Holli – Ein bisschen Zeit

Austrian musician Holli exposes his heart and soul in his new song Ein bisschen Zeit. Over a slightly wonky groove, he asks his love to give him some time to overcome his demons and problems. “It’s not your fault that I can’t find a comforting thought,” Holli sings. The contrast between the song’s subject and the upbeat indie rock seems almost insane.

HOLLI - EIN BISSCHEN ZEIT, by Holli

1 track album

Problembär RecordsBandcamp New & Notable Sep 1, 2023

LEAP – SleepWalker

LEAP is an upcoming British band with a flavour of sadness and a talent for catchy melodies. Proven themselves with the debut EP 1 Million Pieces, the quartet has now released SleepWalker. The track trumps with a larger-than-life atmosphere, an opulent composition right in the sweet spot between captivating pop and solid rock.

Dennis Kiss – Bordeaux

Formerly known as the frontman for the band Dennis Kiss & The Sleepers, the German-Swiss musician kicks off his solo career and sings for the first in his native language. Bordeaux is shaped by forward-facing indie rock and a portion of postmodern sadness in the realm of artists like Betterov. However, the song reaches its unforgettable climax when the sax kicks in.

Catalyst – King of the Slide

No, the Swiss rock duo Catalyst isn’t celebrating the guitar technique but literally tells the story of a king of the slide on the playground who doesn’t shy away from any measures to defend his kingdom. Accentuated by a stomping, rumbling sound and significant irony, Catalyst’s King of the Slide is a heavy rock behemoth to behold.

King of the Slide, by Catalyst

track by Catalyst

CatalystBandcamp New & Notable Apr 22, 2022

No, this isn't your weekly weather forecast. However, it might seem that way with track titles that translate to "cloud cover" and "sea of fog".

But today's selection might, in fact, be more on the colder side. Songs that build the perfect soundtrack to stay inside and reflect and dream. With one sweaty garage punk burst of sunshine.

Tristesse – Wolkendecke

Returning to Weekly5 after the breathless Im Taumel last year, Tristesse's latest single, Wolkendecke, is an astounding hymn that draws as much from the new wave as indie rock. Wolkendecke urges us to remember that even in dark times—when life seems covered by grey clouds—they too pass.

Rosa Rendl – Always

Austrian artist Rosa Rendl has been active in the electro-pop duo Lonely Boys for a decade but now expands in her solo career. Always is an extravagant and contemporary art-pop sound with a reduced composition that washes over you like waves at the beach. The frigid ambience is juxtaposed by Rendl's warm, intimate voice.

Always, by Rosa Rendl

from the album ROSA RENDL - ALWAYS

Seayou RecordsBandcamp New & Notable Feb 15, 2023

Neil.9 – L’appel du vide

Bahnhofbuffet Chancental singer released a new solo track, L’appel du vide. The Swiss artist whispers, shouts, cries, and howls over a leaden, slowly creeping composition. Neil. 9's track feels like a horror march but might also be his most sophisticated work yet: Beneath the beat, acoustic guitar, piano, and chimes await.

L’Appel du Vide, by neil.9

track by neil.9

neil.9Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 25, 2016

Yonic South – Mark Mothersbaugh Alterego

It's getting faster and hotter with Mark Mothersbaugh Alterego by the Italian quintet Yonic South. Their garage punk embraces a slight hint of psychedelia and bursts of noise rock, resulting in an utterly sweat-pouring and abrasive sound certainly created for an exciting live performance.

Devo Challenge Cup, by Yonic South

6 track album

Yonic Southnicholasgarza

Yet No Yokai – Nebelmeer

The Swiss psychedelic and space rock trio Yet No Yokai are back with the galloping song Nebelmeer. Despite the track's reserved qualities—only occasionally letting the guitar slide briskly—the song has a deep-rooted urgency. Something that pushes you from within and creates exciting tension.

Nebelmeer, by Yet No Yokai

track by Yet No Yokai

Yet No YokaiBandcamp New & Notable May 7, 2022

Overflow is definitely a fitting title for this week‘s selection. With January gone, more artists line up their releases and choosing five songs becomes even more challenging.

I could have easily filled two editions. But Weekly5 is about limitation and, to some extent, sacrifice.

With that said, you‘ll get the whole experience—from addictive beats to gentle melodies—in today‘s edition.

Vanita – Overflow

Switzerland‘s electro producer Vanessa Spolidoro, aka Vanita, popped up on my radar a couple of weeks ago with the brilliant Symbiosis. Her latest track, Overflow, is all I wish for in a captivating electronic track: a steady beat to dance and a sinister atmosphere to get lost in the night‘s darkness. It‘s hammering, hauling, haunting.

Vanita - Overflow - SELADOR, by Dave Seaman, Thomas Gandey, Robert Babicz, Jonathan Cowan, PAUL & Anunakis, Pete Gleadall, Vanita

from the album The Selador Showcase - The Seventeenth Instalment

SeladorBandcamp New & Notable Sep 14, 2022

Pony Pracht – Aics

With Lomb, German newcomer Pony Pracht presents a fascinating debut EP filled with dreamy and mysterious soundscapes. Aics seeks eternity in its vast blackness, only enlightened by sparks of synthesizers and Pracht‘s fairy-like vocals. The song is ethereal, mystical, and almost otherwordly. But indeed, it lets reality around you disappear.

Aics, by Pony Pracht

from the album Lomb

Pony PrachtBandcamp New & Notable Jan 29, 2023

Amber Arcades – I‘m Not There

Dutch artist Amber Arcades provides an antidote to heartbreak with her new album, Barefoot on Diamond Road. It‘s a collection of songs between singer-songwriter art and dark, dreamy pop music. I‘m Not There is the perfect ambassador for the record with Arcades‘ longing performance and violently fuzzing guitars. Nostalgia meets brutality.

I’m Not There, by Amber Arcades

from the album Barefoot On Diamond Road

Amber ArcadesJohn Bedard

Markus Nikolaus – Never Let You Go

After the psychedelic Bicycle Day was featured last year, Markus Nikolaus gets another mention with his new single, Never Let You Go. Nikolaus gifts us a beautifully honest and kitsch-free hymn to love, simply accompanied by an acoustic guitar that almost conceals the intricate composition underneath.

Rogue Jones – 1, 2, 3

The Welsh lyrics of Rogue Jones give their sound a unique characteristic. But 1, 2, 3 also trumps with its extraordinary composition, a fully-fledged escalation from its smooth, piano-driven origin to an ever more grande and brass-driven climactic march. Rogue Jones teach us how to properly build suspense and, later, create a satisfactory highlight.

Sometimes my focus shifts away from Weekly5 as I’m obsessing over other things in my life. Then, curating music feels more like a chore than a joy.

However, the musicians always get me back under their spell with their exceptional craft. And I’m pretty sure, despite here and there, some distractions will arise, music will always be a significant part of my life.

With that said, just a short announcement: This year’s first edition of reLISTEN will land in your inbox next week. It’s a selection of five songs discovered via the music-recognising app Shazam.

And now, let’s dive into today’s curation of five brand-new tracks. Enjoy!

LEATHERS – Highrise

Shannon Hemmett, the keyboardist of Vancouver-based post-punk heroes ACTORS, pursues her solo electro-pop project LEATHERS with a new EP. The namesake track Highrise is powered by a decade-spanning approach to the genre, featuring a critical lifestyle discussion. Highrise is a perfect track for the dancefloor.

Highrise, by LEATHERS

track by LEATHERS

LEATHERSLEATHERS

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Layla

Portland’s American and New-Zealandish band Unknown Mortal Orchestra just announced their upcoming album V with a soothing and sunny Layla. The song builds upon a vintage blues rock, sprinkles in a hint of psychedelia and grinds blocks of relaxation. The result is dreamy, a must-have for every chillout playlist.

Layla, by Unknown Mortal Orchestra

from the album V

Unknown Mortal OrchestraAlasdair Duncan

Jon Hood – Ocean

It’s a fascinating comeback: After 2017’s album Body Semantics, the Swiss krautrock band Jon Hood finally returns with the exception Ocean. Especially the warm performance of singer Joan Seiler stands out, accompanied by a slowly developing composition. Ocean’s beauty lies within the subtle nuances.

Bad Pelicans – Dance Music

French outfit Bad Pelicans breath pure escalation in their latest single, Dance Music. The song constantly raises the stakes, starting as a grooving post-punk tune, building towards a complete and sweating meltdown. It’s a wild ride filled with raw, immediate energy.

The Beauty of Gemina – When The Night Is Back in Me

After an ensemble version of their 2018 song River, Michael Sele and The Beauty of Gemina have released the first new song since 2020. When The Night Is Back in Me is a staple of the unique “Gemina sound” with its Americana-flavoured melancholia. The dance between the guitars and the piano is otherworldly.

When The Night Is Back In Me, by The Beauty of Gemina

track by The Beauty of Gemina

The Beauty of GeminaBandcamp New & Notable Sep 20, 2021