Welcome To Dystopia
The first edition of Weekly5 with Audio Dope, Ja, Panik, Viagra Boys, Göldin & Bit-Tuner, and Arthur Hnatek & Taut.
A warm welcome,
If you don’t know me already: Hi, I’m Janosch. 👋
I started in journalism very traditionally in my school’s newspaper. Today, I work for a big publisher in Switzerland in community and product management.
However, my favourite topic has always been music. That’s why I ran the online magazine Negative White from 2010 until last year. Weekly5 is kind of a spin-off.
The premise of this newsletter is simple: Every Sunday, I recommend five new tracks from all over the world. My motivation is also simple: I love music, and I want to share my passion with you through this newsletter.
And without further ado: Let’s discover great music together. Fair warning, though. It’s going to be mostly dystopian sound. Thanks, 2020, I guess. 🤷♂️
Arthur Hnatek & Taut – Ritual
The collaboration between the Swiss artist Arthur Hnatek and New York’s Jacob Bergson, aka Taut, casts you in the abyss. Ritual celebrates dystopian soundscapes built upon bone-shattering beats. An electronic track that despises the dancefloor yet remains a physical experience.
Göldin & Bit-Tuner – #mikeskinner
2021 marks the 30th anniversary of Swiss-German rap. And precisely now, Göldin & Bit-Tuner have dropped the album Uff, which couldn’t be a better statement on our society. #mikeskinner is an urgent track – flowing breathlessly, oppressively, uncanny. It might be, without a doubt, one of the best Swiss songs this year.
Viagra Boys – In Spite of Ourselves
Viagra Boys, the infamous Swedish post-punk ensemble, dive deep into country music territory with In Spite of Ourselves. In a brilliant duet with Amy Taylor, In Spite of Ourselves emerges to a hilariously fucked-up and somewhat weird lovesong.
Ja, Panik – Apocalypse or Revolution
After six years of silence, the Berlin-based Austrian group Ja, Panik released Apocalypse or Revolution. It’s a hypnotic composition that gains horrific timeliness on the recent riots’ backdrop at the US Capitol. Apocalypse or Revolution is scary, depressing, but intriguing nonetheless.
Audio Dope – Absence of Gravity (Pablo Nouvelle Remix)
Two extraordinary Swiss electronica artists came together: Pablo Nouvelle remixed Audio Dope’s Absence of Gravity into an even more laid-back, dreamy ambient soundtrack. The first and precious blossoms of warm Spring feelings in January.
Now, I’ve got a small disclaimer: I was unsure whether I should incorporate German or Swiss-german songs as some of you, lovely subscribers, aren't familiar with the languages.
However, I decided to do it anyway since – I believe – we’re accustomed to listening to music in a foreign language even if we don’t understand the lyrics. Music, first and foremost, speaks to our emotions rather than a rational, precise understanding.
