what i've been listening to recently #3

[puffin]

back again with another one of these :D

i have been listening to A LOT of new music in the last couple weeks, including a lot of stuff that was definitely out of my comfort zone but ended up loving, so i'll be focusing on some of those albums/songs in this post!

one: two airships / exploder falls by candy claws



candy claws is a group i've been meaning to check out for a WHILE now. their most recent album, ceres & calypso in the deep time, has been on my list for probably at least a year but i ended up listening to their debut first. two airships / exploder falls is made up of just two songs, 12 and 17 minutes in length respectfully, and is one of the coolest albums i've heard in a long time

"littledarkage" on rateyourmusic described the album like "sounds like what being high as fuck on a sunny day feels like" and i think that is the perfect way to put it. these two songs are super noisy and distorted, but feel so upbeat and happy at the same time. the first few minutes of two airships never fails to make me smile. the album, especially the second of the two songs, also features a lot of glitchy electronic elements which fit really nicely.

i can almost guarantee this album will sound like nothing you have ever heard before so i highly recommend it. if only it had proper album art :/

two: insomnia by parannoul



parannoul's after the magic is my favourite album of 2023 so far, and insomnia is my favourite song from it. i've been a fan of shoegaze for a while, but no album in the genre has ever grabbed me like this one. even though i cant speak a lick of korean and havent looked up translation for any of the lyrics yet, this album and this song especially are so packed with emotion i want to tear up just listening to it.

the start of insomnia feels just like the music video portrays: like waking up in the middle of the night with the feeling that you cant just go back to sleep. the feeling that you need to get up and do something or go somewhere; anything but go back to sleep. the contrast between the decently heavy distorted guitars and the beautiful piano and vocals is done perfectly. the song feels both triumphant and tragic. other favourites from the album include arrival and parade, but every song is fantastic. amazing album.

three: yukikosan by midori



i dont really know what i can say about this song other than that it just kicks ass. this blend of punk, noise rock, and jazz is so addicting i cant stop listening to it. the vocals go back and forth between blood-pumping yells, tongue-in-cheek cutesy singing, and terrifying manic screaming which keeps you on your toes and never lets you get bored for even a second. and that bass is just SO damn groovy. fuck yeahh

four: seaside voice guitar by xinlisupreme



headphone users beware, this song is... noisy. the song is basically buried under a sea of static and noise, but it is just so damn beautiful to me. this whole album was definitely so out of my comfort zone; the first time i listened to it i actually needed to take a few breaks because my ears were ringing but i just couldn't stop. i specifically picked this song for this post because its the noisiest on the album, but its also probably my favourite. something about the noise and distortion just adds so much to the emotion and beauty of the song for me. if you like some aspects of the sound but don't the just sheer wall of noise, i would recommend songs like the first train and zouave's blue, my other favourites from the album.

five: never again by slowthai



everything else i've picked for this post has been pretty harsh and noisy so i wanted to end off with something a bit different. slowthai's new album is another one of my favourite releases so far this year, i think his foray into post-punk has gone really well and has been my favourite rapper-tries-a-different-genre albums that have seemed so popular recently. my favourite song from the album is the absolutely gut-wrenching never again. slowthai puts his storytelling chops on display, painting a stunningly beautiful and moving tale. i wont spoil the story but fuck even after hearing it a bunch of times now it still feels like a punch in the gut.

the simple but engaging beat fits the story perfectly, especially when the drums cut out during the climax. just a phenomenal song and will definitely go down as one of my favourites for this year.











B-B-B-BONUS ROUND

didn't think i'd leave ya without any gizz, eh?



i don't have much to say other than that i've rediscovered my love for ice v after burning myself out on it after it was released as a single. what a fucking song, so groovy and catchy. if you dont dance when this comes on then there is probably something wrong with you, i don't make the rules...



thanks for reading, ciao!