ILM 2025 Listening Club

Same playlist as before:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0kWbwhTo9c6hueUu8xplzV

our 2024 thread: https://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=41&threadid=114638

Every song added from the 2023 and 2024 playlists has been moved to this archive:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4nDuSiSubdcuTA1u9Fh9sd

YouTube, Tidal, Apple playlist copies are welcome and encouraged; please post here.

Sababa 5 & Sophia Solomon - Shehzadi - शहज़ादी

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyCsoJmsAXs

on Batov Records

I love the bouncy melodies of this track, and Sophia Solomon's vocals are sublime

Sababa 5 collaborate with India born singer Sophia Solomon on their most exciting double A-side to date, merging Bollywood-style songs with their signature blend of Middle Eastern grooves.

“Shehzadi” (“Princess”) is an Indo-disco delight. Solomon’s Hindi vocals soar effortlessly across Sababa 5’s finely balanced arrangement of hypnotic drums, pulsing electric bass, fanning electric guitar, and sparkling synths in a beguiling minor key. There’s a strong hint of 80s nostalgia with a contemporary shine, evoking a Stranger Things meets Bollywood charm.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6qOJ1YHGwU8TzoMC0S57af?si=9640fba9028244dc

Alright, this is good! Great start to the playlist.

take a trip to Copenhagen?: ice cool Hypnagogic Pop from Smerz

Smerz - A thousand lies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z53UPcols38

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3g0lxrU7wv7j64QLAt2Krc?si=23de77d9d05a42a0

the piano, the production, the seductive calming vocals ...it's just so addictively blissed out

riyl: Julee Cruise, Stina Nordenstam

yes!! thank you for this!

will catch up momentarily, but my first pick is the most recent thing from caoilfhionn rose+co:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd44lyGMOPc
slowly rolling camera+caoilfhionn rose - "the new way"

and here's some diy bedroom pop from nyc. not on spotify sorry!
https://tesia.bandcamp.com/track/tender-hearted-demo

Smerz are definitely part of the Copenhagen scene (they wrote the NewJeans ep with Erika de Casier and Fine, and if you look there's an album of avant-improv with Henriette Motzfeldt and Clarissa Connelly, among others) but they are Norwegian :)

More Danish hyperpop, though I think they're from Odense. 100%Wet is the worst bandname ever, but I really like it, they do the shoegaze-with-autotune-and-beats and call it 'drum'n'gaze' which in hindsight seems very obvious:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHketN6pbq0

Today we take a trip around London with Raisa K and Coby Sey:

Raisa K 'Stay' ft. Coby Sey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7zn4wAacOA

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/01hSEJ4ymUJzj1jpgXkfGx?si=37a496dfc5cb488f

more blissed out Hypnagogic Pop vibes, I love the way both vocalists combine, Coby Sey's vocals are just so calming and assuring

I have very small clue about metal, but I like good pop and great handiwork, so I nominate the track "March of the Unheard" from the album of the same name by the Halo Effect, which is apparently a kind of supergroup made up of former members of legendary Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames. (Single-group supergroups, possible thread idea?)

The video here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZG2matuCUM

includes a preappended "This Curse of Silence", which to me feels mostly like a Nordic intro vignette to a Eurovision final or something. If that's your joy, watch the whole thing; else I suggest starting at 1 minute 55 seconds, which is the start of the song I really submit here.

This is slight, but sounded good as I was coming round this morning:

John Glacier, feat. Sampha - Ocean Steppin'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDRFn2jUQAM

― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski)

Adding Helena Deland - Bigger Pieces

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR1YwNX8wdc

In love with her vocal tone.

Florence Adooni - A.O.E.I.U.

Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/florenceadooni/a-o-e-i-u?si=1c55206b3a4b4b3a9e0d7039f7fa0236

10 minutes title track off the debut album by Florence Adooni album, A.O.E.I.U.

energetic bouncy funky track, with superb saxophone playing

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/7gu8IsnqRpjs2riewZn0zu?si=d0732e029a374ae7

Bandcamp Album Link:

A.O.E.I.U. (An Ordinary Exercise In Unity)
by Florence Adooni
https://florenceadooni.bandcamp.com/album/a-o-e-i-u-an-ordinary-exercise-in-unity

Florence Adooni
Zuarungu, Ghana

Looking forward to this one, the debut album from Lucy Gooch, who is I think from Bristol and has put out some lovely tracks in the past couple of years. It’s ethereal looped vocal stuff, so think Julianna Barwick, Kate Bush, Virginia Astley…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv27DhMbx2s
Lucy Gooch - Like Clay

House music from Copenhagen:

B from E - Yum!
https://soundcloud.com/bfrome-music/yum?si=ed4a9cee7c084ccba26db981dbd62be8

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4mHKjeGUnldM3orsztp8bB?si=4062fc0d0b3a46de

I love the synth pads on the track. Bouncy feel good house music, with a spacey futuristic production. Discovered via:
Ollie Rant on Rinse FM
https://www.rinse.fm/shows/ollie-rant/

Dark Atmospheric / Gothic Rock from Italian band, Messa

Messa - At Races
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgJk2-ddU6M

the vocalist Sara has an expressive vocal style, love the Killing Joke guitar vibes. The video is shot in Bosnia, travelling through the stunning countryside on motorbike visiting Second World War memorials commemorating the brave Yugoslav partisans that fought the Nazi-German led Axis forces.

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/track/2F9RANfKhByYWOhUiY7Fh0?si=d6c61d25c56040cc

riyl: Killing Joke, Chelsea Wolfe

track off one of my most anticipated rock albums of 2025

Messa - The Spin
https://messa.bandcamp.com/album/the-spin

Released: April 11th 2025

Alright!

Two recommendations:

- Snuggle - Dust

Sweet 90's vibes from Copenhagen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoD8Pkj-op8

- Ife Ogunjobi - Speak Low

A highlight from the recent "Chet Baker Re:imagined" compilation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-kRrKKUYyo?

I've only been vaguely aware of L.A. Witch, but I like this kinda darkwavey rocker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPPJSsMBT-Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG6zpcIXf6g

C Duncan - Think About It

there was some C Duncan chat on here back in 2015 when he was nominated for the Mercury prize, but he doesn't seem to have been mentioned much lately, this is really good though, sounds like something that could have been released on él Records back in the day.

I like that 2015 album a lot but he sort of abandoned the psychedelic sound in everything I’ve heard from him beyond it and that was the main aspect that drawed me to his music.

Might give this album a spin today.

leftfield hip-hop from Canada,

I love the ambient reverb of the ethereal vocals and the rhythmic flow of this track

Backxwash - 9th Heaven

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwXqJRoDXS4

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/1aBxhHdDSheiqyXk9ZbJVw?si=ed13d3d2381a401d

and this track is the perfect segue:

These New Puritans - The Bells

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1EJe8QwEQA

Blue Nile Hats era and Ryuichi Sakamoto Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence vibes

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/2SoeAzzTxTR2FBFhV2B0ah?si=46c26fa2532b4cd8

some new new wave revival from the one-woman band vau (f/k/a bac nini). been waiting for a full length for a while, so hoping this means more forthcoming:
youtube
spotify

Desire - Games People Play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCMu-ROTdFc

Title track from the new Desire album released today.

Megan Louise's evocative vocals combine with the stunning synths of the Johnny Jewel production. In a DJ set it would go well New Order's Elegia.

This track has a dreamy cinematic feel which would be ideal to include in a full length movie.

Playlist updated!

I was just listening to my radar playlist and the opening song was a “tell it to my heart” cover by Desire. Read the title song and thought it was an Alan Parsons Project cover and that mayhaps the full thing was a covers project.

(It is not)

Adding

Maria Somerville - Garden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sJyviKcJ0s

Very subtle at first but addicting dreampop/shoegaze song.

Also

Hannah Cohen - Dusty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kofsXEiGAmg

Kind of has the floaty baroque pop / smooth soul vibe of Les Fleur.

Last one:

https://open.spotify.com/track/18yDsGdHw4LhYMMTbNlNWS

From Chihuahua, mx. Seen them live recently. Really good french touch inspired music.

Moka on the Spotify playlist you have added the following tracks twice:

Backxwash - 9th Heaven
Maria Somerville - Garden

That’s weird. When I remove just one pf them they both got deleted too…

Anyways… it’s fixed now. Thanks for the heads up

From Chihuahua, mx. Seen them live recently. Really good french touch inspired music.

― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Saturday, March 22, 2025 11:39 PM (two days ago) bookmarkflaglink

cool stuff, reminds me of the 2 or 3 chromeo songs i like. "back to love" from their ep is my highlight

the first Summer Jam of 2025 has arrived, attention poptimists !

Gelli Haha - Bounce House

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T90Qd-NFIOc

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4z6Xs34csOKEoZjbTQ1RUi?si=630af106f8bd4d7c

an infectious bouncy disco electronic pop track. First heard on BBC 6 Music New Music Fix show last week, also the Quietus have mentioned the track in their round up of 2025 March releases

https://thequietus.com/tq-charts/music-of-the-month/best-albums-tracks-march-2025/

Effervescent Los Angelino Gelli Haha somehow manages to sound very much like a cross between the moody early electro-pop singles of Mylène Farmer and Italo disco one-hit-wonders PlusTwo on ‘Bounce House’, and right now I can’t imagine anything I want to hear more.

I’ve been enjoying “POSEÍDA” by Cami, kinda like a Chilean take on What’s Your Pleasure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyM1-nno7qM

infectious high-energy ravey club Hyperpop:

Crybaby - I'm So Hot

no visuals, just audio link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL-fPE1At4w

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/2MMLmdgX2f2EYHxDhVYUzb?si=0a1006f54efd4676

Pyramids - Pretty Pigs

Record label description "fuse reggaeton, shoegaze, and black metal" and electronics

a swirling digital sonic blend of hybrid sublimeness, kid-a era Radiohead, VAST, Zeal & Ardor, early M83 - mixed with Reggaeton

off their forthcoming album Pythagoras, out May 2nd.

I love how this track grooves and glides.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKDJ0kdueSg

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/1gM1Y42gJZUXt7DbNxzc3V?si=57c3a37c4de14726

ilx favorite george riley on a heavy new house banger by sherelle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQaMnaqrXaQ

The New Eves - Highway Man

The New Eves from Brighton, signed to Transgressive Records

RIYl: Slits, Patti Smith, PJ Harvey, Hole, Savages, Joy Division

So much energy in this propulsive track and the vocalist sings with strident angry conviction

Transgressive Records
https://transgressiverecords.com/artist/the-new-eves/
Brighton four-piece The New Eves comprising Nina Winder-Lind (cello, guitar, vocals), Ella Oona Russell (drums, flute, vocals), Kate Mager (bass, vocals), and Violet Farrer (violin, guitar, vocals, dance), have recently releases a brand new single/video, “Highway Man”, and announce their signing with Transgressive Records.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lll0nATDNQ

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4eAXBJOQjxZV14Su1G8QhC?si=c56681a4773c40d5

for fans of bar italia, enjoyed this song by bedroom producer deer park and singer ivy knight
https://soundcloud.com/deleted900000/deer-park-pharmacy-with-ivy

Sorry I had a very busy week! Playlist updated!

Just catching up but Really cool tracks btw.

new alb by indie r&b artist bickle is really good. i feel like it would be *great* if he figured out how to use his voice a bit better. his falsetto is nice, his chest voice is just a bit off-kilter. either way, great songs

"the roof by the watertower"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm9MiCmkKWY

"don't understand love until there's heartbreak"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm9MiCmkKWY

was thinking of posting this in the rap thread, but the new 2hollis is not really a rap album. whatever kind of album it is, "flash" is a banger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLC2h0bUHfY

favourite thing i've heard in ages...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihqslnzXRBc

Neggy Gemmy - Mysterious Girl

Oh yeah Negative Gemini is great.

spacey electronic art-pop balearic blissed out brilliance from uh

uh are a brother-sister duo Dominic & Fionnuala Kennedy

uh - jungle parkway
https://soundcloud.com/uh-sc/jungle-parkway

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4khganSsc2chDa7tefqqd5?si=11893eb5ce00415a

on a similar tip, psychedelic swirly glitchy digital art-pop:

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Unknown Potion
https://blackmothsuperrainbow.bandcamp.com/track/unknown-potion

Boards of Canada vibes

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4lxC1kU11lovysTOvHnI8w?si=1a84240bc7084768

taken from the forthcoming album:

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Soft New Magic Dream
https://blackmothsuperrainbow.bandcamp.com/album/soft-new-magic-dream

Release Date: June 6th

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8WmCFg65C0

Her whole 11 minute album is worth a listen tbh

BB Trickz

https://open.spotify.com/album/67YvgeZeleDvyK1sdaxi6G?si=n-_OVKXjR_OEKyF_I9FQ8Q

Really liking this Mei Semones album, this is my favorite of the singles but lots of good songs on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apfpm0G5icc

Adding

Georgie & Joe - pacemaker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gi1PNsJNvc

A bit different from their usual style. Fractured 90’s pop/rnb throwback

Pachyman - Color Ahora

https://soundcloud.com/pachyman/calor-ahora

a nice summer track, dubby bass lines, floaty synths

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/5jw999yVb9PAN5XW62STVI?si=938d2d44ce734ba5

Speedial - An Altar
https://soundcloud.com/speedial-music/an-altar

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/6Dqyln4eg1uH3f5AMbiP0X?si=c5d4a23499d74b27

more dubby vibes on this track, glorious floaty sax playing, love the drums.

An Altar debut single from London based band, Speedial

found via:

https://shemakesmusic.co.uk/new-music/speedial-announce-debut-ep-and-share-spiralling-new-single-an-altar/

Merging melodic post-rock, shoegaze, math rock, jazz fusion, and noise-rock, dual vocalists Serena Garrod and Millie Kirby layer fragile yet powerful harmonies over tightly constructed instrumental passages, joined by saxophonist Monarch Vavrechka and drummer Joe William Killick, whose dynamic technicality adds further depth.

I have replayed this track multiple times over the last few days:

Part of the Theory - Famished Mammon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QArPR__RukM

debut single from Greek melodic metal / progressive rock band Part of the Theory , middle eastern vibes, great production and a vocalist that has an engaging and varied singing style.

I like the Lael Neale album, and this one is dreamy and kind of existential spooky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyefcOnUEmE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIKivgYi3Jo

Labyrinth by Serena Jasmine

I heard this on Radio 1. It's kind of sleek jazz-pop

Lauren Duffus - N.U.M.T.E.

one the best electronic tracks I have heard on Rinse FM this year, so refreshing and energetic - this track grooves and flows

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4Hhb9XXxto

Listening to Serena Jasmine and she has some cool music!

Adding “another stone” by Men I Trust

Verraco - Basic Maneuvers

Propulsive Colombian Marching Electronic Sonic Power, a big chopping hands electronic track on XL Recordings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPkHcdLgS6Q

chopping hands dance demonstrated:
https://www.tiktok.com/@lucypearce97/video/6965857081505172742

Kayo Dot - Oracle By Severed Head

10 minutes of spatial sonic textured art-rock brilliance. RIYL: Scott Walker, Bark Psychosis, Insides, Durutti Column, Triosk

video audio starts slow, picks up at 25 seconds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfxButjf8Xs

been on the lurk in here, so thanks everyone for posting! i wanted to share the latest from ms ray:
https://systemolympia.bandcamp.com/track/coexistence-feat-ms-ray

it's a bilingual collab with system olympia. beat reminds me of kool keith black elvis (in a good way). not on youtube for now, but it's on bandcamp and other streaming platforms.

thanks for this, i liked that (and the whole ep) a lot

mentioned in the rap thread but i want to mention here too because it is so good

myaap - "fairy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhCC1yW4nlU

ESKA - Human

Strong Prince vibes on this groovy track

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FD-4AfbRUQ

Album released this Friday: May 23rd

https://eskaonline.bandcamp.com/album/the-ordinary-life-of-a-magic-woman
The Ordinary Life of a Magic Woman
by ESKA

ESKA’s latest album, The Ordinary Life of a Magic Woman, is a profound exploration of motherhood, artistry, and the balance between daily life and creative transcendence. Rooted in her eclectic musical upbringing, the self-directed project showcases her "voice painting" approach and defies conventional boundaries, resulting in a bold and unmistakably personal body of work.

Listening Party
May 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM GMT+1

Ceresian Valot - Pohjavirtauksia

Ceresian Valot, post-metal band from Finland who sing in Finnish, love the atmospheric dynamic twisting guitar riffs on this track.

riyl: Deftones, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Isis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vIdYrFQ528

debut album released this Friday: May 23rd on Prophecy Productions

Ceresian Valot - uumen
https://ceresianvalot.bandcamp.com/album/uumen

When four former members of much loved but sadly disbanded Finnish metal act GHOST BRIGADE got together for a conversation in their hometown Jyväskylä in late 2020, things escalated quickly into an unexpected direction that ultimately led to the birth of CERESIAN VALOT. With multiple songwriters in their new band as well as two vocalists singing in Finnish, guitarist and main songwriter Wille Naukkarinen was confident that the musical style of the new band would change all by itself. Time proved him right, with the sound of the debut album "Uumen" ("Depths") turning out as stylistically very dynamic and multidimensional with a broad range of sound and vision that include alternative, rock, progressive, and various genres of metal among others. Written in Finnish language, the lyrics on this album circle around the theme of insecurity. While the album often sounds bleak and melancholic, its lyrics do not only dwell in doom and gloom, but they also offer some hope and a light at the end of the tunnel – although it might appear to be rather dim. As CERESIAN VALOT include songwriters, graphic designers, producers, mixing & recording engineers, and even a mastering engineer in their ranks, it is hardly a surprise that the band employs a strong DIY-ethos. With "Uumen", CERESIAN VALOT embark on an exciting new musical journey that weds something old, something new, something borrowed, something dark, and a golden talent for captivating melodies in their hands: Surrender to the unknown and enjoy its beauty!

Can I be a grumpy prick and say I prefer this thread without the press release guff?

same tbh

and in that spirit, i haven't got the slightest idea who Elaine Howley is, but this song is everything to me right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_ab79O7DA4
Elaine Howley - Hold Me In A New Way

And grumpily adding maybe slow down on the submissions. Think over half the tracks on the playlist are from one poster

Anyway, two (niche) ILX faves team up in tribute to another (goat) ILX fave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91oqylfrl3k

if we're making etiquette request, may i ask that we post the text of the artist and title if we're linking youtube videos? it makes it a lot easier to search the thread later.

and yes, that new joeseph shabason absolutely fucking smashes. i am ecstatic to see someone else show it some love because it absolutely fucking smashes, did i mention that? i am a fan. i posted it on his proper thread too: Joseph Shabason

Not sure of the protocol for posting in this thread (or if it's ok to repeat an artist), but I'm strongly digging this "slow jam":

Smerz - You got time and I got money

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzEzE3cpuvg

Oh that Joseph Shabason / Dawn Richard cover is a rework of Broken Hearted Kota and it sounds fantastic!

Adding

Sofia Kourtesis & Daphni - Unidos

Played last year in some of their sets but released officially this year. Massive sounding disco-house.

Yeule — Dudu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUdvVt7Ldso

Rory Sweeney - Entrance Places (ft. Saoirse Miller, Róis & Ristéard ÓhAodha)

mesmerising dreamy ambient art pop from Dublin based artist Rory Sweeney. Saoirse Miller's vocals mesh with the ambience

Riyl: Julee Cruise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLDVRz9SuLA

Rory Sweeney - Production, Arrangement, Keys, Solo, Mix
Saoirse Miller - Vocals, Lyrics, Vocal Mixing
Róis - Keys
Risteárd Ó hAodha - Piano Outro

Bandcamp: https://rory2.bandcamp.com/album/entrance-places-ft-saoirse-miller-r-is-riste-rd-haodha

djmartian posted a song from xl-signed colombian producer verraco earlier this year. his new ep is out and is home to this incredible collaboration with mc yallah of nyege nyege tapes. one of my favorite songs of the year so far
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJx0E-EADgE

really digging the 2025 album by tunisian footwork producer khadija al hanafi. "always treat u rite" is my personal highlight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzmJaPyyEw8

New single from james K (album drops in September!!) melds dream pop, trip hop and drum n bass with her usual heavenly vocals

james K - Play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2chmQiR8R10

Updated!

Did anyone ever make an Apple Music version?

SONIKKU - Talk 2 Me
https://soundcloud.com/utopiaworldwide/sonikku-talk-2-me?ref=clipboard&p=a&c=0&si=34eeae959df44f1abcba340d67726e81&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

ravey club hyperpop, massive track with strong rhythms and floaty vocals

riyl: SOPHIE, Charli XCX

Gay Colombian Kentucky hillbilly rapper Cain Culto is having kind of a breakout. This song's catchy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcvpkrnmYrw

Oh sorry, I didn't write the title out — It's "KFC Santeria"

new single from WTCHCRFT, "Collapse."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnLaLOc_z-c