Tracklist:

1. Easy Rider Campfire Scene
2. Feist & Ben Gibbard – Train Song
3. Kina Grannis – Colorblind (Counting Crows Cover)
4. Flora Cash – Zombie (The Cranberries Cover)
5. Tom Speight & Lydia Clowes – Save Tonight (Eagle Eye Cherry Cover)
6. Hayden – I Need My Girl (The National Cover)
7. Raye Zaregosa – In The River
8. JT & Andrew – White People For Peace (Against me cover)
9. RelativelyComplete – The Violence (Rise Against Cover)
10. Mumford & Sons – The Boxer (Simon & Garfunkel Cover)
11. Asaf Avidan – Maybe You Are
12. Billy Clyro – Umbrella (Rhianna Cover)
13. Travis – Baby, One More Time (Britney Spears Cover)
14. Editors – An End Has A Start (MTV Acoustic)
15. Erica Sewell – Furr (Blitzen Trapper Cover)
16. Glen Hodgson – An Honest Mistake (The Bravery Cover)
17. Christina Vale – New Slang (The Shins Cover)
18. José Gonzales – Heartbeats
19. Post Malone – Feeling Whitney
20. Portugal. The Man – Created
21. Flora Cash – I’m Tired
22. Aaliya – Runaway
23. Oasis – Talk Tonight (Acoustic)
24. Slow Club – Never Look Back

Shortly after writing about my friend Jan’s DJ mix series “Alternative Elevator Music”, he contacted me, and asked for a guest mix for his variFocast series, and I didn’t have to think long about it. Neither about whether I would do it (of course!) nor about what I would include (see common ground). Today is the day: Jan posted the mix early this morning, and that’s exactly where it belongs: in the early morning hours of autumn. Enjoy it!

Every time you change employers—and trust me, I did that a lot—you end up taking some people with you as friends. I even met my wife at that job , and I am truly grateful for that. Then there’s Jan, who worked as a graphic designer and art director. When I get to know people, I like to talk about music. I want to know what kind of music other people are listening to. Sometimes I discover artists and styles I’ve never heard of before. And sometimes, we share the same taste, which gives us even more to talk about. I spent hours talking about music with Jan, and still today, I really enjoy those conversations with him.

Jan Madera has one of the finest tastes in electronic music, and I’m always happy when he releases a new mix. It can be House, Techno, Drum & Bass, Ambient, or Electronica. His mix series, “Alternative Elevator Music,” has grown to an impressive 20 mixes over the last few years, and I’ve been a fan since the first one. To me, it’s the perfect music to listen to while I need to work with concentration and focus. I’m always surprised by how quickly an hour can fly by.

Jan has such a good sense for the mood of a track and the transitions it needs to create a tense and dynamic mix. Like Bob Ross, he seems to create happy little accidents that result in timeless masterpieces. I like most of the mixes Jan makes, but this series undoubtedly captivates me the most. And besides his understanding and knowledge of music, Jan is truly a good guy.

I have a long playlist on SoundCloud where I save mixes I want to hear. This mix was in that list and instantly got me. I love dub techno when it’s deep and groovy, especially when it’s more dub than techno. Jacques Fou (great name, btw) has found the perfect balance between dub and techno, creating a terrific dynamic between these two poles. I just love every minute of this 105-minute artwork. It’s the perfect summer soundtrack. Although it’s already seven years old, this is a collection of timeless music for me.

Here it is, the ninth studio album of the Berlin-based alternative band. The band is celebrating this release with two sold-out shows in the Wuhlheide in Berlin, on June 28 and 29. And while I am writing this, I am listening to the live broadcast of the first show, where I actually planned to be. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a babysitter for tonight, so I have to take care of the kiddo. My wife took a friend with her to the concert. However, I had the chance to listen to the album today. The band (of course) promoted it as “back to the roots.” But is it?

In 2002, when I was in Berlin for half a year for an internship, I had a pre-iPod MP3 player with an integrated radio. When I was tired of my 64 MB playlist, I loved to listen to the Berlin radio station Fritz. At this time, they played the Beatsteaks song “Summer” pretty often. I was deep into electronic music at this time, but the vibe of the song totally got me. And just while writing this paragraph, the band is performing this song live in Berlin… That gives me goosebumps, and it‘s hard to concentrate on writing.

However, “Summer” was my first contact with the band, and somehow the tune triggered the sleeping punk in me. Ever since, I followed their music and started to listen to their older stuff, too. So when I think of their roots, I think of “Summer,” I think of “Let Me In,” I think of punk, ska, hardcore, and alternative.

No matter how the band evolved, their music always was and is always about fun. That‘s what makes them such an incredible live band. Even their weak songs really grow big when played live. And not to forget, singer Arnim Teutoburg-Weiß is a great entertainer. I don‘t know how many times I‘ve seen them live, maybe 5 or 6 times, but in every show, they seem to put in some new elements, whether it‘s new songs, old songs, covers, breakdancers, or guest stars. In this way, every concert feels fresh.

Also, the band is important to me and my wife. We were both fans of them, but while she saw them live several times before we met, I watched my first, and every further Beatsteaks concert until today, with her. I am glad there‘s a live stream, and I can be there audibly at least.

Nevertheless, with every album, the band seemed to drift farther away from where they came from, and my fandom got some scratches. The peak of my Beatsteaks alienation was the co-production with the German hip-hop/dance band Deichkind. There are many Beatsteaks songs I love and plenty of Deichkind songs I love, too. And as good as both fit together, the joint result is neither Beatsteaks nor Deichkind. And even worse: it‘s not good.

On a first skip-through of the new album, I was even disappointed with the anticipated long-player. But after a first complete run, my disappointment decreased. The sound feels familiar and strange at the same time. The first single, “Detractors,” is just nice, but not an instant hit like “Summer.” It takes a few more runs to really get into the new songs. And I really wonder which of these will be a future classic. Maybe “Dead Man”?

“Against All Logic” was the first song on the album that really got my attention. And when I remember the discography of the band, yes, the album is kind of back to the roots. Not to my roots, but each of the songs sounds like they could also fit on one of the 8 albums before. At the same time, the album is a step forward, or rather sideways (and a little bit forward), compared to its predecessor “Yours.” The last seven years were not easy for the band, but they are still together, and the new album says, “we‘re still here, and we were never gone.” And referring to the album title “Please,” I say: “Thank you.” Thank you for still being around. Thank you for still making new music for 28 years now.

One of the best tour guides through my musical jungle is the Austrian blogger Nicorola who is today celebrating the 20th anniversary of his blog. I discovered his site back in 2005 when I had just started my own netlabel, One Bit Wonder Net.Music, with a friend. Nico wrote a short review (thanks!) about my first release on the label. At that time, he also had some of his self-made music on the website. I gave it a try and liked most of the tracks. After sharing the music with my friend, we asked Nico to release his music on our netlabel. We were thrilled when he said yes. A few weeks later, we released his “Bitstick EP” and some time after that, the “Capital Bits EP”. I still love hearing these records. Unfortunately, we have never met in person.

Besides making music, Nico always seemed more passionate about writing about music. He consistently put great effort into his always good-looking blog and never seemed to care about clicks and likes. He just did what he loved and still does. Although I often forget that there’s more to the internet than social media, I check his blog occasionally and appreciate his Monday playlists on SoundCloud.

I have to thank Nico for introducing me to Nicorola, The National, Modest Mouse, Maxïmo Park, Bloc Party, Arctic Monkeys, The Kills, Beirut, The XX, Arcade Fire, The Heavy, Jamie T., and so many more. Nico has had a massive impact on the music I hear, the music I like, and the music I make. I can’t believe it has already been 20 years. Let’s celebrate this day with music, and Nico himself arranged the soundtrack for this anniversary. I will convert that playlist to Apple Music later and provide the link here. Meanwhile, there’s only the Spotify playlist.

Dear Nico, thank you for the music! And congratulations on 20 years of your blog. I’ll be happy if this blog sees its 2nd anniversary. Please keep writing about music and compiling the Monday playlists. I wish you all the best!

I had never heard of the band until yesterday. It was a sunny Sunday, and I was sitting in the Beach Club of Lake Storkow in Brandenburg. My little daughter was next to me, eating an ice cream sandwich, and I had a cup of coffee in my hands while watching the sea. The place was not crowded, only seven people plus two workers, while outside there was a long waiting line at the local polling station next door.

I enjoyed this little peaceful moment, and in the background, a small Marshall speaker somewhere played some acoustic and folk music. While I recognized some of the tunes (Mumford & Sons), I also heard some songs I didn’t know. One track really got me to grab my phone to Shazam it. It returned “Hollow Coves with The Woods from their Wanderlust-EP”. I can’t think of any better music to score that beach scene moment. I just love when music frames a memory or the other way around.

So I looked up the band on Apple Music and found out that they had just released their second album “Nothing to Lose” in March 2024. I’ve listened to it, and after the last track, “See You Soon”, I hit play again. I repeated that for maybe five or six times now, and I feel something like I haven’t for a long time. I think it was back in 2010 or 2011, when I discovered Angus & Julia Stone with their second album “Down the Way” that touched me deeply. And now it’s again an Australian band with their second album that blows me away.

Interesting fact: without the Angus & Julia Stone, Hollow Coves probably wouldn’t exist.

“Ryan Henderson grew up without a musical background. When he was in high school, his friends took him to the Woodford Folk Festival to see the Folk and Indie pop group “Angus & Julia Stone.” This music inspired him to learn the guitar and eventually to his career.

Matt Carins grew up in Brisbane surrounded by music. His father is in a local cover band and has written albums. His mother plays and teaches piano and flute. He also has a sister who plays the piano and a brother who is in an alternative rock band.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_Coves

I am surprised, happy, and grateful to hear music like this in 2024. It brings back memories of Mumford & Sons, Kings of Convenience, Mighty Oaks, etc. As a musician myself, I understand that musicians outgrow where they came from. But as a listener, I am happy to still discover new “timeless” music like this. It’s (heart-)warming, uplifting, simple, not overloaded, positive with just the right amount of everything you need for a good album. This album is just like that perfect little moment at Lake Storkow, but in full album length. Maybe that moment leads me to value the album better than it actually is, but I don’t care.

The results of the European elections are devastating. They leave me speechless, helpless, clueless, hopeless, uncomprehending, tired, angry, and sad. It’s a slap in the face of every democratic European. A kick in the nuts for humanity. But this album gives me hope that not all the world is fucked. To me, this is the feel-good album of the year (so far). There’s so much beauty in this world, let’s fight for it. There’s nothing to lose. Don’t leave the world to assholes.

If I had to find one word to describe what his music means to me, I would say: inspiring. In Stefan’s music, you can hear so many influences and a love for detail. Every one of his tracks is original in its own way, and not a copy of a copy. This is indeed inspiring me when I make music myself.

I follow him on Instagram, where he always shares impressions of how he works, and I am always curious to see where he’s going next. He has a sense for melody and melancholy that resonates deeply with me.

The way he makes music is also audible in the way he mixes — it’s a melting pot of influences. A few years ago, he started a DJ mix series, naming the mixes after districts of Leipzig. I asked him about the logic behind the names and his relation to the districts. He said: “No logic here, I just like the sound of the names.”

There are 6 mixes out of 7 available on his SoundCloud profile, starting with number 2. I don’t know what happened to number 1. However, each mix is a compilation of timeless music. I can always listen to music like that.

Tracklist:

1 . Phoenecia . Grrl Trrbl . Brownout
2 . Roel Funcken . Spur . Funck’d
3 . Aphex Twin . IZ-US . Come to Daddy
4 . Roel Funcken . Finnex . Funck’d
5 . rRine . Eluvium . Eaciv+
6 . Bersarin Quartett . Exo (Roel Funcken rmx) . Unreleased
7 . Heogen . Epos Alcove . Inantiphsea
8 . Arovane . Thaem Nue . Atol Scrap
9 . Skee Mask . LFO . Pool
10 . Steffi . The Red Hunter (Barker Remix) . The Red Hunter
11 . Roel Funcken . Krow . Funck’d
12 . Funckarma . Sphere . Elaztiq Bourbon 5
13 . Roel Funcken . Gob . Funck’d
14 . Exm . No Hold . comp
15 . Roexm . Lithe . Funck’d
16 . Lusine . Arterial . Arterial
17 . Roexm . Bown . Unreleased
18 . Aphex Twin . Alberto Balsalm . …I Care Because You Do
19 . Roexm . Icarus . Unreleased
20 . Autechre . Nil . Amber
21 . Blochemy . Nobe . Rame

Fun is a matter of perspective. When it comes to music, fun can be dancing wildly in a club, but it can also be enjoyable to listen to loud music in the car or calm music at home while watching a rainy day through the windows. And yes, it can be exhilarating to gather in a giant stadium to see a world-famous rock band playing their hymns live. I think this is the kind of fun the Followill family, a.k.a. The Kings of Leon, are evoking on their latest album.

It was the third KOL album when I first encountered the band. “Because of the Times” was an album I listened to several times at work or in the car, and “On Call” or “Charmer” are songs I still enjoy today. The 2007 album foreshadowed that this band would soon be great and known to a far wider audience. That happened sooner than I expected when they released their album “Only by the Night” in 2008, featuring the smash hits “Sex on Fire” as well as “Use Somebody”. This album was a worldwide success and an excellent album.

The next album, “Come Around Sundown,” contained another hit, “Radioactive,” but neither the song nor the album grabbed me. It felt like more of the same. Thereafter, they released three more albums, and I can’t even remember if I heard even one track from those.

After one listen of “Can We Please Have Fun,” I can say I didn’t hear an instant hit, but the outstanding voice of Caleb Followill makes every song a KOL signature. I think some of the songs are going to work great in a stadium, while others work fairly well for just listening while doing something else. “Mustang,” “Nothing to Do,” and “M Television” could also work at an indie party, but are not smash hits.

The album tries (really hard) to connect to the roots of the band and also to explore some new avenues. This project succeeds more poorly than well. Thus, the album is more about fun than a serious attempt. It is not a highlight, but still better than a lot of the content released these days. Depending on your mood or expectations, the album can be enjoyable. It’s all a matter of perspective.