Hey folks!
Summer is gradually trying to fade away but the good news is our headphones are being as hot as ever.
Welcome to September's edition of the IOH blog 🙌🏼
This time around, I'd like to start off with a few OG hip-hop masterpieces.
They bring such awesome memories of when I was little and spending my time playing GTA San Andreas unbothered by anything else 😄
These songs age like fine wine and I'm always happy to go back and listen to them!
spotify:track:1DIXPcTDzTj8ZMHt3PDt8p
https://open.spotify.com/track/3ia3dJETSOllPsv3LJkE35?si=22e71f14265d4938
https://open.spotify.com/track/2jvDAtH5yzP3TLj5Ujy5qU?si=1354dd18ea474e90
Moving forward, let's check out @Kiril's submissions!
We start off with an old fave UK band from Liverpool with a new release - this time tribute to the Jungle music, beautifully mixed beats with no vocals!
https://open.spotify.com/track/6ZnppRvzhPTBgJMBVvjRFx?si=5c1951a6297a464b
And this is Patrice another old fave artist from Germany, who never stops to amaze me with the different sound and vibes he can produce! Enjoy his latest release that feels like garage, afrobeats and pop all in one!
https://open.spotify.com/track/3kHCkW935ZMziUba4oeaRh?si=cc2523bb171b4485
And an old fave rock band - now with a new release! Danko Jones never disappoints! 🙌🏼
https://open.spotify.com/track/5tVcVrv04rJlQxrbZ5sDzK?si=4ac25eb4527d4644
Thank you Kiro! Amazing tunes.
Time to hear it from @Nikola!
This month has been all about friends. Meeting them. Saying “Hi, how are you my friend?” “Are you still chasing the wind on some shore?”
And friends make you realize that worries are the least valuable currency of the realm. Ergo - “No worries!”. It’s our problem-free philosophy!
spotify:track:2ooEcchimUkkY52WVl1ON4
spotify:track:3IRnJrkUUnGYXCcje0PFnN
A very nice Bulgarian song right there, thanks Nik! Good friends are a treasure.
And speaking of treasures, let's move forward with some local pop-folk tunes by @Alex!
I promise you, it's stuff you haven't heard ever before 😄
https://open.spotify.com/track/11ELEGzmuK6ENekjKFai3e?si=099a45af619e431c
This is a song that always brings me back to those crazy teenage house parties. We were listening to the angelic Balkan voice of Azis and dancing all night
Also adding this one as well:
spotify:track:3vh1Aptqt8lvpudQhnCc5v
It's a song about Bulgarian immigrants who are suffering from the hardships of working abroad and longing for their homeland.
Thank you, Alex! Those two are definitely something else.
Now hopping from the Balkans and landing all the way in the lands of Colombia - check out this song submission by @Lyubka!
spotify:track:3kmWIej9tXjSWWYc9tPjJk
This is one of my favorite Artists. I love Latin songs and especially the ones written and performed by Maluma. He's one of the best and I enjoy listening to his tracks.
+ This one:
spotify:track:2Ka17lh9JIVVTZetW8Cbnv
I was listening to this track a lot this month. It all started with the fact that my husband and I had engagement anniversary this month. He played this song a lot in our car and I liked it very much.
Oi that's so sweet! Happy engagement anniversary, Lyubka!
And thank you for the songs 😄
Finishing up with a section without which no IOH article is ever complete:
The submissions from @Joan & @Yordan!
Yoan:
This month I've been travelling quite a bit and during long journeys, I like to pass the time by going through the discographies of artists I am yet to explore properly. So I've been in discovery mode.
First thing I listened to was the brand new Mechina album and as always, these guys never disappoint. I can always use more epic space cyber metal in my life.
spotify:track:6lpl8Z3k9TMg5zUVxdPVpX:small
Next, I explored the Swedish prog gods Opeth.
I've had my eye on this band for years and I knew 4-5 songs or so, but I finally explored their rich discography in full and this only confirmed what I expected - that they're right up my alley and are fast becoming one of my favourite bands.
Lengthy ambitious compositions, amazing musicianship, an awesome blend of heaviness and melody (on the old albums at least) and great lyricism and visuals. Some of the best music ever has come from these guys:
spotify:track:0e8n9fFFFSa9zMzLnzQpPv:small
spotify:track:0ppdt8zRZOHIKh4ZDB0Zp9:small
spotify:track:4uJSCrI7r0usNJ3aaHAuC6:small
The final band I managed to explore are the Russian folk/black metal warriors Arkona. They will be visiting very soon, so I wanted to do my homework in advance.
I knew from friends that they were good and the few songs I had heard I enjoyed, but I was not prepared for just HOW good they really were! I was truly blown away by what I heard and they are also quickly making their way into all my folk playlists:
spotify:track:5CqPgGaAaFErjGUiogcOOx:small
spotify:track:0xesDXij43DVcImEDeYOra:small
spotify:track:4Ft0LIyAm9z77t7EAo767X:small
Yordan:
spotify:track:2e45o2TfDsB7uD39oCbqLW
This Belgian collective has composed a truly hypnotic piece which captivates the listener through its droning repetitiveness.
The whole track is centered around this one riff comprised of atonal notes wailing over the drums' barbaric pummeling in an odd time signature. The somewhat one dimensional approach to the songwriting actually works in the band's favor here, as the track puts you into a trance, and the eerie throat singing, accompanied by the vocalist's savage shrieks give it an even more occult tribal feeling!
And continuing in a similar tone, the enigma that is Terra Tenebrosa takes a more ritualistic and atmospheric approach to this in its works - the end result is ever so bizarre and unsettling.
spotify:track:6Xl04HzZ5RmgMfZ7yAJ9yD
The bleak musical landscapes they craft are shrouded in an aura of dread and discomfort, yet there's something riveting about it that seems to have a hold of your consciousness and perpetuates your interest. Alluring stuff.
Thank you both and thank you everyone for all those great submissions!
They would make one very interesting playlist 😄
Cheers & till next time! 😁
https://open.spotify.com/track/2w7eLhPSwlf70q9dQ1LGpR?si=680dba9b10d24e99
Full IOH playlist available here:
spotify:playlist:6lv6DjjryalvuDqg0oirRb
