Please consider this my foray into what many other music blogs already do; sharing a handful of worthy music snippets sans video accompaniment. Full audio of these tracks (and more) is available in my Spotify playlist “B1URR3D R3A1ITY” linked to in any right margin here, or fully listenable directly in the below links if you are logged into your Spotify account via your current browser.
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Ex:Re (/ˈex-rayː/) is the critically acclaimed solo project of ūber-talented Elena Tonra, singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the band Daughter, itself an amazing band. Elena chose the name Ex:Re as a double entendre meaning ‘regarding ex’, as in her initial eponymous release being a breakup record, and ‘X-Ray’ as a way to look inside and see what is really there. A remake of a 4AD Blonde Redhead song, it is a stand-out reinterpretation of exquisite beauty.
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Mareux is the stage name of silky-smooth darkwave artist Aryan Ashtiani who doubles as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in his native Los Angeles. Notably, a Gopnik is defined as a Russian street thug stereotypically wearing a tracksuit, eating sunflower seeds, and pressuring people into giving up their money and/or cell phone, as per the question/answer site Quora.
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Phaeleh, aka Bristol artist Matt Preston, has developed an inimitable style of cinematic electronic music which floats between the shifting tempos and timbres of dubstep, garage, electronica, and house music. This particular track was released as an aside on his From The Vaults, Vol. 2 album, which should say something of his oeuvre. The vocals stem from the lovely, sultry-voiced flower, Jess Mills.
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R. Missing is the new moniker of New York-based vocalist Sharon Shy and musician Toppy’s enigmatic music project, formerly known as The Ropes. Expanding on (and eclipsing) their previous palette of Morrissey-tinged lyrics and darkwave, their debut mini-album manages to be even more isolated lyrically than their famously nihilistic previous works, now fully embracing complete detachment. As a concept, Unsummering makes me want to joyously buy my ungrateful inner child a sun-seared ice cream cone minus napkin.
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The Foreign Resort has been featured here before (Flushed), but unfortunately hasn’t released their hyper-vigorous “Onto Us” as a sibling single yet. This powerful track is perhaps best imagined as a coal-black, red-hot locomotive of burning iron ferocity, feverishly rage-sputtering from start to exhaustive finish. Hold on tight.
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Interesting selections, Rann. I especially liked Gopnik by Mareux. I don’t do Spotify anymore, but will look him up on YouTube. 🖤
Thank you, jai. I have a love/hate relationship with Spotify, to be sure… 💀🖤
I now use Amazon Prime for audio. Using earbuds, I listen to music on my phone while walking and doing stuff around the house. In my vehicle, I have satellite radio. I like visuals, so use YouTube a lot in the evening while relaxing. 🖤
Spotify and YouTube are my addictions… 😳
I spend way too much time on YouTube. 🙄
There’s so much great music being released by so many artists that it’s truly mind-boggling! I really like them all, but I think my favorites are the ones by Ex.Re and R. Missing (both fascinating names for a music act), and especially “Onto Us” by The Foreign Resort.
And as I’ve noted before, you’re such a creative and descriptive writer Rann, dazzling us with statements like this: “Unsummering makes me want to joyously buy my ungrateful inner child a sun-seared ice cream cone minus napkin”.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Jeff, it means a lot coming from you. You and your blog are an inspiration to me, as I hope you know by now… The Foreign Resort is quickly becoming one of my favorite groups; ridiculous power and talent in their music. That song is from their EP The American Dream, which is pretty much entirely outstanding in my opinion. https://theforeignresort.bandcamp.com/album/the-american-dream 💀🖤