ISOLATED YOUTH (Fabrika Records – SE)

Critically acclaimed Swedish postpunk band Isolated Youth now release their new EP “Iris”, the follow-up to the debut EP “Warfare” on Fabrika Records. International critics have emphasized Isolated Youth’s avant-gardist, dream-like and strongly emotive sound. Isolated Youth’s guitar-driven music is above all characterized by ringing guitars, meandering bass lines, rhythmic, driving drums and beautiful, melodic vocals. The singing especially has gained wide admiration for its expressiveness, its fragility and its surprisingly wide register giving it an androgynous quality. Post-punk.com placed “Warfare” on their list of top ten releases in 2019 and the track “Warfare” qualified as one of the best songs of the decade. In turn, Threshold magazine called the EP “Warfare” “One of the most beautiful works of art that contemporary post-punk can be proud of having received in the last few decades”. And now the follow-up is released.

”Iris” was recorded in Athens in the fall of 2019. Again, Doruk Ozturcan (She Past Away) is the producer. ”Iris” will be introduced in Europe during the coming spring and summer with concerts in European cities like Paris, London, Manchester and also a slot at Roskilde Festival in Denmark.

LOVELY HERION (Black Verb Records – GER)

Lovely Heroin’s new self produced LP delivers a dreamy soundtrack to ease up all your unsettled feelings and whispered with a soft voice: helps you escape for a little while.

My Mind is your Mind is an Album soaked up in surreal textures, washed out,l ofiesque and cinematic at times.

An reverberated escapism which sees the Pop-Art-Goth Duo combining electronic elements ,ambient noises, free floating vocals and seductive catchy hooks.

While a few of the songs on the album, such as „24hstudyrelax#1„, offer an more open abstract rather sound based approach and show their experimental side ,others for example „That Day I Opened My Eyes Underwater“ rather follow a Pop Scheme as well as touching Indie Dream Pop Aesthetics and therefore create an interesting musical depth that recalls on early Carla dal Forno and Anika.

Still it is not quite adequate to only focus on the musical aspects of this Album, since the 2 artists, who also work in the field of Media Art as well as conducting an art gallery, seem to find a way to let all of these influences grow a sensible placeinto their visual and lyrical presentation.

Their lyrics reflect upon gothic identity, Internet and their Love for each other.

Following their first two releases, My Mind is your Mind is a superb atmospheric addition to their so far released Lp’s.

A Dark, Dreamy, Detached Venture.

And Certainly A Candle Album.