Weekly Recap #001: The new releases that stood out in the trailing week

I’ve been in Austria sightseeing in Vienna, visiting the winter markets and experienced the famous Vienna zoo for the first time – truly exceptional place and if I was a zoo-expert, I would safely assume it’s one of the finest zoo’s on the continent. Music wise, we had a very nice gig on last Sunday in London with Matty Whelan headlining our Community Sessions show with Madeline Thorp in support – and on the new music submissions side, we signed into SubmitHub for the first time in 5 years and already found some gems sent in. Being back reviewing feels like the right time and thing to do. Really excited to get going again.

Here are the first four tracks that have stood out since returning to the submission fold again. Some brilliant ones already!

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Lets go.

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First Day of Spring – PARTYZEIT!

Ahh how good is this eh? With a vibe akin to the late London 14-piece FAKE TURINS, First Day of Spring are looking like a force to be reckoned with in that alt-rock, post-punk, funky stuff genre. Championed, of course, by London’s finest grassroots tastemaker Sam Bowcher on the live front, it’s clear the band have something about them and we are glad to discover them. PARTYZEIT! is a belter – great art.

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HAMEX – Midnight in Dubai

Something a little bit more pop oriented now from HAMEX, which came into our submissions inbox this week and although the song itself doesn’t quite feel fully experimental and quirky and weird like we are used to rallying behind, it’s done so fucking well that it gets the nod in our feature. I’ve never been to Dubai personally but if I ever do, this song will accompany some part of that experience. Very vibrant indeed. Love this actually.

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Vilde – Barren Still

Australian songmaker and producer VILDE has been one of our favourites for many years and even appeared in my own personal Spotify Wrapped this year, as number 3 most-listened to act of 2025. Such a unique and distinct sound, the crisp production style, the high-pitched and so so clean vocal work. Since starting the blog in 2018, VILDE is one of the discoveries that just stuck immediately and I’ve continued to listen for years after. Barren Still is the new song and it’s equally as VILDE as all the other VILDE songs. Equally as infectious.

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Nervous City Nervous Self – Act V (No Violence)

We close off today’s edition with some bass-house! This sounds extremely modern doesn’t it. A mix of bouncy bass, warped vocal melodies combining for a truly perfect track to gaze out your train window to. I’ve been listening to a whole lot of gloomy folk music this year so switching over to a bit of bass house every-so often is no bad thing. Enjoyed this track a lot – it’s simple and hellishly effective work.

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