CITY LIGHT THIEF
TRACK
Fevers Key
DIGITAL RELEASED
03|05|2026
FROM UPCOMING EP
Greetings From Fevers Key
STREAM
Spotify
BAND DISCOVERED
City Light Thief are back after a few quiet years — and, as always, with plenty of care and thoughtfully crafted music. Around fifteen or sixteen years ago, back when I thought I could write proper music reviews, their debut album, Laviin, landed on my desk. Since then it’s simply been love, and I’m always happy when the band gets back together and releases something born out of their passion for music. Fevers Key turned out great. Their new EP Greetings From Fevers Key will be released on March 20. Vinyl will be shipped in early May.
KILLER SONG MOMENTS
The intro reminds me of a Christopher Nolan / Stranger Things mix. A pure moment of bliss.
When the song cuts at 2:36, the bridge is shouted out, and then at 2:56 it shifts into a harmonically powerful ending.
FAVORITE LYRIC LINE
Soundless, I travel / no head turns to mark my passing
…
Velocity, Velocity this isn’t me / No one ever is.
BESIDES THAT
City Light Thief will play at Gebäude 9 in Cologne on March 21.
STIRR
BAND DISCOVERED
After spending some time digging through new musical inspirations, letting music play in the background while doing other things, the algorithm of a streaming service eventually brought the band Stirr into my feed. Their song Broken Armsimmediately caught my attention. Hailing from Sydney, Stirr craft a captivating brand of post-punk that floats along at first, slowly building tension while remaining surprisingly rich in detail despite its monotony. Broken Arm steadily moves toward a blistering climax, creating something immersive and quietly disarming. A first EP is expected to be released later this year. For now, five singles are already available online and ready to stream.
KILLER SONG MOMENTS
That moment when you realize there’s a saxophone playing guitar parts.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
immersive | minimalist | melancholic | post-punk driven
PRETTY UGLYS
RECORD: Vicenarian
RELEASED: 06|03|2025
LABEL: Another Rat Records
COLOUR | EDITION: Black, No additional information
FAVORITE TRACKS: Damage Of The Night, Stay True, Right This Time, Try To Hide, The Place
PURCHASED: Another Rar Records Webstore
BAND DISCOVERED
Even though it hasn’t been that long since I discovered Pretty Uglys from Australia, I honestly can’t remember where I first came across them. Most likely, it was the algorithm of digital streaming platforms. Either way. What I do know is that I couldn’t resist ordering vinyl from this small punk party band from Perth, Western Australia. Included with the plain black record was a personal note: “I never imagined that somebody from Germany would be interested in our band. I hope you enjoy the record! – Jean-Luc.” And for moments like these, it’s all absolutely worth it.
WISH
That somebody would give this band a chance to explore the world.
GRIEF MOP
RECORD: I Want To Pull The Sleep From Your Eyes
RELEASED: 10|09|2025
LABEL: Sunday Drive Records
COLOUR | EDITION: Eco Green, Limited to 200
FAVORITE TRACKS: I’D Prefer To Be Nobody, Strange World, Headhigh
PURCHASED: Deathwish
BAND DISCOVERED
Through promotion by Deathwish Records, I became aware of the band Grief Mop. In late summer 2025, they released their advance single Strange World, followed shortly afterwards in autumn by their debut album I Want To Pull The Sleep From Your Eyes. Since then, their dark songs—situated between emo, dream, and shoegaze—have been in regular rotation for me. However, Deathwish only handled the distribution; the credit as the responsible label belongs to the good folks at Sunday Drive Records. For Friends of Trauma Ray, Gleemer, Slow Blind, Glare.
WISH
Of course, to catch them live at some point and to own their 2024 EP You Were Right Here But So Far Away on vinyl.
DEAD CALM
ARTIST DISCOVERED
Dead Calm is another project by Irish musician Liam McCay, who has also reached impressive streaming numbers under the names sign crushes motorist and Take Care. I came across Dead Calm’s now second record simply through an Instagram post on his main channel. Acoustic, ethereal slowcore and lo-fi folk — raw and unpolished. In parts, it reminds me of St. Thomas.
FAVORITE LYRIC LINE
Can you love me now / When you finally see me fully stripped down – from Grow
I’m a man made of fear – from Turn Around
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
choral | lo-fi | acoustic
LOVE CRY
BAND DISCOVERED
Over the past few years, Sunday Drive Records has become a reliably safe bet when it comes to my personal taste in music. Love Cry’s debut EP has been out since November 2025 and is now also available on CD. If you’re into Enumclaw, this should be right up your alley, sometimes I think it’s between Calexico and Minus The Bear — intricate details paired with driving electronic beats and smooth indie textures.
KILLER SONG MOMENTS
I Don’t Feel A Thing really comes alive at 2:20 min, when that striking, rough-edged melody kicks in after the second verse.
FAVORITE LYRIC LINE
Ditching the bar, head out into the dark
I sat alone, on the empty train ride home
I got to thinking, I’m not so sure I know what love is
Not one to cry, I can’t let out what I don’t have inside (from I Don’t Feel A Thing)
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
melancholy | emo | differently | smooth
WISH
Let’s keep our fingers crossed that these wonderful songs will make it to vinyl soon.
