TRADER
BAND DISCOVERED
I discovered Trader when my friend Steffen wrote about the band in his weekly newsletter My True Intent Is All For Your Delight back in 2022. Their second album Their Best Work So Far immediately caught my attention — simple, solid ’90s-style rock from Denmark. Now Trader have put new songs online, and a new EP titled Hoodie is on the way, set for release in May.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
90s | timeless rock-driven | unpretentious
BESIDES THAT
The song Please was probably the one I played the loudest in 2022.
WISH
I’m still waiting to experience them live.
LEAVING TIME
BAND DISCOVERED
Sunday Drive Records is probably the label that excites me the most right now. With Leaving Time, they’ve got another real highlight in their catalog. While browsing through the label’s roster, I came across these guys and their incredibly strong output so far. I managed to pick up their compilation I + II as well as the current single Loop / Live Beneath. I’m still hoping that their latest album Angel In The Sand is somehow still available so I can get a copy. Right now, Leaving Time are delivering a lot of feel-good moments for me.
WISH
I hope I’ll get to experience this band live someday.
OFFICE DOG
BAND DISCOVERED
With their debut album Spiel from 2024, the New Zealand band Office Dog quickly became a hot topic almost everywhere. Tracks like Antidot and Big Air, along with outstanding songs such as Shade, Warmer, In The Red, and The Crater, were in heavy rotation for me throughout 2024.
In October 2024, I caught Office Dog live as the opening act for Nada Surf at the The Crocodile in Seattle. I was genuinely impressed. Following an interim EP, a new track is now out. A full album is on the way, along with their very first European tour.
KILLER SONG MOMENTS
The song carries a beautiful ’90s drive and strongly evokes everything that was once labeled Independent back then. I especially like the minor-key shift at the end of the chorus—it works really well.
BESIDES THAT
At Plattenstreit & Bier, the album Spiel was introduced by myself back then. It’s where I meet up with friends and we share new music as well as old gems with each other.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
post-punk | melancholic | introspective
ROCKET
RECORD: R Is For Rocket
RELEASED: 10|03|2025
LABEL: Transgressive Records
COLOUR | EDITION: Black, No additional information
FAVORITE TRACKS: Crossing Fingers, One Million, Another Second Chance, Wide Awake, R Is For Rocket
PURCHASED: Underdog Recordstore
BAND DISCOVERED
It was back in September 2022 when two of my absolute favorite bands at the time, Milly and Waveform, announced a show – or rather a small tour – in the US. They brought along a band called Rocket, who had literally just two songs online and hadn’t released an EP or album yet. I followed them right away because their tracks Sugarcoated and On Your Heels hit instantly. Since then, Rocket has been a regular in my playlists. They unfortunately had to cancel their Outbreak Festival appearance in Manchester in summer 2025, but in February 2026 they finally made it over to Europe mainland. I got to catch and enjoy their show at Bumann & Sohn in Cologne. Their live set didn’t just include the “older” songs, but of course also tracks from their debut album R Is For Rocket.
WISH
Many more records.
MINUS THE BEAR
RECORD: Menos el Oso
RELEASED: 08|23|2005
LABEL: Suicide Squeeze
COLOUR | EDITION: No information
FAVORITE TRACKS: The Game Needed Me, Memphis & 53rd, Drilling, The Fix, Pachuca Sunrise, This Ain’t A Surfin‘ Movie
PURCHASED: Local record store, Düsseldorf
BAND DISCOVERED
I most likely discovered Minus the Bear through my activity in the forum of the German music magazine Intro, which unfortunately ceased to exist in 2018. In the 2000s, Intro had evolved into a major German pop culture network. Without it, I would have missed out on so much. Drilling and Pachuca Sunrise grabbed me instantly. Minus the Bear became one of my favorite bands. On the occasion of the album’s 20th anniversary and the band’s return to the stage, I dug out my old version from back then. Nothing special—but full of memories.
BESIDES THAT
All three Minus the Bear concerts I had the chance to attend were unique. What incredibly great musicians.
AVERY TUCKER
ARTIST DISCOVERED
I’ve been following Avery Tucker’s music-output since the early Girlpool records. The duo split up a few years ago. Last year, Avery released a handful of solo songs for the first time, followed by a wonderful album titled Paws. The record feels fragile, heartwarming, and deeply meaningful—yet at the same time, it carries a sense of anger and a striking, powerful intensity. Through Diggers Factory, the vinyl was available for pre-order, which I immediately placed after hearing the first notes of Like I’m Young, Malibu, and Big Drops. Today, I received the news that the vinyl production via Diggers Factory will not be happening after all. For me, that’s the moment to finally write about the digital release instead. Let’s hope there will be another solution for a vinyl pressing. What a truly great record.
KILLER SONG MOMENTS
Like I’m Young – when thesong erupts around the 2:30 mark, it hits with a massive emotional force. I wouldn’t say I fully understand Avery, but what he’s going through (or have gone through) is portrayed with striking intimacy right from the very first track.
Big Drops – the final minute from around 3:40 is just incredible. An overwhelmingly catchy chorus, with the song already being carried by that melody long before it fully unfolds.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
emotional | indie pop | raw | intimate
WISH
Hopefully, the vinyl release will still work out somehow.
