Time to escape

It’s a beautiful weekend here in Switzerland. The weather is perfect, and I find my mood to be uplifted by the warm sunshine. Spring has arrived, the season of new beginnings.

And I’m thinking about the future of Weekly5. That’s why I’m looking for some community members to discuss some ideas I have. If you’re willing to give me some of your precious time, please reach out to me by email (janosch@weekly5.io).

I’m looking forward to a dialogue with you.

In the meantime, I’ve curated five new songs for you. There are weeks when I’m not entirely satisfied with the selection. However, today, there are some significant highlights—thriving hymns, danceable tracks, pumping beats, shimmering melodies and intimate art.

James – Beautiful Beaches

The history of James is long and winding. Founded back in 1981, the Manchester outfit experienced great success in the early 90s. They sold over 25 million records to this day.

Now, they return with a new album, All The Colours Of You, which will be released in June. A first taste provides Beautiful Beaches, written by James’ singer Tim Booth as a reaction to migration because of climate change and last year’s devastating wildfires in California.

While inspired by actual and dark events, Booth also thematizes a repeating vision where his family finds shelter from earthquakes and fires on beautiful beaches. And yet, if you ignore the sinister backstory of Beautiful Beaches, it’s an incredibly uplifting song – a hymn to new beginnings. “I like the idea that many might not know the backstory and hear it as a post-Covid holiday song,” says Tim Booth.

BAFANG – Ibabemba

Ibabemba was actually released quite a while ago. However, the single now was officially released in Switzerland, after the Cameroonian duo BAFANG celebrated some success in France.

The brothers Enguerranet and Lancelot are the architects of a unique jewel. The sound is reduced to the max, created by a drumset, a guitar and some effects. BAFANG are dancing at the intersection of Stoner Rock, Tuareg Blues, Makossa and World Music.

Ibabemba is a thriving craziness of pure rock energy, organic grooves and hot rhythms. A bolt of lightning that strikes the minds and bodies. A summer hit for the misfits.