Music I Love

It would be absolutely impossible for me to choose a favourite song on Ceremonials, because I love them all (I checked them one by one - yes, all!), and they have been such a constant companion to my most emotionally heavy days. Florence + the Machine's music is a gift to all of us who are doomed to feel deeply, in abstract visions and who think in poems and lyrics, because that's the only way that feels authentic to our souls. 
I'm also absolutely ecstatic that I managed to buy a ticket for the concert in Vienna next year, and I only wish I had not cut my hair short recently, because I am going there to go absolutely feral: long dress, singing voice, emotions and everything!

I chose "About Time", because of "Belong to you" and "Stand still" and "Unravel Me", which are a few of the first songs that made me fall in love with her music, but there is so much more that I love from her. Some of my absolute favourite songs by Sabrina Claudio from her other albums: "Truth Is", "Problem With You", "Orion's Belt", "Messages from Her", "IOU". Recently, she came out with her newest album "Fall In Love With Her".

I was extremely lucky to witness Hozier performing live in Vienna back in 2023 - I listened to him for hours, and I could have gone on listening to him for many more. That night, my appreciation for "Unreal Unearth" grew bigger, and this album became the soundtrack of 2024 for me. I cannot imagine the story of my life without "De Selby" (1 and 2), "Francesca", "Damage gets Done", "Abstract", "Unknown/ Nth" and "First Light", "Fare Well" and "Wildflower and Barley". It would have been a better life emotionally, but not musically. 

My favourite Anathema album! So many years after the release, it's still my go-to music when I need to come back to myself and feel at home. "Weather Systems" has a much deeper meaning to me, I do not see it as a compilation of songs, I see it as one story, told with the help of music. I can almost never listen to single songs from the albums - it is meant to be listened beginning to end, at one time. 

It is raining outside, and I listen to "The Exorcist" and the heavy drops of rain on the huge green leaves of the fouliage in the small inside garden, squeezed between the buildings. The buildings are still there, the people I called friends are still there, the green leaves must be as green and as big as they used to be, back when I used to live there. Only I and a very particular dream of mine are nowhere to be found. 
I am so thankful Daniel Cavanagh made "Monochrome" and I could only hope that some dreams do become true after all. "The Silent Flight Of The Raven Winged Hours"

This whole album, from start to finish, is a real treat to my soul. I lived it, experienced it in real life and it feels deeply personal to me, as a listener. It's the way I loved, it's the way I wasn't loved and it's the way I am: "Which Witch", "Various Storms and Saints", "Ship to Wreck", "St Jude", "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful", "Delilah", "Mother", "Make up Your Mind"... They are all included in the soundtrack of my late 2023 and 2024. Needless to say, I also cut bangs. ;) And I survived.

Mumford & Sons draw vivid pictures with their music in my mind. "Sigh No More" is the album with two of my favourite songs, not only by them, but in general: "Thistle and Weed" and "Dust Bowl Dance". 
My favourite song, however, is from another album - "Delta" - and it's "Woman". 

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When I first heard "labour" by Paris Paloma, I felt seen for the first time, when it comes to my experience as a wife. It is an absolute masterpiece not only musically, but as a truthful portrayal of the emotionally abusive marriages (or relationships) that so many of us have been in. When the album came out, it was full of other absolutely wonderful musical pieces that Paris Paloma delivers with such tender voice and such powerful lyrics. I love all of the songs and I also recommend not only "cacophany", but her singles from earlier, especially "notre dame" (my absolute favourite) and "the fruits" (!!!).

I simply love "Black Match" - not only for their music that gives home to my broken heart, but also because they are so genuine and nice with their fans on social media. 
"Nowhere" is the album that introduced me to their music a few years ago, but in the meantime they have been releasing new singles that stay truthful to their gentle and poetic style: "Gold", "All I Want Is You", "All I Ever Wanted" and "Stay" are my very welcomed companions, whatever I am doing. Fun fact: if you follow them on Instagram, they make their fans have funny guesses about the names of their upcoming singles. The whole "Black Match" experience is a very tender and warm one, I highly recommend. 

Of course - "Lungs"! 
Do I need to say anything at all, really? 
I cannot believe that the first time that I heard Florence + The Machine was in an add on TV many years ago. Little did I know that more than a decade later I would be possessed by "Drumming Song" and there would be no sound level high enough on my earphones that would be satisfactory enough for me, whenever I listen to that song. I met someone who made me feel exactly like that and then it all turned into "Cosmic Love". All in my head, naturally. ;) That's how art is made,isn't it?

I have a question: am I allowed to absolutely feel "King" in my bones, when I have been a bride and I am indeed a mother? Because, oh my God, do I relate to it!
Probably not. But still - I love it. 
"Dance Fever" is home to "Daffodil", "Girls Against God", "Dream Girl Evil" and "My Love" - enough reasons to love it. 

Back in 2022, I used to reinvent my world from scratch. The Paper Kites were there at the beginning with "St Clarity", "Tin Lover" and "Tannenbaum" - all of them being released almost a decade before, in "States".
They recently released a new album: "If you go there, I hope you find it" and this time I am on track, time-wise speaking. "When the Lavender Blooms" is the leading song, but I also want to go back in time, because there are other ones that I'd love to share here: "Bloom", "Willow Tree March" (both from "Woodland"), "Green Valleys" and "Walk Above The City" - all of them my absolute favourites!

Juli is a familiar sound since my teenage years, when I used to study German at school, and I somehow still got the lyrics wrong. Listening to their music in my 30s is just as enjoyable as before! While my absolute favourite songs like "Sterne", "Die perfekte Welle", "Geile Zeit", "Regen und Meer" and "Wenn du lachst" belong to "Es ist Juli", I also love listening to "Der Sommer ist vorbei". "Fahrrad", "Gehen oder bleiben" and "Alles geht weiter" are my favourite songs on the album that I listen to on repeat. Hopefully, I'll get to see them soon live, because I somehow missed them last time they performed in Vienna... 

I have no idea what I could write about any of Anathema's albums, simply because this is my favourite music and they are my favourite musicians. "we're here because we're here" is absolute perfection of an album, just like "weather systems".
The music from this album has been my constant companion for the past 15 years, and I still love it with devotion. I believe I always will. 

Oh Wonder make such calm and warm music; it just makes everything better. I listened to the OW on repeat at the most productive time of my life last year, when I needed some time to reflect on everything that was going on around me; when feelings were too much and the hours in the day - too little. The album is exactly as long as my ride with the train used to be - start to end, all Oh Wonder. Needless to say, I love all of the songs on it, but "Technicolour Beat" and "Whitout You" hold a special place. A few other beloved songs by them: "I Wish I Never Met You" (cause I do), "Magnificent" (just lovely) and "Don't You Worry".

It was many years ago when my co-worker Yana introduced me to Jassie Ware's music.
It is pure feminine energy; it is empowering, sensual, warm, and beautiful. I love it! 
"Though Love" for me is an unspoken confession: "Tough Love", "Say You Love Me", "Kind of... Sometimes... Maybe" and "Champagne Kisses". 
Other songs by Jessie Ware that I absolutely adore include "Wildest Moments", "Running", "Thinking About You" and "Alone" and "Freak Me Now".

It is a bit providential that SYML performed in Vienna, promoting his new album at the time - "The Day My Father Died" - on the exact date my own father died 6 years ago. This concert was special to me, not only because of the said coincidence, but also because I was so happy to hear many of my favourite SYML songs live. The event was opened by Néomí, who later became one of my favourite artists as well!
"Howling", "Where's My Love", "Fear of the Water", "Girl", "You and I", "Sweet Home", "Believer", "The Day My Father Died" and "Body" are my go-to SYML songs. Hopefully, I get to listen to him once again next year, when he's performing in Vienna again. 

OK, not an album, but my favourite néomí songs don't belong to one and I just cannot not give them the place they deserve: "if i wasn't made for love", "eyes filled with sky" and "i'll be there" just melt my soul. I love those songs!
"skipping stone" and "Do You Want To Be Honest" are also often to be heard on my playlists. 
In 2024 néomí released "somebody's daughter" and my most beloved song on the album is "i'm not afraid of dying". 
 

I got introduced to Seiler und Speer by someone I love dearly, so, naturally, I grew to like the music almost immediately. With time, "Herr Inspektor" would become part of my routine when I do chores around the house, "Weust a Mensch bist", "Ala bin" - part of my weekend hikes and many other songs from the other albums - my constant companion. I love "Ham kummst", "I wü ned", "Setz di her" and "In ana aundan Sproch", but my favourite Seiler and Speer song will forever be "Mon amour" - I've listened to it way too many times. I knew what it was about, before I knew what it was about (because, you know, B2 in German is laughable, when dealing with Seiler und Speer lyrics...). A letter stays written and sealed, never to be sent, never to be read.  

The debut album, of course! Although "Take Me To Chursch" is a true masterpiece, and its popularity is well-deserved, it pains me that it's the one song people always associate Hozier with. This whole album is painfully good! My all-time favourite Hozier song "Like Real People Do" (although Unreal Unearth gave many other songs that I love in my bones) is part of this album, as well as my other favourites like "Angel of Small Death & Codeine Scene", "Jackie and Willson", "Someone New", "From Eden", "Work Song" and the amazing "Cherry Wine". 

Hello, summer of 2024 - real hell on Earth! 
I have, however, chosen to remember one particular day out of it: it is late August and we're a company of four with a dog. A boat on the Old Danube in Vienna and "BIRDS OF A FEATHER" in my head, a beautiful sunset, a message that made me hopeful that everything would go well this time. It didn't. Not only that - it got even worse.
But I appreciate Billie Eilish even more, which is a win! "BLUE" and "CHIHIRO" were also part of that said summer and it did feel like drowning, but now it is past that is covered in irrelevance to anyone but me.

I first listened to "Darkest Night" and could not stop listening to it for hours. "The Heart of A Man" is an hour and eight minutes of pure magic by Tony Anderson. I adore his work! Sometimes, if you're lucky enough, life feels exactly as beautiful, as dramatic and as etheral like a Tony Anderson composition. "Nocturne in Paris", "Butterflies", "Éclosion", "Younger", "Cambodia" and many more are my safe emotional places when I need to take a pause from all of this nonsence, surrounding us. 

"Northern Attitude", "Stick Season", "All My Love", "She Calls Me Back", "New Perspective", "Everywhere, Everything", Orange Juice", "Strawberry Wine", "Growing Sideways", "The View Between Villages (Extended)", "Dial Drunk", "No Complaints", "I'll Call Your Mom" and "You're Gonna Go Far" - so many of my absolute favourite songs and all of them - on this one album. Insane! 
The German shepherds on the covers are also much appreciated. I love it, all of it! And I love singing along. 
A few other songs by Noah Kahan that I cannot go without are: "Part of Me", "Someone Like You", "Young Blood" and "Hurt Somebody". 

Tanerélle is such a sensual artist! I was lucky enough to see her perform live in Vienna, and even though I went to see another artist that evening, she was the highlight of the whole night for me! A stunningly beautiful woman with such powerful presence! 
My most beloved songs of hers are singles and are mostly not part of any album, but they are for sure part of my most listened to music: "A Trip to Space to Clear My Mind", "Won't", "After The Beep", "Mama Saturn", "Mama Saturn's Galactica", "Dreamgirl", "Love from NGC 7318", "Nothing Without You", "Good Good", "Side Tracked | Perfect Lover" ... However, "Better Days", one of my absolute favourites, is included in "Electric Honey", along with "Let me In" and many other beautiful songs, so I highly recommend.

In Our Own Sweet Time by Vance Joy is my optimistic, new love, fresh start, promising, light and cheerful album pick.

"Don't Fade", "Missing Piece", "Every Side of You", and "Wavelength" never fail to make me feel good. 
Other songs by Vance Joy that I adore are "Saturday Sun", "I'm With You", "Riptide", "Your Mess Is Mine" and "Georgia". 

I appreciate RY X's music so much - it feels like a balm on a wound: caring, slow-mending the cracks that hurt, nourishing and enlightening. My favourite song on Dawn is very predictable - "Only", but I want to quickly mention a few other songs outside of this album that make my life more beautiful: "All I have", "Let You Go", "You", "Bound", "Thunder", "Your Love", and "Bad Love".

I love listening to RY X, when I'm close to water and I want to let my mind wander freely, and I hope I get to experience one of his sunset concerts that I see on Instagram, because it would be pure magic.  

I really like the energy of the band - full of life, optimism and joy. SchikK's music makes me happy, and I enjoy watching them perform live. The album is full of wonderful songs you could dance to and sing along to (if you manage with the language, that is), but even though I love "Amoi Fuat", "Tanz mit mir", "Bei Dir", "SOS", "Irgendwos an dir", I also want to mention two of their later songs that have become favourites of mine: "Wunden" and "Maistrich". 
Lovely people who make great music!

My friend Klara saw the list of albums and had a very important note for me: "You missed Dominic Fike!". And yes, I had missed one of the best music recommendations from her, for it was she who introduced me to his music. I've had it on many of my playlists ever since.

"Sunburn" is the album with most of my favourite songs, including "Think fast", "7 Hours", "Dancing In The Courthouse", "Mona Lisa", "Bodies" and "Sunburn". I associate the album with freedom, movement and new experiences. A few other songs by Dominic Fike that I thoroughly enjoy are "3 Nights", "Babydoll", "Phone numbers" and "Vampire".

"She Dances" by Billie Marten is such a tender, lovely song that makes you want to snuggle somewhere, but also dance slowly on your own in a silk nightgown around the house. It's not just me, I'm sure of that. Lovely, lovely voice and relaxing music. "Feeding Seahorses by Hand" is an album that is exactly what I imagine playing as a vinyl, moving rhythmically in circles while the music surrounds you and fills your heart. Apart from "She Dances", I specifically enjoy "Mice", "Blue Sea, Red Sea", "Vanilla Baby" and "Bad Apple". 

Hedwig and I are standing in the rain, listening to LEMO in our rain jackets, with smiles from ear to ear - a lovely experience! 
It is a fun fact is that the first song by LEMO that I ever heard was "Der Himmel über Wien", as I was coming back from a hike and was exactly in front of the "WIEN" sign, entering the city. It is a favourite song of mine now, along with others from this album: "Ich seh nur dich", "So wie du bist", "Eine Antwort" and "Vielleicht der Sommer". 

The music sheet book of Emotions stands upright on my piano, waiting for me to get back to learning how to play this instrument... again. I cannot read sheet music (yet), but I enjoyed listening to Tony Ann live so much, and his music is so beautiful, I had to get some part of the experience back home with me. 

I do not doubt that most of you would have heard "Icarus", for it is very well known, but all of Tony Ann's compositions are lovely and make everything more poetic and romantic. 

I'm looking forward to his next performance in Vienna.

Also, he was accompanied on stage by two talented boys who were a bit shocked by the calm and unresponsive crowd they had to perform before (I wish I could tell them that we were all there to be exactly that - calm, enjoying the sound of the piano like silent shadows that only absorb the music and none wished to make noise and interrupt the performance). Anyway, they go by the name ARKAI and you could enjoy their music as well!

There was a time when I genuinely wanted to ask Pizzera & Jaus what drugs they are on, because, oh my God - what productivity! I was already a big fan of "di sunn und di" and I was listening to their songs, when I watched a movie, I thought they only contributed musically, but I figured it was them playing the main characters halfway through the film itself. It gives you a good impression that I make a good music consumer, but I am poorly qualified to be a proper fan. Then they would pop up everywhere - from podcasts, music, movies, theatre - both of them seem to have so many projects, I cannot imagine this level of productivity, that's why I think it deserves to be mentioned. Still, the thing I appreciate the most is the music. "Zirkusprinz" and "Stufen", for example, are two of my all-time favourite songs in general. Also, "Zweifelturm". Schön.

"folklore" is the album that made me appreciate Taylor Swift's music, and ever since then, I have my favourite songs from the albums that followed as well. "cardigan", "august" and "mirroball" are lovely and therefore - very well appreciated by the audience. "Midnights" is an album that I listened to one evening in the garden at my old home, under the terrace of someone I didn't yet know would have a crutial part of my story, and even though I did not enjoy it as much on the first listen, it is now also one of my favourite albums as well.