Music – RCRD LBL

October 22, 2025

October 22, 2025October 22, 2025 Mew Zikwryder

Textbook Maneuver’s ‘Adrenaline Slip’ Remix Rewires IDM Expectations

(Textbook Maneuver / Image Credit: Mary Keane)

Textbook Maneuver rolled out a sharp remix of ‘Adrenaline Slip‘ on October 17, 2025, via his Life Science Records, LLC setup—the core track powered his self-titled debut album from earlier this year. Michael Keane, the mind behind it all, hails from the Bronx with roots now dug into New Jersey soil, where he welds classical piano precision to a DIY punk drive. That combo’s pushed streams past 130,000, locking in buzz from IDM and experimental electronic heads through deep dives in Magnetic Magazine and Illustrate Magazine, alongside shoutouts from WWAM (We Write About Music), Brazil’s Music For All, and Good Music Radar. Keane taps a killer range, from Genesis‘s Duke-era sprawl and Rush‘s drive to Gary Numan‘s edge, The Postal Service‘s pop smarts, U.N.K.L.E.‘s grit, and Phantogram‘s bite, all funneled into IDM frameworks laced with ambient haze and prog electronica curves—tracks built for screen placements or pure headphone immersion. His stuff echoes Jon Hopkins and Nils Frahm in the build, with Boards of Canada‘s drift, Aphex Twin‘s glitches, and Squarepusher‘s bass twists fueling the improvisational core.

The remix of ‘Adrenaline Slip‘ keeps things straightforward at its core: beats that start loose and build into tight, glitchy loops, laced with synth stabs that punch through like quick breaths. Those subtle IDM ticks—think fragmented rhythms folding over each other—pull you into a mix of high-energy drops and cooler, drawn-out pads that ease off the gas. It wraps with a fast, almost frantic close that echoes drum ‘n’ bass without overcomplicating the ride, landing in a spot that’s tense yet oddly relieving.

Textbook Maneuver revealed: “‘Adrenaline Slip‘ was the song I composed that hit me the most, in a good way. I knew I wanted a killer track to become the lead track and the title of the album. I had come up with the name “Adrenaline Slip” before I had the song. I am trying to capture those moments of adrenaline rush, like skateboarding, dancing, roller blading, just hanging out with friends, whatever gives you a rush. I find, in those moments, there is also a moment of calm because you are doing something that you love or enjoy with people that you are connecting with in the moment. So that is the “slip” part. The feeling slips into calm for a moment but then goes back to adrenaline. This is why the song has its very EDM moments but then slower, synth/ prog chillout sections and it all ends in an uptempo almost punk rock speed.“

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October 15, 2025

October 15, 2025October 15, 2025 Mew Zikwryder

Pinwheel Valley’s ‘Can’t Hear a Sound’ Hits Deep in Wake of Release

(Pinwheel Valley / Image Credit: Yazeed Malkaw)

Nearly a week out from its October 10th drop via Hot Soap Records, Pinwheel Valley‘s ‘Can’t Hear a Sound’ continues to pull listeners into its orbit, serving as the opener for the November-bound EP Hello From Afar. At the wheel is Jordanian-Canadian Qais Khoury, whose project morphed from KAIS into a full live outfit—him on vocals, guitar, and keys; Stephanos Marangos handling lead and rhythm guitar; Max Daniels on bass and Ableton; and Stephanos Meletiou or Phrangiskos Petrisis drumming.

The track itself coils tight around Qais Khoury‘s self-produced layers: soulful guitar lines threading through string swells and alt-rock drum sections, with vocals that rasp against the quiet. It has shades of City and Colour‘s worn-in resolve or Alberta Cross‘s road-weary swing, the folktronica hum emphasizing a slow-burning tension that feels authentic.

Qais Khoury shared: “‘Can’t Hear A Sound’ is a song of bloodlines and soil, of war and the restless pull of home. It is a cry carried on the wind, calling to kin who have wandered astray, drawn into circles that could never hold them. A plea for their return to the ground where their fathers lie sleeping. It is both invocation and vow — a promise to shield them, body and soul, whatever the cost, and to guard the earth that holds their roots”.

With the EP on deck, Pinwheel Valley looks primed for deeper cuts that lean into these uprooted themes, maybe sparking live runs across Europe or North America to road-test the full band’s chemistry. If this single’s traction holds, expect festival slots next summer, building on their video awards and radio push to solidify that genre-blurring spot.

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September 26, 2025

September 26, 2025September 26, 2025 Mew Zikwryder

Three cities, one strike: the forward drive of ZOCO’s debut “Restless”

The appeal of “Restless” is its engineering of momentum. ZOCO plots a straight line from idea to impact: write a song about killing routine, gather a cast that can play it with feel, and record it where the energy lands on tape. Sessions rolled through Los Angeles (Licorice Pizza Records) and Milan (Massive Arts Studios), with vocals produced and recorded in Nashville—three cities, one coherent picture. Gunnar Nelson produces (and sneaks in harmonies), Kerry Brown oversees, and Stephen DeAcutis mixes for punch and headroom; Howie Weinberg masters with the kind of top-end confidence that survives playlists and broadcast alike.

Players matter: Carmine Rojas’ bass lines are fluid and song-serving; the drum chair is shared—Slim Jim Phantom brings brush finesse, London Hudson adds modern weight—giving the track its dual character of glide and thrust. Marco Zocco’s baritone sits center, guitar work drawing clean lines rather than monuments. The chorus—co-written and sung with brothers Paolo and Matteo—is engineered for participation, the “whoa”s cueing the room.

“Restless” reads as a mission statement for LUMANISTA (Part 1) (January 2026): alternative rock with cinematic side-lighting, pop-scale hooks without the plastic. It’s independent music with professional torque, and that combination tends to travel.

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September 5, 2025

September 5, 2025September 5, 2025 Mew Zikwryder

Jan Kalter Shares Indie Folk Masterpiece ‘Save Our Souls’

Rising indie folk talent Jan Kalter has stepped up with his evocative single ‘Save Our Souls‘, backed by a touching lyric video through the Cold Skipper Inc. label. Pulled from his first EP No One Bites And No One Barks, which has racked up more than 400,000 streams on various platforms, this marks a strong entry point for the artist, positioning him as a compelling narrator in the indie folk scene. Hailing from Nordhorn, Germany, and now calling Cologne home, Kalter kicked off his musical path with secret piano practice at a neighbor’s place before branching into guitar, trombone, and singing. He cut his teeth in grunge outfits but settled into indie folk, blending stark honesty with subdued power, pulling from acts like Bon Iver, Novo Amor, Lord Huron, and Sufjan Stevens that molded his style.

The track unfolds as a gentle ballad wrapped in authenticity, with light acoustic layers and faint harmonies building a close-knit yet expansive audio atmosphere that allows Kalter‘s voice to cut through with earnest force.

Jan Kalter shared: “‘Save Our Souls’ came from a place of deep reflection on how we connect — or sometimes fail to connect — with each other in challenging times. I wanted the song to feel raw and intimate, so I kept the arrangement stripped-back, letting the voice and acoustic textures carry the emotion. The recording process was almost like a live performance, capturing imperfections that make it human. For me, it’s a call for empathy and presence, wrapped in a folk sound that feels both fragile and hopeful.”

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