There is always a need for some good music to create the perfect ambiance to study, work or discuss philosophical concepts. Even Awesome Mix from Guardians of the Galaxy had to have an Awesome Mix Vol. II, despite there being a finite number of awesome songs. Therefore, I also hop on the sequels and remakes trend for a second installment of the Gazelle Music Corner with underrated records from around the world from the period Sept. 22 to Sept. 28.

Good God! by Rio Romeo

While Rio Romeo supplied us regularly with emotionally and politically charged singles, this is their first official EP since 2018. In the long break Rio managed to affirm and further develop the quite narrow genre of acoustic punk they are famous for in the underground musical scene. Their first EP was all about making a change in the world. With Good God!, Rio scales it all down to changing the world of one person. More intimate than ever, the lyrics reveal deep emotionality and maturity but also lingering teenage angst which comes with defining and defending your identity. The six songs tell a love story that is as much about finding the right ways to love another person as it is about allowing yourself to be loved.

CROSSOVER (Deluxe) by Dua Saleh

Because Rio’s work provides only a 16-minute soundtrack for your daily activities, we need to turn to Dua for more. Dua Saleh comes back with a long play softer than their previous albums. CROSSOVER is a mix between ambient music, African rhythms and R'n'B, just the type of album you tune into while writing an assignment in the very dark and early hours of the day. It is also the type of music that your pop-only roommate would not ask you to put your headphones on for. The experimental lounge vibes are reminiscent of a beach-side cafe where you wish you were writing this assignment from, not your dorm room or a study room in the library.

Homogenic by Björk (released: Sept. 20, 1997)

When I was about four years old, to the horror of my parents, I learned how to operate the stereo at home. I played exactly three albums over and over again: Achtung Baby by U2, Cafe del Mar Vol. IV - V and Homogenic by Björk.

That’s why it is so important to me to celebrate Homogenic on its 25th anniversary, especially since in a week Björk will publish her new album. Her popularity has grown immensely in the past 25 years, but I will always consider Homogenic the album that solidified her as the contemporary experimental artist. Even Dua Saleh has clear references to Björk in her latest record (just take another listen to “fitt” after Homogenic).

Electronica rhythm, heavy bass, anxiety-inducing glitch effects, calm classical instrumentation, haunting vocals: that’s typical Björk. In Homogenic, all of these elements are all at the same volume, fighting to dominate each other in every song and evoking a feeling of overwhelming freedom. This album keeps you on the edge of your seat from 00:00 to 43:35, and after that even the silence feels charged and more dense. I am anxiously awaiting her new album and can only hope it has even a hundredth of the power of Homogenic.

Blue Rev by Alvvays (release date: Oct. 7)

Like many indie bands, the revival of Alvvays was induced by their new-found popularity on TikTok. The one thing this platform is good for is bringing attention to underrated artists. The new album looks like it will be pretty much within the same genre and vibe as Alvvays’ previous records: a mix between hard rock and indie. But, honestly, we very much need energy and serotonin that are not a product of the Double Iced Shaken Espresso, and Blue Rev promises a lot of these but for free (except for the people with Spotify Premium… for you it will be exactly like a Double Iced Shaken).