Smoke Spider – East Berlin (2023)
If you stare at a spiderweb for long enough, you will discover a world of intoxicating intricacy. Not merely an annoying invisible thing clinging to everything but something fascinating – and this is exactly what Smoke Spider is all about. Based in Sweden, rock duo Smoke Spider slivers into your brain with their music clinging to every cell, but in the best way possible. Finding a line between hard rock and glam rock with tinges of post-punk, Smoke Spider are psychedelic, heavy, bold and flamboyant. When we left the pair, they were combining electronica with rock in ‘Electronical Show’; now, they bring us another surprise with ‘East Berlin’.
The ninth single since their formation in January 2021, ‘East Berlin’ can be described as eclectic, obscure and a little mind-altering. Known for a harder rock sound, you expect Smoke Spider’s heaviness from the outset…then again, it’s bad to cling to a stereotypical signature style. Opening with a choir of symphonic voices there is an ascension to heavenly highs as ‘East Berlin’ begins, then the plunge into mires of despair. Deftly tossing the angels aside, demons arise with grunge-infected hard rock.
Bursting forth in a furious rage, multi-instrumentalist and producer Johan Granat’s pounding drums match scorching guitars. Interestingly, while you feel the aggression of the melody, the angelic choir lurks beneath adding a tinge of hope in a desperate scene. Göran Florström’s rich vocals punctuate ‘East Berlin’ while still weaving wistfully through the bold tune. An elegant production to be sure, but the off-kilter mixing brings a raw naivety to the sophisticated arrangement. It is this feeling that really leaves your mind-boggling with a psychedelic haze of confusion.
So, is this a song about a long-gone city with its dark history or is it about escaping a toxic relationship? As Smoke Spider say, “The interpretation is yours”.
For more from Smoke Spider, check out their Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
