Tag: kelela

Posted in Album of the Month, New Albums, podcast

Podcast Episode 32 | Raven | Kelela

Posted on by misterstory

EP. 64 | Rosalia | LUX – This Is Not Happening – An Album Of The Month Podcast

Welcome to Episode 64 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast. In Part 1, we review and Album of the Month. This month Joey brings perhaps the most critically acclaimed album of 2025, Rosalia's 'LUX'.In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. As it's January and everybody is back in the gym or re-starting running program's we've picked 'songs to get injured to'._______________________Part 1 | Album of the Month | Rosalia | LUX________________________This is a big one. Big in many ways. Massively popular, globally. But more importantly MASSIVE in scope, scale and ambition. Rosalia's 4th album takes a major turn from the reggaeton, digital urgency of Motomami. This a symphonic, spiritual, complex and challenging collection of songs presented in 4 movements (if you're on vinyl). It requires you to focus, engage and consume with purpose.It's undeniable that it is ambitious, its brilliance is clear … but will any of us actually like it? Does it make you want to listen to it? Are you drawn to come back to it?Listen to the album here.Watch some of the videos for the tracks here.Check out the Zane Lowe interview with Rosalia here.___________________Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | Songs To Get Injured To _____________________New Year New Me. The gyms are packed. People are begging to get injured. What should you chose as your soundtrack to that achilles rupture or that rotator cuff tear? The answer is probably in this 16 track play list that we created.We each pick 4 tracks for the playlist and submit 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?Joey chose 'Baddadan' by Chase & Status et al.Guy chose 'Go' by Chemical Brothers.David chose 'Kool Thing' by Sonic Youth.Nolan chose 'Stop What You're Doing' by Apathy.We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
  1. EP. 64 | Rosalia | LUX
  2. EP. 63 | Our Top 10 Albums of 2025
  3. EP. 62 | Juniper | Joy Crookes
  4. EP.61 | Blood Orange | Essex Honey
  5. EP.60 | Wet Leg | Moisturizer

In Part 1 we explore the mesmerising (but opinion dividing) 2nd album by Kelela, ‘Raven’.   In Part 2 we play ‘Spin it or bin it?’ … but do we really? The theme this month is our favourite De La Soul tracks … is anyone really going to bin a De La Soul track?

Part 1 | Album of the Month | Kelela | Raven

It’s Joey’s choice this month and we’re focusing on an intriguing, vibe of an album called Raven by Ethopian-American artist Kelela. It’s 15 tracks, over an hour and plays out like a late-90s, early-00’s post club mix tape. There’s lots of opinions on this album, in the critical sphere they’re almost universally (really) positive, the album being on of the best reviewed albums of the year. However, its a 100%, unquestioning love-in on This Is Not Happening.

  • Go listen to the album – Here
  • Go watch some videos – Here
  • Go buy some of their stuff – Here

A few ‘Raven’ that we highly recommend checking out;

  • A really interesting review of the album by BPM – Here
  • ‘Unmistakably Black’ interview with Mixmag – Here
  • Live Jimmy Fallen performance of ‘Enough for Love’ – Here

Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | De La Soul tribute

After the sad passing of Trugoy the Dove, we pay tribute to De La Soul. This is the 1st time that the question ‘spin it or bin it’ is completely redundant.

  1. Nolan chose – Stakes is High
  2. Guy chose – So No Go
  3. David chose – Trying People
  4. Joey chose – I am I be

Check out our 16 track De La Soul tribute playlist (4 tracks each) can be found – Here (this is a good one!)

Next Month

In part 1Nolan brings ‘Fuse’ by Everything But the Girl as our Album of the Month, in Part 2 we play ‘Spin it or bin it’ with new tracks for the last 3 months.