Tag: raven

Posted in Album of the Month, New Albums, podcast

Podcast Episode 32 | Raven | Kelela

Posted on by misterstory

EP.67 | Eliza | The Darkening Green – This Is Not Happening – An Album Of The Month Podcast

Welcome to Episode 67 of This Is Not Happening. An Album of the Month podcast. In Part 1, we do a deep drive review of our Album of the Month. This month Joey brings a slice of sophisticated, R&B tinged pop with Eliza's Jill latest album 'The Darkening Green'.In Part 2, we play Spin It or Bin It, we pick a theme and all pick songs that represent that theme. This month the theme is 'Sophisticated Pop'.          —— Part 1 | Album of the Month | Eliza | The Darkening Green ——Eliza is an enigma. She has recorded under a different name but has been recording under 'Eliza' for the past 10 years or so.After 3 long, very complex albums on the pod we take a new direction, 9 tracks and 35 minutes of sophisticated pop, stylish soul driven vibes. Its full of grooves, it's full of tunes and its full of all of the emotions. I have become quite obsessed with this and am recommending it to everyone.Listen to the original album here.Read some interviews and bits here and here.If you love this album like I do … buy it here.                   —————- Part 2 | Spin It or Bin It | New Music —————- The theme is Sophisticaed Pop … but we also get a bit confused between this and 'sophisti-pop' and to be honest, Nolan looses his shit. The task is pick a track that fits the theme, the objective, get more 'spins' than your friends. We each pick four tracks for a 16 track play list . We then each pick select 1 track and ask the simple question 'Spin It Or Bin It'?Nolan chose 'Dance Little Sister' by Sanada Maitreya.David chose 'Uncertain Smile' by The The.Joey chose 'Sweetest Taboo' by Sade.Guy chose 'Hold me Now' by Thompson Twins.We've been writing the blog for years come and have a look – https://thisisnothappening.net/
  1. EP.67 | Eliza | The Darkening Green
  2. EP.66 | Jill Scott | To Whom This May Concern
  3. EP. 65 | Zach Bryan | With Heaven On Top
  4. EP. 64 | Rosalia | LUX
  5. EP. 63 | Our Top 10 Albums of 2025

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.