“Sawdust” and “How You Know Things” by Sleep Kicks – Song Features

 

     Sleep Kicks, a Norwegian quartet, recently released the EP “How You Know Things.” All six tracks are recommended, but we particularly gravitated toward two – “Sawdust” and “How You Know Things pt. I.” The first is a Post Punk gem that was originally shared as a single in 2023. The second is Part I of three songs that can be considered the “title track” of the EP.
 
     “Sawdust” was written shortly after the band’s debut album “The Afterdrop.” Sleep Kicks explain that the single was evidence that they did not intend to rest on laurels of the debut album; the urge to just keep working and pushing towards new achievements is thinly veiled in the lyrics of “Sawdust.” Both the lyrics and the interplay between the vocalists interplay are masterful in the final segment of the song, when the suffix “ing” takes a lead role:

Can’t stop the bleeding

The circus is leaving

For another town

Always competing

Never retreating

Eventually healing

Failure is fleeting

Patterns repeating

For the soldier and the clown

 
     Sleep Kicks are based in Oslo, Norway. They are Terje Kleven (guitar, vocals), Frode Gundersen (drums), Jørn Landbakk (guitar), and Stephen Gardener (bass, synth). The credits of “Sawdust” show that Jade Marie Hasselgård contributed background vocals. Talking about their music, Landbakk once explained:
  “We quickly found out that the four of us have too many different influences to be able to stay within the strict boundaries of post-punk. Instrumental post-rock dynamics can be heard in several songs, while others lean on an almost krauty repetitiveness.”
 
     “Sawdust” by Sleep Kicks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sleepkicks
Website: https://elasticstage.com/sleepkicks

Lyrics of “Sawdust” by Sleep Kicks

Not a sparkle, not a sound
Bruised and battered on the ground
Collecting dogtags on a chain
Yet another failed campaign
Way outnumbered and unprepared
And all ambitions left for dead
 
Can’t stop the bleeding
The circus is leaving
For another town
Failure is fleeting
For the soldier and the clown
 
Filter teardrops, sweat and blood
Through the sawdust and the mud
Time to reload, go again
Find the strength to entertain
Walk the tightrope for the crowd
Before the silence gets too loud
 
Can’t stop the bleeding
The circus is leaving
For another town
Always competing
In search of a meaning
And the clock keeps counting down
 
It’s time to get back on the horse
Ride out to conquer the applause
 
Can’t stop the bleeding
The circus is leaving
For another town
Always competing
Never retreating
Eventually healing
Failure is fleeting
Patterns repeating
For the soldier and the clown

     “How You Know Things pt. I” is the more Atmospheric Rock than is “Sawdust.” And the backing vocals of Jade Marie Hasselgård play a larger role. The song does not include the standard instrumental intro, but does include an extended spoken-word segment during the second half (the lyrics are included in this post).
 
     The materials released with “How You Know Things pt. I” state:
   “[The] track leans more clearly than before into the band’s long-standing dream-pop influences — soaring, melodic, and atmospheric - and perhaps a tad in a more uplifting territory than the band has previously operated. The lyrics nod to Hemingway, while music nerds will certainly approve of the bouncy 7/4-groove in the bridge.”
 
     “How You Know Things pt. I” by Sleep Kicks

Lyrics of “How You Know Things” by Sleep Kicks
Clearly, I miss him
But since you put it in that way
Why not leave them to it?
 
She was silent and asked for nothing
“There is no chance,” she said
And left without a smile
Without a smile
 
I believe that it must be
I will sleep as they would sleep
 
Met him in the doorway
Must have been a Tuesday night
Oh, those awkward moments
 
They're gone in just ten seconds
Couldn't look him in the eyes
But I think I saw a smile
I saw a smile
I saw a smile
 
I believe that it must be
I will sleep as they would sleep
 
Were you expecting someone
To show up at your door?
How you know things will be
Exactly how they were before
 
Did you expect the feeling
to fade out silently?
How you know things will be
Exactly like they used to be
 
Were you at some point thinking
There's nothing left to do?
How you know things will be
Precisely like you'd want them to
 
Was this the first incentive
To grow a thicker skin?
How you know things will be
The same as they have always been
 
I believe that it must be
I will sleep as they would sleep

“Everyfire” by Field Hospitals – A Song Feature

 

     This marks the second consecutive post in which we’ve featured a Minnesota-based band whose song references the extended presence of federal law enforcement in Minneapolis. Despite any appearances to the contrary, Indie Obsessive does not intend to turn more political. Rather, the aim remains the same as always: highlighting and promoting music we genuinely enjoy. The previous song from The Dead Century and the below track from Field Hospitals are aligned with that goal.
 
     The lyrics of Field Hospitals’ “Everyfire” are sufficiently vague to accommodate different readings, but they begin “Days of occupation.” The lyrics are included at the bottom of this post. Still, the strength of the song lies in its instrumentation. A synthesizer initiates the single and a punchy rhythm section soon joins, but “Everyfire” is guitar-driven and melody-focused. The press release interestingly declares that the track:
  “[B]alances their classic jangle pop sound with subtle synth textures and a driving post-punk feel, “Everyfire” shows the Field Hospitals expanding its musical palette without losing the tuneful, classic Indie Rock guitar sounds that define the group.
 
     The members of Minneapolis’ Field Hospitals are Matt Helgeson (bass), Dan Ganin (guitar), Hank Henry (vocals, guitar), and Jeff Ball (drums). They feature melodic chiming guitars and a driving rhythm section. “Everyfire” is their first 2026 release. A sophomore album is planned to later this year. The band’s 2025 debut EP “Ethel Green” won praise from critics and was picked as one of Spin’s “Best EPs of 2025.” The band was also one of the featured artists honored in Racket’s annual “Picked to Click” music industry poll.
 
     “Everyfire” by Field Hospitals

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fieldhospitals.mpls/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/field.hospitals/

Lyrics of “Everyfire” by Field Hospitals (littered with “best guesses”)
Days of occupation
Lie around us in the dark
And then romance untied
If you were wandering
 
Down that shoulder
You left the lonely running
Find the cold run into tonight
And show me very fight
Just show me every fight
You said run
Now show me every fight
Just show me every fight
You said run
Now show me every fight
 
Call me up
Call me out
You were faded
I replied
And it all defines
Who made it
And the other questions “Why?”
 
Down that shoulder
You left the lonely running
Find the cold ran into night
And show me very fight
Just show me every fight
You said run
Now show me every fight
Just show me every fight
You said run
Now show me every fight
 
Just show me every fight
You said run
Now show me every fight

“Been Better” by The Dead Century – A Song Feature

 

     A burst of rapid-fire guitar launches the intro with urgency, soon propelled forward by power percussion. The intro of “Been Better” lasts 27 seconds, approximately the same length as the outro that showcases the guitar skills of The Dead Century. In between resides a Trojan Horse - a convincingly engaging framework harboring a somber theme. The band accurately describes it as “an upbeat, guitar-driven Rock song that’s full of angst, joy, and yearning,” but not in equal parts.

 

     Lyrically, “Been Better” unfolds as a telephone conversation, with most of the reflections coming from the person on the other end of the line. She is struggling within circumstances that are outside of her control and stretch beyond her personal world. The lyrics are included at the bottom of this post. While she admits patience is required and expresses gratitude for the call, any suggestion of faith in the future fades with her closing confession: “… between you and me, this shit better get better soon.”

 

    It’s significant that Minneapolis serves as the home base for The Dead Century, a city shaped in recent months by political conflict, federal law enforcement presence, and the lingering aftermath of civil unrest. The band notes that “Been Better” was originally drafted during the difficult days of the 2020 lockdowns, but was only recently recorded in Minneapolis. The song’s lyrical message feels as timely now as ever. The band’s explanation is more interesting:

  The very first draft of this tune was a product of those hyper-anxious early days of the covid lockdowns, basically pre-history at this point. It took some serious revisions to find its way here, but (alas?) the song still hits our ears with the same kind of urgency—that better days are on the way, but also that sh*t better get better soon.

  Here’s to the triumph of hope and kindness over experience!

 

     The members of The Dead Century are Nick Check (guitar, vocals), JP Check (bass), Austin Peterson (lead guitar, vocals), and Robert Muehlbauer (drums, vocals). Nick and JP are brothers.

     “Been Better” by The Dead Century

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedeadcentury
Website: https://www.thedeadcentury.com/

Lyrics of “Been Better” by The Dead Century
She’s been living on her own since the summer
She’s not distraught, just a little distracted
Said “Lover, let me count the ways”
And the list came up a little shorter than expected
 
And since you asked
She said “I guess I’ve been better
You know it’s been a rough few months
And I don’t know when that’s going to change”
 
You know the last time was an absolute trainwreck
Well, she’s so grateful that that’s been established
The sugar crash was almost as cruel as the come down
And in any case those feelings just vanished
 
And since you asked
She said “I guess I’ve been better
You know it’s been a rough few months
And I don’t know when that’s going to change
Well I’m alright
Just under the weather
I’m stuck here and holding out hope
That we’re gonna see better days”
 
Everyone tells you that time’s going to conquer the pain
But tell me how long has it been now and how much has changed
You keep moving forward but every day just feels the same
But what can you do when the only solution is wait
And wait, and wait
 
She says “Anyways, thanks for the phone call
It’s cool to talk to an interested party
There’s comfort in community, there’s solace in the solitude
And in theory that should be enough for me”
 
And since you asked
She said “I guess I’ve been better
If time is what fixes things then I guess
There’s not much left I can do
I’ll do my best
Keep up with the patience
Yeah, but between you and me
This shit better get better soon”

“Jennie” by Hamish Tate – A Song Feature

 

     “Jennie” is a socially conscious release from Hamish Tate. Its lyrics address several challenges tied to growing up, including parental pressure to prioritize financial security over personal dreams, struggles with body image, eating disorders, and the impact of low self-esteem. Yet, the song is encouraging, repeatedly advising that the journey is a long one but, in time, it’ll straighten out.
 
      Tate explains the song:
  “’Jennie’ is the best thing I’ve written because it scared me to release it. It talks about things people don’t always feel comfortable saying out loud — the pressure, the comparison, the eating struggles. I didn’t want to dress it up. I wanted it to feel real.”
 
    At its core, “Jennie” is not a song about defeat, because it is anchored by the reassuring line, “It’s a long road, but it’ll straighten out in time.” The track offers hope in moments of overwhelm, reminding listeners that uncertainty does not last forever. Tate says:
  “Even when life feels directionless and heavy, things can settle. This song is about holding on through that period.”
  Through intimate storytelling and understated Indie-Folk production, the track captures both vulnerability and resilience.
 
     Hamish Tate is based in London. “Jennie” is the first of multiple 2026 releases amongst a range of diverse projects. With a background in art and theatre, Tate has developed a genre-crossing Indie sound rooted in storytelling and emotional honesty. Drawing inspiration from the energy of Fidlar and Caroline Rose, alongside the lo-fi grit of Jack White and The Clash, Tate continues to evolve as a songwriter unafraid to explore deeply human themes.
 
     “Jennie” by Hamish Tate

Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/Just_hamish
Bandcamp: https://hamishtate.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Just_hamish

Lyrics of “Jennie” by Hamish Tate
Jennie wants to be a painter
Just like her old man did
Her mother says do something safer
It’s a tough world to live in

She works hard
Sees her friends on the weekends
If they respond to her texts
She never knows if they really care or if they’re just looking for what to do next
And it’s all a little too much
 
It’s a long road
Eyes through the telephone
It’s a long road
Going where the wind blows
It’s a long road
But it’ll straighten out in time
 
Crying in her room she’s never really known how beautiful she is
Jennie doesn’t feel like eating
Seeing the girls on tv
The way they look in that dress
It’ll never go away
The voice is there to stay
And she’ll skip dinner again
Force-fed by her mum
She knows that it’s wrong
But she doesn’t know any other way
 
It’s a long road
Eyes through the telephone
It’s a long road
Going where the wind blows
It’s a long road
But it’ll straighten out in time
 
It’s all around her
Cutting through
But like fire she’ll rise to
The light
She deserves
 
It’s a long road
Eyes through the telephone
It’s a long road
Going where the wind blows
It’s a long road
But it’ll straighten out in time
 
Oh she knows
It’s a long road
Eyes through the telephone
It’s a long road
Going where the wind blows
It’s a long road
But it’ll straighten out in time
It’ll straighten out in time
It’ll straighten out in time
It’ll straighten out in time
It’ll straighten out in time
It’ll straighten out

“The Echo of Yesterday” and “Fractured" by The Laneys – Song Features

 

     The Laneys write lyrics with feelings laid bare, stripped of emotional defenses. According to the Irish band, they release songs for people who’ve lived a little, felt deeply, and still care. Most significantly, the intelligence behind the lyric writing draws listeners into that same level of care.
 
     “The Echo of Yesterday” explores a relationship defined by lingering love on one side: she has moved on but his feelings remain stubbornly intact. The vocalist occasionally refers to “we” and “us,” but the verses typically shift between addressing her in the second person (“And you looked at me like I was dirt; You gave no reasons — just my fault, said goodbye, and it hurt”) and referring to her in the third person (“She took the sky, left me the rain; Took the light, left me the pain”). He also acknowledges another absence — the baby who left when she did.
 
     In describing the song, The Laneys said, “’Echo’ blends atmospheric Indie Rock with emotional storytelling, building from intimate verses into a cinematic, layered chorus. Inspired by artists like Radiohead and Manchester Orchestra." The credits in songs by the band identify Jay Laney and John Delaney.
 
     “The Echo of Yesterday” by The Laneys

Lyrics of “The Echo of Yesterday” by The Laneys
Cold as rain on the windowpane,
Handbag lying on the floor,
Baby crying in the dark,
She slipped right out the door.
 
Said you needed something real,
Was I just a ghost you couldn’t feel?
Our love spilled out like gasoline,
And you lit it up — you lit it up.
 
(ohh… ohh… ohh… ohh…)
 
The house is quiet, the clock still ticks,
I hear your voice, in my head it still sticks.
A son still whispers in his sleep,
Your name cuts through me, it cuts too deep.
 
She took the sky, left me the rain,
Took the light, left me the pain.
I gave her my soul, she threw it away,
Now I’m just a shadow living in yesterday.
 
(ohh… ohh… ohh… ohh…)
 
And you looked at me like I was dirt,
You gave no reasons — just my fault, said goodbye and it hurt.
The bed still smells like your perfume,
It fills my head like poison now — drowns the room.
 
Do you still hum our song at night?
Do you hold him close when he cries?
Does he learn to say my name
From all the anger, silence and shame?
 
She took the sky, left me the rain,
Took the life, left me the blame.
I gave her my soul, she let it decay,
Now I’m just a shadow walking in the rain.
 
We don’t scream now, we don’t fight,
I just replay us every night.
Every promise, every scar,
Every version of who we are.
 
I hold my breath when I sleep,
Like maybe that will keep you near.
I know you’re already gone,
I still wake up holding on…
 
Ohhh Ohhh oohh oh
 
…Yeah still wake up holding on…
…wake up holding on…
…holding on…
 
Yeah she took the sky, left me the rain,
Took the truth, left me the shame.
I gave her my all, she blew it away,
Now I’m just the echo of yesterday.
 
Fed me with lies, again and again,
Hid the truth, let it all cave in.
Watched me fall while she walked away,
Now I’m just the echo of yesterday.
 
(ohh… ohh… ohh… ohh…)
Your ghost, your ghost beneath my skin…
 
(ohh…)
Your ghost, your ghost still pulls me in…
… still pulls me in
… still pulls me in

      “Fractured” also addresses a relationship that has gone wrong. The effort to pick up the pieces isn’t equally shared. The song ends with wisdom: Stitching the fragments together, “It’s never the same // Not stronger or weaker // Just what remains.”

     “Fractured” by The Laneys
Lyrics of “Fractured” by The Laneys

When you give it your all
And it doesn't return
That's when the warmth
Causes the burns
 
You can try to fix it
It still falls over
 
A fracture
Of once was
 
Picking up fragments
Till your hands bleed
Down on the floor
Down on both knees
 
Nothing but pieces
Of you and of me
 
Held together
Long enough to stand
Feel it slip
Slip from your hands
 
When what you give
Doesn't come back
That's when it falls
And that's when it cracks
 
Pieced together
You and me
Create the illusion
Of what they should see
 
Picking up fragments
Till your hands bleed
Here again on the floor
Back down on both knees
Cleaning up remnants
Of you and me
 
There's nothing but pieces
Of what we should be
 
Stitched together
It’s never the same
Not stronger or weaker
Just what remains

“I Haven’t Seen Enough” by Foxy Leopard – A Song Feature

 

     On the artwork for the song “I Haven’t Seen Enough,” Foxy Leopard introduces Clarabelle. The track presents love as something that surfaces over time, and Clarabelle recognizes that she has much to learn as she approaches a relationship with vulnerability rather than certainty, acknowledging that time, feeling, and experience are teachers still at work. Instead of claiming permanence, the voice of the song lingers in the in-between—open, observant, and unhurried.
 
     “I Haven’t Seen Enough” frames the relationship as an eventual destination – “I'll end up where it sets in // What gets under my skin.” Until then, “I Haven’t seen enough.”
 
     Foxy Leopard is based in Quebec, Canada. On the band’s website, "The Team” is identified as Morgan LeRoy (guitar. Vocals), Elias John (guitar, vocals), Clara Belle (vocals, piano), and Stephanie LeRoy (producer, lyricist, storyteller, art director).
 
     “I Haven’t Seen Enough” by Foxy Leopard

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/F0xyLeopard
Website: https://www.foxyleopard.com/
 
Lyrics of I Haven't Seen Enough by Foxy Leopard
I was told love is a thing you know
The way you feel your name
 
I've seen men come through this town
With dust and drink and talk
They spill their whiskey all around
That tells you how they walk
 
I know, I know, I know
I haven't seen enough
 
I ain't dreaming of roses
Or a promise spoken strong
I mind the way it goes
What stays when days pass long
 
Feelings don't hurry in
They take their time, they stay
 
I know, I know, I know
I haven't seen enough
 
I ain't dreaming of roses
Or a promise spoken strong
I'll end up where it sets in
What gets under my skin
 
I know, I know, I know
I haven't seen enough

“Steel on Steel” by Dorvin Borman – A Song Feature

 

     The percussion took the wheel in driving “Steel on Steel” to the blog. The guitar and bass command attention and the synth plays a role, but the strength of the song from Dorvin Borman is in its invigorating rhythm.
 
     Dorvin Borman describes himself as a “maker of cloudy dreamy woozy songs about anxiety,” but “Steel on Steel” is a high octane cross between Post-Punk and Electronica. At 119 beats per minute, it’s four minute of energy.
 
     Dorvin Borman (aka Devin Bierman) is based in Brooklyn, although he is from Los Angeles.
 
     “Steel on Steel” by Dorvin Borman

Streaming options: https://ffm.bio/vo97mdk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorvinborman/

Lyrics of “Steel on Steel” by Dorvin Borman
Steel on steel
Caught in the underpass
Listen to people
talking and talking back
 
Listen to people
drunk in the underpass
Steel on steel
coming and coming back

“Yours Eternally” by U2 (featuring Ed Sheeran and Taras Topolia)

     As our name indicates, this blog promotes Indie music. So we did not expect to write about Ed Sheeren or U2. But we have a soft spot for songs that feature choirs. “Yours Eternally” is a track on the politically powerful U2 album “Days of Ash,” which was intentionally released on Ash Wednesday (February 18, 2026).
 
     Taras Topolia is a Ukrainian singer and soldier best known as the lead vocalist of the band Antytila, so it's fitting that he contributed to the song “Yours Eternally.” The track is accompanied by a short film documentary highlighting the daily lives of the soldiers in the 40,000-strong Khartiya Corps. The YouTube video is included in this post.
 
     The lyrics of “Yours Eternally” end with repeating the term “volia,” which is a Ukrainian concept representing freedom, liberty, and the power of intention or willpower. The word signifies the strength to achieve goals and resist oppression, and it also represents personal independence.
 
     The members of the song’s choir are:
Bob Geldof
Jeanne Marine
Nadya Tolokonnikova (of Pussy Riot)
Chupryna Valeria
Dmytro Vodovozov
Dmytro Zholud
Kateryna Motrych
Maksym Syvolap
Mykhailo Chirko
Sergii Vusyk
Vladyslav Greziev
 
     “Yours Eternally” by U2 (featuring Ed Sheeran and Taras Topolia)

Lyrics of “Yours Eternally” by U2 (featuring Ed Sheeran and Taras Topolia)
Don't sleep
Don't even think about it
No need
Maybe a little bit
Still dream
About waking up free
As we can be
Forget
Whatever doesn't fit
Regret
Regret none of it
Don't bet
On getting rid of me
Yours eternally
 
Dearest friends or whatever
We are calling ourselves these days
My current location
I cannot disclose
Geographically
It's nowhere that I’ve been before
But emotionally
We’re on the same road
If you have the chance to laugh
Laugh at me
If you have the chance to hope
It's a duty
 
Don't sleep
Don't even think about it
No need
Maybe a little bit
Still dream
About waking up free
As we can be
Forget
Whatever doesn't fit
Regret
Regret none of it
Don't bet
On getting rid of me
Yours eternally
 
As your so called companion
The worst jokes and the greatest times
You got me high
And the stars got me home
Your faith in me was blinding
Yours is the song that I’ve always sung
You are not lost out there because
You are not alone
If you have a chance to reach
Reach for me
In the chaos of the earth
We’ll find beauty
All this time we’ve been chasing dust
A soldier’s song a sailor’s lust
For the glory of a world
That we can’t yet see
 
Don't sleep
Don't even think about it
No need
Maybe a little bit
Still dream
About waking up free
As we can be
Forget
Whatever doesn't fit
Regret
Regret none of it
Don't bet
On getting rid of me
Yours eternally
 
Volia, volia
Volia, volia
Volia, volia
Volia, volia

Pajaanch and Midnight Swimmers – Czech Republic Song Features

     While we missed both until recently, two Rock-heavy songs were released by Czech Republic bands in the final months of 2025. In the final few days of the year, Pajaanch shared "The Night that Loved Us Back." The strength of the song lies in the dynamic vocals. But the darkness in the “World” and “Tribal” aspects of the instrumentation is another strong draw.
 
       Pajaanch is a project driven by Pavel Bublík, who openly discloses that "The Night that Loved Us Back" is AI assisted. His lyrics describe finding solace in the darkness of the night (the lyrics are included in this post). The track resides as the final song on the album “Veins of Eternal Night,” which is a “dark cinematic fantasy album inspired by vampiric mythology, ancient rituals, and eternal love — blending tribal drums, medieval echoes, and haunting voices into a timeless nightbound saga.”
 
     Pajaanch is a Czechia-based Ritual Mythic Folk project blending medieval dark folk, Nordic and pagan atmospheres with cinematic ritual soundscapes. Rooted in ancient myths, forgotten gods and sacred rites, the music draws inspiration from Viking, medieval and dark folk traditions, with touches of folk metal and acoustic storytelling. Music for moonlit nights, sacred fires and listeners drawn to myth, darkness and timeless worlds.
 
     "The Night that Loved Us Back" by Pajaanch

Bandcamp: pajaanch.bandcamp.com
 

Lyrics of "The Night that Loved Us Back" by Pajaanch
When all the world had turned away
The night remained, the night still stayed
In blood and shadow, oath and scar
We became the dark, the final star
 
No dawn could reach, no sun could burn
The lessons death could never learn
 
Hands entwined through endless fears
Whispers echoing through years
We carved our name in stone and bone
The night replied, we were not alone
 
Through hunger, fire, and endless storm
We found a place, our souls reborn
 
The night that loved us back
Held us through every crack
Through shadow, blood, and pain we went
Through time itself, we were unbent
 
The night
Loved us back
Forever

 

     Midnight Swimmers is an Indie Rock band originally from London and now based in the Czech Republic. The members are Tomáš Galek (drums), Jan Srostlík (bass), Albert Pazdera (guitar), and Stanislav Chyzhman (vocals). The band released “Storm” in November 2025. The song is politically charged with themes of societal decay and profiting over others.

           “Storm” by Midnight Swimmers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MidnightSwimmersband/
Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/midnightswimmers