Coumarin’s artist’s page is HERE
One of my favourite discoveries on the NAS playlists is a spacey indie rock song called Remedy, one of many singles from Stuttgart, Germany–based artist Coumarin. I was immediately drawn in by the swirling synths, atmospheric guitar, and the catchy chorus melody. What I really love is how quietly the song begins. When you first put it on, you barely hear anything at all. It starts with a droning guitar, and then suddenly the drums, instruments, and vocals all arrive together. What follows are evocative lines that perfectly paint the picture of a relationship that has fallen apart, yet one where the speaker still carries deep feelings for the other person.
I’m digging out my heart today
Hanging in the burning rain
Look at what our love became
Swirling synths and propulsive drums keep everything moving steadily toward the chorus, where you might expect some kind of explosion. Instead, the instruments drop out, leaving us with utterly devastating, emotional lyrics:
Even through fire and hail
You erased all the pain in me, baby
Through every hurricane
All the rain ricocheted
You used to be my remedy
These lyrics reminded me so strongly of relationships I’ve been in—times when lingering feelings remained, when the other person once felt like everything, but no longer was. That longing for what used to be, for the good the other person brought into your life, is at the heart of this song. I’ve known many people who’ve left that kind of imprint, where letting go is incredibly difficult. That sense of devastation—of losing something that once healed you but now can’t—carries straight into the next verse.
The song largely stays in this emotional space, with the exception of the chorus, where a few synth layers drop out and the words come sharply into focus. The vocals are never pushed, and that restraint is essential. I wouldn’t like this song nearly as much if they were. The protagonist is sad and wounded, and that’s exactly how the voice sounds. The melody doesn’t span a wide range; instead, it stays almost conversational, like someone sitting across the table quietly telling you how they feel.
I’m a sucker for this kind of atmospheric synth pop. It reminds me of the best moments from Sir Sly’s debut album You Haunt Me, mixed with touches of Nested for Rest, and a little Depeche Mode for good measure. If this is your kind of music, you’ll love this song. And once it really sinks in what it’s about, you may find yourself reeling—emotionally undone, reminded of relationships much like the one being described here. I know I was.
This review was submitted by fellow NAS artist: Lavender Fire
Their artist page can be found HERE
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