Kula Shaker’s Lucky Number EP serves as a tantalizing preview of their upcoming Wormslayer album, dropping January 30th.
Now in their third decade, Kula Shaker continues to to surprise us, blending eastern mysticism with Woodstock-era influences and quintessential BritPop sensibilities. From Jay Darlington’s *Doors*-evoking Hammond organ work in “Broke as Folk” to the militaristic march of “Charge of the Light Brigade,” the EP weaves through jangle-pop, psych-rock, and counterculture idealism with surprising dexterity.
Andra Suchy, a North Dakota native, hails from a talented and musical family. Renowned for having one of the finest voices in the industry, Andra is classically trained and a veteran of musical theater. Her illustrious career includes performances with esteemed artists such as Brad Paisley, Mindy Smith, Emmylou Harris, Chris Thile, John Prine, and soprano Renee Fleming. She has also collaborated on recordings with a diverse array of indie, rock, blues, and folk acts, including The Honeydogs, Jonny Lang, Peter Ostroushko, and Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner.
Block has broken boundaries while setting standards for commercial and critical success from the beginning of his career—his influence can be felt in every corner of modern indie, folk-punk, and lo-fi songwriting, alongside contemporaries Regina Spektor, Beck, The Moldy Peaches, and Ani DiFranco.
A follow up to his acclaimed debut album “Roots,” Andy Hanson releases a new single entitled “Gravity,” on January 30th , 2026. Like Hanson’s debut album, “Gravity” urges listeners to embrace personal truths and confront life’s complexities. “Gravity,” was recorded at the Philville Records studio, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where Andy Hanson is able to silence the noise and continue to write real songs for a reeling world.
Seven Crows is the bold, genre-bending project of Los Angeles violinist and producer Chris Murphy, whose new single ‘Boreal’ is released this Friday (Jan 30th). Seven Crows latest release explores the shifting sands of our lives and how moments, memories, and emotions overlap and transform. Built from a 25-second electric violin loop layered with a second evolving loop, the piece captures what Brian Eno calls “the power of random change.”
Emerging from the vibrant music scene of Nottingham, England, NUTRI3NT is set to captivate audiences once again with his latest original single, “Losing You.” Collaborating with the talented Daniella Goldfine, this cinematic folk pop hit is a testament to NUTRI3NT’s evolving sound and musical prowess. Following the success of his previous BBC Introducing track, NUTRI3NT’s partnership with Daniella Goldfine brings a fresh and emotive quality to his music,resonating with listeners on a deeper level.
Jeremy Engel’s approach is rooted in live performance. Having played the song on stages such as The Bitter End (NYC), The Troubadour (London), and Hard Rock Cafe (Milano) and in 7 different countries in 2025, the goal was to translate that same energy into the recording, without overproducing or correcting what already works in front of an audience.
UK songwriter Lande Hekt finds happiness on her latest album, an indie-pop triumph of lithe melodies and soft, dreamy guitar-pop jangle. The Beths aren’t the only doing it.
Laura Calado’s vocals just pull everything together, moving from that Hope Sandoval enchantment into a melodic Kristin Hersh sharpness without missing an emotion. It’s ethereal and anthemic, moving up and over the oceans into some Middle Eastern dream pop ache and shimmer.
Andra Suchy is an internationally acclaimed singer and songwriter with deep musical roots. A North Dakota farm girl raised in a family of musicians, she’s been holding down a part since age two. Now based in Minneapolis, she has shared the stage with Brad Paisley, Emmylou Harris, Dr. John, John Prine, Yo-Yo Ma, and Nick Lowe. A longtime favorite on the beloved radio show A Prairie Home Companion, Andra has performed at renowned venues including The Ryman Auditorium, SXSW, Town Hall Theater, Wolf Trap, and First Avenue.
Rather than offering narrative certainty, the album invites reflection, positioning itself as a space to inhabit rather than a statement to decode. In doing so, ‘Holy Island’ is a striking and assured debut, one that feels timeless in its restraint and quietly ambitious in its scope.
This is music for the interior life, a soundtrack for those moments of stillness that occur just before twilight.
Baby Condor steps into the spotlight with their self-titled debut EP, a six-track introduction to a rich, melodic world shaped by harmony, analogue warmth, and timeless songwriting. Led by the single “Dreaming of the Day”, the EP invites listeners to disappear into a sun-soaked, melancholic journey across American highways, coastal roads, and hazy canyon evenings, a place where memory, longing, and reflection gently collide.
NYC-born, LA-based singer, songwriter, and producer Ally Bakst returns with her latest single, “Look So Pretty,” a darkly alluring alt-pop track that blurs the line between vulnerability and self-protection. Known for her raspy, enigmatic vocals and immersive electronic soundscapes, Bakst delivers a song that feels intimate, cinematic, and quietly confrontational, lingering long after the final note fades.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ecuadorian-American artist James Laurent never set out to be a musician, let alone an independent album artist navigating the chaos of Los Angeles. Now 26, the RIAA Certified Gold engineer and producer turns inward with his latest 8-track album, Laugh at the Tragedy, a stark, emotionally raw indie-electric rock record shaped by burnout, heartbreak, addiction, and an unflinching sense of irony.
Dave Douglas’ Four Freedoms follows the trumpeter/composer/label owner’s usual protocol: provide a set of sturdy original tunes to an exceptionally talented ensemble, and lead by example in balancing melody and improvisation.
Florence-based synthwave project Out Run unveils their highly anticipated 12-track debut album_ Past Lives_ alongside the energetic and reflective title single “Past Lives.” The album and single mark a major step in Out Run’s journey, fusing cinematic 80s-inspired synth textures with contemporary production and emotionally charged songwriting.
… this release presents a focused portrait of The Bevis Frond in 2026; vital, tuneful, and entirely unburdened by nostalgia. It is an original and uncompromising statement that reaffirms Saloman’s status as a visionary outsider whose instinctual songwriting remains as sharp as ever.
‘Melborn’ is a record that manages to be both intellectually stimulating and deeply resonant, a rare feat in a genre often preoccupied with technical prowess at the expense of soul.
Through this reissue, we see a bold declaration of independence from an artist who proved that whether he was backed by a flickering circuit board or a screaming amplifier, his aesthetic remained an uncompromising, singular beacon of outsider art.
“The Return” announces Shesgot’s new album, A House Into a Body, out February 20, 2026, on Geneva-based Urgence Disk and Loop Collective. The Return arises from the bones of Afro-Cuban music mixed with contemporary Gilla Band – style sounds, a rhythmic dialogue that finds breathing space once all the instruments settle in, then gains final momentum on a Bark Psychosis/Seefeel-esque journeys.
Throughout the record, the production remains lean, favoring raw textures over polished artifice. It is a testament to Vega’s singular vision that these songs feel both ancient and avant-garde, rooted in the foundational myths of rock and roll while simultaneously tearing them apart.
The record operates as a sonic study of the nearness of things; the breath between two people, the uncomfortable closeness of one’s own anxieties, and the tangible texture of a live band playing in a room where the air feels heavy with intent.
The rhythmic patterns throughout the EP suggest a sophisticated dialogue with the original New York No-Wave scene, yet they opt for a controlled geometry rather than the total tonal collapse of their predecessors. Where No-Wave used rhythm as a weapon of nihilistic chaos, Clone utilizes it as a structural grid.
As a final release before retirement, The Best of JustFolk 2012–2025 stands as a perfectly fitting tribute to the ambitions and aims of this trio, and it doesn’t chase legacy or reinvention. Instead, it offers a sincere second look at songs that trust their own weight, and invites listeners to meet them where they are.
“I Choose to Be Free” is a song written from a place of deep respect and admiration for people who stand up for their freedom, dignity, and independence.
The song was written and composed by Alex Solo, driven by the idea that freedom is not an abstract concept, but a personal choice — something people are willing to fight for when it truly matters. Across the world, we see individuals and entire nations showing courage, resilience, and resistance in the face of pressure. That spirit became the emotional core of this track.
Elephant Moon is the project of Danish singer-songwriter Anders Dal, creating melancholic indie-folk that moves between dreamlike expanses and stripped-back intensity. With lo-fi warmth, layered guitar work, and emotionally direct songwriting, Elephant Moon focuses on simplicity and sincerity
As a whole, ‘Guppy’ is an emotionally intelligent record that thrives on subtlety and intention. Sweet Tooth understand that impact doesn’t require excess; instead, they focus on careful songwriting, expressive performances, and a clear emotional through-line.
For listeners who crave music that feels vivid, unfiltered, and emotionally unrestrained, this release is more than just a collection of songs; it’s a cathartic rush, a reminder of how powerful sound can be when it hits you not just in the ears, but beneath the skin.
Lyrically, “Angel” reframes the idea of salvation not as a singular divine presence, but as the everyday acts of care we receive from others: a message, a conversation, a shared moment of understanding.
It’s a confident, emotionally grounded release that proves The R.E.S.E.A.R.C.H. know how to craft pop-forward alt rock with both heart and bite, and it contains the promise of a lot of future potential for this trio.
It’s an almost unthinkable gamble to turn Hole into trip hop, but it pays off magnificently.
This is music shaped by time, meditation, and sustained focus, and for listeners seeking a contemplative yet richly detailed sonic journey, UNFOLDING offers a rare and rewarding experience.
US Roots Rocker DownTown Mystic has just released the “Hard Enough (Remix)” Single. The single features the Rock’n‘Roll Hall of Fame rhythm section from Bruce Springsteen’s legendary E Street Band*—drummer *“Mighty” Max Weinberg & bassist Garry Tallent. The single is the 1st release from the upcoming On E Street Remix project and will be distributed worldwide by The Orchard/Sony Music.
The Amanda Emblem Experiment formed in 2017, based in South East Queensland. Fronted by Amanda Emblem, the band performs a combination of original Folk, Rock, Blues and Roots music, with Amanda on lead vocals and guitar, Kelly King on harmonica, flute and vocals, Billy Adams on drums and vocals, Scott Astill on bass with a variety of live guests including Moses King on Lead Guitar. They perform live at local venues and Festivals having released four original albums, the most recent The Wood in Sept 2025.
Dulcimer visionary Sam Edelston has announced the release of his groundbreaking debut album, Making Waves. This bold new project marks the first-ever album to feature the dulcimer as the leading instrument on classic rock music in a rock band setting, pushing the boundaries of what the traditionally folk-associated instrument can achieve.
Yann Tiersen has long since abandoned the whimsical street corners of Paris for the salt-stung isolation of the Atlantic, and his 2025 double release, ‘Rathlin from a Distance / The Liquid Hour,’ marks the final shedding of his cinematic skin.
‘Eye of the Storm’ is more than a collection of songs; it is a cyclical celebration of growth and a deep breath of life. By embracing vulnerability and stripping away unnecessary polish in favor of raw, home-grown textures, Georgia Harmer has created an indie-folk portrait that feels both handwritten and universal.
‘Echo In The Dust’ is a work of revelation found in the fading light, capturing an artist who has moved out of the shadow of her influences to find her stride, embracing her own contradictions and successfully staying out of her own way.
Mute Swan have created an album that rewards not through grand gestures, but through nuance, patience, and an unwavering commitment to mood. ‘Skin Slip’ lingers because it understands that some experiences are not meant to be explained, only felt, then carried forward.
2. No Wave Gaze is not background music. It’s an immersive, demanding listen that confirms Vitelli’s commitment to exploration and his refusal to repeat himself.
Unsettling, beautiful, and deeply human, mother’s day is the sound of an artist who has walked through devastation and returned with hard-earned truth, offering comfort without compromise.
At its core, REDEMPTION is the sound of an artist moving forward at full speed, aware of everything they’ve lost but even more focused on what’s still possible.
Whiskey General is fronted by Jay Serrao, a British artist whose background as a Gulf War refugee and long-standing touring musician informs the emotional core of the album. Serrao has supported artists including Idlewild, Billy Bragg, Scouting for Girls, and Doves, and has worked with organisations including Universal Music, BBC, ITV, and Disney.
“Nobody’s Home” follows Franxie’s debut single “Fucking Around”, which explored autonomy and self-determination. Where that release was more confrontational, Nobody’s Home documents emotional withdrawal and stillness, showing another side of the same project.
Veteran folk singer-songwriter Doug Mishkin delivers one of his most direct and unsettling statements to date with “If They’d Been Black,” a searing response to the January 6, 2021 insurrection and the racial inequities it laid bare. The song appears on Mishkin’s latest album, Tip of the Spear, a collection of socially conscious and deeply personal songs rooted in the American folk tradition.
Throughout the evening, LSD and the Search for God demonstrated why their limited discography holds such immense depth. Their music is not about nostalgia, volume, or spectacle, it is about immersion, about dissolving the boundaries between audience, stage, and sound.
The literary and philosophical influences that accompany the record are not decorative references; they echo its central preoccupation: the impossibility of fully grasping what happens to us as it unfolds.
This transition from small-room folk to a more robust pop-rock landscape demonstrates a significant growth in their production vocabulary, aided by the use of real tape saturation and analog delay units that give the guitars a worn, nostalgic patina.
By embracing vulnerability and stripping away unnecessary polish, Mangan has created an indie-folk portrait that feels exactly as the title suggests: recorded in natural light.
Tracing the evolution of their songwriting reveals a journey from the more grounded, indie-rock foundations of their debut toward an increasingly symphonic and long-form philosophy.
“Black White Red” is the new single from Oxfordshire alt-rock band Wilderness States led by singer Shauna Reed. Black White Red is the latest in a run of singles from Wilderness States, a group that has quickly grown to be one of THE hotly tipped bands on the ever-thriving Oxford scene.
Goddamn Wolves is an indie rock band from Raleigh, North Carolina. Vocal duties are shared by guitarist Chris Weilding and bass player Laura McCullough. This often invites comparisons to classic alternative acts such as Pixies, Versus and X. However, in addition to being influenced by these bands, Goddamn Wolves is also very much invested in current indie rock sounds, resulting in what The Big Takeover called “the sound of the rock genre being polished, tweaked and brought up to sonic speed.”
Paris-based singer-songwriter Tim d’Aboville has released his debut EP, Reflets, now out. The five-track EP is a warm folk-pop project that introduces Tim’s signature sound: acoustic-driven songs, emotional lead vocals, and modern textures, rooted in a deep exploration of love, faith, and human connection.
Her debut single, ‘Thinking of You,’ earned support from a range of indie blogs and radio stations — highlighted by coverage from Flex and several spins on Amazing Radio in the UK and US. It marked the first wave of momentum as her audience began to grow. The new release “I Don’t Mind” (out January 23, 2026) reveals a sharper, louder side of that universe — indie-rock with a subtle punk bite, raw and sarcastic, threaded with trumpet lines that bring a strangely human warmth to the chaos.
Cyanotype, (produced by John Agnello*- *Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr. – and mixed by Brian Deck – Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine) is a blue impression of white-hot moments in early adulthood. The album continues the band’s signature hooky guitar parts and narrative lyricism with a more mature sound. “Philosophy Test” elucidates an ironic multiple-choice exam and explores the dangers of accepting objective truths shaped by me and thousands of years ago. Guitars on Paperdoll form a crunchy wall of sound behind a description of a two-dimensional relationship. Agnes Uncaged presents a new era with an ambitious record that won’t be pinned down, and doesn’t need to be.
Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, and producer Dawn Derow announces the release of her new single, “Everything’s Gonna Be All Right,” a vibrant and soulful reimagining of the 1988 Tuck & Patti classic written by Patti Cathcart and Tuck Andress. Featuring acclaimed guitarist Sean Harkness on acoustic guitar and backing vocals, the single—along with its accompanying music video—will be released on January 23, 2026.
For Scenes From Above, his fifth Blue Note disk, Lage assembles a new band, composing material specifically for this combo of players.
Fundamentally, ‘Gala’ is a document of a band figuring out how to balance pop sensibility with sonic extremity. It captures a moment where the coziness of the dream-pop aesthetic was still dangerous and physically imposing.
“SPIT” by St. Divine is the lead single from the band’s first LP, scheduled for release 3.20.26. SPIT is an aggressive, riotous tune marked by St. Divine’s hallmark rapid-fire dual vocals and explores themes of anger and frustration that resonate with both relationships and society at large. The garage punk track opens by simultaneously demanding escape through vices (I need a drink, I need a smoke) followed by incredulity (need you to tell me this is not a joke).
From Scotland , but now living in rural Australia, Coolonaut creates analogue Psychedelic Mod Music for the era in which we live . Inspired by the greats of the past and fuelled by the increasing absurdity of the world around us
The session captures a band in full command of their craft, able to honor the urgency of live performance while subtly expanding the contours of their songwriting. The record underscores the value of attentive listening. It rewards focus, revealing details that might otherwise pass unnoticed in the flux of broadcast.
Olina is a greek London-based jewellery designer (Drool Jewel) and indie songwriter whose work lives between sarcasm and sincerity. Her music blends cathartic indie rock anger with soft folk existential dread. Her upcoming EP, By The Book (releasing Jan 21st), documents the fragmented experience of growing up between cultures, told through a wry, poetic lens.
On Convergence, the former bottom-holder for Nik Bartsch’s Ronin and frequent sidedude for Anouar Brahem uses his six-string bass more subtly, even meditatively, plucking out shimmering melodies and slowly unfolding grooves.
Critically acclaimed poet and songwriter Larry Beckett announces the release of his fifth album, Though We Have Only Love: The Songs of Jacques Brel, a tribute to the legendary Belgian singer and actor Jacques Brel. Out January 9, 2026 via The Orchard/Sony, the album reimagines 14 of Brel’s iconic 1950s and ’60s chansons in a contemporary alt-rock style while staying true to their original melodies and harmonies.
What makes the album resonate is its refusal to package its themes in cliché. This is not an album about escape or triumph; it’s about engagement, with oneself, with others, and with the oft‑messy space where those encounters happen.
This release isn’t about what The Motorcycle Boy failed to become. It’s about what they already were: a band capable of writing concise, affecting songs that trusted subtlety over spectacle.
What makes the ‘Truth’ reissue compelling today is its timelessness. Its dreamy textures, contemplative pacing, and emotional poise resonate with listeners now as it did on first release. ‘Truth’ demands attentive listening, inviting engagement not just with the music, but with oneself.
In the end, listening to ‘Tiny Shapes / A Room Forever’ is like stepping into a parallel pop history that never existed, or perhaps a history that always quietly simmered beneath the mainstream. It is an album that rewards keen ears and a love of detail.
TAGABOW’s evolution from synthetic maximalism to raw humanism is complete, creating an album that is simultaneously massive, intimate, and unflinchingly honest. It is the clearest articulation yet of why They Are Gutting A Body of Water remain one of the most vital forces in American shoegaze.
Delving into the essence of “When Alone,” Matare drew inspiration from a rich tapestry of influences that prioritize emotional resonance and subtlety over flashy production. Echoes of bands like The Cure, New Order, and The Smiths can be felt in the moody atmospheres and deliberate pacing, while contemporary artists like Wild Nothing inform the delicate balance between intimacy and restraint.
Miller and Jones don’t frame Sunroof as a legacy project, and ‘Vol. 3’ makes clear why. This isn’t a summation of past achievements; it’s a continuation of curiosity. Each track begins from zero, with no thematic blueprint beyond the act of listening to the machines, to each other, to the moment itself.
Adamson provides more than a mere accompaniment; he constructs an immersive descent into a vanished London subculture, distilling the spirit of late-night rebellion into a visceral, unvarnished sonic archive that feels as vital as the flickering specters it haunts.
What makes ‘Big Ugly’ remarkable isn’t just its specificity, though the gas stations, highways, and first-name characters feel uncannily real, but its generosity. Dowdy writes from a position that is both insider and outsider, loving the South without mythologizing it, critiquing it without condescension.
What makes ‘Diamond Grove’ so compelling is its emotional clarity beneath the abstraction. Despite the layers of noise, processing, and conceptual weight, the record remains deeply grounded in human presence.
Martin Kuiper’s musical journey is no ordinary story. He released his first song in 2023, at the age of 49, and since then, his musical output has remained steady, with the folk rock album “To Feel Is To Believe,” the live EP “To Hear Is To Believe,” and the five-track EP “Dreaming Of Sea Of Time.” Now it’s time to rock for Martin Kuiper, with “Time” and “Ego” as his first two impressive trump cards.
Canadian-born composer/pianist Jeff Vidov (pronounced Vee-daw-v) has been releasing new music singles from his upcoming 2CD rock/pop album in 2025, a mammoth project that has been in the works for years. His brand new single is “TAKE A RIDE” and it was preceded by his last singles “LOVE”, “New York I’m coming to you”, “Can u get the vibe from me baby?” and “State of Innocence” and “All nite long” and “Running in Place” and “Oh mi da dey di” all recorded at his recording studio in Toronto with Canadian musicians.
The pop punk/pop rock band, The Unfamiliars?, return with a nostalgic new single, written in the heart of winter, about the summer memories that keep us going. “Bottles” is the band’s 4th single, preceding the release of their debut full-length album, which will happen in February 2026. With consistency and a clear artistic vision, The Unfamiliars? remain visually committed to a vintage VHS-inspired aesthetic, blending it with the song’s nostalgic theme and its bittersweet melodies.
From the Bay Area (re-)emerges a guitarist whose skill and distinctive sound make it surprising he isn’t more well-known, especially in guitar nerd circles.
George Collins is a Prague-based singer/songwriter whose music speaks to the second act of life with wit, depth, and infectious hooks. After decades in a high-powered international finance career, Collins returned to his first love — music. What began as an impromptu Fourth of July performance reignited a fire that has since produced a critically acclaimed debut EP It’s Been a Long Time, the fan-favorite Songs for Grown-ups, and now a full-length follow-up, New Ways of Getting Old, released track by track over the next two years.
At a sold-out City Winery, Richard Barone and Tammy Faye Starlite hosted a warm “Jillith Fair” celebration of the first birthday memorial of their friend, the late singer-songwriter @JillSobule (who tragically passed away last May) and her multitudinous talents with impressive contributions from a community of musical friends she attracted throughout her 35+ year career.
“Devil’s Got Your Soul” delves into the profound realization of battling inner demons such as addiction, fear, and self-destructive patterns. This introspective track embodies raw honesty and emotional depth, resonating with audiences on a visceral level. Recorded at the Hazy Cosmic Jive Studio in Newcastle, NSW, the unique recording process of this single showcases Mangy Mutt’s raw talent and authentic artistic approach, setting him apart in the music industry.
Blending interpretive depth with surefooted songwriting instinct, Sasha Joy unveils her most compelling and vocally daring release to date: “To Stay.” Both timeless and forward-reaching, “To Stay” arrives with the calm confidence of an artist entering her own league, offering a sound that is emotionally arresting, musically expansive, and instantly memorable.
Following the momentum of his fancurated album By Special Request and the international attention garnered by “When He Speaks,” which climbed to #4 on the Euro Indy Artist Radio Network, Bill Barlow returns with his most ambitious and accomplished project yet: Out of Obscurity.
This is not an album designed for instant gratification or playlist skimming. Its pleasures are cumulative, rewarding repeated listens with new emotional angles and sonic details.
What distinguishes ‘Corporate Minute’ is its disciplined sense of restraint. The songs resist the temptation to overstate their purpose. Instead, they rely on texture, pacing, and subtle shifts in dynamics to carry emotional weight.
While the lyrics inhabit the fluorescent hum of stale convenience store air and the boredom of rural stagnation that assist in painting a portrait of small-town life that feels both lived-in and ghostly in tracks like “Blue Déjà Vu” and “Mr. Wine”…
By oscillating between walls of feedback and intricate guitar work, Hell of a Life has created a track that mirrors the cycle of its title, marking a massive step forward for the band and a standout addition to the contemporary heavy-alternative scene.
By synthesizing Reaganite paranoia with a deeply British sense of domestic absurdity, Dry Cleaning has created a work that captures the specific, fractured frequency of living in the 2020s by evoking the jagged, high-alert sound of early 1980s American hardcore and punk bands who were reacting to a world that felt increasingly dangerous and deceptive.
It feels like the lights being turned off in a familiar room, the kind of calm that comes not from answers but from understanding when to stop asking.
By the time the album winds down, it’s clear that Florry isn’t chasing perfection or timelessness. They’re chasing connection, the kind that happens when songs are big enough to hold both joy and dread at once.
Australian alternative rock outfit Highroad No. 28 turn the spotlight toward “Likethelast,” a standout track distributed worldwide via The Orchard (Sony Music). Built on emotional vocals and cinematic guitar layers, “Likethelast” captures the intensity of connection when every moment feels fragile and fleeting.
Forgotten Garden is a Scottish-Portuguese Indie band (duo+guests). Their songs are generally sad, poignant and haunting. Vocals are provided by Inês, whilst Danny plays most of the instruments. Although primarily an electric band they do sometimes produce acoustic material. Inês lives in her native Portugal, whilst Danny lives in the north of Scotland. They started working together in 2019.
A new single recorded inside Soul Bar in Bethlehem has been released ahead of Peace Sunday and the World Day of Peace, bringing a direct message from the city best known as the birthplace of Christ. The track, released on Future Sound of Fire records, was created in collaboration between musicians from Bethlehem and the UK. Rather than producing a symbolic “peace song” from afar, the artists chose to record in Bethlehem itself—a living city whose people continue to experience the daily realities of conflict.
It is as idiosyncratic, joyous, and occasionally bewildering as Gary Young himself, providing context, narrative, and sound for anyone seeking to understand the man behind Pavement’s early lo-fi sound.
‘The Well’ is a blueprint for how to compile a label’s ethos into a listening experience. Rare and unreleased tracks, live performances, demos, and archival gems all coexist without ever feeling arbitrary.
WOO’s debut remains a reminder that some of the most radical music is made by people content to move quietly, follow instinct, and accept that getting lost might be the whole point.
Heavenly have always understood that pop music can be a vehicle for liberation, and here that idea feels fully realized.
What makes ‘swan’ especially compelling is the tension between its emotional weight and its melodic generosity. McCall has a knack for writing lines that carry disappointment, confusion, or self-doubt without collapsing under them.
Throughout the record, Kestrels balance their heavier impulses with an unexpected melodic sweetness. Echoes of classic harmony-driven pop surface in the chord choices and vocal stacks, giving the songs a sunlit core even when the guitars are snarling.
The new single ‘Nothing Will Stay the Same’ reflects on the state of flux that grips our lives. The one surety is that everything changes; our lovers, friends, and dreams come and go, for better or worse. Their 5th single is an ethereal downtempo slice of dreampop, punctuated with shimmering guitars over a chilled trip-hop beat. On top of all this is Kirsty Dougall’s calming, soulful, seductive voice. This first song of 2026 is part of their second album, which will be fully released later in the year.
Championed by SPIN Magazine and Apple Music, David Cloyd and James Tabbi collaborate on ‘Cage Of Water [Remixes]’ for Stunning New EP on ECR Music Group.
One thing becomes clear: ADORIA is not a band. It is a story, it’s a character taking us through her life journey with its incoherences, inconsistencies, flaws, and not knowing what the last chapter is going to be. Adoria is a reflection of our attempts at letting creativity follow no lead, an experiment let loose, a refusal to repeat oneself, and a desire to push each other’s musical boundaries.
‘Bone of Contention’ serves as a bridge between the foundational era of post-punk and the experimental frontiers of the present.
Dream Archives puts the maverick musician at the head of a new triad that includes bandleaders as eclectic, adventurous, and amazingly talented as himself.
Singer-songwriter *Rich Allen” unveils his deeply personal debut single, “The Ghost We Keep,” a haunting meditation on love, loss, and the enduring presence of departed loved ones. This evocative title track from his upcoming project captures the complex emotional landscape of grief and memory, blending poetic lyrics with soulful melodies.
The son of a Syrian immigrant, born in Alton Illinois, Nourallah has forged a music career not only out of talent but out of sheer willpower. Growing up between two worlds – one side of his family rooted in far-off Syria, the other in the Midwest – can’t help but make a person feel torn. Place the confused party in El Paso with a foot-long foreign name, and lifelong chaos is bound to follow. Nour means light in Arabic. Allah is of course, God.
Stephen Royal’s musical journey began in church choirs and continued through school, encompassing marching band and orchestra. Although he recorded R&B, pop, and hip-hop earlier, his current sound is a unique blend of influences. He describes his music as “crafty, catchy, and meaningful, with a story behind it.
Ratfink’s WHEN U WERE MINE was recorded with a fifty-dollar mic, a hundred-dollar guitar, and a laptop that always looks like it’s underwater cause he managed to pour a beer on it one time. He thinks it gave the tracks a nice lil flavour. Preceded by the singles ‘About Ya’, ‘Gay Song’ and ‘Plastic Bits’, WHEN U WERE MINE is how DIY music should be, a bit loose, a bit rock n roll – and thanks to his partner in crime Liv – a bit sweet.
Wristwatch is back after three years, and this isn’t a comeback—it’s a hit squad kicking the door off its hinges, still perfectly oiled. III, the third full-length from Bobby Hussy fronted four-piece and the first recorded by the full live band with outside engineer—heavy-duty Beau Sorenson behind the desk—shows a band that’s sharpened every edge, ratcheting up the danger.
Whether channeling a vengeful portrait painter in “Madame X” or offering a jazzy, nocturnal benediction in the closing lullaby “The Moon Doesn’t Mind,” Griffin maintains a poise that is rare in modern music.
By layering ancient myths over hyper-processed modern anxieties, Hectorine has created a touchstone for anyone currently navigating their own crisis.
Underlined Passages have returned not simply to occupy a space on a playlist, but to prove that meaningful music still possesses callouses, still carries a heartbeat, and still has an urgent message to deliver.
It is a record that balances an ethereal spirit with hardened edges, marking Babe Lewis as a vital and fearless new voice in the psychedelic-pop landscape. It is lightning in a bottle, captured by an artist who is clearly unafraid of the heat.
The Real Anthem, hailing from Arizona, United States, is a collaborative band project that seamlessly blends alternative rock, post-punk, post-rock, and shoegaze influences to create a dynamic sound characterized by big guitars, heavy textures, and soaring vocals that converge into bright, memorable melodies.
Following hot on the heels of their triumphant debut album Silent Spike (“One of the most important releases of the year” – Plastic Magazine), Ken Woods and The Old Blue Gang are back with their single, “Oh Denise”, a funny and high-spirited romp that combines a deep Texas-swing groove with blazing guitars and quicksilver rhymes.
Bear Jr is an independent artist based in the greater Philadelphia area, creating music that lives at the crossroads of emotional intensity, reflective storytelling, and modern rock energy. With over twenty years of guitar experience and a deep background in acoustic fingerstyle performance, he has spent the past five years shaping a sound that fuses the precision and intimacy of fingerstyle guitar with the explosive dynamics of contemporary alternative and hard rock.
Could there be an alternative timeline in which the early ’90s Bad Seeds covered a song by 16 Horsepower? David Eugene Edwards’ fire & brimstone lyrics given a fresh, manic energy by a young Nick Cave, buoyed by Blixa Bargeld’s brutalist slide guitar? If you can’t imagine it, you might get close with Ralph Beeby & the Elephant Collective’s new single, “Devil on my Shoulder.”
Singer-songwriter Kevin Honold unveils “Honey,” a pulsing, groove-driven indie pop-rock track that blends sensual energy with emotional depth and vivid, metaphor-rich storytelling. The song was written while Honold was living in Seattle during the dark winter months, a time when he found himself dreaming of warmth, light, and summer. Out of that feeling grew a track centered on movement, connection, and gratitude, with a groove that feels alive and magnetic.
Ultimately, ‘Mel’ is a cathartic shield; it offers a safe harbor where even the most quietly dispossessed lives find a moment of peace.
It is a graceful, unpretentious work that manages to be both a tranquil retreat and a rhythmic powerhouse.
‘Peel Sessions 82-83’ is a celebration of a band that refused to be forgotten. This release finally provides the missing link in the story of Scottish female-led bands.
The Mary Onettes haven’t just returned to form, they have transcended it.
Known for their hazy, emotionally resonant songwriting and intimate live performances, The Stray Lions blend dreamy indie rock with candid, introspective storytelling. Looking ahead, the band is preparing to release their follow‑up, Small Talk in Stereo, due out on Blank Verse Records in fall 2026.
It is a genuine pleasure when an artist emerges from a clear-eyed passion and a deep, abiding love for the craft of songwriting. Ker, the musical moniker of Scottish producer and singer-songwriter Barry G.K. Thomson, whose debut single, “Wondering on Giants,” was released on December 1, 2025—a compelling curtain-raiser for the 13-track album, Converging Paths, slated for 2026.
Merging the sophistication of Burt Bacharach with the brooding drama of Depeche Mode, “ASTONISH ME” reflects the numbing opulence and impish cruelty of the powerful. An escalating swell of jaded vocals, distorted guitars, and imperial brass invites comparison to David Bowie or Pulp’s more cinematic orchestrations.
The owner/operator of self-publisher Angry Young Grad Student Music eschews anything remotely fancy in the production in order to keep the focus squarely on his songs.
The Plastic Pals, hailing from Stockholm, Sweden, are a dynamic band that expertly blends fiery twin guitars reminiscent of Television and The Dream Syndicate with powerpop melodies, garage rock grooves, and New York-style psychedelia. Their sardonic and darkly witty lyrics add depth to their soulful and groovy sound, influenced by rock and roll legends ranging from Hank to Hendrix, from the Kinks to Big Star.
Two Dark Birds is a band from the Catskill Mountains led by songwriter Steve Koester and drummer Jason Mills. They are joined by Josh Roy Brown (lap steel), Tyler Wood (keys), Mark Lerner (bass), and Iris Clementine (vocals). Since 2008, they have released four critically acclaimed albums, as well as the 2022 EP Porous. Their fifth LP, Dreamers of the Golden Dream, released in the summer of 2025 on Vfib Recordings.
Until the House Falls is an absorbing, daring work that invites repeat listens and rewards curiosity.
Reduction in Force announces the release of their latest single, “Images of Heaven” (IoH) a reimagining of a classic early 80’s synth tour de force by Peter Godwin. RiF’s version of IoH is a remake from the ground up. With a chiming guitar leading the way, multiple layers are stacked upon each other to create a portal to another world. A world that shares the DNA of the original but blossoms into something completely modern. A world that acknowledges so many of the unkept promises from our youth, but still reveals a vision of what life could be.
Ambitious and sincere, Humanimal is an album that invites listeners to dance, think, and reconnect.
StarletSte Official blends raw emotion with haunting melodies, creating a unique sound rooted in dark country and blues. Known for soulful storytelling and a voice that cuts through the noise, StarletSte brings a modern edge to old soul.
The Real Zenogram released his streaming debut “Mirabeau” on December 12, 2025. The track sets Guillaume Apollinaire’s 1913 French poem “Le Pont Mirabeau” to vintage synthesizers and dream pop textures—a song written 30 years ago that’s finally seeing release.
If I knew nothing about this band, I’d guess it was a ’90s indie group. At no point does it ever sound imitative, but at times I hear echoes of Liz Phair, Nirvana, Blake Babies, and (when her voice is quieter and the guitars shoegazey) Nightblooms—but always more raw, more nakedly expressive, more in-your-face in the best way: yes, noisy.
Sheffield’s most exciting alt-indie export, The Kellows, ring in the New Year with the release of their definitive new single, ‘Eve’, arriving on January 5th, 2026. Following the meteoric rise of their previous release ‘Breathe Me In’—and the industry-shaking buzz of their breakthrough ‘Do You Want Me To?’—the Steel City four-piece are no longer just “ones to watch.”
Reverse Symmetry is the result of nearly a decade of songwriting and reflection. The album explores recurring emotional and mental states loops of thought, identity, loss, and reconstruction. It reflects personal transitions, the passage of time, and the tension between control and surrender. The decision to create a bilingual album (English and Portuguese) reinforces the concept of symmetry, duality, and perspective.
Saltire sees Bell Barrow embracing a new variety of influences, from the gothic romanticism of Spleen and Ideal-era Dead Can Dance to the introspective drones of latter era Earth, all while retaining the cacophonous fury of the debut. Faster tracks were heavily influenced by early 90s progressive death metal in the vein of Cynic, Spheres-era Pestilence, and Atheist.
Saxophonist Ivo Perelman and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith are undoubtedly two of the most adventurous improvisers in jazz.
Everyone loves a driving song, but this one is fueled by more than motion—it’s driven by grief. The track unfolds from the perspective of someone alone on a long road, using the miles to process the loss of a loved one to cancer, confronting the silence and isolation left in their wake. Mixed and produced by Darryll McFadyen (Belle & Sebastian, Simple Minds) with Montreal-based studio musician Marcelo Effori stepping in for the drumming. The lyrics for this track were written by Canadian novelist, Geoff Moore, who recently released a novella called Sunset Oasis Confidential.
To listen to ‘Everything Is Green’ in 2026 is to be reminded that pop music can be both intellectually rigorous and unashamedly sweet. It is a record of delicate melodies that have survived the erosion of time with its charm entirely intact.
By finally granting it the permanence of wax, Dust and Memory has ensured that this document of the psychedelic underground remains a living, breathing influence rather than a peripheral artifact.
Hour of Pearl, a San Diego punk rock band, formed from the bond of friendship and past collaborations. Evan, Bird, and Craig joined forces once again, this time adding Mark on bass, to create an exhilarating and fun musical experience. Brace yourself for an electrifying rock journey with Hour of Pearl!
The Mortal Prophets, the shape-shifting project led by New York composer and interdisciplinary artist John Beckmann, announces the release of Hide Inside the Moon, a new 16-track full-length that pushes the project further into vaporous, nocturnal terrain. The album marks the fourteenth full-length release from The Mortal Prophets—arriving alongside numerous EPs and singles issued steadily since the project began in 2021.
“Off to Venezuela” is a satirical industrial-punk anthem about military intervention, oil, and the absurdity of modern geopolitics. Join Baron Von Strut and the crew as they navigate the Caribbean in a fever dream of naval power and questionable foreign policy.
Aleph is a Cyprus-based metal artist whose work thrives at the intersection of genres. Having made music since the early 2000s, he draws from more than two decades of experience—part formal training, part self-taught evolution—to craft a sound that is entirely his own.
Taking a new approach, writing and recording on the fly in the studio, post-punk and darkwave merchants Palais Ideal find inspiration in spontaneity on their thrilling and captivating fourth album.