Listens: May 2026
My favourite music of the month, described based on how it made me feel
Ten of my favourite albums this month for you to dive into. As usual, each is tagged by how it makes me feel, who you may know that sounds similar to it, and what genre(s) it is. Playlist at the bottom which you can save.
In our post-Pitchfork-privatisation world, if anyone you know is stuck for where to find music recommendations for free, send them this way! Who knows, they may find their next favourite artist :)
Big love!
Hekt - Forever
Hot-as-hell bombastic 2010s pop-techno revelation from yet another wondrous Copenhagen export. All hits, no misses; hedonistic, excessive, incredible!
Feels like: a big bottle of WKD
For fans of: SOPHIE, Rustie, Hudson Mohawke
Genre: techno pop, electro pop
Charbel Haber - May a soft sun bless your sky while you wait for the inevitable
Huge-sounding, meditative, transportive ambient explorations from Lebanese contemporary composer Charbel Haber. Like the strife and tension that now devastatingly feels part and parcel with Lebanese life, this record is brittle, careful, unexpected and resistant.
Feels like: Words are being said without words
For fans of: Snakeskin, Sigur Rós
Genre: ambient, modern classical
Ana Roxanne - Poem 1
The New York ambient experimentalist releases her most present album to date. Her shimmering vocals are front and centre in the mix for the first time in a while, and they could shatter at any moment. Sparse instrumentation and heart-melting harmonies move us through a story of heartbreak. So, so good.
Feels like: you’re meeting an angel
For fans of: Julee Cruise, Ethel Cain
Genre: Dreampop, Ballad pop, modern classical
Yu Su - Foundry
The Chinese savant’s latest album is a delightful, chewy wade through the depths below. Moments of head-spinning experimentation, moments of calm, moments for the dancefloor. Super cool as always.
Feels like: a genuine experiment
For fans of: upsammy, Martyn, Priori
Genre: Leftfield, dub techno
Marisa Anderson - The Anthology of UnAmerican Folk Music
Nine fascinating interpretations of folk music from South East Asia, Soviet Russia and the Islamic and Arabic World. Anderson shortlisted a set of recordings from countries impacted by America throughout history, and reinterpreted them through her wondrous guitar translations. Music at its best.
Feels like: socio-political commentary without words
For fans of: Johnny Nash, John Fahey
Genre: folk, blues guitar
K Wata - Give U Space
Deeply deep stuff here. Gorgeous, expansive, so far underwater you’re seeing new species. Dub techno at its very best.
Feels like: you’re a cool fish
For fans of: Purelink, Paperclip Minimiser, Deepchord
Genre: dub techno
STROOM Records - Aftermath And Transitions (Traces Of The Ukrainian Underground In Cologne 1994-1996)
Back in 1993, a Cologne collective who ran events inside a disused grain silo received a tape in the post. It contained a swathe of Ukrainian experimental music spanning punk, avant-garde, folk and abrasive grooves. It introduced many of these sounds to the West, and from 1994 onwards, Ukrainian Svitlana Nianio and various Cologne musicians continued this unlikely collaboration, culminating in this.
Feels like: we have a lot more in common than we thought
For fans of: history
Genre: Experimental, folk, punk
Bobby Ingham - Angel of the North
This one’s awesome. 24-year-old Leeds lad Bobby Ingham’s debut LP is a murky ode to West Yorkshire, and occupies that fragmented bass/grime/UKG space with IRL northern vocal samples to boot. Really interesting, introspective piece of work.
Feels like: it’s raining (talent) up north
For fans of: Rainy Miller, Space Afrika
Genre: experimental, grime, bass
Iceage - For Love of Grace & the Hereafter
The Danish post-punk quintet led by Dean Blunt affiliate Elias Rønnenfelt return with a super-Britpoppy sixth album. Worth a listen for the indie-rocky-punky heads.
Feels like: FIFA
For fans of: Fontaines, Geese, Strokes, Double Virgo
Genre: post punk, britpop, indie rock
Jump Source - Fold
Luscious and deep mid-tempo work from Priori and Project Pablo. Spanning deep house, dub, indie-rock and pop structures, this one’s a fun, borderline cheesy lock-in for the summer months.
Feels like: excitement before the weekend
For fans of: Loukeman, Axel Boman
Genre: deep house, indie, pop
You can save all of this music plus everything else I listened to this month here:
To read more of my album recommendation pieces, head here.
Much appreciated
Great list!