Following his 2024 debut, Backwater Collage, James Hoare (Ultimate Painting, Veronica Falls) returns as Penny Arcade. Watch the video for “Rear View Mirror”, the lead single from his forthcoming album ‘Double Exposure,’ which arrives on April 17th via Tapete Records. Described as a hallucinogenic journey through English psychedelia and lo-fi experimentation, the album prioritises immediacy over perfection; an album high on vibe.

Yorkshire singer-songwriter Chris Brain announces his new album, Red Sun Rising, out May 1st on Big Sun Records. Rooted in the British pastoral tradition, the record explores themes of hope and renewal through intimate acoustic textures. “…The red sun will always rise in the east and set in the west—a reminder that we all want the same things from life.”

Philadelphia indie stalwart Michael Cormier-O’Leary has announced his new solo EP, Proof Enough, arriving February 25 via Dear Life Records. Featuring lead single “Marilyn,” a haunting three-part harmony exploration of family domesticity, the six-track collection blends autobiography with speculative fiction. Recorded largely in his basement, the EP serves as a raw, intimate testament to the complexities of familial bonds.

Ye Vagabonds return with “Danny,” a poignant single and Ellius Grace-directed video from their upcoming album All Tied Together, out January 30th, an album that marks a significant shift toward original songwriting. Featuring cello and harmonium, the track celebrates a life failed by society – based on a troubled Carlow boy who, Diarmuid says, “didn’t get a fair run. I wanted to celebrate him.”

In Dream Life, Marta Del Grandi crafts a captivating art-pop landscape where reality and imagination blur. Moving beyond the “oil painting” textures of Selva, this album embraces a detailed, contemporary “photobook” style. From the staccato energy of the rhythmic single “Antarctica” to the hazy, shifting title track, Del Grandi delivers a sophisticated, ground-breaking collection that redefines pop music for 2026.

Drag City unearths Echo Park, a long-lost collection of “glitter-light” pop from LA jazz legend Tommy Peltier. Mixed and mastered by Jim O’Rourke, the album captures Peltier’s 1970s transition into a soulful troubadour. Lead single “Flight of the Dancer,” out now, is a lush, 1976-tracked ballad featuring ethereal vocals and sensuous slide guitar reminiscent of George Harrison.

From street-busking in Carlow to collaborating with Boygenius, Ye Vagabonds’ journey culminates in ‘All Tied Together.’ Releasing January 30, their fourth album swaps traditional covers for deeply personal original songwriting. Produced by Phil Weinrobe, it’s a masterful blend of earthy folk and experimental textures—shimmering synths and soaring strings—capturing the grit of their past and the warmth of home.

Lande Hekt’s Lucky Now marks a sophisticated evolution for twee pop. Blending the political optimism of Amelia Fletcher with the introspection of Sarah Records, Hekt expands the genre’s boundaries using 90s alt-rock grit and sparkling production. From the jangly title track to the sharp social commentary of “Circular,” these three-minute gems establish Hekt as a highly individual, accomplished artist.

A deep dive into the music and influence of Anne Briggs with rare live footage, interview, and an extensive four-hour playlist featuring both her music and those she has influenced (Also available on KLOF Mag’s Substack).

Flutist Rachel Beetz returns with Tone Keepers, on February 6. The album track “Reverb” explores an “alien harmonic orbit” built from spacious multiphonics and cyclical breath. Beetz treats sound as physical touch—a transduction of energy through air to the eardrum. Experience the album in full at Rhizome DC on February 4, featuring a large ensemble including Animal Collective’s Geologist and Alma Laprida.

“low clouds hang, this land is on fire” is such a beguiling album; the music is gentle and beautiful in places, yet you know there are turbulent emotions beneath the surface. Only an artist with perfect control of their medium could bring so much meaning into and invite so much interpretation from solo guitar music. This is spellbinding and significant; Tashi Dorji operating at the highest level.

French folk artist Aure unveils “A ti te tengo,” a rhythmic Spanish-language single from her debut album printemps, out March 20th via Mayway Records. Moving from architecture to minimalist music, Aure crafts a “discreet love song” that celebrates finding beauty after the storm. The track’s repetitive guitar and intimate vocals highlight a delicate, multilingual sound inspired by Sibylle Baier and Leonard Cohen.