INDISPENSABLE NEW MUSIC PICKS
February 2026
by Kristine England
Feb 28, 2026
A Semblance of Return
Asher Gamedze is a drummer, composer and bandleader based in Cape Town, South Africa. His work as a cultural worker strenthen his strong community ties with music, history, and education. Gamedze's sound explores African music traditions as well as jazz and other forms while keeping topical interests close. JazzTimes notes, "It’s not at all an album weighed down by social concerns; the music is bright and energetic, but the issues are real."
FEATURED TRACK: "Following Up"
Ulrika Spacek
Expo
Ulrika Spacek was formed from several Reading, UK area bands over changes to its name and personnel over more than a decade, with Rhys Edwards, Joseph Stone being the core constant of the group. Earning a following as a psych rock band, the five-piece has continued to evolve. Its fourth and latest release is a more experimental affair, pushing boundaries with trip hop, jungle and other electronic subgenres. DIY notes the music is "sitting somewhere in the space between analogue warmth and digital tension." Some critics have noted a certain Radiohead vibe, which is not entirely unwarranted. It's certainly a fascinating listen.
FEATURED TRACK: "Picto"
Apparat
A Hum Of Maybe
It's been six years since Apparat's quartet of soundtrack releases and four since Sascha Ring's collaboration Modeselektor with on Moderat's More D4ta. The intervening years found Ring suffering from creative paralysis, admitting that he "wasn’t just unable to write, I started avoiding the studio altogether.” The process of finding his way back through forcing himself to write a song a day has brought to fruition his new album, A Hum of Maybe. Deeply personal, the work is a highly textured and emotional reclamation of his true calling through both electronic and acoustic instrumentation.
FEATURED TRACK: "A Hum Of Maybe"
Silversun Pickups
Tenterhooks
Produced by Bruce Vig, the LA quartet has released its seventh album, Tenterhooks. After 26 years, the group has toned down the distortion and offers up some grooves sure to please, which Tinnitist hails as "an emotionally charged and unapologetic collection of 10 tracks appropriate for the times, yet as timeless as anything they’ve done."
FEATURED TRACK: "The Wreckage"
Dominique Fils-Aimé
My World Is the Sun
The versatile, award-winning Canadian vocalist first explored blues on her 2018 debut, Nameless. Since then she has traversed jazz and soul to arrive at a place where all these genres intersect. Her expressive voice caresses while retaining emotional honesty that is all too rare in female singers these days. It's a genuine pleasure to hear artistry instead of conformity.
FEATURED TRACKS: "Phoenix Rising / The River"