Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore - “Stardust”
A standout from the overall extremely nice new collaborative record from Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore, two of the best ambient/new age/experimental etc. artists going.
Talking Heads - “Love Goes to a Building on Fire (CBS/Columbia Demo)”
I’ve always loved "Love → Building on Fire,” an early single that is often tacked on to the end of the first Talking Heads record. All this time I didn’t really know how to pronounce the arrow in the song title but I never would have guessed “goes to a” would have been it, Anyways this demo version is the first song released from a forthcoming triple CD boxset featuring a bunch of Talking Heads rarities that I’m gonna devour when it comes out next month.
Finis Africae - “Hybla”
This one grabbed me while revisiting the extremely sick compilation La Ola Interior: Spanish Ambient & Acid Exoticism 1983-1990 released by Swiss label Les Disques Bongo Joe back in 2021. The whole comp is chock full of mind expanding experimental gems birthed from a new creative class in Spain that formed soon after the death of Franco in 1975.
I’ve always loved "Love → Building on Fire,” an early single that is often tacked on to the end of the first Talking Heads record. All this time I didn’t really know how to pronounce the arrow in the song title but I never would have guessed “goes to a” would have been it, Anyways this demo version is the first song released from a forthcoming triple CD boxset featuring a bunch of Talking Heads rarities that I’m gonna devour when it comes out next month.
This one grabbed me while revisiting the extremely sick compilation La Ola Interior: Spanish Ambient & Acid Exoticism 1983-1990 released by Swiss label Les Disques Bongo Joe back in 2021. The whole comp is chock full of mind expanding experimental gems birthed from a new creative class in Spain that formed soon after the death of Franco in 1975.
True Green - “My Peccadilloes”
I was reading about True Green’s new album Hail Disaster, out in March, and after playing the hanful of singles from that record for a few days, I went backwards and checked out his first LP, My Lost Decade. You would not believe the velocity at which this song was added to this playlist after first hearing the chorus, this is just unfathomably my kind of shit.
Maria Somerville - “Up (Fatshaudi Remix)”
The dramatic synth line layered over “Up,” a glacial late-album highlight on 2025’s Luster, is absolutely irresistible. There’s a lot of other interesting stuff happening on the new companion remix EP but this track’s undoubtedly my favorite.
Doll Spirit Vessel - “Kissing My Cup”
Over the last month or two Philadelphia’s Doll Spirit Vessel have released a pair of very nice Hop Along-core indie rock songs, “Kissing My Cup” and “Godless.” Both songs have cool, lush instrumentation and sort of idiosyncratic vocals, and are apparently advance singles from an album that is probably called Bow and is probably coming out on March 3rd.
Over the last month or two Philadelphia’s Doll Spirit Vessel have released a pair of very nice Hop Along-core indie rock songs, “Kissing My Cup” and “Godless.” Both songs have cool, lush instrumentation and sort of idiosyncratic vocals, and are apparently advance singles from an album that is probably called Bow and is probably coming out on March 3rd.
Sluice - “Beadie”
In my opinion, Sluice’s underrated 2023 record Radial Gate did the whole Americana-tinged-indie-rock-adjacent-to-the-general-orbit-of-the-Wednesday-extended-universe thing better than most, so a new LP the horizon is welcome news around these parts. “Beadie” is the first glimpse of their new record, Companion, out in a few months via the very cool Mtn Laurel Recording Co.
In my opinion, Sluice’s underrated 2023 record Radial Gate did the whole Americana-tinged-indie-rock-adjacent-to-the-general-orbit-of-the-Wednesday-extended-universe thing better than most, so a new LP the horizon is welcome news around these parts. “Beadie” is the first glimpse of their new record, Companion, out in a few months via the very cool Mtn Laurel Recording Co.
Kitchen - “Useless Heart (Demo)”
I spent a lot of January on a pretty huge Kitchen kick, endlessly spinning their sprawling lofi opus Blue heeler in ugly snowlight, grey on gray on gray on white when I noticed 4 Tape Demos from "Heeler" on their Bandcamp, a short demo collection featuring a great version of Heeler standout “Useless Heart.” Love that feedback solo!
I spent a lot of January on a pretty huge Kitchen kick, endlessly spinning their sprawling lofi opus Blue heeler in ugly snowlight, grey on gray on gray on white when I noticed 4 Tape Demos from "Heeler" on their Bandcamp, a short demo collection featuring a great version of Heeler standout “Useless Heart.” Love that feedback solo!
One Wheel Fireworks Show - “Jarrett’s House”
I’m pleased to announce that just a few weeks into 2026 we’ve already found one of my favorite albums of the year, One Wheel Fireworks Show's Jason, eternal. I’m crazy about Will Cole’s vivid songwriting and unique ear for texture, bolstered by Wednesday/MJ Lenderman pedal steel ringer Xandy Chelmis and the production work/additional instrumentation from Horse Combinations favorite Colin Miller.
I’m pleased to announce that just a few weeks into 2026 we’ve already found one of my favorite albums of the year, One Wheel Fireworks Show's Jason, eternal. I’m crazy about Will Cole’s vivid songwriting and unique ear for texture, bolstered by Wednesday/MJ Lenderman pedal steel ringer Xandy Chelmis and the production work/additional instrumentation from Horse Combinations favorite Colin Miller.
That's all for January! Back sooner than you can imagine to talk about some cool songs listened to in February! Check the full Jan '26 playlist below.