Pan-American - “Entrance to Afterlife”
A glitchy, expansive standout from Fly the Ocean in a Silver Plane, a late-career highlight from one of the foundational members of the Kranky Records family and one of my favorite ambient releases of the year so far.
Avalon Emerson & The Charm - “Country Mouse”
Perennial Horse Combinations favorite Avalon Emerson’s Written into Changes has been in pretty frequent rotation in my home for the last month or two and I’m still finding new tracks to be thrilled by. Lately I’ve been all about “Country Mouse,” a propulsive banger buried deep in Side B.
Perennial Horse Combinations favorite Avalon Emerson’s Written into Changes has been in pretty frequent rotation in my home for the last month or two and I’m still finding new tracks to be thrilled by. Lately I’ve been all about “Country Mouse,” a propulsive banger buried deep in Side B.
Setting - “Heard a Bubble”
Despite being really into their debut LP from 2023, I hadn’t thought much about the experimental Americana supergroup Setting in a while. They’re back with a new self titled record that builds on the hypnotic, improvisational vibes of their earlier work. The swirling mix of organic and electronic textures on “Heard a Bubble” that slowly merge and evolve over the nearly nine minute runtime is such a treat!
Despite being really into their debut LP from 2023, I hadn’t thought much about the experimental Americana supergroup Setting in a while. They’re back with a new self titled record that builds on the hypnotic, improvisational vibes of their earlier work. The swirling mix of organic and electronic textures on “Heard a Bubble” that slowly merge and evolve over the nearly nine minute runtime is such a treat!
i26connector - “World Champion”
This new record from Asheville’s i26connector is really solid! The slow motion mopefest of “World Champion” especially does it for me, full of Carissa’s Wierd type strings and self-flagellating lyrics delivered with an impassive deadpan reminiscent of Bedhead’s Bubba Kadane.
African-American Sound Recordings - “SPV Serenade”
Over the years I’ve checked out and always enjoyed a handful of records from African-American Sound Recordings, the ambient side project from perennially underrated Memphis rapper Cities Aviv, but their new one, Black Fatigues, is really sticking with me. Another classic of the “on way too loud in my headphones on the train” subgenre, I’m loving these spare soundscapes crafted from a handful of samples smeared beyond recognition.
Carla dal Forno - “Under the Covers”
Despite the whole “weird pop songs cloaked under layers of obfuscation” thing being one of my favorite tricks an artist can pull, Carla dal Forno’s earlier work was almost too opaque, leaving me with nothing to hold onto. That’s not the case on her new LP, Confession, which I can’t stop playing. The chilly atmospherics and oddly vacant delivery on “Under the Covers” brings a layer of menace to a tale of loving domesticity.
evilgiane - “terms”
There’s a lot to love on the newest evilgiane record, a collection of too-short instrumentals capped off with a heartwarming intergenerational collaboration with Clams Casino, one of my favorite guys ever. I wish “terms” was ten times longer than its 120 second runtime.
Tara Clerkin Trio - “Silently”
I’ve sent so many people this beguiling new trip hop gem from Tara Clerkin Trio. Can’t wait to hear the rest of this album, out June 5th!
The still-in-progress April 2026 playlist is embedded below, back soon with thoughts on the rest!