Album Recommendations – June2026

I’ve given up on trying to regularly write reviews of new albums, but I still want to share albums I enjoyed.  Below are several new (and new-ish) albums – no ratings, no criticism – just music I enjoy listening to and hope you will to.

Album: Dear Children of Our Children, I Knew: Epilogue 
Artist: Alabaster DePlume
Genre: Jazz
Release Date: April 18, 2026
Label: International Anthem
Favorite Tracks:

• Bringing Up The Nakba
• I Play A Role In It and I Know
• Glass

English jazz saxophone player and spoken-word artist Angus Fairbairn performs under the name Alabaster DePlume.  Apart from his eclectic musical style, he is known for his activism which is evident even in the instrumental pieces on this collection.

Album: Fold
Artist: Jump Source
Genre: Electronic
Release Date:April 30, 2026
Label: naff
Favorite Tracks:

• Shattered (feat. Helena Deland & Ross Meen)
• Affect (feat. Loukeman)
• Fade City (feat. Deaton Chris Anthony)
• Fold (feat. CFCF & Helena Deland)
• Museum Fatigue

Jump Source are the electronic duo of Francis Latreille and Patrick Holland from Montreal, Quebec.  Their music transcends the dance floor to places of reflection.

Album: FENIAN
Artist: Kneecap
Genre: Hip hop
Release Date: 1 May 2026
Label: Heavenly
Favorite Tracks:

• Smugglers & Scholars
• Carnival
• Liars Tale
• FENIAN
• Irish Goodbye (feat. Kae Tempest)

The politically-active hip hop trip from Belfast returns with the follow-up to their debut album Fine Art.  The album gestated in the wake of Kneecap’s North American tour getting canceled due to the group’s opposition to Israel’s attacks on Gaza, as well as bogus terrorism charges against band member Mo Chara. The album demonstrates that Kneecap have also grown musically since their first album.

Album: Loud Bloom
Artist: Olof Dreijer
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: May 8, 2026
Label: Rabid Records
Favorite Tracks:

• Rosa Rugosa
• Makwande
• Blood Lilly
• Iris

Olof Dreijer is Swedish DJ and producer most known for being part of The Knife, a duo with his sister Karin Dreijer (who also performs under the name Fever Ray).  Dreijer’s first full-length work as a solo artist joyfully mixes African and Latin dance styles with electronic music.

 

Album: Now You Exist
Artist: The Field
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: May 15, 2026
Label: Studio Barnhus
Favorite Tracks:

• In Our Dreams

The Field is the stage name for Axel Willner, another Swedish DJ and producer.  This EP showcases his minimalist techno style.

Album: REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE
Artist: Genesis Owusu
Genre: Hip Hop/Neo-soul
Release Date: May 15, 2026
Label: Ourness
Favorite Tracks:

• PIRATE RADIO
• STAMPEDE
• DEATH CULT ZOMBIE

Genre-jumping, Ghanian-born Australian artist Genesis Owusu returns with a third album making sharp observations on the political and social crises of the world.  According to Wikipedia, “The music blends neo soul with alt-pop, synth-punk, deep funk and Brit rock stylings,” which just scratches the surface of Owusu’s eclecticism.

Album: Flame Folclòre 
Artist: Cocanha
Genre: Occitan Folk
Release Date: May 15, 2026
Label: Les DIsques Bongo Joe – Pagans
Favorite Tracks:

• Adissiatz Palhassonaira
• La Majorana
• Au nòst’ casalòt
• Diuré samsir

Cocanha are the French duo Caroline Dufau and Lila Fraysse.  This collections includes original music based on Occitan folk traditions.  Occitan is an endangered language spoken by people in the southern region of France.

Album: Rumspringa
Artist: ear
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: May 29, 2026
Label: A24 Music
Favorite Tracks:

• Coil
• Ne Plus Ultra
• F
• Good Day Will Arrive

If you do not enjoy minimalist electronic music, you’re not going to be pleased that I have yet another recommendation in this genre.  ear are the duo of Jonah Paz and Yaelle Avtan who began recording while attending Bard College a couple of years ago.

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