First Listen: New Releases for 20 February 2026

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Artist: Out of Place Artefacts
Album: A Complex Interplay of Zeros and Ones
Quick Thoughts: It's hard for me to write about music electronic music normally, so my intentions for highlighting Out of Place Artefacts this week is less about how good the album is and more about how it combines everything I love about excellent electronic music all at once. It's equal parts complex and abrasive while nevertheless having strong, coherent throughlines and great beats. It borrows a little bit of everything from everywhere and that's hard to do in any genre, never mind one with so many expectations / no expectations at all. Worth an adventurous listen.
Songs of Note: "Closed Loop Grids," "Panopticon," "Healing of a Ghost," "Wunschmachine," "Help is On the Way," "Quantum Waltz"

Artist: Lucid Express
Album: Instant Comfort
Quick Thoughts: 2026 is quickly working itself out to be the Year of Shoegaze, with Lucid Express providing a superlative entry with Instant Comfort. It's got the sort of dreampop adjacency of Hatchie with the sort of fuzzy stuff we all love, and "Promise Me" is a favorite track of the week period. Don't sleep on this one.
Songs of Note: "Promise Me," "Take Heart," "Setback," "Astor," "Instant Comfort"

Artist: THUMPER
Album: Sleeping With the Light On
Quick Thoughts: Sometimes an album comes along that is so unexpectedly awesome that it reminds you why you fell in love with rock music to begin with. In a world where rock hasn't been "cool" in ages, here comes THUMPER with a rock and roll album that rocks. "Bad Mood" is an alt-rock radio throwback, for sure, but this album is not only banger after banger, but it's maybe the best pure rock record in ages. Setting the bar super high in the new year, great for people nostalgic for early Hives work.
Songs of Note: "You Didn't Hear This From Me," "Middle Management," "Bad Mood," "On and Off Again," "Gang Signs," "The Engine"

Artist: Altin Gün
Album: Garip
Quick Thoughts: Without completely insulting Altin Gün with a label of international or foreign music, Garip is accessible while still being unique and interesting, and further proves that there are few bands as good as they are in their lane. Nothing but positives coming from this one, good for a listen.
Songs of Note: "Neredesin Sen," "Gonul Dagi," "Gel Yanimal Gel," "Gel Kacma Gel," "Bir Nazar Eyledim"

Artist: Manu Delago and Max ZT
Album: Deuce
Quick Thoughts: I don't cover much classical / modernist stuff at length here because honestly so many people can do it so much better. This, however, has this ultra-minimalist flair that gives a sort of rustic ambient feeling to the whole affair, which I really and truly appreciated. It's a gorgeous, quiet record that feels like you're sitting between two masters at their craft at once and wondering what comes next. Amazing listen.
Songs of Note: "40/40," "Break," "Rally," "Pace"

Artist: Lezard
Album: Que Se Passe-t-il
Quick Thoughts: If THUMPER reminded me why rock and roll is great, Lezard reminded me how fun it can be. This is not a serious album on the surface, as it is thematically chaotic as it is musically. Honestly, this one blew my mind on first listen: I kept wondering what would come next, and always ended up pleasantly surprised. Make time for this one and leave any expectations at the door.
Songs of Note: "Coltrane and XTC," "Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop Stop," "Que Se Passe-t-il," "Person of Consistency," "Party in the U.S. of E.," "Dance Tonight"

Of Note:

* Hen Ogledd - DISCOMBOBULATED
* MIDDLEMAN - Following the Ghost
* Al Olender - The Worrier
* The Tammy Shine - OK Shine OK
* Midori Hirano - OTONOMA
* Apparat - A Hum of Maybe
* Nathan Fake - Evaporator
* WILLOW - petal rock black
* &friends - folx (1/4)
* MGNA Crrrta - Beautiful Disaster
* Beggar Weeds - Tragedy in U.S. History
* Kerrin Connolly - Simpleton
* Sports - Sports
* William Hut - Eternal Pieces
* Ben Vince - Street Druid
* Dominique Fils-Aime - My World is the Sun
* Peaches - No Lube So Rude
* Marielle V Jakobsons - The Patterns Lost to Air
* Isabel pine - Fables
* The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis - Deface the Currency
* Bella Litsa - Drasticism
* Eric Hilton - A Sky So Close
* Toys That Kill - Triple Sabotage
* MX LONELY - All Monsters
* Ralph Heidel and Finn Ronsdorf - The Wings of the Fly
* Moonchild - Waves
* Banshee - The Secrets to Altering Reality
* Moby - Future Quiet
* Mirah - Dedication

EPs:

* Trauma Ray - Carnival
* Twat Union - Don't Blame the Peach
* Sidney Quiseng - That's My Baby!
* Charm School - Schadenfreude Ploy
* Smush - Standards
* Sure Sure - Internet

Live Albums / Compilations / Reissues:

* Defected presents House Masters: Purple Disco Machine
* Skullcrusher - And Your Song is Like a Circle