The singles playlist is back for 2026 and there is a bumper crop of top tracks to kick off the year with!
Single of the Week: Searows – Dirt
One of those finger plucking acoustic tracks that comes along every now and again and just stops you in your tracks. Who is that, you find yourself asking? Searows is 26 year-old Alec Duckart, An American singer-songwriter from Portland, Oregon. They are signed to former Reading resident Matt Maltese’s Last Recordings On Earth label and a debut album is coming later this month. There is a a limited UK tour in April and I would advise you to grab tickets now before this one blows up.
The Cribs – Never The Same
An undoubted highlight of the excellent new album. A classic slice of jangly mid-noughties style indie rock.
shallowdaze – Need To Know
A thoroughly fantastic debut single from a Reading based band who previously did a bit under the name AUTO-REPLY. They describe themselves as alt-rock/post punk though there is a fair whack of quality indie-pop in this one. They play the Purple Turtle on the 22nd of January with the very decent Emerson also on the bill. We aim to be there.
The Certs – Intuition
The Certs step it up a gear as they return with an absolutely massive track! Carter Robinson continues his journey into becoming a Bona fide rock star and the guitar and drums hit hard on this brilliant new single. They have been in the studio with producer Pete Hutchings, who worked on The Amazons brilliant album 21st Century Fiction, and we cannot wait to hear more from these sessions.
Book Of Churches – Song By A Stranger
Not content with releasing a fantastic album with his band in 2025, Divorce’s Felix Mackenzie-Barrow gives us a first taste of his forthcoming solo album. This is a beautiful and well-constructed track that bodes well for the Book of Churches project.
Big Special – SLUGLIFE
Last year’s surprise album National Average was a bit of a mixed bag, but we absolutely love this new single. The low-key musical backdrop, with an unusually restrained drumming performance from Callum Moloney, absolutely complements the top-notch vocals from Joe Hicklin. He mixes between some lovely poetic images and some haunting singing.
Dry Cleaning – Joy
Not the best track from the very fine new album but a decent listen. Spoken, sometimes almost singing, randomness, over a slightly meandering guitar line. It is a lot better than that last sentence suggests!
The Twilight Sad – DESIGNED TO LOSE
The Twilight Sad were an absolute revelation when we saw them at South Facing last year. These Scottish Indie veterans are roaring back with a second high quality listen from the new album due out in March.
Father John Misty – The Old Law
Joshua Michael Tillman is one of the outstanding talents of our age. His solo work under the Father John Misty moniker is always nothing less than extremely listenable and this new offering is no exception.
Samm Henshaw – Hair Down
We keep thinking we need to get off Spotify and onto somewhere less morally suspect. Then they go and recommend a lovely soul and gospel tinged track like this to us and we almost want to like them, almost.
Kid Kapichi – Worst Kept Secret
New album Fearless Nature is out on the 16th of January, and the decent singles keep on coming. We loved There Goes The Neighbourhood, so high expectations for this one.
Bevendene – King
A bittersweet entry as this and previous single Magic were both very enjoyable. However, the difficult nature of the current music scene has claimed another victim and this very promising Reading band are calling it a day following this final release.
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