KLOF No. 81 (Folk, Ambient, Experimental, Alternative)
KLOF No. 81 showcases a wave of cross‑cultural releases, opening with Hannah Peel and Chinese percussionist Beibei Wang’s collaborative track “Awaken The Insects.” The mixtape also features French folk innovators Cocanha, Seoul‑based pansori group Leenalchi’s Luaka Bop debut, and a world‑music surge from Shye Ben Tzur & Jonny Greenwood, the first recorded Himba album, and several indie folk projects. Each entry blends traditional forms with contemporary production, highlighting feminist narratives, regional storytelling, and experimental sound design. The collection underscores how independent labels are curating a global, genre‑fluid soundtrack for today’s listeners.
Emily Portman – Dominion of Spells
Emily Portman’s fourth album, Dominion of Spells, arrived on May 1, 2026 via Hudson Records after a brief scandal in which AI‑generated copies of her voice were uploaded to Spotify and Apple Music. The deepfake albums were quickly removed, but the episode highlighted...
Across the Terrain of the Mind: Alex Zhang Hungtai Announces Double Album Orion/Mother
Alex Zhang Hungtai announced a double album, Orion/Mother, slated for release on June 19 through the American Dreams label. The project fuses home recordings made with New York improvisers and new trumpet improvisations, employing a Butch Morris‑style conduction approach. Two preview tracks,...
Arborist Maps Belfast’s Late-Evening Ghost Town on New Single “Looking 4 Love”
Belfast‑based songwriter Mark McCambridge, under the moniker Arborist, has dropped the new single “Looking 4 Love,” the lead track from his forthcoming fourth album of the same name. The accompanying video, filmed in a Belfast Holiday Inn without AI or green‑screen, captures the...
Pan•American – Fly the Ocean in a Silver Plane
Chicago‑based composer Mark Nelson, performing as Pan•American, has issued his latest solo album “Fly The Ocean In A Silver Plane” on the Kranky label. The record unfolds as a series of cinematic soundscapes that evoke air travel, memory, and personal...
The Sound of Destruction: Jim Ghedi Shares “The Hungry Child”
Jim Ghedi returns with the single “The Hungry Child,” released on Basin Rock, marking a deliberate shift toward a heavier, chaotic folk sound. The track draws on an early‑19th‑century German poem, reinterpreted as a commentary on current global turmoil, and...
Old Spot – Old Spot (II)
Old Spot’s sophomore album, *Old Spot (II)*, expands the duo’s 2023 debut with fifteen tracks that fuse Appalachian old‑time music and Irish folk. The record introduces a minimalist aesthetic, highlighted by sparse arrangements on songs like “Tom Dooley” and a...
Emily A. Sprague Shares New Single and Video “Double Moon”, Announces New EP
Emily A. Sprague released the new single “Double Moon” with a video by longtime visual collaborator V Haddad, serving as the lead track from her upcoming Double Moon EP slated for May 29 on RVNG Intl. The EP expands her modular‑synthesis...
Leenalchi Announce Luaka Bop Debut EP “Here Comes That Crow” & Share Title Track Video
Leenalchi, a Seoul‑based seven‑piece, announced its Luaka Bop debut EP “Here Comes That Crow,” releasing on June 12. The title track video, inspired by a pansori tale of warlord Cao Cao, showcases the band’s blend of traditional Korean storytelling with modern bass‑driven arrangements....
Aaron MF Olson Announces “Songs Album II” And Shares “Nobody Can Tell”
Aaron MF Olson announced his sophomore solo effort, Songs Album II, slated for release on June 26 through Country Thyme Records. The LA‑based musician unveiled the lead single “Nobody Can Tell,” accompanied by a quirky desert‑hike video directed by Matt Hewitt. The track blends...
Tacoma Park – Baltimore
Tacoma Park, the North Carolina duo of John Harrison and Ben Felton, release their sophomore album "Baltimore," a 40‑minute journey that fuses acoustic Americana with ambient, kosmische improvisation and Krautrock. Mastered by Chuck Johnson, the record showcases meticulous editing, cutting...
Frog – Frog for Sale
Frog’s eighth studio effort, "Frog for Sale," drops on April 17, 2026, marking the band’s fourth release since 2023’s "Grog." The Bateman brothers weave Buddy Holly, Paul McCartney, Motown, and folk‑rock textures into piano‑driven tracks like "Dark Out" and "Je Ne...
Mama’s Broke Share New Single “Heaven” And Announce North American Analog Tour
Nova Scotia folk duo Mama’s Broke has dropped their new single “Heaven” on Free Dirt Records and Forward Music Group, offering the first glimpse of an upcoming album that will be sold only at live shows. The track tackles wealth...
Kris Drever – Doing This For Love
Kris Drever released his tenth solo album, Doing This For Love, on April 10, 2026. The record features ten songs that meditate on early‑morning labor, love, and change, blending traditional Scottish folk with industrial‑noise textures. Drever collaborates with a roster of vocalists...
The Monday Morning Brew #151 (Playlist)
Monday Morning Brew #151 presents a curated indie‑folk playlist anchored by Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell’s cover of the Marshall Tucker Band’s “Ab’s Song.” The mix spans veteran songwriters like Meg Baird and Sam Amidon to newer voices such as Rozi Plain, highlighting Appalachian‑inspired...