I’m rather intensely working on a big grant proposal bid right now which necessitates rather intense listening sessions while working. Of these, I’ve listened to 2026 releases that have been absolutely blowing my mind with their brilliance.
First off is Kim Gordon’s Play Me which is absolutely incandescent and for me it’s even better than her last album (which I loved so much). It deserves all the awards. For someone who has adored Gordon’s voice and artistry since the Sonic Youth days, it’s just so inspiring and life-affirming to see her step even more into herself in these recent solo albums.
I’ve also been listening to Anjimile’s You’re Free To Go which is all the things I love about indie music wrapped up in one album. I suspect I’m going to be listening to it a lot in 2026 and that it’s going to be in my list of top ten albums in 2026.
Ora Cogan’s Hard Hearted Woman is delightful alt-folk which reminds me of the kind of indie folk I was osmosing in the `00s from overseas online radio stations (particularly WFUV in the ’00s and the ’90s) while the more electronic elements remind me of other crossover genres.
For not-so-new music, I’ve been listening to a lot of Amen Dunes, Aldous Harding, Kate Bush, and The Green Child.
And yes, I’ve decided more frequent Aural Chambers Notes posts would be beneficial so that I don’t forget to write down things that have brought me musical joy. I listen to so many things on a daily basis that it’s easy to do (both posting these things, or inevitably forgetting what to post if I wait too long).
Back to the grant proposal that’s been torturing me for days, now.