LYR: Rain Parade
Blending spoken word, electronics and bittersweet pop, LYR’s fourth album finds beauty in the strange shadows and soggy landscapes of contemporary Britain
Richard Barbieri: The Ghosts Of My Life
Apparitions, spectres, alternative realities… former Japan and Porcupine Tree synthesist Richard Barbieri returns with ‘Hauntings’, a spellbinding solo work steeped in memory and imagination
Speedy J: Click, Play, Repeat
Dutch techno veteran Speedy J returns with ‘Walkman’, his first solo offering in 20 years. Inspired by mix tapes and the fading role of the album in an era of instant gratification, it’s a freewheeling tour de force of innovation and unpredictable sonic twists
Rudolf Rocker: Revenge Is Sweet
Take brothers Mark and Steve Goodall, add BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jeremy Dyson, and you have the original line-up of Rudolf Rocker – purveyors of synth-fuelled Yorkshire pop
Hannah Peel: The Peel Deal
For acclaimed composer Hannah Peel, the momentum just keeps building. A superb new album with virtuoso percussionist Beibei Wang, her continuing ‘night tracks’ show on BBC radio 3, and an ambitious ballet inspired by her Mary Casio alter ego, all point to 2026 being the year she makes another major leap forward
Adam Buxton: Strap-Happy
As podcast king Adam Buxton heads out on tour to promote his debut album, he reveals the anxiety at its heart and reflects on his abiding love of synthpop
Billy Fuller: In Pieces
Kosmische textures, hypnagogic vibes, motorik grooves… Beak> bass man Billy Fuller takes us on a brilliantly wonky trip
Apparat: Losing My Edge
Embracing analogue hardware, Apparat’s latest release is a richly detailed, quietly triumphant work, born from crippling writer’s block and transformed – almost imperceptibly – into a form of sonic therapy
Borokov Borokov: Push The Button
From easy listening to synthpop bangers and electro-punk chaos – Belgian duo Borokov Borokov are here to tear up the dancefloor
Library Of The Occult,: The Devil Rides In
Tom McDowell is the mysterious dark overlord behind Library Of The Occult, a label devoted to mixing classic synth sounds with the feel of his favourite 1970s horror films