Looking Ahead to New Music in 2026 
by Killian Laher

My own impression is that it may turn out to be a quieter year than of late.  The first significant release will be Bill Callahan, with a new album, My Days of 58, due in February. Here’s the first taster from it:

From an Irish perspective, the new album from Cardinals should be interesting; we may also get albums from I Dreamed I Dream and Pebbledash.

Paul Page is back in the creative zone, and it looks like his project with Dave Long, Sentimental Tourists, will follow up their EPs with a full-length album. Equally, he has recorded an instrumental, ambient album as Polaroid Ghost, which we can look forward to.  Boa Morte are also hard at work on album number five, while Adrian Crowley will have an EP out in early 2026.

Other artists with albums in the works include Jamie Cameron’s The Last Dinosaur project, while Protomartyr may have an album in late Summer/early Autumn, apparently they are experimenting with horns (!).  Looks like Soundgarden might finish up their final album with Chris Cornell, as the legal wranglings with Vicky Cornell have ended.  The Cult are reportedly in the studio, and we’ve also had one-off singles from both The Twilight Sad and Sugar. Hopefully, these might lead to an album.

Massive Attack have promised a new album – “described as a “cache of work” created recently, marking their first new material since the 2020 Eutopia EP and first album-length release since 2010’s Heligoland”. Also, Dry Cleaning – Secret Love will be released on January 9th, produced by Cate Le Bon. Gorillaz will release The Mountain on Feb 27th.

Expect books from Kim Thayil (an autobiography – A Screaming Life) and a novel from Willy Vlautin (The Left and The Lucky).  Big shows confirmed include a headliner from Maria Somerville in Whelans and the Cure in Marlay Park with a great support line-up (The Twilight Sad, Just Mustard, Stella and The Dreaming).  The Cure have teased a follow-up to Songs of A Lost World, and I’ve lost track of the hints Kevin Shields has dropped about new My Bloody Valentine material.

Of all people, Morrissey has signed to Sire Records so his Bonfire of Teenagers album may finally see the light of day…. Or even You’re Right It’s Time (which has a track listing on his website) …. though it is Morrissey…