Listening diary: week 1, 2026

This album of Finnish folk songs by Teppana Jänis & Arja Kastinen is utterly arresting in both concept and execution: wax cylinder recordings from over 100 years ago by the former are blended with modern recordings by the latter to dazzling effect. One of the most beautiful things I’ve heard in a long time.

I like it when ambient artists show their teeth a bit, and this new collection from Loris S Sarid delivers absorbing, blissy atmospheres whilst also offering a barbed commentary on the appropriation of the genre by corporate streaming culture. A welcome corrective.

I was somewhat distracted while listening to the excellent second album from SML until it hit me - surely this is the album that 2008-2012 era Yellow Magic Orchestra would have recorded if they’d taken their touring outfit into the studio?