The Best Releases of April 2026
April saw the long-awaited return of pop star Ariana Grande after her turn as Glinda in Wicked, Hayley Williams hopped on yet another feature and Record Store Day came in a flash.
For us, April was a busy month. We finally took our first break in three years, travelled to Prague and befriended the Nutria — aka the Water Rats. Incredible. It just so happened that we travelled on the day of Record Store Day, meaning that I had to let the special edition of The Vaccines’ What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? slip through my fingers, and forget the Wolf Alice 7-inch with a live version of Play It Out (update: I found one in Brighton’s Resident, but I had to buy it with the label damaged… at least it plays). Truth be told, my dad did try — he got there at 9am and waited for ages to get in — but he conveniently came away with everything he wanted (Madness on top of Madness), and I don’t believe they even stocked anything I wanted in the first place. Damn you, Milton Keynes. People were queuing from Midnight!
In an interesting turn of events, April also saw a resurgence in the demand for cassettes and CDs. I knew we’d see CDs come back (did they ever leave?), as we see more and more people realise physical media will be there forever as long as you look after it, and streaming is, well, just that. Although I am a sucker for the convenience of Spotify, I think I am overdue a flick through my old CD collection. Most of it, unfortunately, was sent to the musicMagpie Gods.
Singles:
1. Whale Songz, Annika Bennett, Olivia Barton — I love you, baby
Maybe the collaboration of the year, this single is perfect if you love a well-written song that feels perfectly relatable, while slotting easily into your current rotation.
2. Bedouine — Always on Time
Pulled from her new album, Neon Summer Skin, Bedouine makes a bid for your heart on her new single, leaving us excited for the album.
3. Matilda Mann — Bittersweet
The first — and last — time I saw Matilda live, I was squashed in a stuffy O2 Institute Birmingham room, supporting the lesser-known ROLE MODEL, on the cusp of his ‘blow-up’. She had the full crowd, waiting in anticipation for what would most likely be one of ROLE MODEL’s last shows in an intimate venue.
I’ve only ever seen the room full for the support act on two occasions. Once that night, and once last December, when Squeeze opened up for Madness in a Birmingham arena. Somehow, even if the crowd were there earlier to get a good spot, she captivated the audience with guitar in hand, and now her new music promises her star status is right around the corner.
Despite talking about her boyfriend on social media, that hasn’t stopped Matilda from singing about past love, with the line “keep me just as a memory” hitting like a sucker punch to the stomach. Lyrics like “Used to be joint at the hip / That friends to lovers kind of shit / You had a drawer where my parents lived / And I knew your thoughts before you did” prove that Matilda is the master of the gut-wrenching, heart-breaking ode, and she isn’t done yet.
4. Thee Sacred Souls — Any Old Fool
The soul group’s first single of the year promises that they’re not ones to skip. Stick this on, relax, unwind, and be swept into Thee Sacred Souls’ spell. After the roaring success of their self-titled debut album in 2022, the band have found their way on tastemakers’ lists far and wide and been lauded by every music publication that matters. With no plans to slow down since their second album, 2024’s Got a Story to Tell, we can only expect the announcement of a third one to be imminent.
5. Swapmeet — Sand
The alt-rock Aussie 4-piece, who sprung onto the scene in 2023 with debut single New Wood, Old Ashes, have announced their debut album, Mount Zero, due for release on July 17th via Winspear. By the sounds of this one, it isn’t one you’re going to want to miss.
EPs:
1. Zach Seabaugh —Eastern Time
Zach impresses with his latest EP — his first collection of music since 2024’s Songs About You — delivering an EP full of folk-y goodness with whispers of Noah Kahan here and there.
Rating: ★★★★★
Standout track: I Am Only Ever Thinking About You
Label: Cloverdale Records
2. Natalie Wildgoose — Rural Hours
Carrying an air of Angel Olsen, North Yorkshire’s Natalie delivers a sensational EP that feels like one that begs to be listened to while foraging, or sitting in a field somewhere.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Standout track: River Days
Label: The state51 Conspiracy
3. Liv Bloore — In Heaven, After Hours
Inspired by Wolf Alice, boygenius and Medieval choral music, what more could you possibly ask for? Liv only released her debut single, The Darling Song, last year, and it forms the basis for her debut EP.
Rating: ★★★½☆
Standout track: Her Flowers
Label: Independent, via APOLLO
4. Charlie Forrest — Golden Wisdom
Charlie’s folk sounds make for an EP that begs to be played again and again, leaving us excited for what’s next from the London-based musician.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Standout track: For Now I Know
Label: Lewis Recordings
5. Fiona-Lee — Every Woman
Yorkshire-native Fiona holds nothing back on her EP, delivering an extended play that covers a variety of hard-hitting topics, making this EP one you can’t miss.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Standout track: Rational
Label: Gravity Records / Capitol Records UK
Albums:
1. Market East — French Street
Delivering a special soul album right on time for Summer is exactly what the group have done, and French Street is the perfect album for lying in a field and forgetting to top up your sun cream. It’s hard to believe this is a debut album.
Rating: ★★★★½
Standout track: Meditations on Mother Earth
Label: Independent
2. Sophia Yau-Weeks — Misty Mountain
Sophia’s triumphant debut echoes those beautiful vocalists and lyricists that came before her, and makes this one of the best debuts of the year.
Rating: ★★★★½
Standout track: Nobody’s Laughing
Label: Independent
3. Frog — Frog For Sale
Frog prove they’re on top once again with a folk-tinged album that should be top of your listening list in 2026.
Rating: ★★★★★
Standout track: Lois Lane
Label: Audio Antihero
4. Hayden Everett — So The Sun Can Pour
Carrying on with the theme of incredible folk albums released in the month of April, Hayden Everett flies the flag for the acoustic guitar and delivers an exceptional release.
Rating: ★★★★½
Standout track: Wind Song
Label: Independent
5. Angelo De Augustine — Angel in Plainclothes
It’s no surprise that someone who made an entire album with Sufjan Stevens makes an album as intricate as this one. Building a cult following thanks to his deliciously addictive songwriting, Angelo has smashed it out of the park on his latest offering.
Rating: ★★★★★
Standout track: With a Love So Kind
Label: Asthmatic Kitty Records
