(UN)HEARD: FIRST HALF OF 2026

estakada99 kicks off its second season of business with a new dimension for us: written media. It’s no secret that our reach is mostly local, and it’s not like the Lithuanian internet doesn’t already have online cultural outlets – we love ore.lt, suru.lt, mic.lt, etc. So what will our writers be bringing to the table? Probably the same things our show makers bring to their shows: a sense of youthful amateurish nerdism (plus: in English). And that, we believe, has value. In this first blog post, Danielius, Viltė, and Svajotojas each pick 4-5 of the most memorable recent releases they’ve been listening to and urge you to check them out, too!

Danielius

Host of Pasroviui and Audio asmenukė at estakada99

CAVS – Death Bat
Track from Sojourn · Album · April 24, 2026 · p(doom) records · Australia

Straight off the bat (haha), this is definitely one of my favorite albums to have come out this year so far. Sojourn, the second album by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard drummer Michael Cavanagh (CAVS), was released on April 24, 2026. Unlike his self-titled debut album, Cavs, this one approaches things more from a jazz fusion perspective. It’s a tropical bomb of sounds that puts you into hypnosis from start to finish, leaving you wanting more.

“Death Bat,” for me, is one of the stand-out tracks on the album. The tight repetitiveness of CAVS’ drums and Joey Walker’s bass puts you in a rhythm that doesn’t let you go. What makes this track interesting, in my opinion, is the overdriven keyboard that just comes and goes whenever it pleases, filling its part perfectly. Overall, it’s a very nice listen, and if you happen to like this track, I heavily recommend checking the whole album out.

Puma Blue – Croak Dream
Track from Croak Dream · Album · February 6, 2026 · Play It Again Sam · England

Croak Dream is the fifth studio album by London-based artist Puma Blue, who I’ve been following for quite a while – from his first singles to several later albums. I’d describe his sound as something between Jeff Buckley and Chet Baker: his music has always floated along the sounds of the night, filled with heartbreak, sorrow, and hopeless love songs, with his soft, almost lulling voice accompanying the listener. Having said that, you can also find heavier, more tense songs in his back catalogue, and that’s the sound dominating this album, which, in my opinion, might be his strongest release yet.

The title track, “Croak Dream,” is one of the heavier tracks on the album, full of dark, lethargic, dreamy tension. It starts off with a catchy bassline that instantly grabs your attention and slowly evolves. By the time you reach the chorus, the intensity has peaked: creaking distorted guitar, drums, and bass conquer the track. A lovely listen.

Action Bronson – TRICERATOPS feat. Lil Yachty & Paul Wall
Track from PLANET FROG · Album · May 8, 2026 · Baklava Industries · United States

I had a lot of fun listening to this album when it came out. PLANET FROG is one of the stronger albums that Action Bronson has released recently. The vibe of the whole album moves satisfyingly from track to track, the production is great, and there are plenty of catchy lines and melodies. But the fourth track, “TRICERATOPS,” is definitely a stand-out for me. The synergy between Action Bronson, Lil Yachty, and Paul Wall here works perfectly, as they seamlessly take over from one another, their verses fitting the beat like a glove. One of my favorite Lil Yachty verses, as well.

ALĖJA – APLINKA
Track from SIRENOS · Album · May 29, 2026 · Self-released · Lithuania

I heard ALĖJA for the first time during the semi-finals of Lithuanian alternative music competition GARAŽAS’26, and they kind of felt like a breath of fresh air. Their experimentation and the noisiness heard all over their album SIRENOS felt like something the Lithuanian music scene hadn’t really gone into yet.

“APLINKA,” the first single from their debut album, grabs you from the first seconds – catchy hook lyrics, aggressive synthesizers, and a biting rhythm section drive the track wonderfully, pulling you into the bloodlust experienced by the lyrical subject, while the lead guitar in the ending section resembles sirens. Overall – a great track, a great album. Cannot wait to see what they produce next.

My New Band Believe – Love Story
Track from My New Band Believe · Album · April 10, 2026 · Rough Trade Records · England

For those who followed black midi while they were still active, their disbandment must’ve been a heartbreak. Shortly after announcing the break-up of the band, black midi frontman Geordie Greep announced a new solo album, The New Sound, which set a high standard for what might follow from the other members.

A lot of people had high expectations for Cameron Picton’s separate project, My New Band Believe. Surprisingly, the singles leading up to the debut album sounded nothing like the album itself, except for “Love Story,” the last single released before it. Whilst the earlier singles were based more in art rock and jazz fusion, the album was full of progressive, beautiful folk songs. And “Love Story,” my personal favorite from the album, is a really heartwarming ballad which is bound to stick with you for at least a day.

Svajotojas

Host of Ūkanota at estakada99

Boards of Canada – Inferno
Album · May 29, 2026 · Warp Records · Scotland 

It is hard for me to comprehend how suddenly the announcement from these contemporary legends of so-called “intelligent dance music” and ambient appeared. The day the “Tape 05” video was released (which later became the track “Deep Time” on the album), I was going through rough times, and the sound that was showcased… seemed apocalyptically hopeful? Too fitting for the spring vibes and for the current climate (in many ways). Too nurturing not to cry, after the duo had been silent for 13 years album-wise, and 5 years overall.

Visions of occultism, fractured hopes, redemption and rejuvenation of humanity, nature, the state of everything… that tracks a lot with our wishes for something undefined above. This album was exactly what I assumed it would lean into, and I was so happy to see the VHS scratches and motifs, 70s-80s media samples, and something they have barely ever touched upon stylistically – string sounds (like harps and violins?) incorporated into one huge, visually appealing soundscape. Immersion levels: 3000.

ALĖJA – SIRENOS
Album · May 29, 2026 · Self-released · Lithuania

Continuing from where Danielius finished his review of this album and one of its songs, I would add that the cynical lyrics, reminiscent of anhedonia and nihilism, really add punch to the percussion and sluggish guitar melodies. It’s desperate. It’s reflective. It’s harsh to some safe, understandable extent. Sometimes it demands your inclusion, your input into what is being told; sometimes – silent acceptance, a nod or headbang as you do what the vocalist has said aloud.

I especially liked the production on “EPILEPSIJA,” “PRADŽIA,” and “TIEK DAUG (KLAIDŲ),” which shows that they are not the kind of band that won’t allow themselves to evolve. Instead, they might become less genre-defined, more of a multifaceted, multilayered project. I pray it stays that way.

ZEP – NO ENEMIES
EP · May 8, 2026 · PULSE Records · Netherlands

Dutch multi-instrumentalist Zep Barnasconi has been creating music for quite some time now, but has only been releasing singles and EPs under the stage name ZEP for the past few years. He is actually quite an example of this day and age, when you find niche, soon-to-be-quite-popular genre-bending artists on social media.

For instance, most of ZEP’s reels, TikToks, or wherever you get your content from, feature absurdly created samples (punches, dirt scratching, etc.) that become the main building blocks or ideas behind the songs. Despite the songs being way too short and constructed for a short-attention-spanned audience, there are a lot of interesting and innovative sound engineering decisions on this EP. Something pulled from noise rock, something from indie, pop rock, something from DNB… It’s getting too difficult to put anything into a genre lol. Anyway, I would call this light noise-pop. Most definitely accessible to everyone.

Galèra – GARSU
Album · March 27, 2026 · Self-released · Lithuania

I don’t know where to begin. As I am mostly a variety music consumer and can only talk in detail and depth about music that is either electronic or subjectively dark… something that is jazz fusion, progressive rock, fusion… flow… polyrhythm… bim bam energy… damnit. You’ve lost me there, in a good way.

The album name helps me this time. GARSU (meaning either LOUD or SOUNDLY, depending on the context) delves into something emotionally and visually equivalent to a vivid dream, where each song is a different kind of scenario – in one, you transcend in a literal sense; in another, you drown and run at the same time… At some point, you perform somewhere like a theater of your own life. Depending on your mood or situation, you hear the songs a little differently each time.

It’s an album that is more of an experience than a carefully structured sequence of songs. With contributions from members of well-known bands such as Abudu and Garbanotas, it becomes any musician’s wet dream to hear such a wide collective range of sounds. In Lithuanian. With immaculate quality.

Viltė

Writer for estakada99

Garbanotas – ilgesys
Single · April 10, 2026 · Self-released · Lithuania

I’ve been following Garbanotas’ work since the spring of 2023, and it’s a beautiful coincidence that “ilgesys” (in English – “longing”) was released in spring. The band’s specialty is combining a poetic worldview with atmospheric melodies that make the listener forget the world around them.

The single ilgesys encompasses the slow, melodic feeling of deep, one-sided longing. The lyrics are full of scenic landscapes complemented by an acoustic guitar. Overall, the song is perfect for longing for something that used to be sweet and soft, but is no more.

Diarchija – Pamatai
Album · April 16, 2026 · Self-released · Lithuania

Before the release of Pamatai (in English – Foundations), I was not familiar with Diarchija’s music. It’s the group’s first full-length album, consisting of 8 songs. Two of the tracks, “Sugyventinis” and “Misionierius,” were released as singles a bit earlier, and personally I think these earlier releases really set the mood for the upcoming album.

Pamatai is full of ironic and somewhat unpredictable changes of pace, but my favorite thing is its absurdist, possibly vulgar depictions of non-glamorous, bleak everyday life. I would say my favorite track is “Betmenas.” The fast, hard beats of the song and sarcastic lyrics about drunk driving convey the danger of giving in to adrenaline-fueled destruction. In general, the caustic remarks about society create a strangely meditative feeling in the absurdist world that surrounds us – like a breath of fresh air.

Prasti Genai – PURVAS
EP · May 1, 2026 · Self-released · Lithuania

Prasti Genai formed a few years ago, and PURVAS (in English – Dirt) is their first EP, containing 5 tracks. My favorite tracks are “Šok čia” and “Benkartas.” I fell in love with “Šok čia” the very first time I heard it. The song starts with a groovy bassline complemented by some excellent drumming and a catchy chorus. The lyrics are full of sarcastic portrayals of the political and economic problems that people face every day.

“Benkartas” starts with an insert from the 2005 film Jarhead, which sets the crude mood for the whole song. Thrash metal gives way to a guitar solo accompanied by an absurdist storyline. The whole EP is packed with social problems, but in my opinion, the negativity is perfectly balanced by neat basslines, guitar solos, and metaphorical lyrics.

the frog’s consort – La Jachère
Album · May 13, 2026 · Self-released · Unknown

The calmest release this year for me has been the frog’s consort’s album La Jachère (in English – The Fallow). The album is made up of 11 tracks, every one of which feels made for meditation and reflection on life. Ruminative melodies without any lyrics calm the mind and let the listener relax, slow down, and reflect.

This work is about nature (hence the name), but also about adapting to periods of change in life and accepting the natural changes within oneself. I would strongly recommend this album to those who love slow, contemplative melodies and enjoy taking in the world around them without excessive noise. Learning the meaning behind this album made me fall in love with it even more than I thought possible.