88.7 Station Spins: July 2026
Article by Melody Kpahn, Graphics by Jack Iboshi
From sweltering heat to wildfires, the dog days of summer gave us a lot to complain about. The music, however, was not one of them. July brought earworms from exciting new acts and WLUW frequent-fliers alike. Here’s a list of our favorite releases from last month. Happy Spinning!
new avatar, Kelela
new avatar is just as imaginative as Kelela’s previous work. She blends R&B, Drum & Bass, rock, and electronic synths to create a genreless album. The layered vocals and fuzzy, distorted guitar make for an atmospheric soundscape. With features from PinkPantheress, Fousheé, and A.K. Paul, new avatar is an instant classic.
RIYL: FKA twigs, Eartheater, Spellling
Favorite track: “goin down”
Pathetic, Trophy Wife
On Trophy Wife’s sophomore LP, Pathetic, lead singer McKenzie Iazetta’s vocals are as raw as her lyrics. Over 9 tracks, Iazetta laments a past relationship, her vulnerable storytelling pairing well with the grungy guitar backing. Her desperation is palpable throughout the album, namely on the penultimate song “Whatever You Want” (“And I know you’re bad, but I want to be your pet or baby”).
RIYL: Blondshell, Bully, Wednesday
Favorite track: “Alone”
Hercules, Tracey Nelson
With Hercules, Tracey Nelson delivers another installment to the alternative country canon. The album is full of twangy love songs, made with many popular names from the North Carolina indie scene. MJ Lenderman harmonizes with Nelson’s naive vocals on several tracks. Lenderman also produced Hercules, and Karly Hartzmann, Ethan Baechtold, and Xandy Chelmis of Wednesday are featured on it.
RIYL: MJ Lenderman, Kevin Morby
Favorite track: “The Can”
Mount Zero, Swapmeet
2026 has been a great year for Australian indie-rockers Swapmeet. Earlier this year, they signed to a label and played one of their largest sets yet at South By Southwest in Austin. With Mount Zero, the group delivers a debut album filled with catchy lyrics and math-rock instrumentals. Singer Venus O’Broin’s delicate vocals stand out against the heavy guitar.
RIYL: Slow Pulp, feeble little horse, Sonic Youth
Favorite track: “2 C U”
Different When It’s Silent, Tricky
Trip-hop legend Tricky reintroduces himself with Different When It’s Silent. His first album under this moniker since his daughter’s death in 2019, the Massive Attack co-founder channels his grief into Different. On the final track, “Out of Place”, Tricky repeats the refrain “I’m singing, I sing for my daughter”. Mitch Sanders is heavily featured on the album, often offering a bright accompaniment to Tricky’s famously deep backing vocals.
RIYL: Massive Attack, My Bloody Valentine, Björk
Favorite track: “Hengrove Blues”
Helado Tropical, Helado Tropical
Helado Tropical is a collaborative album between Helado Negro and Reyna Tropical, two accomplished Spanish-language indie musicians in their own right. Despite being a collab, Helado Tropical never sounds disjointed; the album flows from track to track without friction. Dreamy, ambient pop blends with rhythmic and electronic elements, defying geographic or genre categorization.
RIYL: Y La Bamba, Sir Sly
Favorite track: “El Tiempo”
I Can See, Nick Hakim
Nick Hakim is quiet and contemplative on I Can See. The album, his first after a break-up, is slow-paced. Hakim draws out every beat and trill, inviting listeners to reflect with him. His breathless falsetto guides us through a difficult healing journey. With both melancholy and hopeful moments, I Can See has the air of someone who has loved and lost, knowing they will love again.
RIYL: Lovespells, Moses Sumney, Orion Sun
Favorite track: “The Reason”
