A Spot-On Year, So Far
Six months in, 2026 has already delivered an adventurous run of records. Returning artists have pushed their sound into fascinating new territory, while a new generation reminds us that the future of music remains in very good hands. The 30 favourite records gathered here speak to that breadth, from moments of exceptional intimacy to wildly transportive worlds - indeed, some that seem to exist somewhere entirely beyond our own ▲. Each one has left its own distinct mark on the year so far.
As ever, the celebration of these records has happened where it always does, across the counter in our stores. In exchanges between staff and customers, old friends and first-time visitors, recommendations become conversations and conversations become discoveries. Great music is only the beginning and it's what happens when people come together to share it that gives these albums a life far beyond their initial release.
Did your favourite make the cut? Tell us @roughtrade.
Thanks, as always, for your support. Happy listening.
All Albums of the Year So Far titles are available in-store and at roughtrade.com.
EXCLUSIVE: Bonus extras (flexis, signed prints and vinyl) accompanying albums from KNEECAP, Peaches, My New Band Believe, Jalen Ngonda, Fcukers and Ratboys are available in-store only.
A$AP Rocky
Don't Be Dumb
A$AP Rocky's latest album, Don't Be Dumb, is defined mainly by the 8-year gap since his previous album. The anticipation for this album was intense due to him constantly pushing the release of it and teasing it over the past 2-3 years. The album itself is very much a mixture of A$AP altogether; the features, the beats, and the marketing behind it were genius. He featured in Spike Lee's movie Highest 2 Lowest earlier in the year, before the album was 100% confirmed, and dropping little snippets in the film. All in all, the album is solid, definitely worth the 8 years of waiting.
Laurie, Rough Trade East
Aldous Harding
Train On The Island
A chameleon, a mystery, a friend, a stranger. Train on the Island is easily Aldous at her most honest and intimate, but the place she reports from only seems to grow more obscure and obscene, from her cast of vocal characters to her conjuring words. Home to my song of the year so far, One Stop (and its reprise, San Francisco), I have not stopped untangling the spider’s web of her generational mind and I believe this record still barely reaches the ceiling of her inner world. If we are lucky, she and co-producer John Parish will continue riding this train until the rail runs out.
Tilah, Rough Trade Warehouse
Angel Du$t
Cold 2 The Touch
Angel Du$t’s latest Cold 2 The Touch sees Justice Tripp and his ever-changing lineup, featuring two brand new members adding to his 2023 shakeup, release a fresh iteration, bringing in new sounds and influences for the band’s sixth album. I’m The Outside is a standout favourite, under 2 minutes of pure adrenaline, the whole album doesn’t stop for breath, at just 26 minutes between 11 tracks, every song packs a punch to create a non-stop hardcore experience. It’s been on heavy rotation for me this year. If you had a Turnstile Summer in 2025, make room for this record in 2026. After catching the band live at Slam Dunk earlier in the year, this album was made for the stage and sunshine.
Hope, Rough Trade Liverpool
Angine De Poitrine
Vol .II
Mind-melting math madness from another world (Canada), upsetting the rhythm perfectly. The space-travelling duo has truly seen otherworldly things and now they present them to us. Klek and Khn give us a record that is a defibrillator for the ears.
Bruce, Rough Trade East
Arlo Parks
Ambiguous Desire
Arlo Parks' third album transports us to their new life in New York, with new lovers in the backs of clubs dense with sweat and desire. Have no fear, Parks' poetry isn't lost in the electronic-centric production, but the tenderness in their voice is the perfect salve for the more garage and techno-inspired moments.
Celeste, Rough Trade West
Basement
WIRED
One of 2026's most exhilarating rock records and our Album of the Month in May. WIRED lit up our stereos - an LP packed with massive hooks, crushing guitars and the charged emotion that defines Basement at their best. A triumphant hard reset from the Ipswich five-piece.
Emily, Rough Trade Office
Boards of Canada
Inferno
The perfect concoction of moody, ambient warmth, Inferno's vast electronic soundscapes are both mysterious and inviting, with degraded tape sounds, bubbling detuned melodies and warped vocal samples, creating an atmospheric tension that wouldn't seem out of place soundtracking 28 Days Later or any other post-apocalyptic thriller movie or video game. Stand-out tracks are: Nakara, which transports you on a backpacking adventure, skittering percussion building into Hare Krishna mantra and flute melodies, Hydrogen Helium Lithium Leviathan twists and wobbles like the heat and energy release the track name perhaps refers to, and Prophecy At 1420 MHz, a masterful balance of spacious synth with industrial dark wave-tinged beats. Whilst some longtime BoC fans dispute this album as a return to form, to me, the brothers' fifth offering feels entirely essential and successful in foregrounding hauntology as a dynamic aesthetic of electronic music.
Georgia, Rough Trade Office
Courtney Barnett
Creature of Habit
Courtney Barnett’s fourth studio album, Creature of Habit, is an exploration of change and personal growth. Barnett’s signature slacker style and witty, introspective lyricism are still very much present, but Creature of Habit seems like a departure from the punchy nervous energy of her previous releases, and instead feels calmer, more settled and meditative in its approach. There’s a real warmth to this album, and tracks such as Another Beautiful Day and One Thing at a Time make for a perfect summer soundtrack.
Alice, Rough Trade Liverpool
The Cribs
Selling A Vibe
Few bands remain as consistently brilliant throughout their entire career as The Cribs but Selling A Vibe really does feel like they hit a creative high. It scratches all the itches for long-time Cribs fans whilst also still feeling current and fresh. Ross Jarman is without question one of the most underrated drummers of the 00's generation. It's a fabulous record from a killer band and they're still a force to be reckoned with on stage too. God bless Yorkshire.
Matt, Rough Trade East
Fcukers
Ö
If you wanna party, come over to my house and read my review on Fuckers' debut album, Ö. The Brooklyn based pair have not let up since their 2024 EP, Baggy$$$, keeping their non-stop, dance electronic, indie sleaze sound going whilst throwing in some dub-house and trip-hop influences. Standing at only 28 minutes, the record can become quickly addictive with tracks like L.U.C.K.Y and Play Me showcasing their knack for smushing together nostalgia with a stylish, avant - garde energy.
Adam, Rough Trade Warehouse
Friko
Something Worth Waiting For
Listening to Friko's Something Worth Waiting For reminds me of a period after a major life change, like switching jobs, when everything feels uncertain, but you still believe something better is ahead. The music constantly shifts between quieter moments to cathartic bursts of energy, making everything feel bigger and more immediate. The album captures a mix of anxiety, patience, and hope, making it a soundtrack for getting through the messy parts. but figuring things out until it finally starts to make sense.
Dennis, Rough Trade NYC
Gorillaz
The Mountain
9 albums in and still being effortlessly ahead of their time - Gorillaz continue to make a strong contender for one of my favourite bands of all time. The Mountain captures the essence of all the great Gorillaz albums - a strong identity, an atmospheric sound and guest features that go beyond what any other band is capable of bringing in. Over 50 collaborating artists from Black Thought and Johnny Marr to the posthumous features of Bobby Womack and Mark E. Smith. The South Asian and Middle Eastern influence on the album is a huge refresher for the band's sound on The Mountain, and is excellently executed with Omar Souleyman, Asha Putli and Anoushka Shankar all bringing their distinct sound to the project - every feature feels so important and has such a special place on the album. A continually evolving sound from a band that theoretically could continue making music forever is such an exciting concept, and I can't wait to see what's next from the House of Kong. Shoutout to Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett for creating the ever-changing universe of Gorillaz.
Jamie, Rough Trade East
hemlocke springs
the apple under the sea
hemlocke Springs' trademark fantastical theatre-kid flare runs rampant through the landscape of The Apple Under The Sea. Her off-kilter melodies and signature quirky vocal stylings make her a unique voice in the world of weird-girl pop. A storybook of ornate, symphonic pining, contrasted against 80s, synth-pop cheese and a heavy dose of emo angst. Springs doesn't wait for the zeitgeist to choose her; she creates a whole world around her artistry. Moments of the project bring to mind Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B., Prince's Sign O' The Times and the post-punk theatrics of Siouxsie and the Banshees. A pantomime odyssey not to be missed!
Karman, Rough Trade Liverpool
James Blake
Trying Times
Producer, singer-songwriter and DJ James Blake goes fully independent on his seventh studio album, delivering what may well be one of his finest works to date. Trying Times shines from start to finish and stands as yet another testament to Blake's seemingly boundless and genre-defying talent.
Curt, Rough Trade Berlin
Jalen Ngonda
Doctrine Of Love
So, please accept this one-way ticket. Lord knows I just can't miss it. Buy this album. Put it on your turntable and drop the needle on track three. Sit back in a (preferably sunny) lounge chair and bask in the smooth, effortless beauty of Ngonda's voice, all while wondering how a record this timeless was released just a few short months ago.
Emily, Rough Trade Office
Joshua Idehen
I Know You're Hurting
Infectious and joyful. Joshuna Idehen was placed on this earth to make you dance. The debut album from one of the most uplifting artists out there. A little bit gospel, a little bit funk, and a lot of house!
Bruce, Rough Trade East
KNEECAP
FENIAN
Sharp, satirical and self-aware. KNEECAP keep the energy charged, back with a renewed defiance in the face of all the controversy that has characterised their rise. The band continue to unapologetically champion Irish republicanism and Palestinian solidarity with 14 tracks which are bubbling with more industrial rave influences than ever. No difficult second album in sight.
Georgia, Rough Trade Office
Lily Allen
West End Girl
With her first studio album in seven years, Lily Allen shows us the power of radical oversharing with an immersive divorce album that completely shook up pop culture as we know it. Released last year, but pressed on vinyl at the start of 2026 on a gorgeous polka dot picture LP. Unapologetically candid. The tea is hot, but a west end girl is even hotter.
Kerenza, Rough Trade East
Mitski
Nothing's About to Happen to Me
Mitski’s never been subtle about her emotional range, but Nothing’s About to Happen to Me pushes that further into stranger and darker territory. A concept album in the truest sense, it draws you into a claustrophobic world of isolation and dissociation that curls into darker motifs of death and desire as torment. The steel guitar is the spine of it, woven through its entirety. Disorienting and gut-wrenching, it’s exactly the kind of album only Mitski could make.
Cammy, Rough Trade Office
My New Band Believe
My New Band Believe
The new album from former Black Midi member Cameron Picton spins a gorgeous tale that feels both timeless and totally fresh. It’s romantic without being saccharine, theatrical without being over-the-top. The song's complex rhythms and lush instrumentation scratch that Black Midi itch, while staying wholly original to Picton’s own sound. He’s a wonderful storyteller, and the band’s self-titled debut is an epic that rewards repeat listening.
Jess, Rough Trade NYC
Peaches
No Lube So Rude
The new album from 2000s electronic music icon Peaches does exactly what it is supposed to do. With liberating, spunky lyricism and a mix of electro pop beats, Peaches makes her staple again with an album that turns heads and knocks everyone off their feet. The visuals and lyrics are just as provocative and elusive, with tracks such as Not In Your Mouth None of Your Business aiming to highlight the politics of the body and to address what it means to be a queer artist with a powerful voice. No Lube So Rude reflects identity, sex, liberation, and the inner provocateur, with nothing left behind for the listener to enjoy.
Sage, Rough Trade NYC
Pigeon
OUTTANATIONAL
The debut album from Margate five-piece. The band are named after Guinean vocalist and lyricist Falle Nioke’s contempt for the way Britain treats the pigeon; a bird that was cherished as a pet in his home country. Nioke intuitively blends English, French, Susu, Fulani, Malinke, and Coniagui, injecting the cultural and spiritual weight of West Africa into a truly unique concoction of afro-disco, post-punk, krautrock and electro. Top to bottom, the record is bursting with an infectious groove. A serious mover. The band wanted to do something that hadn’t been done before. Consider the brief met.
Cammy, Rough Trade Office
Ratboys
Singin' to an Empty Chair
Gorgeous whimsy meets twangy grunge, balancing candid songwriting with moments that open up into pure, hard-earned release. If you've found yourself drawn to Wednesday's rise over the last few years, you'll discover a very sweet companion here. Formed in 2010, Ratboys channel sharp emotional detail into a new record that indulges their finely honed instincts, delivering their most rewarding work to date.
Emily, Rough Trade Office
Raye
THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.
RAYE’s sophomore album THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. is a genre-bending masterpiece. R&B, orchestral pop, jazz, soul, cinematic scores, elements of house and electronica; the list goes on. WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! is the obvious standout, with the south London artist filling each and every note in the complex bridge with an almost unfathomably flawless vocal performance. But the album’s lead single isn’t the only gem; the empowering and inspiring tune Life Boat, the stunning collaboration with Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer on Click Clack Symphony, and the retelling of “the greatest heartbreak (she’s) ever known” on Nightingale Lane also deserve their flowers. Further features from Al Green and RAYE's sisters Amma and Absolutely are equally magical, but perhaps the most poignant feature is from RAYE’s Grandad Michael, who inspires the track Fields, framed as a heartfelt voicemail which serves as a powerful ode to family. It's no surprise the album has received so much commercial success and critical acclaim, and it's an effort that truly cements RAYE as one of the most impactful artists of our time (in my humble opinion).
Sammy, Rough Trade Office
Robyn
Sexistential
Robin Miriam Carlsson was once the kid who would be Queen (of Pop). If she weren't such a headstrong (and frankly, weird) little artist, Max Martin may have just been successful in molding her into the next teen sensation. But Robyn has always tempered her unique irreverence with a typically Scandinavian penchant for crafting absolutely perfect songs. Sexistential continues the trend, with lyrics that touch on heartbreak, motherhood, anxiety, desire, middle age, IVF, sex, Adam Driver and a litany of other neuroses both universal and personal - with choruses cocked and loaded in a triple-barreled shotgun, trained on the dancefloor, charts and at your heart with equilibrial precision.
Jono, Rough Trade Nottingham
Slayyyter
Wor$st Girl In America
Wor$st Girl In America is an abrasive blunt and sleazy hyper pop album making everything that came before it look tame. Songs that sing "I get so gay off tequila" are essential and classic Slayyyter. Underneath the grit and glitter there are a few tracks that give a disarming emotional punch. With a viral TikTok dance, a Jimmy Fallon performance and a Coachella set, Slayyyter is finally getting the mass recognition she deserves.
Amelie, Rough Trade East
Twisted Teens
Blame the Clown
I was already enjoying Blame the Clown before I saw Twisted Teens play Baby’s All Right earlier this year, but seeing the songs come to life on stage really cemented it for me. It reminds me a little of the first Boggs album, not necessarily sonically, but in its spirit; a brilliantly loose mix of punk, country and folk, packed with personality, humour and genuinely great songs. One of my favourite records of the year so far.
Stephen, Rough Trade NYC
Tyler Ballgame
For The First Time, Again
Tyler Ballgame's debut album is a celebration of rediscovery, of embracing the changes in life and the experiences that go with it. With outstanding vocal performances and a nostalgic nod to 60's rock, this album is the perfect soundtrack for a summer's afternoon. Stand out tracks include I Believe In Love, Matter of Taste and title track For The First Time, Again.
Robyn, Rough Trade Liverpool
Underscores
U
Before this year, I had only really listened to underscores on a few features (her collaboration with Oklou on Harvest Sky being one of my favourite songs of 2025). This piqued my interest to check out her third studio album U which was released this year in March. I was instantly hooked by the album’s relentless energy, the supercharged sub-bass on album opener Tell Me U Want setting the tone, followed by 8 equally hyper and choppy tracks. Warping techno, electro, four-to-the-floor breaks, unusual vocal chops reminiscent of 00’s R&B production and sugary autotune into something that feels distinctly digital. It’s a perfect pixellated soundscape showcasing hyperpop’s potentiality to act as a digital diary to the many eras of music or genres we know and love.
Georgia, Rough Trade Office
Victoryland
My heart is a room with no cameras in it
Victoryland’s label debut is one of the first releases from promising new label Good English, showcasing the best from Brooklyn’s DIY scene. My Heart is a Room With No Cameras In It is an emotional journey that feels as though you are dancing through fragmented memories with distant yet raw feelings. You are experiencing a night and connection that already happened again. Vulnerability paired with beats and melodies reminiscent of millennial optimism style tunes of the 2000’s with more of a reflection and wariness mirroring our current day. I keep returning to this record and it has yet to lose me. If you like LCD Soundsystem and the intersection of pop and rock you will love this record. I wouldn’t miss out on one of the buzziest bands out of New York right now.
Annabelle, Rough Trade NYC