Sound Check

Every month the new-release landscape gets more crowded. How do you find your way through it? Our Spotify playlists aim to be a useful compass, flagging some of the most exciting new releases. Once again, the OndaRock team has selected tracks that map out the evolution of rock, the many faces of contemporary pop, electronic trajectories, singer-songwriter voices, the most eclectic experiments, the shifting shapes of border-crossing jazz, the creativity of the Italian scene, and the darker tones rumbling through the underground. A quick - and hopefully inspiring - overview for anyone eager to explore. Happy listening!

Rock and Beyond

New offerings from Shame, Turnstile (album out June 6), Been Stellar, Wunderhorse, Suede, Jehnny Beth, Wolf Alice. These are just a few of the most interesting recent developments from the world of rock and beyond...  (Claudio Lancia)

Pop Muzik

Sabrina Carpenter tries to reclaim the song of the summer (and, by extension, of the year), but competing with "Manchild" is a fierce Addison Rae and Lorde's return to melodra(m)matic sounds after the flop of "Solar Power". But perhaps the real mainstream surprise is Miley Cyrus, also redeemed after her - truly disastrous - last record. Elsewhere, from the UK, Pulp and Little Simz keep thrilling us. Truly an excellent month for pop music. (Daniel Moor)

Dark Corner

It starts with Cure remixed by Orbital, and continues with more interesting new arrivals. The solo return of Peter Murphy, the dark atmospheres of Echoberyl, and then Blind Delon and the ultra-minimal Sinnthese. The EBM of Celldöd closes the circle, alongside a couple of black metal new entries: Sargeist and Serpentes. (Paolo Chemnitz)

Electronic

A new remix for Sandwell District (OndaRock's Album of the Month for April), the return of Arca, followed by a hefty run of excellent 2025 productions from female artists: Erika De Casier, Avalon Emerson, Bambii, Marie Davidson, Yaeji, Amelie Lens, Charlotte De Witte, Aya, FKA Twigs, Ela Minus, Rose Gray and Oklou. For dancing, but not only...(Claudio Lancia)

Songwriter

Big Thief, Big Thief, and more Big Thief... (Daniel Moor)

After the brilliant return of Kara-Lis Coverdale, we note the excellent showing from Abul Mogard, currently at the top of the section, the intense pianism of Nils Frahm and the return to more fitting form of Loscil. Among the best collaborations we flag the dizzying project Pulciperla, while we expected a bit more from the pairing of Iluiteq and Eraldo Bernocchi. The new age of Alex Last/Soda Lite is a fitting recommendation for those seeking relaxing sounds, while we have the third chapter from Divus for lovers of postmodern nocturnes. Among the previews, two excerpts from upcoming work by Matmos and Biosphere. (Peppe Trotta)

Italy

The new singles from Fast Animals And Slow Kids, Andrea Laszlo De Simone, Ministri and Visconti open our selection dedicated to Italian productions of the past few weeks. Happy listening... (Claudio Lancia)

Jazz

The year goes on, and so does our gradual exploration of what's stirring in the most hybridized fringes of jazz, where languages meet and new modes of expression take shape. Once again, little orthodoxy, plenty of creativity. And someone will say "but this isn't jazz" (really? well, too bad!). Among the releases already reviewed: Pulciperla, Snowpoet, Emma-Jean Thackray, Eiko Ishibashi, Divus. Among those likely on the way: Jizue, Jameszoo, Budos Band. (Marco Sgrignoli)