Skaracha – Stuck In My Head

If proof were needed that a classic music style can be revived and resonate with relevance today it is here, with Skaracha (the clue is in the name). This nine piece are the first home‑grown Jamaican ska band since the fabulous sixties, roaring out of Kingston with ‘Stuck In My Head,’ a belter recorded live at Tuff Gong Studio in 2025. These young bloods and seasoned pros steps forward to revive the grand tradition of Jamaica’s ska originators, fusing fresh compositions with hand‑picked classics. Though ska has travelled the world and sparked scenes far from its shores, Jamaica has long awaited a dedicated ska ensemble of its own and today, Skaracha brings the music proudly home. You can get yourself a copy of the single at https://www.tipatop.bandcamp.com

Sharp Pins – Popafangout

I am a little bit behind with this one although not as far behind as Sharp Pins are. They go all the way back to 1967 with so many period flashes (everything from Byrds electric jangle to Beatles harmonies and a lovely swish of ‘Itchycoo Park’ flanging to top it all off) this could easily be sold as a forgery passing itself off as original UK psych. What I actually mean by ‘behind’ is that the album from which this tune is lifted, ‘Balloon Balloon Balloon,’ was released back in November and I have only recently come across it. Still, after the ska adventure on our first song this stands as further evidence of older styles ongoing validity if delivered with conviction, honest spirit and a foundation of great song writing; which this music from Chicago based musician Kai Slater clearly is, so check out the album, if you feel so inclined, here https://amzn.to/4uHVCbk

The Lemon Twigs – I Just Can’t Get Over Losing You

As I have taken us back to a 1960s vibe why not step back a couple years more, away from the flowery multi-coloured days of ’67 and into the beat band era that brought us the first Beatles records. The Lemon Twigs are a New York born duo of brothers, Brian and Michael D’Addario, known for their virtuosic musicianship and a flamboyant blend of ’60s and ’70s‑inspired rock, baroque pop, and theatrical songwriting. Here, with a track from their forthcoming album ‘Look For Your Mind’ out 8th May on Captured Tracks, they really nail that early guitar pop period with aplomb. Not so much a Fab Four homage as a loving appreciation of the whole scene, there are just as many echoes of The Hollies or Hermans Hermits in this as anything and, again, it has a place. You want to write a good pop song about losing someone in 2026 and have a choice between sounding like The Beatles or Ed Sheeran, which way do you go? Personally, I am picking the former every time and happily I am not alone. You can pre-order the album here https://amzn.to/3PinYJi

Courtney Marie Andrews – Keeper

Having enjoyed some retro stylings with the opening three tracks you would be forgiven for expecting this country tune to have a similarly vintage feel. But modern country generally does not revive its original sounds from sixty or seventy years ago, even though a piece of modern country such as this retains a classic charm. So this number, ‘Keeper,’ finds Courtney Marie Andrews standing at a pivotal moment in her evolution, carrying forward the emotional candour that defined earlier albums like ‘Honest Life’ and ‘Old Flowers’ while stepping into a more expansive, quietly assured phase of her songwriting. As part of her latest release ‘Valentine,’ the track deepens her shift toward richer textures and a more panoramic sense of self‑reflection. It’s a song that bridges where she’s been and where she’s headed, capturing the clarity and vulnerability that continue to anchor her work. You can get a copy of the album here: https://amzn.to/3PdflQe

Paper Wings – Mountains On The Moon

Maybe I spoke to soon with the last track, the sound we enjoy here does actually recall the early bluegrass tones of acts like the Louvin Brothers or Bill Monroe, although with a far greater emphasis on melancholy and reflection. They are a duo made up of Wila Frank and Emily Mann who weave their knife‑sharp harmonies, clawhammer banjo, and Appalachian‑tinged folk into a just released fourth LP record, from which this is the title track. Across its twelve tracks, the album blends longing, resilience, and old‑world lyricism into a sound that feels both timeless and freshly carved, presented with quiet confidence and luminous craft. You can buy the latest CD here: https://paperwingsduo.bandcamp.com/album/mountains-on-the-moon

Julian Lage – Night Shade

And we end with some of the sweetest sounding jazz guitar around in 2026. The six new tracks that I have picked today kind of skirt around a belief at the heart of everything Fruit Tree Records champions. Namely, that the many sounds and styles in music that have evolved over the past seventy-five years, which often get tied to a specific period in time, are actually timeless when played with heart, passion and inventiveness. This is a great example, Julian Lage may not be breaking any new ground with this performance but does that take away just how beautiful a piece of music it is at all? Absolutely not. It comes from Julian’s latest Blue Note album ‘Scenes From Above,’ where it appears as the record’s seven‑minute centerpiece. You can buy the album via this link: https://amzn.to/4cZDfsi