Stash, the second album from BCMC — the Chicago guitar-and-keys duo of Bill MacKay and Cooper Crain — pulls a range of styles from their minimalist set-up across eight tracks. It arrives on Drag City on 26th June 2026 and is the follow-up to 2023’s Foreign Smokes. The album was preceded by two early singles, Kaleidosmoke and Tête-à-Tête. Although Stash certainly feels related to that debut, the music here is more excitable, with the musicians happy to explore dynamically within a song.
Take Badland Rag, one of two seven-minute-plus tracks: the music starts as a future western soundtrack crossed with mariachi styles; there’s a distinctly broad and cinematic feel to the sound, with Bill’s guitar veering from sparse romantic notes to dustier slide playing, and Cooper’s organ and synth lines bringing sparkles and high shrieks that feel like the sun burning a neck.
Very different is Fin de Journée, a slinky organ-led number with sweet bass notes that could be at home on a very relaxed dance floor. Bill’s guitar settles in alongside Cooper’s playing here, cool and groovy, solid chords flirting with sparkly high notes. It’s a super clean, confident piece, like drinking a glass of fizz by a swimming pool.
There’s undoubtedly a playful nature to this music, and a sense that the artists want the listener to bed in and really enjoy the album. Just listen to the dancing keys and guitar on Kaleidosmoke; Cooper’s playing sounds like space beeps trying to emulate the guitar sound, a neat bit of role-reversal. Bill really digs in here and gets jamming with Cooper; the low notes root the whole song, and when the synth line kicks in at the halfway point, it’s a shot of pure joy. And then there’s Cooper’s own freakout solo towards the end, still underpinned by the bass notes. I could listen to it all day.
Beautifully light and delicate is Melodía Compacta, a tune built on an easy, low organ line, with two guitar parts threading through it and synth lines swirling like strings. The pacing gives it a very positive energy, with only hints of low drones questioning the mood.
I was very impressed by Foreign Smokes, but Stash really is a step up, with both musicians giving everything to these forty minutes. Both are hugely experienced players who coax so many sounds and styles from such a minimalist set-up. This is a generous, joyous album, brimming with life, energy and a real love of music. Highly recommended.
Stash (June 26th, 2026) Drag City
Bandcamp: https://bcmc.bandcamp.com/album/stash