Alex Gallacher
Alex Gallacher
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of KLOF Mag - I keep things running here and put together the playlists and mixes.
Naarm/Melbourne’s Winter McQuinn has share an animated video for “Always Looking,” the second single from his upcoming album. The track features vocals from Dylan Young and backing from Hot Apple Band. It’s a powerhouse of 70s-inspired sound, blending the soft-rock of Steely Dan with Nick Drake’s folk sensibilities. The song’s groove contrasts with poignant lyrics delving into the modern anxieties of social media comparison.
Jeff Tweedy confronts overwhelming darkness with Twilight Override, a sprawling triple album out September 26th via dBpm Records. Recorded at his Chicago studio, The Loft, it features friends and family. Listen to four new singles, including “Enough.” The album’s release is supported by an extensive full-band North American and European tour kicking off this October, with tickets on sale starting July 18th.
Fruit Bats releases “Creature From The Wild,” a heartfelt tribute to frontman Eric D. Johnson’s late dog. The track is from the forthcoming solo album, Baby Man, due out September 12th. Johnson calls the song a “hero song” for his “swashbuckling” companion. Proceeds from the single will benefit Baja Street Dogs, an organisation that rescues animals in Mexico.
Seattle singer-songwriter Dean Johnson confronts social fatigue in his new single, “Death of the Party.” The wry, bittersweet track takes aim at “energy vampires” with sharp wit over brushed drums and acoustic chords. It’s the latest preview from his debut album for Saddle Creek, I Hope We Can Still Be Friends, arriving August 22, 2025.
Poet and vocalist Saul Williams and renowned percussionist and producer Carlos Niño have announced Saul Williams meets Carlos Niño & Friends at TreePeople, a new live album out August 28, 2025, via International Anthem. Recorded outdoors in Los Angeles, the improvised performance features an all-star ensemble including Kamasi Washington and Nate Mercereau. The lead single, “Sound then Words,” is available to stream now.
Hotel Lux announce their self-produced second album, ‘The Bitter Cup’, arriving October 31st. The news comes with the scathing new single ‘Costermonger’, a commentary on London’s gentrification, and news of an extensive UK winter tour. Following their acclaimed 2023 debut, the new record promises to capture the raw, emotional intensity of their celebrated live shows, marking a confident new chapter.
Stockholm’s Ishaaq Aarkistra makes their Lost Map Records debut with ‘Grunderna’. A dizzying, psychedelic kaleidoscope, the track fuses swirling analogue synth and bansuri flute solos over a thundering breakbeat and a snaking raga-based riff. Recorded at ABBA’s RMV Studio, the single introduces a wild and deeply layered fusion of East and West.
A new Monday Morning Brew playlist Ft. Adrian Crowley & Matthew Nolan, Michael Hurley, Macie Stewart, David Allred, Joshua Burnside, Marissa Nadler, Stelios Petrakis, Sir Richard Bishop, Fuubutsushi, C Joynes & Mike Gangloff, The Innocence Mission, MJ Lenderman, Damien Jurado, ØXN, Nathan Salsburg, Scott McMicken and more.
In April, the world of music lost a true original, after the folk icon Michael Hurley, the wily cartoonist and songwriter known to many as “Snock,” passed away. His passing came just after he put the finishing touches on his final studio album, Broken Homes and Gardens, a farewell that stands as a warm and fitting final entry in one of American music’s most singular and influential catalogues.
When an illness stole her ability to sing, Chicago artist Gia Margaret turned to her synthesizer for comfort. The result was “Mia Gargaret,” her stunning 2020 ambient album. Weaving field recordings with immersive soundscapes, it’s a deeply personal document of self-healing and a powerful testament to the restorative nature of creating music.
Run For Cover Records will release I Will Swim to You: A Tribute to Jason Molina on September 5th. The album honors the late songwriter with twelve covers from artists like MJ Lenderman, Sun June, Hand Habits, and Horse Jumper of Love. Listen now to Lenderman’s take on “Just Be Simple” and Sun June’s “Leave The City.”