May 2026 // May Flowers
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Jump to the playlist on Apple Music here!
May was beautiful, warm, and fragrant here in the PNW—here are some fantastic tracks to get you into the summer mood before Juneuary hits!
// FULL PLAYLIST
01: Periphery - “A Pale White Dot”
02: Lady A - “Need You Now”
03: Death Cab for Cutie - “You Are a Tourist”
04: Bon Iver - “33 ‘GOD’ (Live - Mar 10 2023 - WOMADelaide Festival)”
05: Coldplay - “Square One”
06: Metric - “Time Is A Bomb”
07: The Killers - “Out of My Mind”
08: Madeon - “Fire Away (feat. Slayyyter)”
09: Ninajirachi - “iPod Touch”
10: Static Dress - “…hospice”
11: Evanescence - “Imaginary”
12: Karmanjakah - “Diamond train”
13: heaving. - “faces of you”
14: Static Dress - “Pharmacy Film”
15: 156/Silence - “No Arms”
16: Mirar - “Når Solen Går Ned”
// SPOTLIGHTS
Madeon - “Fire Away (feat. Slayyyter)”
I’ve been not excited, then excited, then not excited, and now excited again about Madeon’s new era, aesthetic, and vibe. “Fire Away” is an addictively good track. Perfect tempo, perfect mix, perfect sound design elements (especially in the back half of the track). I’ve never really listened to Slayyyter, but I think that the vibe that her vocals give not just the second verse but the entire vocal backdrop of the track are going to make me change that very soon. Her and Hugo’s vocals blend extremely well, and the lyrical content of the track is very focused as well. Really enjoyed this track, and I think it’ll be the last one I listen to before the album drops soon!
Karmanjakah - “Diamond train”
Karmanjakah’s first two singles for their 2026 album Diamond morning, “Dove” and “Eyes Seeing Eyes,” blew my mind. The band’s ability to merge thall guitar aesthetics with a sunny, peaceful atmosphere is uncannily good, and both of these tracks showcase different aspects of their range to great effect. But when the entire album dropped and I heard the entire realized vision, I was floored. The final track “Diamond train,” the final of a three-part epic that closes out the album, combines peaceful and uplifting vocals with frenetic guitar riffs that always sound perfectly placed no matter how noodly they are. I also have a soft spot for the ending and how it gradually lifts away layers of the composition to emphasize different foci—this is a really masterfully done track to close out what could vie for my #1 spot of the year. Beautiful in every way.
Mirar - “Når Solen Går Ned”
I’ve always loved when industrial-neoclassical-metal act Mirar incorporates vocals into their songs, but they have historically been screamed vocals. This time around, to close out their tight, sub-30-minute Gradus Ad Parnassum EP, the band opted to bring in Lovise Espeland to sing a rendition of a classic Nordic poem over one of the most grotesque instrumentals ever to grace the ears. The juxtaposition lends itself beautifully to Mirar’s classical stylings, creating an insanely cool listening experience. Highly recommended! The chugs on the verses are addicting.
