Next Wave: A Thousand Mad Things

Highlighted in our first Next Wave presentation of 2026 is A Thousand Mad Things, a project by British musician William Barradale, founded in 2023. Writing and performing everything himself, William draws from 80s synth-pop and new wave, pairing sharp melodies and layered atmosphere with a striking vocal range reminiscent of the great male voices of the era. 

While he has already been quite active — releasing several singles and an EP last year — we only recently stumbled upon his music. One thing is clear, though: A Thousand Mad Things feel very much here to stay, making for a strong statement at the kickoff of 2026, with hopes for a full-length album on the horizon. Below is the video for this debut single "Wide Awake".

Zanias - The Spire

In October 2025, Zanias released her fifth studio album, Cataclysm, followed by a series of singles. “The Spire” is her most recent release, with the accompanying music video premiering on YouTube earlier this month.

WAW: Nation of Language - Inept Apollo

Nation of Language are back with a brand new single "Inept Apollo". The video for the song was directed by John MacKay.

Instant Hit: Primary Colours - Paint Love Blue

Primary Colours was a short-lived American synthpop/new wave duo active from 1984 to 1988, comprising Jim Demain and Jeanette. They released one EP titled "Paint Love Blue" and debuted in 1985 under After Hours Records. This 12" vinyl EP features five tracks, including both single and extended versions of the title track. The records blends shimmering synth textures with melancholic melodies, evoking the emotional depth of early '80s New Wave.

 

Ghost Cop - All Souls Day

Ghost Cop have released a video for the songs "All Souls Day", directed by Sean Dack and Lucy Swope. The song was premiered on the band's Bandcamp page in October 2024.

Minuit Machine - Party People

Minuit Machine continues to build anticipation for their upcoming album Queendom, set for release on March 21st. Their latest single, "Party People," showcases their signature blend of darkwave and electrifying synth-driven beats.

Next Wave: Sunship Balloon

Sunship Balloon emerged in 2020, comprising two-thirds of The Wombats. When lead singer Matthew Murphy ventured into Love Fame Tragedy, his bandmates Dan Haggis and Tord Øverland-Knudsen embarked on a new sonic journey as Sunship Balloon. Their music blends Synth and Indie Pop, resulting in a captivating indietronica sound. To date, they have released two studio albums, including Real Humans, which debuted in January of this year and has swiftly become one of our favorite albums of 2024. Follow the link below for YouTube links.

Retrovision: Blue Peter - Don't Walk Past

Blue Peter's video for the song "Don't Walk Past" has been remastered in 2021, and the new version is now available on YouTube. Originally released in 1983, the song was part of their second album, Falling. Interestingly, this video marked the first appearance of a Canadian indie label video on MTV in the U.S.

Next Wave: Working Men's Club

Workings Men's Club is one of the finest new comer bands to emerge this year. Hailing from Todmorden in West Yorkshire, England, the band were formed in mid-2018 by vocalist/guitarist Sydney Minsky-Sargeant, guitarist Giulia Bonometti, and drummer Jake Bogacki. The band is known for their very unique turbulent post punk sound which draws influences from both the 80's and early 90's. After releasing a single "Bad Blood" heavily influenced by guitar-based post-punk,  Working Men's Club signed to Heavenly Records under which they released their self titled debut album. Their lead single   "Valley" is where you will certainly feel the 90's influence both in sound and video production.

U96 Team up with Wolfgang Flür of Kraftwek

The 90's electro dance act U96 who made prominence in the early 90's with "Das Boot" and other string of hits have united with Wolfgang Flur of the classic Kraftwerk line up to and recorded an album together. Their first single is out now and pretty much "Transhuman" pretty much resurrects the Kraftwerk sound introducing it to the new decade. The album of the same name was released in early September through Radikal record label.

WAW: Marcel Wave - The Moon King

It is almost ten years now since A Terrible Splendour released their marvelous "Slaves to the City" tune and their New Romantic half, a good friend Lyle, has recently been experimenting with synth pop on a solo basis as Marcel Wave. The video for the new song "The Moon King" was revealed on Monday. This pleasant piece of synth pop takes us on an artistic and cinematic trip in the realm of The Moon King. The b-side isn't less interesting as it is Marcel Wave take on the French classic "Les Nuits Sans Kim Wilde", originally performed by Laurent Voulzy  The video for the song was created with the help of another old friend, Soft Riot's very own Mr Jack Duckworth (JJD). We hope to hear and see more creative collaboration materializing from these two. 

Please follow the link for more Marcel Wave goodness.
https://marcelwave.bandcamp.com/album/the-moon-king

The Strokes to Release New Album in April

The Strokes have announced their brand new studio album for April this year. The album will be called 'The New Abnormal' and will be their first LP since 2013's 'Comedown Machine'. Currently it being promoted with the new single "At the Door" and also with the music video for the song "Bad Decisions" which was directed by Andrew Donoho.

OMD Release a Career-Spanning Boxset

Orchestral Manouvers in the Dark have released their first singles compilation since 1998. this one is very special as it also marks the 40th anniversary and this comprehensive collection includes OMD's hits from four decades, from "Electricity" to "What Have We Done", plus a brand new 40th single, "Don’t Go". 

A limited edition 5CD+2DVD career spanning boxset will also be released. Discs 1 and 2 are the same as the 2CD format – the 40 singles in chronological order. Disc 3 is a collection of 22 unheard and unreleased tracks from the OMD,  Disc 4 is a full live recording from the Mermaid Theatre in London, February 2011. Disc 5 is a newly discovered full live recording from the Hammersmith Odeon in May 1983 in support of the Dazzle Ships album. Disc 6 is a DVD featuring 23 OMD performances on the BBC. Disc 7 is a DVD featuring a live recording from the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in December 1981 in support of the Architecture & Morality album.

Accordingly the compilation is entitled 'Souvenir - The Singles 1979- 2019' nd it was released on October 6th. 

More details here.

John Maus to Release Addendum this May

John Maus have announced the release of a brand new album studio album which is in fact an early return and follow up to his last year release 'Screen Memories'. The new album will be entitled 'Addendum' and will feature 12 new tracks including the song "Episode" which has already been announced as a lead track. The album was recored during the same time as 'Screen Memories' and was originally intended for Exclusive careers spanning 6 LP boxset. It will be released on CD and digital through Ribbon on May 18th.

Instant Hit: Barbi and the Kens- I'm Not Your Stepping Stone

Barbi and the Kens was one of the several project of Bobby Orlando projects released in the early 80's. Under this moniker he released only one mini LP in 1980 which featured 4 track including the title track "Just a Gigolo" which even managed to enter the Billboard Club Play charts. Later throughout the 80's he even manage to become one of the most prolific Hi-Nrg produces which besides of producing his own acts, resulted in a collaboration with Divine and Pet Shop Boys. Even today he is still releasing albums. Here for you, the bouncy "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" 

Lust for Youth - Announce the Release of a New Album in March

Lust for Youth have announced the release of a brand new studio album 'Compassion' in March. This will be their brand new studio album and a follow up to their album 'International' which was released in 2014. Based on the stream of the song "Stardom", they seem to continue with their perfect bland of moody and hypnotic post-synth sound which they stared on their second album. 'Compassion' is set for release on March 18th on Sacred Bones Records. 

Next Wave: Night Drive

The Austin/Houston based duo of Rodney Connell and Brandon Duhon began after a young woman they were both unknowingly dating at the same time was killed in a car crash. The tragic event bonded the two men, and shortly afterwards they began a musical collaboration. Inspired by dark, synth-heavy electro pop, Night Drive released their first EP called Position I. Their singles "Drones", "After Dark" and "Young Rivals" have been featured in film and on radio stations nationwide. Touring with international bands such as Tesla Boy, Gold Fields and Jupiter, they've quickly garnered a reputation as a must see, high energy live show.

Next Wave: Dinner

Danish producer and singer Anders Rhedin who records and produces under the Dinner moniker is our new Next Wave stars on Burning flame and one of the most anticipated stars for this year. Already in 2014 he draw a good deal of attention with his synth laden glam-pop tunes. Somewhere divided between LA, Berlin and Copenhagen he is taking influences from everywhere.This is how his music is described by his label: "Sometimes Dinner sounds like a long-lost mixtape from the local Dusseldorf pop scene in the early 1980s. Other times he sounds something like the soundtrack to David Lynch directing Miami Vice, or Genesis P-Orridge embracing Italian pop-infused Danish darkwave, or like a male descendant of Nico singing Eno-esque pop songs on discarded Julian Cope tracks." 

In April, Dinner will release the complete Three EPs Collection 2012-2014 and also support Mac DeMarco on his West Coast tour. In May and June he’ll embark on his first extended European tour. He’s currently in LA, where he’s working on his debut full-length.

Next Wave: Miaux

Miaux is the stage name for the Belgian underground artist Mia Prce who is originally from Sarajevo (Bosnia). Mia a contemporary pianist whose music is dreamy and melancholic art pop. To this date, from 2010 Miaux has released four EPs and this year finally sees her releaseing her debut album 'Dive'. The album is out on the Belgian record label Ultra Eczema. 

https://soundcloud.com/miaux

Next Wave: Roladex

Here another great band we were really into and following all they did in this year. Roladex was formed in Texas by Tyler Jacobsen and Elyssa Dianne. Tyler Jacobsen holds an MFA in Electronic Art and this becomes apparent as they find lyrical and musical inspiration through the films of David Cronenberg and John Carpenter, the works of authors such as J.G Ballard as well as video artists such as Vito Acconci and Nam June Paik. Using an arsenal of analog instruments, Roladex nostalgically borrows ideas from music of the past to carefully craft a unique brand of futuristic-mechanized pop, with an emphasis on songwriting and layered production. Themes such as nuclear war, cosmology, false memories and technology as the “opiate of the masses” become apparent as the listener plays through the LP. Their debut LP is out on Mediacal Records. 

Source: Medical Records (Edit)

More about the band under the following links:
http://roladex.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/roladex
www.facebook.com/roladexmusic