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Apparently British indie bands are huge in China, to the point where they get flown over for tours and paid handsomely:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/feb/17/its-a-nice-surprise-to-be-treated-like-kings-why-are-mid-level-british-indie-bands-massive-in-china

the article mentions psych-rockers Underground Youth, synth-goth modernists The KVB and Sea Power (who are apparently big in China on the strength of their Disco Elysium soundtrack), as well as Chinese band Carsick Cars

The city of Sheffield has a storied history of experimental music and sound art, from Cabaret Voltaire to the recent algorave scene. Now we can add the harmonically noteworthy drones of the freezers in a local supermarket to this list: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/feb/18/the-sheffield-supermarket-going-viral-for-the-symphonic-sound-of-its-freezers

Chickfactor interviews Jessica from the Would-Be-Goods, who just released a new album; she talks about, among other things, songwriting:

https://www.chickfactor.com/new-interview-with-would-be-goods-plus-tips-for-songwriters-from-jessica/

Currently listening to the Bandcamp Listening Party for the new Loney Dear album. It's recognisably Loney Dear, yet a step up in lushness, combining orchestral and electronic textures. Tonally it reminds me of Dear John and/or A Lantern And A Bell.
https://loneydear.bandcamp.com/live/making-friends-is-easy-listening-party

I wasn’t expecting to find an article on Norwegian indie artist Erlend Øye (of Kings Of Convenience and the newly reunited The Whitest Boy Alive) in the Guardian today, but here we are:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/jan/21/whitest-boy-alive-erlend-oye-kings-of-convenience-interview

Currently listening to: the new Xiu Xiu covers album. It’s pretty good; I particularly like their Badalamentian take on the Daniel Johnston song, and the suicide-note bleakness of the Robyn cover. Meanwhile, Warm Leatherette is probably exactly how you’d imagine a Xiu Xiu cover of that to be.

https://xiuxiu.bandcamp.com/album/xiu-mutha-fuckin-xiu-vol-1

#xiuxiu

The Quietus has an introduction to free jazz in 10 records, as chosen by Thurston Moore:

https://thequietus.com/interviews/strange-world-of/the-best-free-jazz/

Life Without Buildings are reuniting for a one-off show in London in November:

https://stereogum.com/2485102/life-without-buildings-reuniting-for-first-show-in-nearly-25-years/news/

Currently playing in my head: a really shoegazey cover of Blueboy’s “Boys Don’t Matter”, somewhat along the lines of Just For A Day-era Slowdive with perhaps a touch of Galaxie 500, or perhaps a Slowdive-influenced band like Resplandor, Alison’s Halo or deary: waves of fuzzed-out guitars, some strumming chords, and floating over that, Neil/Rachel-style male-female vocal harmonies, not too far forward in the mix, singing “Carol I can wait forever, for some kind of secret sign…”