New Subscriber Playlist: “Mid-Year Favorites (2026 Edition)”

So here we are, half-way through 2026 already. Which means it’s time to take a few minutes to reflect on the year’s music so far. At the start of every year, I compile a list of albums that I’m looking forward to hearing, but there are always surprises that pop up in my email inbox, catch my eye thanks to social media, or appear in Bandcamp’s listings.

This month’s playlist, titled “Mid-Year Favorites (2026 Edition),” highlights just a few of the songs that have stuck with me in the days, weeks, and months since I’ve heard them — which means that there’s a good chance they’ll end up on my year-end mix. (Check out my mixes from previous years.)

Accompanying the playlist is the latest episode of my “Playlist Breakdown” podcast, in which I spotlight one of the playlist’s songs and why it’s so special, interesting, and/or meaningful. This month’s episode focuses on “Prophecy at 1420 MHz,” a standout track from Boards of Canada’s Inferno, the enigmatic duo’s first album in thirteen years.

Both of these are little bonuses for subscribers who support Opus financially. If you’d like to get access to them (and more), subscribe to Opus for just $5.00/month or $50/year. (You can also subscribe for free and get my weekend newsletter.)