Scottish New Music Round-up: May 2026

April was a bit of a blur, so naturally a few releases slipped through the cracks of last month's column. We missed Third Window, a mini album from Dancer's Gemma Fleet and Andrew Doig as THE CHOP, plus singles from Mairi Sutherland, Lucia & The Best Boys, Faith Eliott, Skies Up, mokusla & ROKI and Casual Drag.

Looking to May, the number of releases we’re dealing with this month is verging on silly, so here we’ll attempt a somewhat potted version of as much of what's coming as possible. But first, check out the May issue and you’ll find full reviews of new albums from Conscious Pilot, Sonedo, SHHE, Radhika and Carla J. Easton, who we've been speaking to about ditching keyboards for guitars.

On 1 May, three days before this magazine was even printed, Zoe Young and Tammy Dyson, aka Saint Sappho released Between the Lines. Championed by the late JD Twitch, of the record he said: “this album has the ability to change the world,” something he himself was always striving for. Across its 13 tracks, the pair have a knack for leaning into the nostalgia of 90s alt-rock, but through a modern lens as they question identity, love, grief and more with a taut but laid-back sheen. The same day also brings albums from the Rezillos’ Fay Fife (New Phone New Car New Man) and multihyphenate Adam Stafford (Prilitex); Ferguson, fka Wuh Oh, releases Fergusongs, vol. 1, Anoraq release mini-album An August Work Party and Ample House release Can’t Believe I’m Here.

Listen out for Dreams ‘24 / ‘25 (8 May) from the ever prolific Bill Wells. An unusual offering, the album pieces together 24 musical vignettes inspired by Wells’ dreams, few longer than 90 seconds, some as short as 21. The first half features Norman Blake, the second Aby Vulliamy, making for a strange yet fascinating collection of songs that evoke the dreamstate that inspired their creation. On the same day, expect folk, alt-country and indie-rock with an introspective, vulnerable sheen from Still Life Painter (A Month of Longest Days), quirky angular indie-rock from Middle Class Guilt (Their King of Comedy), post-metal sludge from Electric Sun Defence (Estuary) and indie-rock with some ambient touches from Dundee alt-rock trio Red Vanilla (Where I Should Be).

On 15 May, Glasgow singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Orla Noble releases unfurl. Self-produced, unfurl is a deeply personal collection of hazy, sun-kissed folk, perfect for the changing of the season as she explores “identity, pain, and love; from powerless despair to luminous hope.” On the same day, Randolph’s Leap fans should seek out Bring On the Apathy from Adam Ross. Recorded onto tape using traditional analogue techniques, there’s a warmth to its ten tracks, Ross's lyrical charm further aided by rich backing vocal arrangements from C Duncan, Amanda Nizich and Gillian Fleetwood.

For a dose of rock, screamo and nu-metal, step into a new era with Anna Shields-fronted Dead Pony. Alongside Blair Crichton, Liam Adams and Euan Lyons, on Eat My Dust!, the four have drawn from early 2000s influences to create something that sounds massive and super polished. "We’re stepping into a whole new era of Dead Pony,” the band say, “one that feels bigger, bolder, and more unapologetically us than anything we’ve ever done before.” On the same day, Bottle Rockets release their debut EP and there’s an ambient offering from Yulyseus (Nothing Under Heaven).

On 20 May, singer-songwriter Holly Powers releases the gorgeously raw and vulnerable six-track EP, Sweetpea. While on the 22nd the genre-bending Acolyte release their debut EP, The Blue Dark, eight years after the band's inception, and it's more than worth the wait. Across six tracks, the four-piece take you on a hypnotic journey as hazy layered textures ebb and flow like a dream; when spoken-word artist Iona Lee and singer Gloria Black’s voices intertwine, it’s pure magic. Further remixes from Maniatrix, Ravelston and Eyes of Others show the limitless possibilities of their output as songs are twisted into shapes perfect for the dancefloor.

Acolyte. Credit: Laura Meek.

On the same day, Bikini Body release Weirdest Party, a trio of expert remixes of live faves Georgie Weaver, Chivas Dunhills Coke and Happy Painting. Cumbernauld DIY outfit Snout release Dog Says; seven years in the making, it’s a nostalgic hit of quirky, woozy slacker psych-rock, calling to mind the likes of Animal Collective, while simultaneously kind of sounding nothing like them. wojtek the bear also release i don’t think you want to hear this, their latest album of heartfelt, jangly indie.

On 27 May, Glasgow/Edinburgh duo KuleeAngee release Love & Affection, a sharp 15 minutes of thick bass grooves, acid house and unapologetic disco – perfect as we get closer to summer. And DOSS return with their brand new self-titled EP on the 29th; no less furious at the state of the world around them, there's a maturity here as their sound gets as gutsy as their lyrics. Read our full chat with DOSS in the May issue.

As well as all of that, expect new albums from Mull Historical Society and Boards of Canada(!!) and a stack of singles from Scott C. Park, PINLIGHT, kitti, Fright Years, PLASTICINE, Karys, Doom Scroller, Nick Dow, Dara Dubh and Róisín McCarney. And breathe.