“A Hum Of Maybe” - Apparat
Released February 20, 2026 through Sascha Ring.File under: Electronic
Since 2001, German electronic musician Sascha Ring, AKA Apparat, has been producing evocative and rich electronic music, both in collaboaration with other artists (Ellen Allien on Berlinette and Orchestra of Bubbles, and with Modeselector as Moderat on I, II, III and More D4ata), but it is on his solo work where her really comes alive. On his 6th solo non-soundtrack album, we hear his artistry come to the fore, with sounds emerging from large spaces, intimate moments, grand sunrises and quiet retiring, always multilayered, always engaging, always beckoning the listener to ask what comes next.
Each song on this album is like a soundtrack to a movie that doesn’t exist, telling untold stories and creating new sounds. At moments there are sounds harkening to artists like Sparklehorse, a half heard radio signal at the edge of hearing, other moments like Massive Attack, with punctuated beats and rhythms, and again other moments of orchestral string arrangements. Lyrically poetic and evocative, these stories unfold gradually and gently, revealing Apparat’s own iconography and archetypes. The lyrics for the title track A Hum Of Maybe as an example:
Air thick walls too nearClocks fold in on themselvesDoors lean tired praiseSoundless sirens pressing inWhite flags no one seesHold out quiet like a vowCracked on jitter loosePass the weight palm to palmOne step back, one step calmI move with lines I used toOne step back, one step calm
Masterly in production, A Hum Of Maybe is a future classic, and a definite punctuation point in Apparat’s musical career. One could even draw comparisons between Apparat and Thom Yorke’s solo projects like The Eraser and Anima, both musically and lyrically. High praise indeed, but definitely worthy. From his Bandcamp page: “A Hum Of Maybe is complex, deeply personal, and embraces a state of limbo, marking an exciting new chapter for Apparat.”
Listen to “A Hum Of Maybe” on:Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“Standards - EP” - Smush
Released February 20, 2026 through Smush.File under: shoegaze/dreampop
A follow up to their debut album If You Were Here I’d Be Home Now, the Standards EP by Vancouver BC’s Smush is impeccable shoegaze with a dreampop bent. Catchy tracks with Emily Borrowman’s almost syrupy sweet vocals, this 6 track EP definitely harkens to great things to come. Complete with a cover of Norah Jones’ Don’t Know Why, this EP is over far too quickly, all tracks delivered in 15 minutes.
For people who like Just Mustard, Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine, Softcult, BDRMM and Lush.
See the clip for Don’t Know Why below.
Listen to “Standards” on:Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal