STACK #261 July 2026

FEATURE MUSIC

THIS MONTH?

SIENNA SPIRO Visitor UNIVERSAL

ZARA LARSSON Midnight Sun: Girls Trip SONY This is a remix album of Zara Larsson’s fifth

YARD ACT You’re Gonna Need a Little Music UNIVERSAL

This is the debut album for 20-year-old English artist Sienna Spiro,

You’re Gonna Need a Little Music is the third album for Yard Act, who hail from Leeds in the UK. Their work is edgy indie rock, raging about

studio album, Midnight Sun , which topped the Swedish charts and was a Top 40 hit in Australia,

whose song Material Lover is also featured on the The Devil Wears Prada 2 soundtrack. She says, “I think my whole life I’ve felt like a visitor. I’ve always been aware of the temporary nature of things, of life, of time. And in that sense, we are all visitors. But more personally, in relationships, friendships, situations, and moments, I’ve often felt impermanent.” SUKI WATERHOUSE Loveland UNIVERSAL You might have seen Suki Waterhouse in the music drama Daisy band. The English actress is also a singer, and Loveland is her third album. She says the record was heavily influenced by her relationship with fellow actor Robert Pattinson and giving birth to their daughter. “I’m talking about dreams coming true for my partner and me and also having a baby in the middle of that.” TRICKY Di‚erent When It’s Silent UNIVERSAL Tricky, the English musician who was born Adrian Thaws, has tragedy, following the passing of his 24-year-old daughter. “Emotionally, I’m saying I’m ready to start my life again,” he says. “I’m looking forward to touring. I want to record. I was emotionally paralysed. Now I’m moving again.” The album also has an Aussie connection – Tricky covers Marinade by Angus Stone’s Dope Lemon. TYLA A*Pop SONY Tyla is the “Queen of opened up about his 15th studio album, explaining how it was shaped by Jones & The Six – she played Karen Sirko, the keyboards player in the

the US, and UK. The new set features collabs with an all-star all-female lineup, including Tyla, Shakira, PinkPantheress, Kehlani, Emilia, and Madison Beer.

the state of the world. “I see an evil genius,” James Smith sings in Redeemer . Yep, we need a little music.

S inger-songwriter Mick Hucknall has just turned 66. I mention this fact because Sim ply Red – the band he formed in Manchester, England in 1985 - celebrate their 40th anniver sary with the release of this flawless live album that comes as a DVD and Blu-ray film. It’s also available as a standalone two CD set, a two CD plus DVD and Blu-ray package, and yellow triple-vinyl. The band’s sustained success has always hinged on Hucknall’s stage presence, and he remains one of the most remarkable live singers over the past four de cades – his profound connection with the audience is captivating. Songs include the band’s masterpiece Holding Back the Years , their breakthrough hit Money’s Too Tight (To Mention) , as well as If You Don’t Know Me by Now, The Right Thing, Fair ground, and Stars , in addition to a classic cover of a song made famous by The Hollies, The Air That I Breathe . SIMPLY RED Holding Back the Years: Live in Santiago ROCKET BIL Y’S PICK

AUSSIE RELEASES

ALEX LLOYD Watching Angels Mend UNIVERSAL Released in 2001, Alex Lloyd’s second solo

BUDJERAH Gentleman INERTIA

Budjerah Slabb, who records under just his first name, is a proud Coodjinburra man who won the Michael Gudinski ‘Breakthrough

album was his highest charter, hitting number two in Australia. It also went triple platinum and

saw the Sydney singer take the title of ‘Best Male Artist’ at the ARIA Awards. Featuring his signature song, Amazing – which topped Triple J’s Hottest 100 - Alex had planned a 20th anniversary edition of the record, but COVID got in the way. Better late than never, the 25th anniversary edition shows that this album stands as a fine example of poetic pop. And it’s now available on vinyl for the first time.

Artist’ award at the 2021 ARIA Awards. His first full-length album, Gentleman , finds the 24-year-old artist in fine form. “Chasing my dreams, I faced new challenges which helped me understand who I wanted to be,” he says. And his label boss, Warner Music’s Dan Rosen, is rightly proud of the record, believing it will be “a defining moment in Australian music”, calling Budjerah “a once-in-a-generation talent”.

ECCA VANDAL Looking for People to Unfollow UNIVERSAL Ecca Vandal – who came to Australia from South Africa when she was a child - has crafted a searing second album, a powerful piece of work about the modern world. “This album isn’t about fitting in,” she notes. “It’s about subtraction. Stripping things back to what’s real. Taking up space in a world that constantly asks you to shrink. I’ve stopped trying to smooth out the edges.” She made the album with her producer and partner Richie Buxton in his childhood bedroom. Check out the power-packed Cruising to Self Soothe , which would have found a happy home in the post-grunge ’90s.

Coming in AUGUST ROWENA WISE Bad Things Feel Good* (Aug 7)

Popiano”, which is a mix of pop and the smooth South African genre amapiano. A*Pop is her second album and

follows her Grammys success – she is the youngest African artist to win a Grammy. The second single, She Did It Again , features Swedish star Zara Larsson.

DON WALKER Love Songs (Aug 7) GRACE CUMMINGS Bloodhorse! (Aug 14)

Radio legend Billy Pinnell presents Billy Pinnell’s Musical Moments on YouTube.

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