BOPS AND FLOPS OF THE WEEK 16/10/2026: Thundercat, Tinashe, Death From Above 1979 and more…

This week’s selection is loud and lively. 2026 is finally picking up – the bops are coming hard and fast. Artists featured this week include Thundercat & Buttonmasher, Tinashe, Death From Above 1979, Cowboy Hunters, Mogwai (ft. Iggy Pop) and 2Slimey.

THE BEST:

‘Moving At Light Speed’ – Thundercat & Buttonmasher

Jazz-funk bassist-singer Thundercat has teamed up with chiptune producer Buttonmasher to deliver this tribute to Sonic The Hedgehog. Why the tribute? Was Thundercat just feeling random and nerdy? Has Sonic passed away??? No, don’t panic – sources tell me the famous blue hedgehog is alive and stable, and that this song was in fact released in celebration of the Sega mascot’s 25^th birthday.  Happy Birthday Sonic! The song has suitably racing pace to it and we get some typically delicious funky bass from Thundercat.  

‘Pillow Fight’ – Tinashe

‘Pillow Fight’ might be the raunchiest sex anthem of 2026. It opens with Tinashe sounding innnocent and angelic over fluttering pianos. But then the chorus hits with its mean bassline and you know the ‘No Broke Boys’ singer is ready to break the bed. The song comes off Tinashe’s latest album, Popstar (which is a must listen – it’s wall-to-wall bangers).  

‘Private Lives’ – Death From Above 1979

Death From Above 1979 are back. If you like your rock loud and fuzzy, you’ll love their new single, which I think might be one of their most intense tracks in years. It’s good to see they’ve not softened their sound.

‘Punched In The Head’ – Cowboy Hunters

This Glasgow duo have been making waves recently for their unique blend of punk and grime. Their new single ‘Punched In Head’ is short and sweet. Okay, maybe not sweet. It features sneering, confrontational vocals over a pummelling beat that makes you feel like you’re getting punched in the head. That’s a compliment.

‘Underground’ – Mogwai ft. Iggy Pop

‘I don’t need to suck a cock’. Okay, Iggy, that’s a pretty wild thing to say unprompted. Truth be told, I find Iggy’s aged shaky voice to be pretty unlistenable on most of his recent output. But here his delivery and the lyrics take on an enjoyably unhinged tone that Glasgow rock band Mogwai match with some menacing atmospheric instrumentation.

THE WORST:

‘Die For This’ – 2Slimey

‘Rage music’ is the grindcore of hip hop. I appreciate how deliberately ugly and noisy it is, but I will never get any joy out of it. The soft melodic intro is hilarious though. Great trolling from 2Slimey.