Jack Sheen - Press (2026)


I get what Press is doing, and I respect the discipline behind it, but it rarely pulls me in emotionally. The writing feels deliberately constrained — small gestures, brittle interactions, ideas introduced and withdrawn before they have time to settle. There’s intelligence here, and moments of textural interest, but as an album it plays more like a sequence of studies than a journey. I find myself admiring the craft while struggling to feel any urgency to stay with it or return once it’s finished.

Pros

  1. Clear compositional intent – The restraint and focus feel purposeful, not accidental.

  2. Refined ensemble playing – Apartment House handle the material with precision and sensitivity.

  3. Textural detail at close range – On headphones, micro-events and harmonic friction do reveal care.

Cons

  1. Low emotional payoff – The music rarely arrives anywhere that feels earned or affecting.

  2. Fragmented flow – Short, clipped sections interrupt momentum rather than build it.

  3. Limited replay value – Once the language is understood, there’s little pull to revisit.





Genre: avant-garde
Country: UK

Final Verdict: 57% (Forgettable Album)
Yearly Ranking: 103th / 108

Highlight: Press One


Made me think of:
Oneohtrix Point Never
Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto
Kali Malone

#newalbum #newalbum2026 #albumrelease #newmusic #albumoftheday #nowspinning #NowPlaying #musicdiscovery
#avant-garde #JackSheen #UK
#LP #Album #release

 

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