Ambiorix Top 40 – 2026-01

The year gets off to a very promising start! There’s immediately an abundance of great releases, and the top three alone consists of artists making their very first appearance here. Kicking things off is “Into The Darkness” (#1) by Bonfire Lakes, the Limburg-based band with Marino Roosen at the helm for several years now. Melancholy oozes from this song. Only now does their ultimate breakthrough seem within reach! Their second album, “Sorino”, has been available to stream on Spotify and elsewhere since yesterday.

At number two we find “El Lonesome” by the mercilessly unknown Arra Di Allas & Marcio Giongrandi, featuring a truly brilliant flute intro that would make the late Roger Whittaker turn even paler than he already is!
The top three is completed by the equally illustrious unknowns Hemi Hemingway & Vera Allen with “Oh, My Albertine” (#3). You’ll immediately hear the kinship with the dream pop that Hope Sandoval and Mazzy Star effortlessly seduced us with for years. All in all, this is probably the most soothing, introspective top three you’ll hear this year.

“I’ve Got A Broken Heart” (#4) by The Lemon Twigs injects some life into the proceedings. It’s one of four poppy, Beatlesque tracks on the list. The other three are “Waiting On The Rain” (#15) by The Mellows, “Popafangout” (#28)by Sharp Pins, and “Can’t Do It” (#34) by The Uni Boys. Could a Beatles or ’80s power pop revival be in the making?

Also in the top ten we find two true veterans: Angelo Branduardi (#7) and Donovan Leitch (#5), respectively 75 and nearly 80 years young! Who knows—maybe these grand seigneurs of modern music will still grace our little country in the near future. Already on my bucket list!

This month also brings some watered-down punk, courtesy of The Buzzcocks (#9) and “Summer In The City” (#39) by The Damned—more out of nostalgic sentiment than genuine awe, especially in the latter case.

The most warmly welcomed comeback top three of the month goes to The Thermals! After a ten-year hiatus, they’re instantly back on the map with “In The Night Sky” (#6). Back in 2013, the Portland, Oregon band topped my Album 100 with “Desperate Ground.”
Comeback number two: the controversial curmudgeon Morrissey with “Make-Up Is A Lie” (#14). Not exactly a blast from here to Erps-Kwerps, but perhaps the Mancunian maestro is saving his most virtuosic musical weave for the self-titled album due out on March 6.

Also a long time no see: Alabama 3 (and it even rhymes!) with “Country Boy (I Love This City)” (#20). Nearly 30 years have passed since the days of “Woke Up This Morning.” Time has done nothing to diminish Alabama 3’s sense of atmosphere or virtuosity.

Here we go again—here’s hoping for a musically diverse and inspired 2026!
Lift off, ladies!!!!!! 🚀🎶

(Jan VH)

Playlist

1. Bonfire Lakes – Into the Darkness
2. Arra di Allas & Marco Giongrandi – El Lonesome
3. Hemi Hemingway ft. Vera Ellen – Oh, My Albertine
4. Lemon Twigs – I’ve Got a Broken Heart
5. Donovan – What’s a Girl
6. Thermals – In the Night Sky
7. Angelo Branduardi – Bella Brunetta
8. Chameleons – Free Me
9. Buzzcocks – Poetic Machine Gun
10. Band of Horses – (Riding Time Is a) Boat to Row
11. Alok, Zeba ft. Portugal The Man – Dive Into the Ocean
12. ’t Hof van Commerce – Ben Ier Weg
13. Velvet Daydream – Love
14. Morrissey – Make-Up Is a Lie
15. The Mellows – Waiting on the Rain
16. Peter Perrett – Proud to Be Self-Hating (Irony & Provocation)
17. The Saints – Vikings
18. Long Ryders – Four Winters Away
19. Bill Fay – Warwick Town
20. Alabama 3 – Country Boy (I Love This City)
21. Bill Janovitz – Way Back to the Dawn
22. David Byrne – Driver’s License
23. Tori Amos – Growin’ Up
24. Arctic Monkeys – Opening Night
25. Damien Jurado – Anchors
26. Markus K. – Highway to Heaven
27. Richard Ashcroft – You’ve Got All I Need
28. Sharp Pins – Popafangout
29. Clockworks – Well Well Wellness
30. Sleaford Mods ft. Aldous Harding – Elitest G.O.A.T.
31. Wolf Alice – White Horses
32. Peter Gabriel – Been Undone (Dark Side Mix)
33. Boy & Bear – Ancestors
34. Uni Boys – Can’t Do It
35. Pink Fairies – Garden of My Mind
36. Matt Berninger – Blue Monday
37. Mumford & Sons – The Banjo Song
38. Dry Cleaning – Joy
39. The Damned – Summer in the City
40. Francis Rossi – November Again

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