NPR Music New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 20
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Feb 20, 2026 Evan Miller, radio host and music programmer at WYSO who champions new and experimental sounds, guides a romp through left-field releases. Short takes on Willow's genre-hopping record. Deep dives into jazz-punk collision, Turkish psych-folk, and unconventional folk-classical blends. Quick picks highlight sprawling instrumental jams and pop-leaning surprises.
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Willow's Rapid-Fire Genre Fusion
- Willow's Petal Rock Black compresses a dozen stylistic ideas into a tight 26-minute album that constantly shifts textures.
- Stephen Thompson highlights the record's guest-driven fusion of funk, jazz, and experimental pop as central to its inventiveness.
Kuusisto's Classical–Folk Collaborations
- Pekka Kuusisto recorded Willows as a blend of classical and folk through collaborations with contemporary composers.
- Evan Miller recalls being drawn to the Caroline Shaw and Ellen Reid pieces for their boundary-pushing techniques.
Midalbum Shift Reframes Folk As Classical
- Willows pivots midway from orchestral pieces to Sam Amidon-led folk arrangements, creating a deliberate contrast.
- The shift reframes traditional songs in a classical context, deepening the album's emotional range.