Recommendations: February 2026
Daphni, Mero on Hot 97, Love Story, Ellen Willis and more
Welcome to my monthly recommendation email featuring everything that stood out for me in February in the worlds of music, books, TV, and more. To read the full post and access the monthly playlist, become a paid subscriber.
Album: Daphni - Butterfly
It’s weird to consider someone as accomplished as Dan Snaith as being underrated, but I have to say that it’s true. If he were originally from the UK and not Canadian, he would’ve been knighted by now. But since he is merely the jewel of beautiful Dundas, Ontario, Snaith is respected but not as openly celebrated as he should be.
For instance, he won the 2008 Polaris Prize as Caribou for his album Andorra. But that project has since released at least three other albums that are far superior to that one in the years since! It might be a result of his deepening commitment to electronic music, which is not a mainstream concern in Canada. (Check out my fellow Hamiltonian Stuart Berman’s throwback interview with Snaith here.)
We don’t have DJ mixes on our radio stations like in the UK and our underground club scene is vanishingly small. Across the pond where he now lives, he moonlights as an in-demand touring superstar DJ and makes club music under the moniker Daphni. It’s on this new album Butterfly where his mastery of various forms of club music has become blissfully apparent. It’s his most purely useful collection of music from a DJing standpoint.
The best comparison that most comes to mind for me is Daft Punk. I haven’t heard many others tap into the playfulness that the robots brought to their early albums as I do with Snaith’s work here. “Hang” is reminiscent to Paperclip People’s “Throw” in its hypnotic textures, but the flanging takes me right back to Discovery. “Waiting So Long” recalls “Revolution 909” with its ambient crowd noise but also feels like a nod to Daft Punk’s cheekily titled 10 minute epic “Too Long.” Snaith’s tune leaves us patiently waiting for an interminable minute and a half for the beat to drop. I can think of worse groups to be inspired by.
Standout tracks: Hang, Waiting So Long, Two Maps, Sad Piano House
Interview: Roc Marciano on Hot 97 Mornings with Mero
I highlighted Roc Marciano’s January release 656 in last month’s recommendation email, so I was pleasantly surprised to see him be given a rare marquee interview on New York’s most significant terrestrial radio station. The vibe has been amazing since Mero took over Hot 97’s morning show from Ebro, Peter Rosenberg, and Laura Stylez.
As a diehard Bodega Boys supporter, it’s gratifying to see Mero finally go primetime. That he would choose to platform a somewhat unheralded New York emcee who normally doesn’t get mainstream attention says a lot about his mandate for his show. Restoring the feeling! The interview itself is compelling too. Roc is apparently one of those rappers who just says cool stuff 24 hours a day, we usually only hear what he decides to rhyme over a beat.
After the paywall, read on for a breakdown of the best songs I listened to this month and an exclusive playlist with over two hours of music as well as my TV and book recommendations. Plus get immediate access to the Pemberton Academy and full archive.
Tracks of the Month and February 2026 Playlist
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