New Music Reviews: My New Band Believe, Bill Orcutt and Mabe Fratti

It’s a week of remaking and remodelling. Former Black Midi bassist Cameron Picton goes (sort of) solo with My New Band Believe. Avant-garde musicians Bill Orcutt and Mabe Fratti collaborate on Almost Waking.

My New Band Believe

2026, 8/10
The experimental English band Black Midi went on hiatus in 2024 after releasing three albums. Geordie Greep released his solo debut in 2025, while My New Band Believe is a vehicle for bassist/vocalist Cameron Picton. Picton didn’t want to go solo or form another band, so it’s kind of a middle ground, with Picton directing an ensemble of friends, including members of Caroline.

Musically, it’s almost entirely acoustic. Picton returned to his early fascination with 1970s folk – he explained to The Quietus that he was influenced by “Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, the 60s folk revival.” With the ambitious, sometimes lengthy songs, it ends up between 1960s chamber pop and 1970s progressive rock.

I was frustrated with the landscape of singer-songwriter music. One of the few real ambitions for this record was to try and make another case for how it could be.
Cameron Picton, The Quietus

Picton’s voice is gentle yet athletic – he’s able to deliver his ambitious songs successfully. The record’s best when it’s most ambitious – ‘Heart of Darkness’ sounds like Jethro Tull’s late 1970s forays into folk-rock. ‘Actress’ is similarly ambitious, varying its approach from plain guitar to grand strings.

My New Band Believe is a terrible name for a project, but the music is fascinating.

Bill Orcutt and Mabe Fratti

Almost Waking

2026, 7/10
Two avant-garde musicians from different generations collaborate on Almost Waking. Bill Orcutt is a 64-year-old guitarist, known for playing with four strings in the 1990s band Harry Pussy. Mabe Fratti is a 34-year-old Guatemalan cellist and vocalist. They connected after Fratti name-checked Orcutt’s work in an interview.

I’m always looking for opportunities to do what I do in different contexts and to make new friends as it were. So, yeah, I liked what she did, I always liked her music, and so I was like, well, she would be somebody unexpected. I also like the idea of doing things that are unexpected.
Bill Orcutt, Substack

It’s concise, only running half an hour and eight songs. The songs never outstay their welcome – even if they’re often difficult and spiky, they never last long. The pair both like to play abrasively, so it’s fun to hear them colliding, like on ‘A Rural Pen’ and ‘Arise From Graves and Aspire’. On other tracks, Fratti adds some prettiness, like on the evocative title track. Sometimes, Fratti adds her pretty voice as well – ‘Todo Puede Ser Error’ is pretty and relaxed.