Reviews
Opinionated and informative criticism of all the music that counts
Previous Album of the Week
Our favourite LP of the moment
Album of the Week
Purple People Eater: DJ K’s Radio Libertadora!
With his bruxaria sound, DJ K is working at the very limits of Brazilian funk. Eden Tizard dives into his latest album RADIO LIBERTADORA!, exploring the symbolic resonance of the colour purple, new sonic thresholds to adapt to, and a project of revolutionary witchcraft
Album of the Week
Purple People Eater: DJ K’s Radio Libertadora!
With his bruxaria sound, DJ K is working at the very limits of Brazilian funk. Eden Tizard dives into his latest album RADIO LIBERTADORA!, exploring the symbolic resonance of the colour purple, new sonic thresholds to adapt to, and a project of revolutionary witchcraft
Previous Reissue of the Week
Genuine treasures unearthed
Reissue of the Week
Reissue of the Week: Phew, Erika Kobayashi and Dieter Moebius’ Radium Girls
Originally released in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, and centred on the story of real Japanese women who suffered radiation poisoning through their factory work, this newly-reissued collaboration should invite deep reflection when played today, says Jennifer Lucy Allan
Reissue of the Week
Reissue of the Week: Galaxie 500’s CBGB 12.13.88
A lean and raw live recording of Galaxie 500 captures the band just as they were on their ascent. A new mix of this previously bootleg-only performance makes a vital addition to their slender back catalogue, says W.B. Gooderham
Reissue of the Week
A Photocopy of a Polaroid of an X-Ray of a Ghost: The Sabres Of Paradise Reissues
As Warp reissue the first two albums from The Sabres Of Paradise, Lee Brackstone reflects on how Andrew Weatherall led bandmates Gary Burns and Jagz Kooner on a determined excursion through the twinkling, psychedelic sonic margins
Reissue of the Week
Reissue of the Week: Phew, Erika Kobayashi and Dieter Moebius’ Radium Girls
Originally released in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, and centred on the story of real Japanese women who suffered radiation poisoning through their factory work, this newly-reissued collaboration should invite deep reflection when played today, says Jennifer Lucy Allan
Reissue of the Week
A Photocopy of a Polaroid of an X-Ray of a Ghost: The Sabres Of Paradise Reissues
As Warp reissue the first two albums from The Sabres Of Paradise, Lee Brackstone reflects on how Andrew Weatherall led bandmates Gary Burns and Jagz Kooner on a determined excursion through the twinkling, psychedelic sonic margins
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Subscribe NowMetal
A fearless trawl through the realms of extreme and experimental metal
Metal
Columnus Metallicus: Heavy Metal for May Reviewed by Kez Whelan
In his latest guide to the best in metal, Kez Whelan celebrates a return to form from Deafhaven, a career-highlight from Conan, the nebulous world of heavy metal supergroups, and reviews a host of essential new releases
Metal
Columnus Metallicus: Heavy Metal for March Reviewed by Kez Whelan
Having failed to secure tickets for the big Black Sabbath farewell this summer, Kez Whelan wonders whether missing out might be for the best. He also reviews the latest from Intensive Care x The Body, The Overmold, Abduction and many more
Metal
Columnus Metallicus: Heavy Metal for March Reviewed by Kez Whelan
Having failed to secure tickets for the big Black Sabbath farewell this summer, Kez Whelan wonders whether missing out might be for the best. He also reviews the latest from Intensive Care x The Body, The Overmold, Abduction and many more
Psych Rock
A guide to the far-out sounds of psych and noise rock
Psych Rock
Columnfortably Numb: Psych Rock for June by JR Moores
JR Moores dives deep into his pond of puns for our latest roundup of psych rock, noise rock and post rock records
Punk
The best of punk and hardcore (and oi, and crust, and squat grind)
Punk
Straight Hedge! Noel Gardner Reviews Punk & HC For June
From Montreal to Warsaw via Tblisi, Cleveland and Dublin, Noel Gardner's guide to the best in punk and HC returns
Rum Music
Casting the net for undefineable sounds
Rum Music
Rum Music for June Reviewed by Jennifer Lucy Allan
Sound poetry, percussions, vowels sung in imitation of angels, emissions from the French underground, and an album entirely of water droplets – it's the latest edition of Jennifer Lucy Allan's Rum Music
Cassettes
Spooling through the world's best tapes
Cassettes
Spool’s Out: Cassette Reviews for July by Daryl Worthington
From improvisations that capture the archaeology of the internet to werewolf inspired black metal played with Cajun instruments, roaming synths, sidewinding freakouts and clipped nails, Daryl Worthington dives into the latest cassette releases
Cassettes
Spool’s Out: Cassette Reviews for May by Daryl Worthington
Retching punk, ecstatic pummelling, rhythms made from paper and VCRs, time-bending loops and a wonderfully off-piste post punk reissue – Daryl Worthington peaks into May’s cassette releases
Cassettes
Spool’s Out: Cassette Reviews for March by Daryl Worthington
Daryl Worthington speaks to Turmeric Acid about telepathic collaborations, and reviews tapes of free-wheeling hardanger and Andean flute improvisations, sat nav fall outs, ecstatic noise and more in March’s dive into the cassette scene
Cassettes
Spool’s Out: Cassette Reviews for July by Daryl Worthington
From improvisations that capture the archaeology of the internet to werewolf inspired black metal played with Cajun instruments, roaming synths, sidewinding freakouts and clipped nails, Daryl Worthington dives into the latest cassette releases
Cassettes
Spool’s Out: Cassette Reviews for March by Daryl Worthington
Daryl Worthington speaks to Turmeric Acid about telepathic collaborations, and reviews tapes of free-wheeling hardanger and Andean flute improvisations, sat nav fall outs, ecstatic noise and more in March’s dive into the cassette scene
New Weird Britain
Transmissions from the thriving British underground
New Weird Britain
New Weird Britain in Review for April by Noel Gardner
From mangled folk music to ever-evolving electroacoustic techno jams inspired by Hackney Marshes, Noel Gardner delivers his latest guide to the sounds of New Weird Britain
Electronic
The best club culture brought to your device
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for June Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
This month’s edition of our dance music column brings a surprise six-hour marathon set from Italian techno legend Donato Dozzy and plenty of dancefloor goodies, from “bard tech” and new gen Italo house to re-touched French Touch and cerebral IDM techno
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for May Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
Our dance music editor wonders whether club culture has lost its potential for providing radically transformative experiences, and reviews a new batch of cutting-edge releases, including trailblazing Bangladeshi dub and jungle mutations, UK techno epics, spectral dub techno, neo-devotional music from Egypt and a cult PS1 soundtrack.
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for February Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
Jaša Bužinel reflects the death of three beloved artists, and presents 10 outstanding electronic music releases, from world-building IDM excursions and top notch tech-house to funky jazztronica and avant-garde easy listening
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for October Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
Jaša Bužinel addresses the "panopticonisation" of dance music culture, and reviews exciting new releases from various electronic realms, among them new albums by CS + Kreme, Lechuga Zafiro, Mala Herba, Rrose x Polygonia and more
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for June Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
This month’s edition of our dance music column brings a surprise six-hour marathon set from Italian techno legend Donato Dozzy and plenty of dancefloor goodies, from “bard tech” and new gen Italo house to re-touched French Touch and cerebral IDM techno
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for May Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
Our dance music editor wonders whether club culture has lost its potential for providing radically transformative experiences, and reviews a new batch of cutting-edge releases, including trailblazing Bangladeshi dub and jungle mutations, UK techno epics, spectral dub techno, neo-devotional music from Egypt and a cult PS1 soundtrack.
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for February Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
Jaša Bužinel reflects the death of three beloved artists, and presents 10 outstanding electronic music releases, from world-building IDM excursions and top notch tech-house to funky jazztronica and avant-garde easy listening
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for October Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
Jaša Bužinel addresses the "panopticonisation" of dance music culture, and reviews exciting new releases from various electronic realms, among them new albums by CS + Kreme, Lechuga Zafiro, Mala Herba, Rrose x Polygonia and more
The Quietus International
Our favourite music, country-by-country
The Quietus International
North American Music: tQ in The Twin Cities, by Natalie Marlin
In the first edition of a new series exploring underground and left-field music from North America, Natalie Marlin delivers an insider's guide to the frantic, uninhibited and queer-driven energy of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul underground, and picks out five essential new releases from the cities' most exciting artists
The Quietus International
Inner Ear: Estonian Music for July by Jakub Knera
From the close-knit DIY underground to the centuries-old choral singing embedded in national identity, in his latest guide to the music of Central and Eastern Europe Jakub Knera turns his eye to Estonia
The Quietus International
Rockfort! French Music for June, Reviewed by David McKenna
In his latest dispatch from the French fringes, David McKenna reports from this year’s New Trad Fest in the Loire region and rounds up new releases including a surrealistic Breton folk duo, Japanese gagaku-inspired drones and much more
The Quietus International
Inner Ear: Serbian Music for April by Jakub Knera
In his latest deep dive into the music scenes of Central and Eastern Europe, Jakub Knera explores how Serbia's artists are responding to a climate of increasing political tension, profiles the forward-thinking figures at the heart of the country's underground scene, and reviews a slew of key Serbian releases
The Quietus International
North American Music: tQ in The Twin Cities, by Natalie Marlin
In the first edition of a new series exploring underground and left-field music from North America, Natalie Marlin delivers an insider's guide to the frantic, uninhibited and queer-driven energy of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul underground, and picks out five essential new releases from the cities' most exciting artists
The Quietus International
Rockfort! French Music for June, Reviewed by David McKenna
In his latest dispatch from the French fringes, David McKenna reports from this year’s New Trad Fest in the Loire region and rounds up new releases including a surrealistic Breton folk duo, Japanese gagaku-inspired drones and much more
The Quietus International
Inner Ear: Serbian Music for April by Jakub Knera
In his latest deep dive into the music scenes of Central and Eastern Europe, Jakub Knera explores how Serbia's artists are responding to a climate of increasing political tension, profiles the forward-thinking figures at the heart of the country's underground scene, and reviews a slew of key Serbian releases
Live Reviews
From pubs to festivals to arenas, out and about with tQ
Live Reviews
LIVE REPORT: Siren Festival 2025
Fergal Kinney reports from a roasting Cagliari, where he witnesses sets from Stereolab, The Horrors, Messthetics and more at the returning Siren Festival
Track-by-Track
Albums dissected, the granular detail revealed
Track-by-Track
Arcade Fire’s Everything Now Reviewed Track By Track
Anna Wood delves into Arcade Fire's fifth long player in order to bring us a track by track breakdown. But is Everything Now something or nothing
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