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Musician and crate-digger extraordinaire Jeb Loy Nichols tells the stories behind the stops on his musical railroad, from a deep friendship with Adrian Sherwood and the heroes of Muscle Shoals that led to a love of bluegrass, country, reggae and soul
Pete Paphides goes to Abbey Road to listen to the new anniversary edition of Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band and marvels at the charge of the "psychedelic light brigade" that is hearing the tweaked versions of songs
Not just a rude-sounding name and a vital umlaut, this Newcastle band make some of the most elephantine ultra-sludge noise metal you’ll hear. They’re playing a rare gig at Desertfest soon, too. Noel Gardner has a word
As Depeche Mode’s principal songwriter looks forward to playing in front of 70,000 people in their biggest ever UK show at the London Stadium, Tim Burrows talks to him about new album Spirit, his Essex roots and what it feels like to grow up as a British European
Richard Dawson sits down with Michael Hann to discuss discord, place and politics as he connects the middle ages with the strange times of now on new album Peasant. Ogre video stills courtesy of Nigel John, sea portrait by Sally Pilkington. Richard Dawson plays this year's Green Man Festival.
Proposing to Beefheart, auditioning for Zappa, impersonating Costello and ripped-off by New Order. Finders Keepers boss Andy Votel invites us to enter into the world of CP Lee and Gerry & the Holograms with some help from Daniel Dylan Wray
Georgian traditional folk singer and saz player Asiq Nargile is about to head on a European tour. Nargile speaks from Tbilisi with Tristan Bath about the ancient bardic tradition, the difficulties facing a female Asiq, and touring with Richard Dawson
As Blondie prepare to release their 11th album Pollinator, Ben Graham talks to Debbie Harry and Chris Stein about Warhol, William Burroughs, the need for a focussed opposition to Trump and why Debbie wishes she'd been even more outrageous back in the day
As an outsider, It's tempting to view Japan through an extremely narrow musical lens, a caricature typified by jazz and karaoke – if you're lucky someone might mention either Sakamoto – but Ian F. Martin's new book is a wide angle shot of a sprawling scene