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Our favourite music, country-by-country
With more focus on the revolutionary French sounds of the late 60s than ever before thanks to a revitalised Magma and interest in 'rock choucroute' via the Nurse With Wound list, David McKenna casts his ears around for today's far out sounds
In the third edition of our column tracking the sounds emanating from the Irish undergrowth, Eoin Murray finds improvised psych hysterics, drone documents of parenthood, expertly crafted hip hop and more
Richard Foster and Dmitry Teckel take a peek at the vastness of alternative Russian music outside the “big two” cities. Viking metal from Stavropol, goggle-eyed punks from satellite towns and righteous raving from Nizhniy Novgorod all feature
In the third of a series on the current Russian alternative music scene, we call on St Petersburg and find out how past glories still play a part, where club culture and improvised spaces drive scenes and why the city has a #moody reputation. And discover some committed and blockbusting rock-electro hybrids. Disclaimer! No battle rap!
In the second of a series on the current Russian alternative music scene, We find out why hassles with venues and house hunting help set Moscow’s scene, tune into some wall-melting electro hybrids and try and fail to understand whatever passes for alt-jazz here. (Disclaimer, no rap!)
In the first of a new series on the current Russian alternative music scene, Richard Foster looks at the influence of the social network VK, the power of sentimentality, and making an “alternative Internationale”. And provides an introductory music sampler
Our man from Accrington, Richard Foster, goes deep as he investigates soul-boy situationism, (pre)teen mumblerap, “techno shamanism”, nonstop laptop cabaret and tales of stolen geese whilst making sense of what constitutes (New) Weird Estonia
This month, Anna Cafolla reflects on the long and vital influence of Madonna’s Ray Of Light, and celebrates some of her spiritual descendants and pop sistren, including Asbjørn, Rae Morris, Chrystal and Janelle Monáe.