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
Build Back Better: Greatest Heads by Al Karpenter
Born out of the febrile Basque Country experimental music community and infused with the weirdness of the early 00s New York noise scene, the former solo project of Bilbao’s Alvaro Matilla (now joined by Marta Sainz, Enrique Zaccagnini, and multi-instrumentalist, serial collaborator Mattin) sounds wild and untamed and bursting with possibility
Album of the Week
In-Between Days: Wind, Again by Sary Moussa
A long-term fixture on Beirut’s underground experimental music scene, the latest from Sary Moussa is caught between the political and the personal, the whisper close and wide-open space. Wind, Again is an album whose contradictions make it all the more compelling, finds Kirsteen McNish
Album of the Week
Build Back Better: Greatest Heads by Al Karpenter
Born out of the febrile Basque Country experimental music community and infused with the weirdness of the early 00s New York noise scene, the former solo project of Bilbao’s Alvaro Matilla (now joined by Marta Sainz, Enrique Zaccagnini, and multi-instrumentalist, serial collaborator Mattin) sounds wild and untamed and bursting with possibility
Album of the Week
In-Between Days: Wind, Again by Sary Moussa
A long-term fixture on Beirut’s underground experimental music scene, the latest from Sary Moussa is caught between the political and the personal, the whisper close and wide-open space. Wind, Again is an album whose contradictions make it all the more compelling, finds Kirsteen McNish
Previous Reissue of the Week
Genuine treasures unearthed
Reissue of the Week
Reissue of the Week: Soft Cell’s Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing
Seedy English vignettes supercharged by the bombast of New York's superclubs – though they didn't then know it then, the world's first modern remix album found Soft Cell on a seesaw between hedonism and self-destruction, says Patrick Clarke
Reissue of the Week
Reissue of the Week: Soft Cell’s Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing
Seedy English vignettes supercharged by the bombast of New York's superclubs – though they didn't then know it then, the world's first modern remix album found Soft Cell on a seesaw between hedonism and self-destruction, says Patrick Clarke
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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 April Reviewed by JR Moores
JR Moores peruses the latest new psych rock releases, including a surprising new cut of filthily heavy noise rock from none other than Miley Cyrus
Punk
The best of punk and hardcore (and oi, and crust, and squat grind)
Punk
Straight Hedge! Noel Gardner Reviews Punk & HC for April
Noel Gardner's guide to the best in new punk returns, featuring heavy hitters from Toronto via Tehran, primitive French noise that blasts straight through the language barrier, newly reissued 1980s NYC gold dust, and much more
Rum Music
Casting the net for undefineable sounds
Rum Music
Rum Music for March Reviewed by Jennifer Lucy Allan
Strings dominate this month’s edition of Rum Music, as Jennifer Lucy Allan presents guitars like galloping stallions, re-tuned fiddles that wallop and croon in equal measure, clattering 1980s Japanese post punk and more
Cassettes
Spooling through the world's best tapes
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 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
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
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
Romance In The Air: Rewire 2025 Reviewed
Richard Foster needs a sit down after a spell-binding weekend taking in sonic veterans, new pioneers, and a waterborne performance that is like "some absurd clash of Handel, Stockhausen and Jerome K Jerome"
Live Reviews
LIVE REPORT: MENT Festival 2025
Richard Foster reports from Ljubljana's MENT Festival, where Lankum, Širom, Laura Agnusdei, Tramhaus, Yalla Miku, Use Knife and many more deliver the goods
Live Reviews
Joyful Transference, Against the Tide: Sunn O))) & More at Unsound New York
As the US reels from the re-election of Donald Trump, Jesse Dorris finds solace and inspiration in a fine weekend of concerts curated by Polish festival Unsound, from hunkering down to basement techno to riding the drone of Kali Malone and Sunn O))). Photos by Lawrence Sumulong.
Live Reviews
Joyful Transference, Against the Tide: Sunn O))) & More at Unsound New York
As the US reels from the re-election of Donald Trump, Jesse Dorris finds solace and inspiration in a fine weekend of concerts curated by Polish festival Unsound, from hunkering down to basement techno to riding the drone of Kali Malone and Sunn O))). Photos by Lawrence Sumulong.
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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