Support The Quietus
Our journalism is funded by our readers. Become a subscriber today to help champion our writing, plus enjoy bonus essays, podcasts, playlists and music downloads.
Our journalism is funded by our readers. Become a subscriber today to help champion our writing, plus enjoy bonus essays, podcasts, playlists and music downloads.
Steve Stapleton has been helming the surreal and riotous psychedelic industrial experimental unit NWW for 45 years now. John Doran and Russell Cuzner look at their new release available to only tQ subscribers today and examine what makes them special
Steve Stapleton has been helming the surreal and riotous psychedelic industrial experimental unit NWW for 45 years now. John Doran and Russell Cuzner look at their new release available to only tQ subscribers today and examine what makes them special
Russell Cuzner takes a strictly offline survey of our more un-genre-fied neighbourhoods & finds unusual proportions of rhythmic matter, including the latest displacements from Marja Ahti, Alexandra Spence, UnicaZürn, Julio “Chocolate” Algendones, Qasim Naqvi, Jim Haynes and Phew / Oren Ambarchi / Jim O’Rourke
Russell Cuzner takes a strictly offline survey of our more un-genre-fied neighbourhoods & finds unusual proportions of rhythmic matter, including the latest displacements from Marja Ahti, Alexandra Spence, UnicaZürn, Julio “Chocolate” Algendones, Qasim Naqvi, Jim Haynes and Phew / Oren Ambarchi / Jim O’Rourke
In which, upon its re-opening, we find the Rum Music Library haunted by the playback of an unlocatable recording as staff try to round up 2019’s first batch of sounds from the un-genre-ground, including the latest releases from Black to Comm, Howlround, Annabelle Playe, Andrew Liles, Rudolf Eb.er, Gaël Segalen, Sion Orgon and Maja Ratkje
In which, upon its re-opening, we find the Rum Music Library haunted by the playback of an unlocatable recording as staff try to round up 2019’s first batch of sounds from the un-genre-ground, including the latest releases from Black to Comm, Howlround, Annabelle Playe, Andrew Liles, Rudolf Eb.er, Gaël Segalen, Sion Orgon and Maja Ratkje
A temporal burp uploads a historical research dossier from the far future into The Quietus’ content management system. Portending the end of music, it gives a quick introduction to Rum Music, our newly returned column that tries to map new territories in the ever-shifting auditory dimension, along with a mix featuring the ‘best’ Rum Music of 2018
A temporal burp uploads a historical research dossier from the far future into The Quietus’ content management system. Portending the end of music, it gives a quick introduction to Rum Music, our newly returned column that tries to map new territories in the ever-shifting auditory dimension, along with a mix featuring the ‘best’ Rum Music of 2018
Like some kind of banishing ritual, the canals circling Utrecht help Le Guess Who? Festival once again bring nothing but good vibes. But, in programming many artists operating far beyond the boundaries of genre, Russell Cuzner wonders what all this deviancy is doing to our minds
Like some kind of banishing ritual, the canals circling Utrecht help Le Guess Who? Festival once again bring nothing but good vibes. But, in programming many artists operating far beyond the boundaries of genre, Russell Cuzner wonders what all this deviancy is doing to our minds
Before her appearance at next month's Le Guess Who? festival, Maja S. K. Ratkje talks to Russell Cuzner about her wide-ranging work that, whether freely improvised or composed for orchestra, consistently bears the mark of an uncompromising, unconventional spirit
Before her appearance at next month's Le Guess Who? festival, Maja S. K. Ratkje talks to Russell Cuzner about her wide-ranging work that, whether freely improvised or composed for orchestra, consistently bears the mark of an uncompromising, unconventional spirit
Rose Kallal straddles the art and music world, says Russell Cuzner. With a performance praxis that revolves around arcane video loops, and an album of dystopic synth soundtracks recently put out on Paul Purgas of Emptyset’s We Can Elude Control label, we sat down with her to discuss how technology, astrology and the elements are the hidden forces behind her mesmeric multimedia work
Rose Kallal straddles the art and music world, says Russell Cuzner. With a performance praxis that revolves around arcane video loops, and an album of dystopic synth soundtracks recently put out on Paul Purgas of Emptyset’s We Can Elude Control label, we sat down with her to discuss how technology, astrology and the elements are the hidden forces behind her mesmeric multimedia work
For almost forty years Steven Stapleton and friends have been sculpting dramatic dream worlds for our exploration and delectation. On the eve of headlining this weekend’s Tusk Festival in Newcastle, UK, we take a quick ride through the stellar Stapleton system to skim the surface of ten of Nurse With World’s key releases
For almost forty years Steven Stapleton and friends have been sculpting dramatic dream worlds for our exploration and delectation. On the eve of headlining this weekend’s Tusk Festival in Newcastle, UK, we take a quick ride through the stellar Stapleton system to skim the surface of ten of Nurse With World’s key releases
Ipek Gorgun's solo works are like choreographed chemical reactions on a micro scale or a terraforming planet on a macro scale. Here she reveals how silence, ontology and the physicality of sound influence her rich fusions of ambient and noise. Portrait by Nazli Erdemirel
Ipek Gorgun's solo works are like choreographed chemical reactions on a micro scale or a terraforming planet on a macro scale. Here she reveals how silence, ontology and the physicality of sound influence her rich fusions of ambient and noise. Portrait by Nazli Erdemirel
In which a mysterious presentation enhances the listening powers of staff at the Rum Music Library as they go on to pick Spring’s most profound experiences in sound, including the latest releases from Russell Haswell, Francisco López, Sophie Cooper & Julian Bradley, Hans-Joachim Roedelius & Carl Michael von Hausswolff and Zbigniew Karkowski
In which a mysterious presentation enhances the listening powers of staff at the Rum Music Library as they go on to pick Spring’s most profound experiences in sound, including the latest releases from Russell Haswell, Francisco López, Sophie Cooper & Julian Bradley, Hans-Joachim Roedelius & Carl Michael von Hausswolff and Zbigniew Karkowski
An officious and unwanted audit leads the Rum Music Library to finally articulate a clear and honest policy behind the magical sounds it seeks. Russell Cuzner lists potent sonic spells in the form of the latest releases from Unicazürn, Dave Phillips, Olivia Block, Mira Calix and Daniel Menche
An officious and unwanted audit leads the Rum Music Library to finally articulate a clear and honest policy behind the magical sounds it seeks. Russell Cuzner lists potent sonic spells in the form of the latest releases from Unicazürn, Dave Phillips, Olivia Block, Mira Calix and Daniel Menche
When the trio of Richard Dawson, Rhodri Davies and Dawn Bothwell played together as Hen Ogledd at 2016's Tusk festival it was only the second time they had performed together. The first was when they recorded their highly-praised album, Bronze - a future classic bearing a rare combination of unbound experiment with enchanting engagement. Ahead of their second show as a trio we talk to Davies and Bothwell about how their encounters in sound are embedded in time and place
When the trio of Richard Dawson, Rhodri Davies and Dawn Bothwell played together as Hen Ogledd at 2016's Tusk festival it was only the second time they had performed together. The first was when they recorded their highly-praised album, Bronze - a future classic bearing a rare combination of unbound experiment with enchanting engagement. Ahead of their second show as a trio we talk to Davies and Bothwell about how their encounters in sound are embedded in time and place
In COUM Transmissions the future members of Throbbing Gristle would intensely interrogate the nature of art and performance, along with testing their own experiential limits, across almost a decade of unique 'actions'. Join us on a journey through their strange world where their compulsion to find a pure and honest form of expression saw them tearing up taboos, severely unsettling the establishment on the way. Images thanks to the Tate Archive / Cabinet Gallery. WARNING - SOME IMAGES NSFW
In COUM Transmissions the future members of Throbbing Gristle would intensely interrogate the nature of art and performance, along with testing their own experiential limits, across almost a decade of unique 'actions'. Join us on a journey through their strange world where their compulsion to find a pure and honest form of expression saw them tearing up taboos, severely unsettling the establishment on the way. Images thanks to the Tate Archive / Cabinet Gallery. WARNING - SOME IMAGES NSFW
Yui Onodera’s music has the power to transform your listening space using insights the Tokyo-based composer gained from studying architectural design. With new pieces featured on the latest instalment in Kompakt’s Pop Ambient series, we discuss acoustics, ambient music and audio technology
Yui Onodera’s music has the power to transform your listening space using insights the Tokyo-based composer gained from studying architectural design. With new pieces featured on the latest instalment in Kompakt’s Pop Ambient series, we discuss acoustics, ambient music and audio technology
Compiling an end of year ‘top ten’ of music from the more undefinable end of the sonic spectrum always proves challenging for the Rum Music Library. But, being more accustomed to stubbornly standing with difficulty than rolling over into the recovery position of enjoyment, Russell Cuzner has risen to the challenge to highlight how 2016 has provided the widest range yet of audacious audio experiences from music’s borderlands
Compiling an end of year ‘top ten’ of music from the more undefinable end of the sonic spectrum always proves challenging for the Rum Music Library. But, being more accustomed to stubbornly standing with difficulty than rolling over into the recovery position of enjoyment, Russell Cuzner has risen to the challenge to highlight how 2016 has provided the widest range yet of audacious audio experiences from music’s borderlands
Russell Cuzner surrenders to the vast repository of all sound, where he finds artists using old doors to arrive in new worlds. Follow him on a journey that takes in Thomas Brinkmann’s genetically-modified piano, Æthenor’s automatic odyssey, Delphine Dora’s avant-occultism, Lustmord’s deep space devotion and diverse other encounters in Rum sounds from outwith
Russell Cuzner surrenders to the vast repository of all sound, where he finds artists using old doors to arrive in new worlds. Follow him on a journey that takes in Thomas Brinkmann’s genetically-modified piano, Æthenor’s automatic odyssey, Delphine Dora’s avant-occultism, Lustmord’s deep space devotion and diverse other encounters in Rum sounds from outwith
Laniakea’s debut album, a collaboration between Grumbling Fur’s Daniel O’Sullivan and Zu’s Massimo Pupillo, is devoted to the artist Ian Johnstone, whose untimely passing also saw the end of the London refuge where the LP was recorded. They tell Russell Cuzner how the life and location the record laments created an ascendant work at once both elegiac and joyous
Laniakea’s debut album, a collaboration between Grumbling Fur’s Daniel O’Sullivan and Zu’s Massimo Pupillo, is devoted to the artist Ian Johnstone, whose untimely passing also saw the end of the London refuge where the LP was recorded. They tell Russell Cuzner how the life and location the record laments created an ascendant work at once both elegiac and joyous
A wave of synaesthesia leaves Russell Cuzner’s senses working overtime as he reads, sees, feels and is touched by the latest in outsider audio from David Toop, Valerio Tricoli, Andrew Liles, Claire M Singer and more. Homepage photo courtesy of Fabio Lugaro
A wave of synaesthesia leaves Russell Cuzner’s senses working overtime as he reads, sees, feels and is touched by the latest in outsider audio from David Toop, Valerio Tricoli, Andrew Liles, Claire M Singer and more. Homepage photo courtesy of Fabio Lugaro
While rounding up the darkest and brightest of recent releases from Nurse With Wound, Norman Westerberg and Maja S.K. Ratkje, Russell Cuzner receives an unexpected message that calls control into question, asking what role it plays not only in composing and playing, but also in listening... Nurse With Wound live shots by Samantha Hayley
While rounding up the darkest and brightest of recent releases from Nurse With Wound, Norman Westerberg and Maja S.K. Ratkje, Russell Cuzner receives an unexpected message that calls control into question, asking what role it plays not only in composing and playing, but also in listening... Nurse With Wound live shots by Samantha Hayley
The Leeds duo combine folk with electronics, geographical data with fox-bone rattle to create haunted dreamworlds of sound. Following a new release, Sea-Spiral Spirit, they unravel their unique processes with Russell Cuzner
The Leeds duo combine folk with electronics, geographical data with fox-bone rattle to create haunted dreamworlds of sound. Following a new release, Sea-Spiral Spirit, they unravel their unique processes with Russell Cuzner
In this latest set of rum-inations Russell Cuzner hears that music need not exist, while finding it almost everywhere - in the movements between notes to a chorale of insects – including releases by Thomas Koner, Catherine Christer Hennix and Chris Watson. Mix by Russell Cuzner
In this latest set of rum-inations Russell Cuzner hears that music need not exist, while finding it almost everywhere - in the movements between notes to a chorale of insects – including releases by Thomas Koner, Catherine Christer Hennix and Chris Watson. Mix by Russell Cuzner
40 years after This Heat’s debut performance Charles Bullen and Charles Hayward are playing together for the first time since 1982 at London’s Café Oto. To celebrate we look at their fresh and forceful music that proved to be so far ahead of its time. All band photographs by Lesley Evans, courtesy of This Heat
40 years after This Heat’s debut performance Charles Bullen and Charles Hayward are playing together for the first time since 1982 at London’s Café Oto. To celebrate we look at their fresh and forceful music that proved to be so far ahead of its time. All band photographs by Lesley Evans, courtesy of This Heat
Sign up for a weekly delve into the tQ archives.
