Long Reads

To mark two decades of the incomparable Planet Mu label, we revisit the best releases from each of their 20 years in business

Start blowing up the birthday party balloons. Planet Mu is 20 years old. That’s 20 years as one of the most consistently innovative and interesting electronic music labels in the world. And Mike Paradinas, full-time company boss and sometime μ-ZIQ man, is celebrating in style. Well, he would be if he had the time

Last month, Kraftwerk played ‘Tour De France’ live at the opening stage of the world’s most famous cycle race – the first time they’ve done so in the 30 years since the track was recorded. As their legion of fans find themselves asking about almost everything the band do, “What took them so flipping long?”

Gwenno hasn’t simply crafted a fantastic electro-pop album, one of the best you’ll hear all year. She’s crafted a fantastic electro-pop album on which every track is sung in Welsh (apart from the one that’s in Cornish)

Not content with delivering a thumpingly good new album, Asian Dub Foundation have also penned a superb live score for George Lucas’ dystopian sci-fi classic ‘THX 1138’. “Our default position is to do the opposite of what most bands do,” says ADF main man Steve “Chandrasonic” Savale. And then some

From the abandoned mills of Greater Manchester to the glass and steel at the heart of London, John Foxx has always found peace – and music – in urban landscapes. Looking back on his prophetic role in electronic music, Foxx discusses his upcoming release of archive material, his latest projects and collaborations, and his love of the driving force behind much of his work – the city

Dr Peter Zinovieff is responsible for the first British synthesiser, the VCS3. Now in his 80s, he remains as interested in the future as ever. And he’s invited us to lunch, to discuss Kraftwerk, Robert Moog, Delia Derbyshire, a couple of Beatles, hard drives costing £4,000 and a computer powered by a windmill

“That style of beats is something I’ve been into my entire career,” says Josh Davis, aka DJ Shadow, when I suggest to him that the output of his Liquid Amber label, including his own self-titled Nite School Klik EP, represents a quantum leap from his recorded history thus far.

Alan Vega and Martin Rev talk through the earliest days of Suicide and offer hints of what we can expect from the pioneering synthpunk duo’s “Punk Mass” show at the Barbican in London

Electronic artists sometimes struggle to make their music work in a live setting. But not much-lauded electro-popster Karin Park, as our behind-the-scenes peek at the London show on her recent UK tour proves