Long Reads

Back in 2021, Scottish composer Erland Cooper buried a tape on the island of Orkney, allowing the music on it to be manipulated and “co-composed” by the soil. Unearthing it a few months ago after three years of natural decay, the resulting sounds are remarkable – as is the story of this project 

Since tracking down Suzanne Ciani, Finders Keepers have released more albums by the Buchla legend than in her entire career prior. Label boss Andy Votel gives us the rundown

With the release of his kaleidoscopic new Banco De Gaia album, ‘Trauma’, Toby Marks reflects on years of global sonic experimentation

As an in-demand composer, producer and label owner, Boris Hauf is always spinning plates. His CLARK project is a sci-fi space adventure, mixing technoid sounds with unbridled experimentation. “I’m all over the place,” he proudly declares 

Composer Gryphon Rue’s wonderfully esoteric and electroacoustic innovations echo the restless artistry of his forebears

Bristol collective Ishmael Ensemble are evolving at a rate of knots. Their expansive new album sees them pushing boundaries like never before, exploring not only contemporary jazz and clubby electronics but also dub, psych and experimental sounds. Thrilling stuff it is too

Dark, left-field, danceable and utterly compelling – reflecting personal self-destruction, love and loss, the debut solo offering from Anglo-French producer Julia-Sophie is an unflinchingly sublime future-pop confessional 

Channelling early 4AD and ‘Pornography’-era Cure, the haunting liturgies of Welsh-language, avant-goth trio Tristwch Y Fenywod are rooted in atmospheric darkwave and alien folk music. Dry ice optional

Thomas Dolby and ‘The Flat Earth’ graphic designers Malcolm Garrett and Baker Dave discuss the album’s striking artwork, which depicts the dashing Dolby as “explorer, prospector and adventurer”