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Being the Focus: Emma Anderson Interview

Emma Anderson – formerly of Lush and Sing-Sing – generously takes us deep inside the mechanics of making her first solo album

Concrete Islands Albums of the Year 2023

These are the albums of 2023 that have meant the most to us, alongside our compilations & archives of the year

Paying Attention: Interview with Superchunk’s Mac McCaughan

Mac McCaughan informatively lifts the lid on Superchunk’s second epoch of operations and new rarities box set

Loud and Immersive: Arnold Dreyblatt Interview

American minimalist Arnold Dreyblatt discusses his new Drag City album, opening the archives for Black Truffle and the impact of Jim O’Rourke

Subversive Signals: Thurston Moore Interview

Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore discusses underground culture shaping his life and how he translated that into a magical music memoir

More of an Ethos: Apostille Interview

Michael Kasparis lifts the lid on his new record as Apostille, explaining his aim to make ecstatic trance music as sung by Meatloaf

Artistic Nature: Madder Rose Interview

Billy Coté and Mary Lorson share their thoughts on the second Madder Rose reunion LP, collaborative longevity and more

Images of Situations: Bettie Serveert Interview

Carol van Dijk and Peter Visser revisit the full story of Bettie Serveert’s recently reissued debut album, Palomine, three decades on

We Still Feel like Outsiders: Interview with Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey of Skep Wax and Heavenly

Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey pull back the curtain on life running their Skep Wax label, revisiting Heavenly… and plenty more besides

A Certain Kind of Energy: Lee Ranaldo Interview

An in-depth conversation with Sonic Youth co-founder Lee Ranaldo on European touring, new collaborations and what’s next from the archives

Testing the Edges: The Dream Syndicate album-by-album with Steve Wynn

Steve Wynn takes us on tour through the highways and byways of The Dream Syndicate’s scenic and kaleidoscopic catalogue

Songs for Grungers, Ravers and Indie Rock Librarians

Teen Spirit, Wings and a geographically dislocated Dinosaur Jr. at Stewart Gardiner’s recent DJ session of outsider sounds and indie rock

A Kind of Sci-Fi Vibe: David Rowe of Plank! Interview

David Rowe of prog-rock outfit Plank! talks to Gareth Thompson about new album Future of the Sea on Todmorden label Golden Lion Sounds

Concrete Islands Albums of the Year 2022

These are the fifty albums of 2022 that have meant the most to us, alongside our compilations & archives of the year

Loosely Shared Identity: Geographic Interview with Stephen Pastel

Stephen Pastel tells the story behind the Geographic label as they embark upon reissues by The Pastels, Maher Shalal Hash Baz and Lightships

A Dream within a Dream: CLAIR Interview

CLAIR talks music-making, microdosing and the magic of Glasgow to mark the release of her Body Blossom – Revelations EP

Energies in the Room: S.O.L.L. Interview

Oli Savill and Leon Stenning of London underground jazz outfit S.O.L.L. talk about their meditative and minimal debut album Mind Reader

Tragedy into Comedy and Vice Versa: Simon Rivers Interview

The ever durable Simon Rivers tells all on his new solo LP as Poor Performer, Oldfield Youth Club, The Bitter Springs, collaborations and more

Step into Your Light: Charlie Dark Interview

Charlie Dark tells Stewart Gardiner about life as a DJ, providing hope on the radio and the early days of Mo’ Wax

Don’t Look Now: Sons and Daughters

Stewart Gardiner talks to Sons and Daughters in this archive feature from 2005, alongside some thoughts on the band’s legacy today

Cohesive Bond: Jay Ferguson of Sloan Interview

Jay Ferguson of chameleonic Canadian power pop survivors Sloan takes us behind the scenes of the band’s thirteenth studio LP… and more

Soundtrack Music for Arguments: Mick Derrick of Prolapse Interview

Alongside another bout of retrospective but refreshing Prolapse activity, co-vocalist Mick Derrick lifts the lid on the band’s rich history

Higher Estates of Consciousness: Gabe Gurnsey Interview

Gabe Gurnsey talks to Stewart Gardiner about early nineties DJ mixtapes, the continuation of Factory Floor and his new synth pop acid house LP

Rough Trade Bristol DJ Setlist August 2022

Stewart Gardiner’s recent Sunday afternoon session of outsider sounds, Balearic beats and weirdo anthems at Rough Trade’s Bristol outpost

Increasingly Good Shape: Keiron Phelan Interview

The reblooming Keiron Phelan accounts for the emotional and melodic synthesis behind the third album in his scholarly pop craftsman guise

European Eclecticism and London Pirate Style: Gilles Peterson Interview

Gilles Peterson tells the story of his life in radio as we celebrate his Lockdown FM book and the new STR4TA single

Concrete Islands Albums of the Year 2021

These are the seventy-five albums of 2021 that have meant the most to us, alongside our compilations & archives of the year