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Ever reliable veterans Thalia Zedek and Chris Brokaw generously help us explore their work together and apart over the last few decades
Dean Wareham accounts for adapting under pandemic living and rebooting his songcraft upon the release of a deeply enjoyable new solo album
Portland psych scene pro Dewey Mahood takes us on a bespoke tour of his bounteous back catalogue with Plankton Wat, Eternal Tapestry and more
Mat Handley explains all on the origins, operations and objectives of his much-loved little label with a big-hearted reach
Andrew Wasylyk talks about reasonable daydreams, meeting migratory geese and the making of his intoxicating new LP for Clay Pipe Music
Producer, DJ and record collector Rebecca Vasmant talks in depth about the vibrant Glasgow jazz scene and the making of her magical debut LP
Chicago-based duo Mind Maintenance discuss their devotional new album for Drag City Records with Gareth Thompson
The rising star of the electronic scene lifts the lid on her alluring new album for Castles in Space and plenty more besides
Musician-composer Phil Self talks about pulling pints, the Kentish coast and Peter Greenaway’s influence on his new album Zed Zed
Lebanese singer-songwriter Rogér Fakhr tells the story of Fine Anyway, his remarkable lost 1970s album now reissued by Habibi Funk
Italian DJ and producer José Manuel tells the story behind Janara, his astonishing LP of ritualistic electronics for Optimo Music
Mark Churcher discusses the musical foundations of V-Neck and his A Nice Random Meet LP, plus Glasgow connections and the return of Emote
The polymathic Stephen Coates accounts for the belated full return and phased retirement of The Real Tuesday Weld
We asked Laurent Fintoni about the musical foundations behind his Bedroom Beats book, including mid 90s hip-hop, Mo’ Wax, Dilla and Madlib
The regenerated Andy Bell explains the backstory to his recent solo work as well as adding insights into his parallel Ride and GLOK lives
Eleventh Dream Day co-founders Rick Rizzo and Janet Beveridge Bean tell virtually all on the band’s superb new double-sized album
Lithuanian duo Five Rituals discuss their debut LP of experimental low-end music, giving in to the present moment and eco friendly vinyl
Reflections on ten tremendous years of Clay Pipe Music, with founder Frances Castle, through ten totemic releases
Stewart Gardiner highlights a baker’s dozen of 2020 records he missed then, but has fallen in love with now
These are the seventy-five albums of 2020 that have meant the most to us at Concrete Islands, alongside our archive releases of the year
Junior Tomlin discusses his Velocity Press monograph and how science fiction, surrealism and dub shaped his rave flyers and record covers
Burd Ellen’s Debbie Armour talks to Gareth Thompson about sacred dramas, Mary as an Ever Mother and taxidermy wrens
Chicago’s Bless the Mad discuss updating 90s hip-hop, incorporating spiritual jazz and paying homage to ancestors on their miraculous debut
Jim Becker tells Gareth Thompson about sharing compassion, putting the ego down and collaborating with Tibetan healer Lama Lobsang Palden
Stephen Hindman reveals what’s behind the curtain of Isolating, their dystopian machine music project with releases on 4GN3S and Optimo Music
Surprise Chef’s Lachlan Stuckey tells Stewart Gardiner about cinematic soul, naming their HQ after a prison and making a deeper second LP
Martin James takes us on a breakbeat era tour as he discusses the updated edition of his drum & bass origin story