Needle Drops
Free jazz meets mysticism, Fourth World aesthetics find new disciples, and forgotten shoegaze gets its due. Welcome to 2025's inaugural collection of essential listening.
R*Time Extends a Musical Ladder to Doug Hammond
A chance encounter and a makeshift percussion instrument drew composer and percussionist Doug Hammond to R*Time's music. 'It's Now: R*Time Plays Doug Hammond' captures the creative sparks and productive tension of bringing Hammond's works to life.
The Healing Hip-Hop of Küf Knotz & Christine Elise
Inside Philadelphia's vibrant music scene, an unexpected duo redefines the intersection of performance and therapy. On 'Hypnagogia,' their visionary sound effortlessly merges classical refinement and the soul tradition with hip-hop's raw energy and verbal play.
Finding New Frequencies with Dennis Bovell
In his London studio, surrounded by the tools of his trade, the British reggae innovator shares stories of sound system culture and frequency science. His new compilation, 'Sufferer Sounds,' brings fresh attention to his groundbreaking dub productions.
Needle Drops — The Beat Goes On
The year's most striking performances demonstrated how veteran musicians balance nostalgia and innovation, from Vegas mega-shows to intimate club dates. Lawrence Peryer reflects on some of his live music highlights of 2024.
In the Quiet Hour — The Patient Melodies of Brûlez les meubles
Working with jazz luminaries Ingrid Laubrock and Marianne Trudel, the experimental Québec duo creates their first drum-less album, finding fresh territory between composed structure and free improvisation.
From Zero They Built a Future — The Birth of Krautrock's 'Neu Klang'
The sonic landscape of modern electronic music owes an immense debt to the German experimentalists who refused to accept their inheritance. Author Christoph Dallach uncovers how a generation's quest for identity birthed an entirely new sonic vocabulary.
Ruthie Foster Finds New Roads on 'Mileage'
On her tenth album and first for Sun Records, the GRAMMY-nominated artist finds inspiration in exhaustion, wisdom in collaboration, and a powerful new voice in the spaces between touring and home.
Needle Drops — Lost in the Stacks
Spotlight On's Lawrence Peryer shares the year's most compelling reads, including a provocative climate change novel, Lincoln's grief in the cemetery, and fresh insights from legendary producer Rick Rubin.
Rhode Island's Paper Jays Build a Nest of Sound
The ESP-Disk debut from Paper Jays emerged from an unlikely trinity of influences: Providence's experimental legacy, international folk traditions, and a steady guitar drone that pulses beneath every track.
Dancing About Architecture with Diana K
The OPTO S drummer reflects on her first R.E.M. show, middle school art gigs, and why synths represent her next frontier.
Through The Gateway with Marwan Allam's 'Bab Bhar'
The Tunisian-born jazz bassist's debut album unites Arabic maqams with modern improvisation, interpreted by an artist who speaks in many musical tongues.