Matthew Herbert
Electronica's self-styled mechanic of destruction has matured from sampling the sounds of domestic bliss to programming critiques of capitalism and social injustice. But where does the brass band fit in? By Rob Young
Invisible Jukebox: The Cramps
In Los Angeles, everyone's favourite kitschabilly twang couple Lux Interior and Poison Ivy Rorshach get trashed trying to identify tracks by Alex Chilton, Guitar Wolf, Les Baxter, Suicide and more. Tested by Richard Henderson
Eddie Prévost
"No sound is innocent," declares the AMM drummer, improvisor and Matchless label owner, after 35 years reinventing percussion with an Improv roll-call including 'the new Jesus Christ,' Keith Rowe. By Julian Cowley
The rise of Mego
In Vienna, Ramon Bauer, Tina Frank and Peter Rehberg tell the story of their iconoclastic label, which has followed its debut EP of fridge tracks with everything from Evia laptop inventions to Black Metal noise. By Edwin Pouncey
Nonesuch Explorer Series
Overseen by a classical pianist, the mid-60s launched Explorer series was one of the first labels to collect the planet's indigenous sounds, documenting Buddhist chants, Indonesian gamelan and more. By Richard Henderson
Jaga Jazzist
The Norwegian big band meld a myriad of reference points as well as instruments to make an idealistic clatter. By Rob Young
Steffen Basho-Junghans
The German guitarist channels the spirits of the past masters to make the steel-string more relevant than ever. By David Keenan
Sarah Peebles
The Toronto-based composer tells Marcus Boon about the real micro sounds.
Akio Suzuki
David Toop reveals some of the Japanese acoustic trickster's secrets and uncovers a new approach to sound art
Global Ear
Thom Bailey on a second Velvet Revolution in Prague's musical underground
Epiphanies
Ben Watson gets inspiration information from Sugarcane Harris's funky fiddle
Print Run
Painful But Fabulous: The Lives & Art of Genesis P-Orridge, by Douglas Rushkoff, Carl Abrahamsson, Julie Wilson et al; György Ligeti: Music Of The Imagination, by Richard Steinitz; Varèse: Astronomer In Sound, by Malcolm MacDonald; King Jammy's, by Beth Lesser; Solid Foundation: An Oral History of Reggae, by David Katz; Spiels Of A Minuteman, by Mike Watt; The Cartoon Music Book, edited by Daniel Goldmark & Yuval Taylor; Belfast Songs, edited by Stephen Hackett
Cross Platform
Speaking up for design that doesn't fit commercial moulds, Adrian Shaughnessy of Intro lays out the current state of CD packaging. By Anne Hilde Neset
Plus: Reviews of John Cage; Nufonia Must Fall; Reline: A Video Artist DVD Compilation; and DVDs of Style Wars; La Monte Young/ Marian Zazeela. And: Peter Saville's Inner Sleeve featuring Kraftwerk
On Location
Akio Suzuki, London British Museum/ Sound 232, UK; Sounds French, Berkeley Wheeler Auditorium, USA; Phonem/ Elektronic Müzik Platosu, Istanbul Various Venues, Turkey; The Dedication Orchestra, Birmingham Adrian Boult Hall, UK; Terry Riley & Kronos Quartet: Sun Rings, London Barbican; Songs of Protest: The Vietnam Songbook, New York Joe's Pub.