Plus: Sain, the indie label pushing Welsh music forward for 56 years
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Picks of the week
Guitarist William Tyler on grief, alcoholism and his claustrophobic new album
‘I don’t want to retreat any more’  
Guitarist William Tyler on grief, alcoholism and his claustrophobic new album
After a painful midlife crisis, the former Lambchop sideman went to rehab, rejected ambition and embraced lo-fi recording. It made for his most startling music yet – with a surprise Four Tet collaboration still to come
‘I don’t have the fear some performers have’  
Americana anarcho-punk Sunny War on ghosts, Crass and the KKK
The reader interview  
Edwyn Collins: ‘Could an Orange Juice reunion ever be on the cards? No!’
Book of the day  
Mood Machine by Liz Pelly – a savage indictment of Spotify
Indian rock sensations Bloodywood  
What’s more metal than standing up for people you love?
Reviews
Alexis Petridis's album of the week  
Lady Gaga: Mayhem – a fabulous return to her freaky first principles
Lady Gaga: Mayhem – a fabulous return to her freaky first principles
Alabaster DePlume  
A Blade Because a Blade Is Whole – stunning sax melodies to silence the cynics
The Tubs  
Cotton Crown – a blistering, joy-to-heartbreak masterpiece
Spiritbox  
Tsunami Sea – cataclysmic throat-shredding with a side serving of soul
Jazz album of the month  
Michael Wollny Trio: Living Ghosts – exceptional free-improv seance, with added Nick Cave
Spotlight
Sain, the indie label pushing Welsh music forward for 56 years
‘Together in creativity for peace!’  
Sain, the indie label pushing Welsh music forward for 56 years
It’s gone from a cowshed to a cultural institution. As its 3,000-album archive gets digitised, different generations explain how Sain deepened Welsh identity
Classical
‘The palace called and I heard myself saying yes’  
How Errollyn Wallen went from Top of the Pops to Master of the King’s Music
How Errollyn Wallen went from Top of the Pops to Master of the King’s Music
Album review  
Mozart: Serenades; Gran Partita – bright tones and period-instrument agility
Mozart: Serenades; Gran Partita – bright tones and period-instrument agility
Album review  
Organised Delirium: Piano Sonatas by Boulez, Shostakovich, Bartók and Eisler – coruscating and exceptional
Organised Delirium: Piano Sonatas by Boulez, Shostakovich, Bartók and Eisler – coruscating and exceptional
Live review  
LPO/Guggeis – Wagner and Strauss touches both body and soul
LPO/Guggeis – Wagner and Strauss touches both body and soul
Add to playlist
‘I can spit hot fire on Baby Got Back’  
Sterling K Brown’s honest playlist
Sterling K Brown’s honest playlist
You may have missed
​Charli xcx, Jade and Ezra Collective’s Brit awards cap a vintage year for adventurous pop
​Charli xcx, Jade and Ezra Collective’s Brit awards cap a vintage year for adventurous pop
Alexis Petridis
Playing music that is as smart as it is successful, Brit winners made articulate calls for artist development – while host Jack Whitehall was brilliantly risky
How MJ the Musical sanitised Michael Jackson’s story  
Can we really sit in a theatre and pretend?
MJ the Musical has already made millions for Jackson’s estate. But as the Broadway hit opens in Australia and the estate prepares to face two of Jackson’s alleged victims in court, fans may ask: is buying a ticket OK?
Guns, bombs and needle-drop genius  
How AC/DC and Motörhead became the sound of World War II
SAS Rogue Heroes has metal, Peaky Blinders has PJ Harvey and The Bear has dad rock. We meet the new breed of music overseers whose anachronistic soundtracks are taking TV to thrilling new heights
‘We spent £100,000 doing a gig in a scout hut!’  
The Beta Band on debt, disastrous decisions – and their defiant comeback
Fiercely original and stunning live, they should have been massive – but they imploded. As the Scots return, they relive disowning their debut album, blowing Top of the Pops – and getting shocks off their battery-powered illuminated suits
Experimental music  
Oscar winner’s shoutout for London music venue Cafe Oto stuns owner
The Brutalist composer Daniel Blumberg mentioned the experimental music space in his acceptance speech
Live music this week
Lola Young review – soulful Londoner finds magic in the messy
Lola Young review – soulful Londoner finds magic in the messy
Get in touch
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