Estonia

Getting to know Estonian composer Olev Muska’s remarkable electronic music last year, and, more importantly, experiencing it in the context of a live event held in the Tallinn club HALL over the summer, made me aware of the label Glitch Please. That in turn led to me discovering a whole …

Without wasting any time, let’s plunge into the second half of 2025’s Best Albums of the Year, every one of them a staggering achievement of ingenuity and brilliance that defies any and all expectations. Individually, they’re vital and essential; together, they define the very best of the best of this …

So here we are again, the end of the year, looking back at the almighty heights scaled by the most intrepid few. Here’s the first half of 2025’s Best Albums of the Year, an absolute showcase of fearless invention and remarkable beauty that demands and deserves your full, undivided attention.

Of the larger-scale performances at HCMF 2025, the most qualitatively challenged was that given by the London Sinfonietta, conducted by Geoffrey Paterson. Laurence Osborn‘s Mute just sounded like early ’90s Thomas Adès, pointlessly rehashed three decades later, also demonstrating how the Faberian sound is not so much alive and (for …

Most festivals go out of their way these days to jam-pack their weekends with all the best stuff, and that was certainly case at this year’s Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. There was so much to enjoy during the opening weekend it felt as if it lasted longer than just a …

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon’s Patreon at £5 or more