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Dave Grohl is a man of many talents. He is also a prolific, inventive swearer. Between expletives, he tells Alexis Petridis about the Foo Fighters’ guest-laden new album – and why its accompanying TV series sees him jamming with Bad Brains and hanging with the US president
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Fuse ODG won’t let anything get him down. The Ghana-raised rapper is on a mission to spread the joy he feels about the new Africa, he tells Paul Lester
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Despite little money, a dearth of promoters and the threat of police clampdowns, Tim Jonze discovers a thriving independent scene in the cities of Changsha and Wuhan
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Featuring both pedal steel guitars and light-up suits, with a couple of pop interlopers thrown in, the Country Music Association awards offered a night of highs and lows
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Ultra-pricey luxury brand, popular as a status symbol for the rich, has been closely associated with the hip-hop star since 2006
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This “new” record based on 20-year-old outtakes sounds the most like Pink Floyd than any of album with their name in the past 25 years, writes Alexis Petridis
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This year sees Tom Odell performing the John Lewis ad’s ritual Christmas cover, the biggest deal in what’s become a crucial financial and marketing opportunity for the music industry
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Review Vaughan Williams: A Pastoral Symphony; Tallis Fantasia, etc CD review – a glorious account
4 / 5 starsThe troubled, sullied world that the music explores is recreated by Elder and the Hallé without ever becoming overwrought, writes Andrew Clements -
Giulano Carmignola’s performance sounds lively and involving at first, but the effect eventually loses its potency, writes Andrew Clements
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Review Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words; Variations Sérieuses, etc CD review – a constant delight
4 / 5 starsJavier Perianes’ range of colour is perfectly judged, writes Andrew Clements -
Ex-My Chemical Romance man moves in a new, more artful direction, but he’s determined to take everyone along, writes Dave Simpson
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Curiosity may lure listeners to the table of this actor-cum-musician, but only genuine musical talent will keep them there
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The US percussionist led an exciting young band in a set that spliced dazzling drums with bracingly updated jazz classics, writes John Fordham
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Ishmael Butler and Tendai Maraire don’t go in for onstage banter, but their icily inventive hip-hop ventures to far-out places, writes Stevie Chick
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Osmo Vänskä proved his mastery of the Finnish composer through early works including the Lemminkäinen Suite, writes Andrew Clements
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We’re going to hang out with the Swedish electronic band on their tour bus on 17 November. What questions have you got for them?
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Swedish group return with a new video directed by Grant Singer and starring Don Bolles of the Germs
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Through a storm of nominations blowing in from last week’s topic RR regular Mnemonic calmly creates an embouchure A-list
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Although filmmakers have not announced the singer’s selection, reports state that Smith ‘edged out’ Lana Del Rey, winning the approval of Bond producer Barbara Broccoli
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Although filmmakers have not announced the singer’s selection, reports state that Smith ‘edged out’ Lana Del Rey, winning the approval of Bond producer Barbara Broccoli
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After Dave Grohl and Pat Smear suggested band should re-record their self-titled 1995 album, Taylor Hawkins put end to plan by suggesting ‘people would hate it!’
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In just seven days, this year’s first platinum artist shifted more copies of 1989 than the combined sales of albums at No 2 to No 107 in Billboard chart
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Australian musician appears in New Zealand court after raid at home in Tauranga on the North Island
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Singer’s move condemned by some as shortsighted, but others see it as a savvy way to drive up album sales
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The band who perfectly blended new wave, punk, disco and hip-hop answered your questions on Parallel Lines, Patti Smith and the New York punk scene. Read their answers here…
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The Australian rockers give a tiny outback town called The Rock the first honour of previewing their new album
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A new integration of streams with sales purchases in the Aria charts may favour songs that are played multiple times by fans
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Out on 24 November, the deluxe edition of pop star’s self-titled album features two new songs as well as unreleased remixes featuring Kanye West, Pharrell and Mr Vegas
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The drummer with 2014’s Glastonbury headliners paid tribute to the festival’s founding father at an awards ceremony in London – read what he had to say in full
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Richard James says he was shocked anyone would believe his views are ‘crackpot’, and posts tracks apparently made by his six-year-old son
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Cadillacs, jumpsuits and bongos among 300 artefacts being brought from Graceland to London’s O2 arena
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Guitarist tells Rolling Stone ‘I think our job is done’ and says they are unlikely to play more shows
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Including her first live show in Scotland and a Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park headline slot, her 2015 tour starts in Louisiana in May
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‘It seemed like that might be a place where the music could wind up ... it didn’t work out and it was back to the drawing board,’ says the band’s drummer, who met with the sibling directors nearly two years ago
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Nearly 20 weeks after Thinking Out Loud first entered the top 40, Sheeran’s latest single has toppled Trainor
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Ex-My Chemical Romance man moves in a new, more artful direction, but he’s determined to take everyone along, writes Dave Simpson
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The US percussionist led an exciting young band in a set that spliced dazzling drums with bracingly updated jazz classics, writes John Fordham
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Ishmael Butler and Tendai Maraire don’t go in for onstage banter, but their icily inventive hip-hop ventures to far-out places, writes Stevie Chick
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Osmo Vänskä proved his mastery of the Finnish composer through early works including the Lemminkäinen Suite, writes Andrew Clements
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Is it pop? Is it metal? It’s both, in a deeply strange and spectacular show by an armour-clad, Japanese teen girl band, writes Brad Nelson
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A late start left the audience fractious, and striking orchestral and vocal effects were offset by a thinness of melodic and thematic inspiration , writes Tim Ashley
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The OAE and a cast in impressive voice conveyed the drama of the Roman arena in a concert outing of Donizetti’s forgotten grand opera, writes Erica Jeal
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Deliberately distorted, desecrated R&B is not always exciting in Kelela’s hands – but is still morbidly fascinating, writes Mark Beaumont
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Yusuf Islam’s crowd came to hear the Cat Stevens classics – and roared when, finally, he gave them what they wanted, writes Ian Gittins
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Stephen Medcalf’s Far from the Madding Crowd take on Dvořák’s folk comedy doesn’t always work, but fine conducting and singing save the day, writes Tim Ashley
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The modern police state backdrop sits oddly in Martin Kušej’s new production, provoking mostly puzzlement. And what is the shark about? asks Andrew Clements
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Sally Beamish’s Equal Voices, on the effects of war, had its first outing, while Nelson Freire delivered a startling Emperor Concerto, writes Andrew Clements
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Cool, compelling Massi started upbeat, leaving her thoughtful, pained love songs until later in this intimate gig, writes Robin Denselow
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Without staging, it wasn’t easy keeping track of the lovers in Prokofiev’s comic opera, but Gergiev’s cast and orchestra filled in at least some of the gaps, writes Rian Evans
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The drums-and-bass duo mine the hard rock format to make it new and deliver fever-pitch fun to the clothes-flinging, moshing crowd, writes Dave Simpson
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The clarinettist Jörg Widmann and his trio perfectly caught Robert Schumann’s aching expressivity and irrepressible poignancy in an ingenious programme, writes Guy Dammann
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Thomas Larcher’s cycle for Mark Padmore was impeccably tailored, while Gardner’s account of the Schubert gave fresh insight, says Tim Ashley
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The Brooklyn band’s first London show since the death of their bass player is an evening of tears and cheers, writes Morwenna Ferrier
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The biggest draw at the 63rd Wexford festival was a rarely seen opera by a French naval officer, writes Fiona Maddocks
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As Jerry Lee Lewis nears 80, the volcanic piano style is intact and his pioneering hits still pack a punch – though he can’t keep it up for more than 30 minutes
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Classical music Vaughan Williams: A Pastoral Symphony; Tallis Fantasia, etc CD review – a glorious account
4 / 5 starsThe troubled, sullied world that the music explores is recreated by Elder and the Hallé without ever becoming overwrought, writes Andrew Clements -
Giulano Carmignola’s performance sounds lively and involving at first, but the effect eventually loses its potency, writes Andrew Clements
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Classical music Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words; Variations Sérieuses, etc CD review – a constant delight
4 / 5 starsJavier Perianes’ range of colour is perfectly judged, writes Andrew Clements -
Classical music Janáček: Glagolitic Mass; Eternal Gospel CD review – raw and confrontational
3 / 5 starsThe performance is a nicely detailed one, with adequate rather than outanding soloists, writes Andrew Clements -
Benjamin Britten Journey to Aldeburgh: Young Britten CD review – exuberant and well worth exploring
4 / 5 starsBritten’s belated memorial to his teacher is the real discovery in this collection of unfamiliar material, writes Andrew Clements -
Kanye West and FKA twigs collaborator Arca moves away from hip-hop into more tonal digital realms, writes Kitty Empire
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Glitchy dancehall and beguiling lushness fight it out on Dean Blunt’s second solo outing, writes Killian Fox
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Bob Dylan Bob Dylan: The Basement Tapes Complete review – the full, fabled bootleg, warts and all
4 / 5 starsDylan’s fabled studio sessions with the Band in 1967 are released in their entirety at last, writes Neil Spencer -
The Irish composer’s lyrical work is a valuable addition to the chamber repertoire, writes Stephen Pritchard
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Classical music Plummer, Cornysh, Lambe, anon: Transeamus CD review – a sweet farewell from the Hilliard Ensemble
4 / 5 starsThe male voice quartet’s final recording is typical of their unique and sophisticated work, writes Nicholas Kenyon -
Pop and rock Damien Rice: My Favourite Faded Fantasy review – ‘unstoppable momentum and disarming candour’
4 / 5 starsDamien Rice may not care whether his third album is a commercial success – but it will be, and deservedly so, writes Phil Mongredien -
Daniel Woolhouse’s second outing as Deptford Goth adds emotional substance to his polished atmospheric electronica, writes Paul Mardles
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The orchestral version of Neil Young’s new album is hilarious, baffling, and ultimately engrossing, in a car-crash kind of way, writes Kitty Empire
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‘A bombastic pop blast teetering on the edge of ridiculousness, it has the same energy as Erasure’s A Little Respect’
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Wildbirds and Peacedrums Wildbirds & Peacedrums: Rhythm review – a bluesy, minimalist new sound
3 / 5 starsThe Swedish duo’s new, stripped-back style is a little one-dimensional, but has some powerful moments, says Dave Simpson -
With years of radio-friendly singles under their belt, the Sydney electronic music duo finally release a hazy debut album, writes Doug Wallen
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Neil Young Neil Young: Storytone review – orchestra-backed album that’s better without the orchestra
4 / 5 starsNeil Young’s new orchestral album comes in a deluxe version that includes stripped-down takes of the songs – and those are the ones to hear, writes Maddy Costa
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This year sees Tom Odell performing the John Lewis ad’s ritual Christmas cover, the biggest deal in what’s become a crucial financial and marketing opportunity for the music industry
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To mark the 40th anniversary of the singer’s death, we reprint the NME’s obituary, taken from Rock’s Backpages, in which Nick Kent casts a wry eye over Drake’s Cambridge education, assesses his output, and contests the coronor’s suicide verdict
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‘His sharp, smart playing got me hooked on jazz. I’ve got a pair of sandals – and I do wear socks’
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She danced, she sang, she hid resistance fighters – and her music ended up in Pulp Fiction. Laura Barton celebrates the rediscovery of Roza Eskenazi, the Greek firebrand who united an underclass
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The jazz clarinettist had the biggest single of 1962 – and then a year later was rendered all but obsolete by the Beatles
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Previously unpublished private papers of Italian tenor chart the singer’s rise to fame and troubled personal life
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Blondie’s Chris Stein and Debbie Harry talk to Hermione Hoby about a new book of intimate photos taken by Stein during the band’s post-punk glory days
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Tenor Andrea Bocelli sang an aria to Veronica Berti the night they met. Twelve years later she is his wife and manager – and they continue to share a love of music
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The biggest draw at the 63rd Wexford festival was a rarely seen opera by a French naval officer, writes Fiona Maddocks
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Woodstock insider Sally Grossman recalls star’s ‘throwaway stuff’ as complete recordings of legendary sessions are released
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Flying Lotus | The War On Drugs | Spoon | Richard Dawson | Chris Dave And The Drumhedz | Mariinsky Opera
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Tune-Yards | Kaytranada | Die Antwoord | Ben Howard | Just Jam | Four Tet and Caribou
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Want some background music that won’t distract you from your book? Try Moochin’ About, says our musical agony aunt, Dr Crotchety
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Tahliah Debrett Barnett is establishing herself as one of the most interesting and enigmatic faces in British music
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White Material’s king of deep chatty house empties the contents of his psychic record bag
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He’s only 24 but hip-hop producer Alejandro Ghersi, aka Arca, is already a muse for both Björk and Kanye. What do they know that we don’t?
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Limpid guitar lines, massive hooks and crystalline melodies: new Liverpudlian band Gulf make ravishing psychedelic pop, drenched in reverb and melancholy, writes Paul Lester
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Five-piece psyche band Hookworms perform On Leaving at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds
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Combining socially charged lyrical sophistication with a gritty sound, this is one of the best hip-hop releases in recent years, says Alexis Petridis
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Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kiesza reveals her love for a Brazilian martial art said to have been invented by African slaves
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Robbie Williams has uploaded a video of himself singing Let it Go from the Disney film Frozen as his wife goes through labour
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Sting joins the cast on stage at the opening night on Broadway of his musical The Last Ship
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Alexis Petridis recommends Soused, the new collaborative album by Scott Walker and Sunn O)))
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The Brit award-winning, platinum-selling artist tells Tim Jonze about his Orthodox Jewish faith and his passion for cooking
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Alexis Petridis recommends Tough Love, the new album by Jessie Ware, which he describes as classy and sophisticated
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Kacey Underwood of guitar-pop band Big Deal shows us around his home in Dalston, east London, before performing their song Sakura in the garden
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Exclusive footage of U2 at work on Songs of Innocence in Electric Lady Studio, New York
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As they release a deluxe edition of their debut album, Alexis Petridis reflects on the alchemy that took Underworld overground.
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Monchan Monna, drummer of Japanese acid-punk band Bo Ningen, shares his love of calligraphy – and demonstrates the drum style upon which he's built a career
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The world's largest playable guitar goes on display at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey
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Alexis Petridis recommends The Breaks, an album written by one of the great lost figures of 90s alt-rock, Martin Carr - the main songwriter of the Boo Radleys
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Alexis Petridis recommends producer Aphex Twin's latest album, Syro
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Soul singer Kwabs gives us a tour of his home in Camberwell, south-east London, and performs a version of his single Walk live in his living room
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The Preatures' Izzy Manfredi and Jack Moffitt sit down to talk about how the band met, keeping a sense of mystery and the 'Medusa head' of modern celebrity
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Alexis Petridis recommends Acid Thunder, a collection of house classics compiled by club aficionado Terry Farley
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Join Jessie Ware in the studio as she breaks down the parts of her track Say You Love Me, co-written with Ed Sheeran
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Alexis Petridis recommends Whorl by Simian Mobile Disco, an organic and compelling album recorded in the Californian desert
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Curiosity may lure listeners to the table of this actor-cum-musician, but only genuine musical talent will keep them there
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We’re going to hang out with the Swedish electronic band on their tour bus on 17 November. What questions have you got for them?
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Swedish group return with a new video directed by Grant Singer and starring Don Bolles of the Germs
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Through a storm of nominations blowing in from last week’s topic RR regular Mnemonic calmly creates an embouchure A-list
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Discovering Pulp was like entering a new world for a nine-year-old. But new worlds can hold some scares
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Other lives: Music journalist who interviewed a galaxy of stars and wrote the sleeve notes for many CDs
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The OAE and a cast in impressive voice conveyed the drama of the Roman arena in a concert outing of Donizetti’s forgotten grand opera, writes Erica Jeal
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Deliberately distorted, desecrated R&B is not always exciting in Kelela’s hands – but is still morbidly fascinating, writes Mark Beaumont
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Yusuf Islam’s crowd came to hear the Cat Stevens classics – and roared when, finally, he gave them what they wanted, writes Ian Gittins
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In the latest of our playlist series, John Doran takes a look at a Syrian dabke musician who plays keyboard solos with his nose and tongue, and an amazing collection of Kurdish pop music cassettes
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Enter a world of murk, claustrophobia and regret, that of rock’s most unlikely arena-fillers, the National
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The Australian rockers give a tiny outback town called The Rock the first honour of previewing their new album
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To mark the bicentenary of the birth of its inventor, Adolph Sax - surely the most famous musical-instrument maker Belgium has ever produced - we present 10 of his instrument’s finest classical moments
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A new integration of streams with sales purchases in the Aria charts may favour songs that are played multiple times by fans
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Cut Copy’s Melbourne snapshot, Argentine electro-folklore queen La Yegros and Jackie Onassis’s party music for heartbreak
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It’s the last episode of the current series of Later... so let’s make it a good one, please
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William Murrell has driven entertainers from Michael Jackson to Prince – but it’s the godfather of soul he knew best, and he wasn’t much of a sex machine
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From surreal animations to Thom Yorke's jittering choreography, how well do you know Radiohead's videos?
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As Opera North open a new production of L'Incoronazione di Poppea – whose best-known final aria was most probably not even written by Monteverdi – we ask if you know the real guiding hands behind these other well-known bits of classical music?
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Can you identify the normally masked musician from their photograph?
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Can you match the pop artist to their stance on feminism?
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Michael Hogan asks how much you know about the talent behind hit singles
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Aphex Twin could teach most musicians a thing or two about creating a striking publicity image. So can you tell which artists below have undergone a freaky Aphex-style transformation?
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With Xerxes back at English National Opera, find out if you're up to speed on Handel's many, many operas
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Bowie's releasing a single and huge compilation album in November, but how many of his classic videos do you recognise?
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In an era of digital downloads, B-sides are pretty much dead. Can you match these vintage flipsides to their A-sides?
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Can you tell which artists these Guardian and Observer album reviews are describing?
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There are artists other than Liam Gallagher who have been known to hurl an insult or two. Who is behind each of these rock insults?
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Liam Gallagher is as well known for his ability to insult other musicians as he is for his singing. Which 10 bands or artists is he talking about in the quotes below?
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Poll: Albums sales are in steep decline, with listeners favouring playlists that cherrypick hits. Is the long player format now irrelevant?
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Have a go at matching video stills from these Gondry-directed videos to their songs
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From André Romelle Young to Amethyst Kelly, try to match these given names to their hip-hop alter egos
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To mark the 45th anniversary of them recording Come Together at Abbey Road Studios, here's a Beatles quiz
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The Proms, the world's biggest classical-music festival, opens this Friday at the Royal Albert Hall. Celebrate some of the concerts' less expected moments from the last few decades with our quiz
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They're often overlooked, hiding at the back in music videos – but can you match the bassist to the band?
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Test your knowledge to discover whether you are a Worthy winner, or not fit to clean Michael Eavis's wellies
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You will definitely recognise their biggest hit (their only hit). But can you name the act?