Issue 277

March 2007

Grinderman
Nick Cave's revitalised cowboy outfit draws its rock power from improvisation, Warren Ellis's violin loops and the spirit of ecstatic jazz. By Keith Moliné

Peter Hammill
Since 1969, Britain's most singular songwriter has been unflinchingly addressing the Seven Ages of Man, both with and without Van Der Graaf Generator. By Mike Barnes

Once upon a time: in Cairo
In 1944, the world's first piece of electronic music was composed in the Egyptian capital. Rob Young tells the amazing story of its creator, Halim El-Dabh

Invisible Jukebox: Rachid Taha
The expat Algerian singer identifies tracks by The Clash, Archie Shepp, The Stooges and more. Tested by Dan Warburton

Paul Burwell
David Toop celebrates the life of the Bow Gamelan founder, percussionist and instrument builder, who died last month

Robert Horton
The San Francisco underground veteran has just unleashed a deluge of discs and collaborations. By Nick Cain

Polly Shang Kuan Band
Karen Constance tells Keith Moliné how her female noise unit sits beside her work in Blood Stereo, Ceylon Mange and more

Cross Platform: Ray Lee
Julian Cowley heeds the siren call created by the whirling blades of the Oxford sound artist's forest-like installations

Global Ear
Steve Tromans reports on the nascent Improv scene in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Epiphanies
Mego's Peter Rehberg is still reeling from the impact of Cabaret Voltaire's cut-up news broadcasts from the early 1980s

The Inner Sleeve
Vaughan Oliver wonders why he's so taken with Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers

Print Run
New music books, including Don Letts's Dread Meets Punk Rockers and a study of Mauricio Kagel

On Screen
New music DVDs and film, including alva noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto, Semiconductor and the Quay Brothers

On Site
Gallery and mixed media events, including Sound:Space and Robert Ashley's new opera Concrete

On Location
Concert and festival reviews, including All Ears Festival in Oslo and Plastic People Of The Universe in London