Sod the first few EPs, we say a band's real hidden gems are buried at the end, among the ill-advised career moves and last grasps at fading relevance. Here, tQ writers fight the corner for their favourite unloved and underrated records from the tail-end of their favourite artists' discography.
Ahead of her performance at this year's EFG London Jazz Festival, Tanita Tikaram takes Luke Turner through her favourite records, from the soundtrack of her childhood spent in military bases, via formative encounters with OMD and The Beatles, an abiding love of the jazz and soul greats, and more
Ahead of his appearance at this month's Green Man Festival, Sathnam Sanghera talks Tara Joshi through his favourite music, from Goldfrapp to Dave and Massive Attack, Sly, George Michael, Prince, Bally Sagoo and much more
With Aidan Moffat's excellent new record with Bill Wells just out, we sent Daniel Dylan Wray up to Glasgow to meet the former Arab Strap man/Quietus sex columnist to discuss his top formative albums. And, with the help of beers, a record player and one powerful deployment of the phrase "get to utter fuck", here's what he picked
Ahead of the release of his new record as The Soft Pink Truth, Drew Daniel talks to Kristen Gallerneaux about the influences behind Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase? and rethinking ambient music
Dirty Projectors' sixth album, Swing Lo Magellan, marks a shift from the meticulous structures of their previous albums towards a more direct and heartfelt approach to songwriting. Chad Parkhill discussed this transition with lead Projector David Longstreth
On Olga Bell's new album Krai, the Brooklyn-based composer and singer explores the imagined hinterlands of her home country of Russia. She speaks with Ed Power about childhood memories, working with Dirty Projectors and why the album is a work of sonic fiction
Preparing to spend a few days amidst baking heat and baked Europeans, the Quietus staff run through a selection of anticipated highlights from next week's Sonar Festival in Barcelona, from turbo-charged grime and kuduro to blazing techno and industrial pop