Half a century after the release of one of the all-time great live albums, John Doran argues that the Velvet Underground only really hit their true peak after they lost Nico, Warhol and Cale. This feature was first published on 2 April 2020
The diaristic title of the Kevin Ayers, John Cale, Brian Eno and Nico's live record demands it be put into some kind of historical context. Michael Bellis looks at a highly unusual album released in a time of great cultural and social change
It seems odd to argue that a member of one of the most celebrated rock bands of all time, the Velvet Underground, is under-appreciated, says Daniel Dylan Wray in this subscriber only essay, until you consider just how absent he is from conversations about popular music
Low Culture is a new series where tQ writers use lockdown time to pull some of their favourite music, films, games and books off the shelves in order to tackle an idea that's been bugging them for a long time. In the first instalment John Doran argues that the Velvet Underground only really hit their true peak after they lost Nico, Warhol and Cale
From teenage awakenings at the hands of Björk and Stereolab via English folksong, a lockdown obsession with Dead Can Dance and a newfound love of Lili Boulanger, Patrick Wolf takes Luke Turner through the thirteen records that have defined his life
Following the release of his new album LASTGLACIALMAXIMUM, the prolific Richard Skelton speaks to Luke Turner about the music that inspired his own work, from Thomas Tallis to Phuture, Nico to Sly & The Family Stone, The Stooges and Gorecki
With the imminent release of his score for Arrival, the latest in a now thriving partnership with Denis Villeneuve that will see him take on Blade Runner next year, the Icelandic composer shows traditional reluctance in crafting a list of defining albums and opts instead of 13 works that exemplify a philosophy of minimal gestures with maximum impact
Island-dwelling outsider musician and One More Grain brain Daniel Patrick Quinn tells us about his 13 favourite albums from Suede to Fela Kuti, Nico to Robert Wyatt and Gamelan to ELO, plus the sound of a snipe drumming, and wonders whether he'd have sexual feelings for Jeff Lynne were he a woman.
Perturbed by a study that found young women in the north of England are struggling to feel musical, Lottie Brazier set out to speak to the promoters, artists and managers who are helping shift the dial in the region
After three decades of work in the margins of UK psych rock and folk, Jane Weaver has risen steadily in prominence over the last four years. Here she explains to Joshua French, why she is setting aside her tried and tested means of touring with a live band for a series of solo Loops In The Secret Society shows this Autumn. With mixtape...
Tony F Wilson – a lifer's lifer. His Quietus subscribers' mix comprises a depth charge exploration into an underground catalogue that dates back to the mid 90s. Chopped, screwed and spat back up with added venom. Harry Sword gets the (sub) low down.
Long before vocalist Rachel Brown began pursuing music, they dreamed of writing for the small screen. Ahead of releasing their disorientating, technicolour new album with Water From Your Eyes, they explain this lifelong passion to Alastair Shuttleworth
22 years into their career the perennial outsiders of 21st century queer American art rock have announced a potentially game-changing album in the shape of 13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto With Bison Horn Grips. Words by Natalie Marlin. All pictures by Eva Luise Hoppe. Contains video arguably NSFW
Dismayed by the relative failure of Red Wedge, The Style Council find solace soundtracking the bleak state of the nation while pushing the possibilities of pop. Paul Weller discusses one of his more overlooked albums with Lois Wilson