Recommendations of the Editorial team
In December, the 50th anniversary of “Wish You Were Here” will be honored with an anniversary box. She shows how Pink Floyd almost fell apart because of the fame and came together again through the sadness of Syd Barrett’s decline.
JACK ANTONOFF & HAYLEY WILLIAMS
Two mega-talents about their friendship, the joys (and dramas) of band life and what shaped them
By Britanny Spanos
GRACIE ABRAMS & CYNDI LAUPER
The ’80s icon and Gen-Z star discusses childhood memories, the rigors of touring life, and creative tools
By Angie Martoccio
LUCY DACUS & JANELLE MONÁE
Two visionaries about gender roles, faith, futurism and why some records feel like films
By Gerrick Kennedy
BLACK THOUGHT & REDMAN
The Roots MC and New Jersey rapper discuss loss, life lessons and the art of lyric writing
By Simon Vozick-Levinson
ALLI NEUMANN & TRANGSAL
Alli Neumann and Max Gruber, head of tribulationabout the topics of their generation, freedom and commissioned work – and the right studio technology. Ralf Niemczyk met the two millennials in Neukölln.
AUSTRA
Lovesickness is worth it: with the new album by Austra Canadian electro-pop songwriter Katie Austra Stelmanis dealt with a painful breakup.
By Jenni Zylka
HEIDI REICHINNEK
An interview with Heidi Reichinnekthe political climber of the year. But who is she actually: a pop star? Subversive? Patriot?
By Peter Unfried
The Mix
The singer-songwriter Sophie Morgan aka Luvcat likes to fluctuate between light and dark while the presenting singer Ina Müller clearly stands for joy in life – and for that she doesn’t need a husband or children.
Also in the mix: Rufus Wainwright, The Mountain Goats, Warren Ellis, The Beatles, Midlake and some more.
Reviews
There’s a lot more to come at the end of the year: Birgit Fuss has the new magic songs from Florence + The Machine listened to while Jörg Feyer to the work of Chuck Prophet dedicated. And the reissues are fine Maik Brüggemeyer of course around Bob Dylan.
Playlist: New Noises in December
Naked Lunch make an impressive comeback, The Mountain Goats and The Dears are getting better and better – and Rufus Wainwright pays homage to Kurt Weill in an almost Christmassy atmosphere
1. NAKED LUNCH “BLACKBIRD”
After a twelve-year album break, the Austrians around mastermind Oliver Welter inspire with exuberant avant-pop between light and shadow.
2. THE MOUNTAIN GOATS “COLD AT NIGHT”
John Darnielle has once again recorded a concept album, this time in the form of a musical about a group of shipwrecked people. His band’s indie rock songs also work without any concept.
3. AVTT/PTTN “DARK NIGHT OF MY SOUL”
The collaboration between The Avett Brothers and Faith No More singer Mike Patton is one of the most beautiful surprises of the music year 2025 – and one of the highlights in the field of Americana.
4. THE SAXOPHONES “WAYWARD MEN”
A gem reminiscent of Tindersticks and Lambchop, shimmering between folk, krautrock and soul from the new album by the US couple Alexi Erenkov and Alison Alderdice.
5. NUSANTARA BEAT “TAMAT”
The Dutch sextet mixes the pop music of Indonesia (one band member comes from West Java province) with psychedlic folk and surf rock influences to create great retro fun.
6. THE DEARS “DOOM PAYS”
A small masterpiece from the new album by the Canadian band around singer and songwriter Murray Lightburn, although (or precisely because) The Dears are wonderfully shamelessly quoting Roxy Music’s “Virginia Plain”.
7. RUFUS WAINWRIGHT AND THE PACIFIC JAZZ ORCHESTRA “MACK THE KNIFE”
With wit and mischievous elegance, Wainwright strolls through Kurt Weill’s most famous piece. The composer and his North American admirer match quite well in terms of album length.