The topics in the November issue
The Rolling Stones
An audience with what is still the biggest rock band in the world: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ron Wood talk about old myths and new challenges, the death of Charlie Watts and the long road to their new album “Hackney Diamonds”
By Torsten Groß
Olivia Rodrigo
She’s living her best life on the East and West Coasts and has put the heartbreak behind her. Thanks to her new album Guts, the 20-year-old superstar has become even bigger – and the whole world is watching
By Angie Martoccio
The Gaslight Anthem
When it comes to American rock music, there’s hardly anything more that can be done: After a nine-year break, Brian Fallon has recorded a new album with The Gaslight Anthem – and his greatest hero Bruce Springsteen invited himself to sing along
By Birgit Fuss
The magic of the village disco
In a village in East Frisia there is a disco where indie dreams still come true. A night at the limit, a night like many in Germany
By Jan Brandt
Joni Mitchell
On Joni Mitchell’s 80th birthday: An approach in an open mood from songwriter and Die-Heiterheit singer Stella Sommer, who reflects on the beauty of the abyss
By Stella Sommer
The Mix
Jorja Smith
Five years ago Jorja Smith was one of England’s brightest young talents. With the new album she has gained confidence and determination
By Larisha Paul
The Streets
After a long break, Mike Skinner is releasing another album by The Streets – it is also the soundtrack to a film that he made himself
By Naomi Webster-Grundl
Q&A: The Kills
Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince on benefits of the pandemic and their first album in seven years
By Max Gösche
HISTORY: Paul Simon
The wonderfully finely chiseled album “Hearts And Bones” was released 40 years ago
By Arne Willander
Sampha
A melancholy timbre in the voice and a new optimism characterize the celebrated artist’s second album
exceptional artist
By Jan Jekal
Zoe Wees
Zoe Wees even caught the eye of Ed Sheeran with her dark voice on “The Voice Kids” – and at 21, she is considered one of the hopes of her generation
By Samira Joy Frauwallner
PLUS
Bob Dylan, All This Violence, Elina, Mick Flannery, Kim Frank and some more
Reviews
MUSIC
News from Dolly Parton and 81 other reviews
RS GUIDE: Joni Mitchell
Hanns Peter Bushof and Arne Willander about the work of the great songwriter
FILM, SERIES & LITERATURE
“Anatomy of a Case” and 18 other reviews
Playlist: Rare Trax in November
Our November “Rare Trax” (not available as a streaming playlist!) presents punk and experimental gems from the compilation “Magnetizdat DDR. Magnetic tape underground East 1979–1990”
Pink Extra “I’m not in the mood for anything”
Named after a GDR brand of feminine hygiene products, Rosa Extra were one of the first Eastern punk bands ever. The barely understandable text of this underground gem comes from scene poet Stefan Döring.
Uproar over the love of “Soviet woman”
Rosa Extra collapsed under the constraints of the SED cultural apparatus. The members Bernd Jestram, Ronald Lippok and Alexander Kriening founded Ruhe zur Liebe and undeterredly took their avant-punk to the extreme.
The Free Orchestra “Stick Your Nose”
The Free Orchestra from Berlin strained the minds of the censors with experimental sounds ranging from Can, Cluster and Tangerine Dream. Keyboardist Jörg Thomasius later worked with Conrad Schnitzler.
Tom Terror & The Hatchet “Upside Down”
Singer/guitarist Thomas Wagner and drummer Jörg Beilfuss were primarily inspired by New Wave for their short-lived band project. “Head Up” sounds like a demo from Pere Ubu’s rehearsal basement.
The Litany Progression Expander
A crazy ride from the narrow work of another Berlin avant-garde formation. Free jazz à la Peter Brötzmann meets politically moving Dada poetry and theater music in the style of Kurt Weill.
La German Vita “Sunday Assassination”
Singer Michael Dubach aka MF Zickert and guitarist Ulf Wrede recorded this ballad, filled with angry protest song melancholy, in 1988 as part of their album “Zartes Alter”, in which Max Goldt was also involved.
Knut Baltz formation “Brothers to the Sun”
When you hear this mocking version of the famous Russian workers’ song, you can easily imagine that the drummer and band leader Florian Merkel caught the attention of many a Stasi employee.