The Wire, December 2025

A must for any underground music fan, The Wire reports on alternative, underground and non-mainstream musics, ‘waging war on the mundane and the mediocre.’

In this issue:

On the cover: Mulatu Astatke: Deep into his latest tour, the pioneering 81 year old Ethio jazz vibraphonist is finding new ways to be himself. By Francis Gooding; Griot Galaxy: Faruq Z Bey’s enigmatic cosmic messengers fused Detroit’s underground jazz modes with Afrofuturist sci-fi themes. By Mike Rubin; Alpha Maid: UK based guitarist/vocalist/producer Leisha Thomas creates her own unique language of time loops, dub swirls and grungy licks. By Claire Biddles; Emergence Collective: The simple practice of pattern recognition opens up improvised utopias for this Sheffield crew. By Daryl Worthington; Konrad Smoleński: The Polish artist connects art and activism through alpine bell and sculptural instrument installations. By Robert Barry; Invisible Jukebox: Test Dept: Can South London’s industrial veterans prove their metal with our mystery record collection? Tested by Mike Barnes; Debit: The Mexican-American producer reanimates 1990s cumbia rebajada. By April Clare Welsh; Klinck Trio: Belgian chamber musicians are networking across improv and avant pop. By Clive Bell; Global Ear: Underground resistance to the rise of the far right in Vilnius. By Andy Hamilton; Unlimited Editions; Enigmatic digital dispatches from jb glazer’s glint music. By Misha Farrant; The Inner Sleeve: Helado Negro on ESG’s ESG; Against The Grain: Rave’s countercultural spirit is under threat in an era ruled by social media, argues Holly Dicker; Epiphanies: Andy Hamilton asks: why did Keith Jarrett stop composing?; and in the reviews sections: vari/ations: Odes to Oram. By Abi Bliss; Eve Libertine & Eva Leblanc: Cacophony and catharsis. By Claire Biddles; Fini Tribe: Post-punk preludes. By Ruaridh Law; Jazz in focus: The scene pictured, from high art to photo journalism. By Andy Hamilton; Music Stones: The Rediscovery Of Ringing Rock: The long history of stone tapes, from lithophones to rock hamonicons. By Katrina Dixon; Lunchmeat: Electronic and AV overload in Prague. By Daniel Glassman; Skaņu Mežs: Crowd-sourced creativity in Riga. By Daniel Spicer; and much, much more.