BBC Music Magazine
Morten Lauridsen
Terry Blain explores the life of a self-imposed recluse whose magical O Magnum Mysterium beguiles millions of listeners each Christmas
6 min |
Christmas 2025
BBC Music Magazine
Rakhi Singh
Violinist and Composer
3 min |
Christmas 2025
Record Collector
LOOKIN' AFTER No 1s THE XMAS FACTOR
Does your granny always tell ya that the old songs are the best? The truth might be more curious and complex, as Chris Roberts finds, tearing off the wrapping paper to discover the full history of the Christmas No 1
10+ min |
Christmas 2025 - Issue 578
Record Collector
Heaven From Hell
An exhilarating masterpiece wrung from a period of turmoil and unease, all done up for its 50th birthday.
5 min |
Christmas 2025 - Issue 578
Record Collector
Luke Haines writes the shuk out of rock'n'roll
Luke Haines writes the shuk out of rock'n'roll The piquant power of forgotten fruit
3 min |
Christmas 2025 - Issue 578
Record Collector
33½ minutes with...Brinsley Schwarz
It's 60 years since Brinsley Schwarz made his recording bow, a handful of singles with the semi-psychedelic pop band Kippington Lodge, but he became a more visible presence later in the decade when he lent his name to the pub rock figureheads who also included Nick Lowe in their number.
4 min |
Christmas 2025 - Issue 578
Record Collector
THE RHYTHM DIVINE
By the late 70s it ostensibly sucked, but by the early 80s it was enjoying renewed and rude health. It was the dance music that could never die: here, we look at what disco did next after Comiskey Park.Boogie wander: Kris Needs
10+ min |
Christmas 2025 - Issue 578
Record Collector
YOU CAN CALL ME AL
Inevitably, the obituaries that followed in the wake of his death in June focused on the work of lead Beach Boy, Brian Wilson.
10+ min |
Christmas 2025 - Issue 578
Record Collector
Bless Whatever
For over 60 years double-bassist Danny Thompson, who died in September, remained a highly respected and in-demand musician.
10+ min |
Christmas 2025 - Issue 578
Record Collector
THE ENGINE ROOM
The unsung heroes who helped forge modern music
4 min |
Christmas 2025 - Issue 578
Record Collector
Behold The Man Friday, The Leader Of The Virgin Prunes
Since the late 70s, Gavin Friday has trod a singular path, whether as part of influential post-punks The Virgin Prunes, soundtracking Hollywood blockbusters.
10 min |
Christmas 2025 - Issue 578
Record Collector
45 minutes with...Shaun and Bez
Inspired by 1973 film That'll Be The Day, Shaun Ryder formed Happy Mondays in 1980 with a lineup completed by bassist brother Paul Ryder, drummer Gaz Whelan, keyboardist Paul Davis and guitarist Mark Day.
6 min |
Christmas 2025 - Issue 578
Record Collector
TEEN SPIRIT
Of all the first-wave punk bands, Eater were arguably the truest to form.
9 min |
Christmas 2025 - Issue 578
Prog
WARRINGTON-RUNCORN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Ambient artist travels back to the 70s with synth-heavy utopian soundtracks.
2 min |
Issue 165
Prog
IN MEMORY OF JOHN LODGE
As long-serving co-vocalist and bassist with The Moody Blues, John Lodge helped keep the Moodies' flame burning even after the band had stopped touring. His distinctive falsetto harmonies and bass-playing helped shape the band's iconic sound and cement their status. In addition to gigging right up to his unexpected death in October at the age of 82, he also released a handful of solo albums, including his 2023 updated version of Days Of Future Passed, which was praised by critics and fans alike.
7 min |
Issue 165
Prog
VOWER
Black Peaks, Toska and Palm Reader members unite for heavy, emotional second life.
2 min |
Issue 165
Prog
Tripping Yarns
When Cardiacs leader Tim Smith died in 2020, no one thought the long-awaited follow-up to Guns would see light of day. But Smith's brother Jim teamed up with bandmates Craig Fortnam and Kavus Torabi to piece together the fragments of music that had been left behind and now, after years of hard work, LSD is finally here. The team behind it tell Prog about the missing piece of Cardiacs' jigsaw and what else lies in store.
7 min |
Issue 165
Prog
THE GIFT REFLECT ON LIFE'S JOURNEY
The influence of the Bard is keenly felt on their new album, their first since 2019.
1 min |
Issue 165
Prog
MAGNUS MARTIN SOLO LP INCOMING
New album heads into mythical areas as it draws from wider musical influences.
1 min |
Issue 165
Prog
GONGOVERCOME TROUBLED TIMES
New album birthed from a period of personal challenges and heavy deadlines.
2 min |
Issue 165
Prog
Hand of Fate
Norwegian art-rockers Gazpacho stare fate in the face with their latest album, Magic 8-Ball, but things could have turned out very differently had it not been for Hollywood script-writers. Songwriter, producer and keyboard player Thomas Andersen discusses kismet, creating great art and never being afraid to rip things up and start again.
7 min |
Issue 165
Prog
RADIANT THOUGHT
Shaped by international collaboration, the Portuguese project blends atmospheric prog metal with raw emotion.
1 min |
Issue 165
Prog
JAMES KENT
Perturbator's James Kent discovered Vangelis through his pioneering movie soundtracks - and the composer's music continues to inspire him.
2 min |
Issue 165
Prog
OZRIC TENTACLES: Through The Magick Valley KSCOPE
Another hefty trawl through the most cosmic of catalogues.
1 min |
Issue 165
Prog
Crowing Once More
Nine years after their unexpected reunion, Atomic Rooster have returned with their first studio album in more than 40 years. The spooky Circle The Sun shows off an Edgar Allan Poe-inspired gothic vibe with an updated line-up that fans say takes them right back to the 70s. Prog catches up with guitarist Boltz Bolton and drummer Paul Everett find out more.
5 min |
Issue 165
Prog
No Safety Net
He's one of prog's visionaries, and now a key period in Peter Hammill's creative life is being celebrated in a new 20-disc box set. The Charisma & Virgin Recordings 1971-1986 collates 13 of his early solo albums along with a selection of era-specific rarities, and, what's more, a new authorised biography has also just hit the shelves. Prog catches up with the Van der Graaf frontman to unbox his early years as a solo artist.
7 min |
Issue 165
Prog
THE BEYOND CRAWL
There was a strong sense of desperation lingering in the air at the end of the 80s.
2 min |
Issue 165
Prog
STEVE BINGHAM
One-time No-Man touring musician experiments with looping for violin.
2 min |
Issue 165
Prog
SANS FROID
Powerful Bristol-based art-rockers bring their angst to prog.
2 min |
Issue 165
Prog
Ghosts In The Half Light
Released 20 years ago, Porcupine Tree's Deadwing was the album that Lava Records hoped would turn over a profit. Although things didn't quite work out that way, the band's eighth studio record did raise their profile and launch them to American audiences. Steven Wilson, Gavin Harrison, Lava's Andy Karp and scriptwriter Mike Bennion reflect on the journey that took Porcupine Tree from playing to 30 people to filling 1,500-capacity venues and even scoring a ride in Neil Peart's Aston Martin.
10+ min |