Low Culture Essay: James Bailey on The Driver’s Seat by Muriel Spark
James Bailey’s subscriber essay revisits Muriel Spark’s 1970 novel *The Driver’s Seat*, describing it as a “spiny and treacherous masterpiece” that fuses giallo horror with stark corporate settings. He notes Spark wrote the book in a few weeks from a hospital bed, channeling personal anguish into a narrative of voyeurism and self‑estrangement. The essay cites contemporary reactions, including praise from *The New Yorker* and a rattled response from musician Nick Cave. Bailey positions the novel as a lasting touchstone for psychological thrillers and dark literary satire.
Maramfa Musick Pro: Serokolo 7 Resurrects the Frenetic Pulse of Mapanta
South African producer Serokolo 7’s new album, *Maramfa Musick Pro*, resurrects the hyper‑local Mapanta genre from Limpopo’s Ga‑Sekhukhune district. Issued on the Kampala‑based Nyege Nyege Tapes, the record embraces lo‑fi, cassette‑tape grit and field‑recorded village ceremonies, positioning traditional Bapedi chants alongside...
Bali Gamelan Sound – Topeng Semar Pegulingan
The Bali Gamelan Sound project, led by Argentinian researcher Agustín Oscar Rissotti, has recorded around 50 authentic Balinese gamelan performances since 2020, preserving the music’s ritual context. Its latest release, *Topek Semar Pegulingan*, captures ambient sounds, conversations, and the spiritual...
Tricky Unveils New Album, ‘Different When It’s Silent’
British trip‑hop pioneer Tricky announced his 15th studio album, Different When It’s Silent, slated for 17 July 2026 via False Idols. The record, his first full‑length under the Tricky name in six years, features 15 tracks recorded in France and Bristol and...
Boards Of Canada Detail New Album, ‘Inferno’
Scottish electronic duo Boards of Canada announced their first studio album in 13 years, titled Inferno. The record comprises 18 tracks and is slated for release on May 29, 2026 through Warp Records. A cryptic teaser campaign featuring mailed VHS...
The Vanishing Twin: Tricky’s Nearly God Turns 30
Tricky’s unofficial sophomore album *Nearly God* turns 30, marking a pivotal moment in 1990s British music. The record fused trip‑hop with post‑punk, ska, synth‑pop and R&B, featuring a roster of collaborators including Martina Topley‑Bird, Björk, Neneh Cherry and Terry Hall. Its...
Gnod – Chronicles Of Gnowt Vol.1
Gnod’s new album *Chronicles Of Gnowt Vol.1* kicks off a planned three‑part series recorded in just under a week. The record mixes sparse folk‑ambient pieces with the heavy, riff‑driven rock the band is known for, showcasing new vocal approaches and...
Combustible Material: Siouxsie and the Banshees’ Tinderbox at 40
Siouxsie and the Banshees released *Tinderbox* in 1986, an album they produced themselves after rejecting external producers. Though the band never embraced the goth label, the record’s dark, texturally rich sound reshaped the genre’s direction during a period of stagnation....
Graham Dunning – Quern
Graham Dunning’s new album *Quern* showcases his signature mechanical techno, built from turntables, electric motors and found objects. The record blends 90s techno, acid, dub and global‑south rhythms while embracing deliberate analog imperfections. Dunning’s PhD‑level research underpins the experimental sound‑art...
Naná Rizinni – Epiblast
Brazilian drummer‑producer Naná Rizinni is set to release her new album *Epiblast* through Bridge The Gap. The record, co‑produced with London saxophonist Mark Cake over two years, reflects her move from São Paulo to London, new parenthood, and the grief of...
Portraits of the Artist: Künstlerromane in an Age of Uncertainty
The piece surveys three recent novels—Anika Jade Levy’s Flat Earth, Brandon Taylor’s Minor Black Figures, and Stephanie Wambugu’s Lonely Crowds—as contemporary künstlerromane. It shows how these works transplant the 19th‑century self‑invention narrative into today’s precarious art market, foregrounding financial instability, identity politics, and the performative pressure of...
Kraftwerk Lose Long-Running Copyright Dispute
The European Court of Justice has ruled in favor of German producer Moses Pelham, finding his two‑second drum loop from Kraftkraft’s 1977 track “Metall auf Metall” lawful under the EU’s “pastiche” exception. The dispute, sparked by Pelham’s unlicensed sample in...
Djrum, Laurel Halo and More Remix Lyra Pramuk on New Release
Lyra Pramuk is set to release Hymnal (Resung), a six‑track remix EP arriving in June that reimagines songs from her 2025 album Hymnal. The project features contributions from electronic luminaries Djrum, Laurel Halo, John Tejada, and Verraco, among others. Pramuk...
Abigail Snail – Rad Berms
Abigail Snail’s debut album “Rad Berms” unites members of Reciprocate, Sly & The Family Drone, and veteran reed player James Allsopp in a spontaneous, genre‑defying jam. Tracks such as “Soul Berm” fuse avant‑rock, free‑jazz skronk and garage‑rock vocals while keeping...
Reissue of the Week: The Beastie Boys’ To The 5 Boroughs
The Beastie Boys’ 2004 album *To The 5 Boroughs* gets a 2026 deluxe box‑set, featuring a remastered three‑disc collection, rare B‑sides, and new artwork that nods to the city’s skyline. The original record, recorded entirely in New York after 9/11, topped...