The Wire Issue 502 – December 2025
Mulatu Astatke
At 81, the pioneering Ethio-jazz vibraphonist continues his worldwide tour, discovering new ways to explore and express his unique sound.
By Francis Gooding
Griot Galaxy
Faruq Z Bey’s enigmatic ensemble blended Detroit’s underground jazz with Afrofuturist science fiction, reshaping the boundaries of cosmic sound.
By Mike Rubin
Alpha Maid
UK-based guitarist, vocalist, and producer Leisha Thomas constructs her own musical language from time loops, dub textures, and gritty guitar tones.
By Claire Biddles
Emergence Collective
In Sheffield, a group of improvisers reveals how simple pattern recognition can generate shared spaces of creative utopia.
By Daryl Worthington
Konrad Smoleński
The Polish artist unites art and activism through monumental instruments and installations that merge alpine bells with sculptural sound objects.
By Robert Barry
Invisible Jukebox: Test Dept
“Can South London’s industrial veterans prove their metal with our mystery record collection?”
Mike Barnes puts the legendary group to the test through a revealing musical challenge.
Debit
Mexican-American producer Debit revives the slowed-down rhythms of 1990s cumbia rebajada, transforming nostalgic beats into fresh electronic narratives.
By April Clare Welsh
Klinck Trio
Belgium’s chamber trio connects improvisation with avant-pop ideas, bridging contemporary classical and experimental networks.
By Clive Bell
Global Ear: Vilnius
Reports on the underground cultural response to the far-right resurgence in Lithuania’s capital, where artists and activists collaborate in resistance.
By Andy Hamilton
Unlimited Editions
Enigmatic electronic messages emerge from jb glazer’s Glint Music label, exploring digital emotion and abstract sonic design.
Author’s summary: This issue explores innovation across global music scenes, from Ethiopian jazz to digital sound art, spotlighting artists who expand the language of modern creativity.