Needle Drops
A quartet channeling New Orleans' experimental spirit, German electronic artists carrying the kosmische torch, a formidable Brooklyn jazz ensemble, and meditative shakuhachi explorations lead this week's essential releases.
Round Room Live Reveals the Magic Behind Your Kid's Favorite Stage Show
A conversation with Round Room co-presidents Stephen Shaw and Jonathan Linden about family entertainment, intellectual property, and creating experiences that connect.
Bethany Ley Shapes Digital Gardens with 'Sundial'
On her latest EP, the Bristol composer constructs immersive sound worlds where processed harps and Gamelan echoes interweave with field recordings from the Ganges, creating musical spaces that feel both precisely engineered and naturally alive.
Taylor Deupree & Joseph Branciforte Build a Small Universe
Twenty years after Deupree's electronic masterpiece 'Stil.,' the two producers unite for an ambitious acoustic reimagining, creating a meticulously documented work that spans sound, design, and philosophical approach.
Death Doula — Magic Between Heavy and Light
Mysticism meets muscular rhythms on Death Doula's mesmerizing debut 'Love Spells,' where romance and social commentary intertwine with supernatural force.
Needle Drops
A Glaswegian songwriter bids farewell through sound, ambient artists welcome autumn's embrace, and the Greyboy Allstars dig into their vault in this week's selection of essential new releases.
Every Sound Has a Season — Anders Koppel at the Keys
Through progressive rock (with '69 Newport veterans The Savage Rose), jazz, and classical composition, the Danish musician has built a musical legacy that spans generations. Now in his seventies, he's still discovering new sounds on his beloved Hammond B-3.
Needle Drops
A weekly exploration of essential new music, featuring immigrant stories, ECM piano meditations, and a thirteen-minute psych-rock opus from the heartland.
How Christian McBride Keeps the Jazz Engine Running
From his early days with Ray Brown to leading Newport Jazz Festival, the master bassist reflects on jazz education, the power of mentorship, and why being uncomfortable might be the best way to learn.
Needle Drops
The Tonearm's editors recommend under-the-radar new releases to zoom out of your speakers. Today's most intriguing albums reveal the global scope of contemporary music, from mountain-inspired ambient works to revolutionary jazz interpretations.
How Outlaw Artists Led Erik Davis to America's Hidden History
A masterful investigation of blotter art weaves together tales of DEA agents, underground artists, and Grateful Dead shows. Davis's 'Blotter' examines how a simple delivery method evolved into a democratic art form that continues to elude mainstream acceptance.
Imagination is the Instrument — A Conversation with Josh Johnson
The acclaimed saxophonist discusses genre fluidity, Wayne Shorter's wisdom, and why limitations can unlock creativity on his adventurous new album 'Unusual Object.'