Magazine

Notes: The next electro exploration from the infamous DMX Krew comes in the form of 'Blue Bob', which scours the genre's less bangerific backwaters. The four tracks on this new EP her for Further Electronix centre on everything from the weezy, to the gaseous, to the strange. 'Ambient Fog' does what it says on the tin, working as one of Krew's most minimal cuts to date; its noir synth strings and piquey melodic motifs sound like the soundtrack to a space-age murder mystery, as we try to decipher who killed Zog with what; a laser-blaster? a lightsaber? a photon torpedo? 'Clean The Stylus' and are 'Blue Blob' further sci-fi pleasantries, with icy blue notes and propulsive FM basses gluing it all together.

Notes: The top cover story this issue: the Futuristic Sounds of the Yardbirds; writer Peter Stanfield explores their change of direction in 1965, their rivalry with The Who and lots more. Also featured: Detroit rock pioneers the Chosen Few, the band that spawned future members of SRC and the Stooges, the compelling story of UK '70s punk outsiders the Subway Sect as told by guitarist Rob Symmons; '70s power pop princes the Paley Brothers; Viennese proto-punk anarchists Novaks Kapelle; the sixties adventures of Matthew and Daniel Moore (the Moon, Colours, Matthew Moore Plus Four); and a fascinating study of the beat music industry behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. Plus: Moby Grape, the Ascots, Cyril Jordan on Little Richard, and our meticulous review sections, covering all the latest vinyl and CD reissues, and rock 'n' roll-related books. (152 pages)

Notes: 40 Years of Ugly Things

PJ Proby, William Penn & His Pals, Da Slyme, Lipsticks Killers Part 2 and more.

Notes: On the cover are the Petards, one of Germany's most creative and idiosyncratic bands of the late '60s and early '70s. Also, sunshine pop icon Sandy Salisbury, who talks about his '60s musical adventures with Curt Boettcher in the Ballroom and the Millennium. Mark Taylor talks about his adventures with seminal Australian punk rock 'n' roll animals the Psychosurgeons and the Lipstick Killers, and we reveal for the first time anywhere the remarkable saga of Charging Rhinoceros of Soul, Grande Ballroom regulars and soul brothers and sisters of the MC5 and the Stooges (Charging Rhino sax man Steve MacKay played on Funhouse). Also in this issue: Swedish '65 teenbeat pinups the Flippers, UK '70s DIY/punk renegade Auntie Pus, the Fifth Estate, the Inferno, Stourbridge Lion, an interview with Luis Rego of '60s French beat group Les Problemes, and the post-Jefferson Airplane exploits of bass player Bob Harvey. All this and more, including our acclaimed review sections, covering all the latest vinyl and CD reissues, and rock 'n' roll-related books. (144 pages)

Notes: This cover story focuses on NYC garage-pop wizards the Magicians ('An Invitation to Cry') and the fascinating twilight world of Greenwich Village in the mid-sixties.

Also: The remarkable story of Jefferson Airplane's first bass player Bob Harvey is revealed for the first time, along with the saga of '60s garage heroes the Chancellors (famous for the Back From the Grave fave 'On Tour'). Mark Cunningham of '70s New York no wave renegades Mars is interviewed, David Holzer explores Lou Reed's obsession with the white light mysticism of Alice Bailey, and the mystery of Phantom's Divine Comedy is unravelled (rumored at the time to be the recently deceased Jim Morrison in disguise).

Plus, Part 2 of the story of Detroit proto-punkers the Dogs, and much more, including our popular review sections, covering all the latest vinyl and CD reissues, and rock 'n' roll-related books.

Notes: MOOF issue no. 11

Cover artwork by Jeremy Deller

100+ pages of underground music, art & culture.

This issue features interviews with Pete Brown, Dana Gillespie, Gruff Rhys, Alex Merry and Benjamin Myers, as well as features about the lesser-known UK free festivals, Argentinian underground magazine Expreso Imaginario, Gwawr Records, The New Eves, Burd Ellen, Aphex Twin, album/live music reviews & much more...

Notes: Maggot Brain is a full-colour, quarterly magazine edited by noted Detroit scribe Mike McGonigal: 100+ pages packed with phenomenal content - art, music, literature, unpublished archival material, and more - with a simple promise to only exist on the printed page.

The cover feature is an epic, really long timeline of images and interview with the modern king of arts portrait photography, Michael Lavine.

Amazing archival images by Gail Butensky and reflections on Pavement + what we think is the band's first new interview in a decade in anticipation of their reusion shows and events later this year
Tom Scharpling talks about prog rock with Matt Berry
A lengthy interview with the SF-based dreamy pop band Cindy by editor Mike McGonigal
Reuben Radding's killer photos and review of a recent show in Brooklyn by Chicago's Irreversible Entanglements
Ana Gavrilovska on why sax player and drone composer Lea Bertucci matters
Sara Jaffe on how essayist Aisha Sabatini Sloan is a genius

Notes: Maggot Brain Issue 16: Spring 2024

This is a really packed, special issue of Maggot Brain, with the feature cover story a comprehensive interview by celebrated writer Sasha Frere-Jones with essayist, Lucy Sante (who's written for every issue of MB since the start), on the occasion of her awesome memoir about transitioning, I Heard Her Call My Name.

Phill Niblock: A tribute to the genius musician, filmmaker, label head, and generous promoter of ecstatic sound, by Steve Silverstein.

Tresa Leigh: An in-depth feature on the star of Efficient Space's beloved Ghost Riders compilation! Really a beautiful, untold story.

Dredd Foole: As his legacy is revealed through Corbett vs Dempsey's archival series, Foole talks to Six Organs of Admittance's Ben Chasny about the role of his band the Din in the Boston underground. Plus sidebars from Christina Carter, Kris Price, and Phil Milstein.

Loopsel: Mike McGonigal on some of the most elusive, beautiful contemporary music, straight out of Gothenburg.

Jeff Noon: An illuminating interview with the British speculative writer on his newest work as well as the 30th anniversary of the stunning Vurt.

Sleater-Kinney: 30 vital years of uncompromising music, by none other than Audrey Golden!

Hudson of Feature Inc.: A celebration of the most innovative gallerist of our lifetime on the occasion of the Soberscove Press book about his work and life.

Shabazz Palaces: The creator of vital, spiritual hip-hop beautifully interviewed by Detroit-based musician and writer Zachary Weedon.

Birtha: Nate Carson's in-depth feature on the pioneering, all-women boogie-choogle act.

Shonto Begay: One of Maggot Brai's favourite contemporary writers, JD O'Brien, in deep discussion with the great Native American painter-with particular emphasis on how his works engage with and are influenced by music. This piece alone is so well-written and illustrated it's worth buying the issue for.

Some columns: The debut of archivist Andy Zax's fabulous 'Extinctophonics' column! Cassette reviews, plus copious book and record reviews as well! Ana Gavrilovska on Detroit-based jazz duo Balance! Nate Carson on the Earth documentary, in the debut of the music documentary column! The latest Icons column finds Michelle Dove exploring the work of Chicago's beloved Douglas McCombs! 13 Questions for contemporary folk great Lael Neale by Mike McGonigal! And more Lucy Sante!

Notes: Maggot Brain Issue 14 is coming. The Fall 2023 issue is jam-packed!

Cover boy Harry Smith shines thanks to a cheeky, never-before published photo by Allen Ginsberg. We celebrate the life and work of the self-described "ethnopharmacologist" just in time for the release of John Szwed's illuminating biography and Smith's first one-person art exhibition, at the Whitney, with three killer, well-illustrated features (on his Anthology of American Folk Music, an interview by Marc Masters with Szwed, and a terrific dive into Smith's relationship with fellow visual artist and filmmaker Jordan Belson by Raymond Foye). Also in this issue: Andy Beta on the reissue of a forgotten Lou Reed record. Excerpts from two revelatory works- Andy Zax's Extinctophonics, and Christina Ward's Holy Food. Kathy Lindenmayer witnesses a show by Boygenius. An archival interview with fabric arts pioneer and Bauhaus OG, Anni Albers. An illustrated Advance Base tour diary by Owen Ashworth. Tamara Palmer considers the oddball career arc of Orbital. Andy Beta goes deep on Tetsu Inoue. Nate Lippens goes off on Rene Ricard and other obsessions. And Michelle Dove on Cat Power's sense of humour! Plus illustrations throughout by Marly Beyer; and columns by Lucy Sante, Mimi Lipson, Dwight Pavlovic, and editor Mike McGonigal; tributes to Sixto Rodriguez, Esp Summer, and Pee-Wee Herman; and the triumphant return of the Unstapled column, with reproductions of a contemporary basketball fanzine.

Notes: The cover feature celebrates the enduring, luminous genius of Dolly Parton, with a revealing conversation between Caryn Rose and Lynn Melnick on how her music quite literally saved Melnick's life.

ALSO IN THE ISSUE: OCTAVIA BUTLER - The very full transcript of editor Mike McGonigal's lengthy, in-depth talk with the sci-fi feminist visionary, from 1997. The entire transcript has never appeared in print.

ROLIN-POWERS - The great Michelle Dove on what makes these avant-folk lovebirds tick, and why you should care.

THE CLEAN + HAMISH KILGOUR - An epic, archival interview with the band from 15 years ago, plus a fresh look thanks to Michael Galinsky at why Hamish meant so much to so many.

FRED TOMASELLI - Many pages of his delightful reworkings of New York Times front pages, plus an insightful interview with one of our finest contemporary artists.

CRAZY DOBERMAN - Erick's Bradshaw delivers an epic, well-illustrated tour diary of a brief jaunt with these noise greats.

Plus also

Composer TAYONDAI BRAXTON by Katy Henricksen! - a meaty, beautiful feature on DR. PETE LARSON by Fred Thomas, worlds collide!
An amazing LUCY SANTE column!
Cassette tapes! - Reissue of the issue is the 'Saturn 2' comp of obscure Midwestern '90s shoegaze!
The Bay Area's deliriously good new band GALORE by Jessica Beard!
A beloved celebrity writes in to Mimi Lipson's advice column!
A lengthy excerpt from a great unpublished novel by DAVID GORDON!
Editor Mike McGonigal's tribute to Tom Verlaine!