The robots are coming! Cyberpopmen Kraftwerk are back with a new disc and a new UK tour. We sent Wire's talking typewriter Hopey Glass to ask the almost lifelike Ralf, do androids dream of electric bleeps? This article was originally published in The Wire 89, July 1991.

Musicians in their studios, including Madlib's vinyl-cluttered home, Laurie Spiegel's NYC loft, Pierre Henry in Paris, Vladislav Delay's modernist shrine and more, culled from the pages of The Wire.

Are Stereolab the perfect pop group? By combining a rigorous DIY aesthetic with a playful reverence for the arcane relics of musics past, they have managed to make a reality out of that most elusive of notions: experimental music that actually sells. This article was originally published in The Wire 149 (July 1996).

Harry Partch worked as a dish washer and labourer, lived as a hobo and wrote some of the greatest American music of the century. Since his death in 1975 his work has been forgotten and neglected. Now that's all about to change. Joel Lewis reports from New York. This article was originally published in The Wire 123 (May 1994).

A very English voice combines with wholly un-English sentiments in the idiosyncratic songs of Robert Wyatt, who is about to break a six year silence with a brilliant new album. This article was originally published in The Wire 163 (September 1997).

Marvin Gaye stormed the charts with adult music that was a seething mix of sexual tension and tortured spirituality. Karen Bennett swoons and simmers as she explores the legacy of the greatest loverman of them all. This article was originally published in The Wire 112 (June 1993).

Via their releases on Sheffield's Warp label, the Autechre duo of Sean Booth and Rob Brown are searching out new dimensions in electronic sound. Meanwhile, their Disengage radio show has become a community news bulletin for fellow digital denizens. Interview by Rob Young. This article originally appeared in The Wire 156 (February 1997).

The story of the first electronic instruments is as twisted and circuitous as their primitive, labyrinthine wiring. Mark Sinker goes in search of these often bizarre creations and their inventors, including the best known of all: Leon Theremin. This article originally appeared in The Wire 139 (September 1995).

Scott Walker, perhaps the most enigmatic singer of modern times, has returned with Tilt, his first recording since 1984. But is it a work of experimental genius or one man's towering folly? 

Conrad Schnitzler, German pioneer of "cold, hard, electronic sound", has refused to stay dormant in the 35 years since his collaborations with Tangerine Dream and Kluster, as well as his own legendary group, Eruption. He has spewed forth a phenomenal amount of sound and noise in every format, from player piano rolls to MP3s. By David Keenan. This article originally appeared in The Wire 267 (May 2006).

So you thought Royal Trux were a pair of strung-out rock 'n' roll junkies? Wise up. From their remote Virginia ranch, avant garage's First Couple are astutely playing the media and the stock market. Words: Louise Gray. This article originally appeared in The Wire 171 (May 1998).

Arthur Russell died in obscurity of AIDS in 1992. Yet this New York composer was a true visionary, traversing dub, disco and minimalism and anticipating the 90s obsession with musical hybrids. David Toop pays tribute. This article was originally published in The Wire 134 (April 1995).

Drawing on esoteric notions of alchemy and magick, the music of Coil maps a hidden world of altered perspectives and arcane practices. This article originally appeared in The Wire 134 (April 1995).

A long-distance duo with the saxophonist-composer who's still squaring the circles and running rings around the squares. This article originally appeared in The Wire 65 (July 1989).

Singer, composer, synth pioneer – Annette Peacock has been skating in her own skies for 20 years. Jonathan Coe reckons she's still the one. This interview originally appeared in The Wire 75 (May 1990).

One of the most inspiring and turbulent personalities in jazz, Charles Mingus – as player and composer – has exerted an enormous influence on the post-war era. In the first of a two-part survey of Mingus on record, Jack Cooke ah ums his way through the great bassman's early masterpieces on Candid, Atlantic and Impulse. This article was originally published in The Wire 75, May 1990.

In the 1960s, John Tchicai was one of the undersung heroes revolutionising black music. Now he's back with his own take on 90s world fusion. This article originally appeared in The Wire 142 (December 1995).

Brian Morton on the incredibly slow unfolding of Harold Budd. This article originally appeared in The Wire 48 (February 1988).

50 Records Of The Year

50 Records Of The Year

50 Records Of The Year

50 Records Of The Year

50 Records Of The Year

50 Records Of The Year

50 Records Of The Year plus specialist charts

50 Records Of The Year plus specialist charts

50 Records Of The Year plus specialist charts

50 Records Of The Year plus specialist charts

50 Records Of The Year plus specialist charts

50 Records Of The Year plus specialist charts

50 Records Of The Year plus specialist charts

50 records of the year as voted for by The Wire's writers. 

50 Records Of The Year plus specialist charts

The Wire's 50 records of the year from 2009, plus specialist charts

The top 50 records of the year plus specialist charts...