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The Wire 499. Cover photography by Charlie Kwai

Issue 499

September 2025

Subscribers: read this issue online.

Subscribe to the magazine. Buy issue 499.

Inside our brand new issue:

Cabaret Voltaire: The surviving members of the Sheffield industrialists, Stephen Mallinder and Chris Watson, mark half a century of surveillance and subversion. By Abi Bliss

Cabaret Voltaire Remixed: Wire contributors sift through the debris of the Cabs’ 50 year career. By Dan Barrow, Antonio Poscic, Ken Hollings, Joe Muggs and Derek Walmsley

Earshot: The sonic investigations organisation employ audio skills to interrogate the nature of evidence. By Anton Spice

SANAM: Breaking down barriers with Beirut’s psychedelic ensemble. By Daniel Spicer

Chris Burn: The pianist, trumpeter, improvisor, composer, arranger and ensemble leader looks back on a life of (dis)organised sound. By Seymour Wright

Invisible Jukebox: DJ Haram: Will The Wire’s mystery record selection leave the Brooklyn based producer beside herself? Tested by Mosi Reeves

Ho99o9: Black punk/hiphop fusion. By John Morrison

Cerpintxt: Funerary rites for lost souls. By Daryl Worthington

Andy Boay: Melancholic pop wonder. By Ryan Meehan

Global Ear: Sonic Belligeranza in Bologna. By Jamila Squire & Seth Wheeler

Unlimited Editions: Tokyo improv label, shop and event space Ftarri. By Derek Walmsley

The Inner Sleeve: Aidan Baker on Isao Tomita’s Snowflakes Are Dancing

Against The Grain: Moreskinsound’s David Toop and Ania Psenitsnikova search for other definitions of music and dance

Epiphanies: Loré Lixenberg on Cathy Berberian

Soundcheck: Sergio Armaroli & David Toop; Blixa Bargeld & Nikko Weidemann; Bruch; John Butcher/Phil Durrant/Mark Wastell; John Butcher & John Edwards; Gonçalo F Cardoso; Clipse; Lucrecia Dalt; Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band; Ensemble Nist-Nah; Fever Ray; Flummox; Jacob Garchik; Heith; Isaiah Hull; Michael Hurley; Molly Joyce; K Of Arc; Kayo Dot; LINTD; Benedicte Maurseth; Merzbow; Motherfuckers JMB & Co; Alan Niblock/John Butcher/Mark Sanders; Nourished By Time; Eva Novoa; Linda May Han Oh; Aruán Ortiz; Object Collection; Paul Pèrrim; QLH; Sarost; Sewelson/Hirsh/Swell/Shipp/Parker; Shabason/Krgovich/Tenniscoats; Six Microphones; Slikback; Larry Stabbins/Keith Tippett/Louis Moholo-Moholo; Art Terry; François Tétaz; Tortoise; Walking Bombs; Christian Wallumrød; Why Patterns; John Andrew Wilhite; Saul Williams, Carlos Niño & Friends; Various Save The Waves: People For Public Media

The Boomerang: AMM with Sachiko M; Lars-Gunnar Bodin; Flower Travellin’ Band/50 Motorcycles & Others; Kassel Jaeger; Mercury Rev; Natural Information Society; Kristen Noguès & John Surman; Phew/Erika Kobayashi/Dieter Moebius; Weird Biscuit Teatime Starring Daevid Allen; Various Soul Jazz Records Presents Queen Dem

The Columns: Avant Rock by Antonio Poscic; Critical Beats by Yewande Adeniran; Dub & Reggae by Steve Barker; Electronics by Sam Davies; Global by Francis Gooding; Jazz & Improv by Andy Hamilton; Noise, Industrial & Beyond by Emily Pothast; Size Matters by Byron Coley

Print Run: Home Is Where The Heart Strives edited by Philip Rhensius, Ali Gul Pir, Hannes Liechti & Theresa Beyer; Independent As F***: Underground Hip-Hop From 1995–2005 by Ben Pedroche; The Lost Folk: From The Forgotten Past To The Emerging Future Of Folk by Lally MacBeth; The Symphony Concert In Nazi Germany by Neil Gregor; Dance Or Die: A History Of Hardcore by Holly Dicker; Anthony Braxton: 50+ Years Of Creative Music edited by Timo Hoyer & Kobe Van Cauwenberghe

On Screen: Hosam Abu Dan, Gaza Sound Man; Anıl Eraslan, Sound Dreams Of Istanbul

On Location: Gate Temple 10 Years, London, UK; Abasement #78, New York, US; Couch Slut + Death Goals, London, UK; A Warp Happening, London, UK; Dripping, Sparta, US; Subset Festival 2025, Athens, Greece; Gnawa & World Music Festival, Essaouira, Morocco; Moin + HONOUR + Voice Actor, London, UK; New Music Biennial 2025, Bradford, UK; Marek Pospieszalski Octet, London, UK; Seventh Stanine Festival, Washington DC, US; Be Ever Out: The Music Of Henry Threadgill, New York, US

On Site: Your Ears Later Will Know To Listen, Nottingham, UK; In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats, London, UK