Rewind 2006
The Wire's review of the year's best music, including Top 50 Records Of The Year, writers' and musicians' reflections, and surveys of the state of sonic art in 2006

Matt Valentine & Erika Elder
From their base in Vermont, MV & EE have embarked on a woozy reassessment of American roots music with The Bummer Road and Medicine Show. By David Keenan

Invisible Jukebox: Faust
Jean-Hervé Peron and Zappi Diermaier pick up the vibrations in tracks by Henry Cow, Tony Conrad, Plastic People Of The Universe and more. Tested by David Stubbs

Gary Smith
The London improvisor unlocks the mysteries of the ‘stereo guitar', and talks about his work with Mass, The Acme Quartet, Bill Fay, Powerfield and more. By Julian Cowley

Carla Kihlstedt
The San Francisco violinist tells Clive Bell about Tin Hat group and her customised ‘trumpet-violin'

Peter Evans
The New York based trumpeter's solo debut injects microtonal dramas into horn Improv. By Philip Clark

Cross Platform: Strange Attractor
Crop circles, conspiracy theories and psychic deceptions – Ken Hollings enters the weird world of Strange Attractor

Global Ear
Steve Barker charts the Beijing underground's bewilderingly rapid developments

Epiphanies
A flawed history of Jewish punk prompts Alan Licht to check his roots

Print Run
New music books, including 2006's best music writing, a collection of John Szwed's essays and more

On Screen
New music DVDs and film, including The Pixies and a compendium of British avant garde film

On Site
Installations and gallery events, including Music Is A Better Noise in New York

On Location
Concert and festival reviews, including the London Jazz Festival, Avanto 2006 in Helsinki and more