Music preview: albums to look out for in 2016

Everybody who’s anybody seems to have a new album lined up for the new year. And there are a few superstar maybes too

Bitch Falcon’s ultimate International Women’s Day playlist

In celebrations of Women’s Day, we asked Dublin band Bitch Falcon to compile their ultimate playlist of female songmakers

Mourn: Mourn | Album Review

Eurosonic boom: getting down low with the sound of things to come

Het is alleen rock’n’roll . . . but we like it. If it’s January, all roads lead to Groningen for the annual Eurosonic live music event. Here are 10 essential takeaways from this year’s event

Beyoncé, David Bowie, U2 and D’Angelo all did it – so who’s next?

Will Frank Ocean and Kendrick Lamar follow in D’Angelo’s foosteps? Don’t bet the PR budget on it

Rebecca Collins: Solar

Nick Cave: ‘As long as I can remember I’ve had a pre-disposition toward violent thought’

On the eve of the release of the documentary ‘20,000 Days on Earth’, Nick Cave talks life, music and his Aussie sense of humour

Esben and the Witch: A New Nature

Mirel Wagner: When the Cellar Children See the Light of Day

Booking the Cooks: The Mighty Stef’s Loobio Pollo

The band’s chief troubadour Stefan Murphy learned this Persian dish from his Iranian wife, Leyla

Defiant Assange defends ‘desire to know’ the truth

WikiLeaks founder unapologetic about role in helping to disclose government secrets

Assange to deliver traditional faith spot on BBC radio show

Wikileaks founder will be given the Thought For The Day slot BBC Radio 4 on Thursday

Steve Albini is back for another Shellac attack

What does a kick-ass record producer do in his time off? Well, if he’s Steve Albini, he plays in his own band – and every second is pure pleasure

It’s Christmas, and the wackaging medium is the musical message

Sad songs say (and pay) so much for marketing companies