Playlists
Explore our specially-curated playlists, one of many tQ perks for Subscribers.
Monthly Playlists
A sonic bulletin of tQ's essential editorial
Baker’s Dozen Playlists
Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives
Baker's Dozen
The Build Up: Flora Yin-Wong’s Favourite Records
As the London experimentalist reveals a new EP and prepares for a DJ set at Semibreve, she takes Alastair Shuttleworth through some of the records which have shaped her life and career. Featuring Queens Of The Stone Age, Mya, and some ‘super trashy’ chart pop favourites.
Baker's Dozen
Foundational Texts: Martyn Ware’s Favourite Albums
The prolific Human League, Heaven 17 and British Electric Foundation co-founder Martyn Ware takes Siobhan Kane through 13 favourite records, from Northern Soul and glam to encounters with Tina Turner and the still-unreleased track he was sent by Prince
Baker's Dozen
Pieces of Heaven: Eartheater’s Favourite Albums
Eartheater’s new album is an ode to her baby daughter Nova. Here she shares 13 records with Finn Cliff Hodges that she is excited for Nova to hear, and some that she herself connected with as a child, via talking purple foods with Björk to saying prayers to Miles Davis, and why Alice Coltrane is good for digestion
Baker's Dozen
Different Lives: Jodie Harsh’s Favourite Albums
Ahead of the paperback reprint of her memoir You Had To Be There, the DJ, drag queen and author takes Alex Rigotti through her favourite albums, from growing up on Grace Jones to touring with Kylie, via formative experiences with Madonna and more
Anniversaries
Anniversary
Unbeatable: Drum’s Not Dead by Liars, 20 Years On
Two decades on from the release of Liars third album, Luke Turner argues that its percussive invention shouldn't obscure a rich, emotional core. For our top tier Subscriber Plus supporters, this Anniversary feature comes with a playlist by Liars of the music they were listening to when the album was made.
Anniversary
“It’s About Time We Brought Art In, Innit?” Talk Talk’s The Colour Of Spring at 40
Though eclipsed by what came in its wake, The Colour Of Spring, at the heart of Talk Talk’s catalogue, is no less astonishing. Forty years on, Wyndham Wallace commends the inaugural rebirth of Mark Hollis’ synthpop band. And for top tier subscribers there is a 'Quietus Essentials Playlist' guide to the music of Talk Talk
Anniversary
How men are? The Preposterously Testosterone-fuelled Taxi Driver turns 50
John Quin presents a hormonally loaded take on Martin Scorsese and Paul Schrader’s classic of male alienation. For top tier subscribers to this site, click below for a 'Quietus Essentials Playlist' guide to the cinematic music of Bernard Herrmann
A Quietus Interview Playlists
The perfect soundtrack to our artist discussions
A Quietus Interview
A Particular Beauty: Irmin Schmidt Interviewed
From a childhood obsessed with art to the electroacoustic, treated piano work of new album Requiem via Can's "school of pain", the German composer reflects on a life well lived. And for top tier tQ subscribers, an exclusive playlist on all streaming platforms of his finest solo work
A Quietus Interview
Plans That They Made: Hüsker Dü Interviewed
Stevie Chick talks to Bob Mould and Greg Norton about blazing a trail in hardcore, the uneasy switch from independent to major label and their complex relationship with Grant Hart, plus paving the way for Pixies and Nirvana. Cover portrait courtesy of Greg Norton
A Quietus Interview
Cut the Crop: Agriculture Interviewed
While black metal history is often the story of errant youth reaping chaos, Agriculture plough their own furrow. Dan Franklin meets a band who sow explosive seeds via songwriting and then reap joyous brinkmanship onstage. Main portrait by Olivia Crumm
A Quietus Interview
“Being Different isn’t Something to Take Lightly”: Jarvis Cocker Interviewed
Pulp are back with their first new album in nearly a quarter of a century; Jarvis Cocker joins us to talk about More, but also outsider art in America, an attic full of wonder in London and revolution versus violence in Sheffield. Words by Darran Anderson. All portraits by Tom Jackson
Strange World Of... Playlists
10 essential entry points to our spotlighted artists
Strange World Of...
The Strange World of… Music Made By and For Plants
On the 50th anniversary reissue of Mort Garson's Mother Earth’s Plantasia, a cult classic attempt to communicate with plants via Moog noodles, Joe Muggs selects 10 more examples of musicians plugging themselves into the green stuff
Strange World Of...
The Strange World Of… The Cramps
As Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye open up The Cramps’ vaults for a sonic overhaul and a consolidation of the band’s business affairs, Julian Marszalek takes a deep dive into their back catalogue to offer 10 points of entry for novices and converts alike. Portrait by David Godlis
Strange World Of...
The Strange World Of… Thinking Fellers Union Local 282
Sean Kitching speaks to Brian Hageman, Mark Davies and Hugh Swarts of TFUL282 about recording at Steve Albini’s house and setting John Cage’s voice to a glitchy dancefloor banger, while offering 10 points of entry to their unique back catalogue
Strange World Of...
The Strange World Of… Ladytron
With their eighth album Paradises out this week, Simon Price asks Ladytron founder Daniel Hunt to shed some light (and magic) upon ten entry points into the Scouse-based synth lords' (and ladies') pristine body of werk. And for top tier subscribers revelation is at hand via an essential playlist
Further Playlists
Additional aural delights you won't want to skip
Black Sky Thinking
The Suburbs Dream of Violence: J.G. Ballard’s Kingdom Come & England’s Slide towards Fascism
20 years ago this week, J.G. Ballard published his final novel, Kingdom Come. In 2026, it feels like he was prophesying the United Kingdom of today, a country in which racism has been institutionalised and the quiet bit is now being shouted out loud. Louis Pattison returns to the bleakest of Ballard's late-period works and asks whether it's too late to heed the book's warnings
Playlists
Guest Playlist: Saul Williams
With a return to Big Dada for his first full-length solo work in seven years, as well as a new book exploring how artists must respond to systemic violence and injustice, poet, musician, director and actor Saul Williams takes us through what's influencing him. The results are compiled into a playlist exclusively for tQ Subscriber Plus tier members
Playlists
Guest Playlist: Nick Granata
As Shovel Dance Collective singer and organist Nick Granata prepares for the launch of their excellent and eccentric solo debut, they take us through the diverse influences that inspired it (the results are compiled into a playlist exclusively for tQ Subscriber Plus tier members)
Albums of the Year so far
The Quietus Albums of the Year So Far 2026 (In Association with Norman Records)
Nearing the halfway mark of 2026 we polled tQ staff and columnists to compile this chart of our top 100 albums released so far this year. This chart was compiled by John Doran, and built by Patrick Clarke and Christian Eede
The Quietus International
North American Music: tQ in Chicago, by Levi Dayan
In our next dispatch from the American underground, Levi Dayan reports from Chicago, where the music scene benefits from a rare combination of broad scope and cross-scene collaboration, and rounds up five key recent releases. Plus, for tQ subscribers, a bonus playlist exploring all the acts featured and beyond
Low Culture Essay
Low Culture Essay: Mary Chiney on Stanley Okorie’s Nollywood Soundtracks
Stanley Okorie’s thousands of songs defined the Nollywood film industry, becoming “the vocalisation of the collective id” of a fast-changing Nigeria. Words and Subscriber Plus exclusive playlist by Mary Chiney
Most Popular
12
