The WIRE 497

July 2025

On the cover: Haruomi Hosono: The exotica explorer and YMO founder has found his voice in a late career renaissance. By James Hadfield. Plus: Japanese exotica: A user’s guide by David Toop; Bromp Treb: Film maker and musician Neil ‘Cloaca’ Young has learned from the possibility of failure. By Matt Krefting; Christer Bothén: The Swedish multi-instrumentalist and onetime Don Cherry associate has continued along his own path. By Clive Bell; Crystabel Efemena Riley; The close listening of free improvisation offers vital moments of human connection for the London percussionist. By Abi Bliss; Blackhaine: Stockport’s industrial hiphop head is making waves on the world stage with his choreography collaborations. By Hugh Morris; KASAI: Footwork folk. By Daryl Worthington; Use Knife: Rhythms of refuge. By Xenia Benivolski; Nina Garcia: Doppler-like effects. By Miloš Hroch; Invisible Jukebox: DJ Scotch Egg: Will the bassist and breakcore pioneer crack The Wire’s mystery record collection? Tested by Daniel Neofetou; Global Ear: Experimental music in the Bangladeshi capital thrives under the government’s radar. By Simon Coates; Unlimited Editions: Dusty Ballz plugs the Chinese diaspora into the global avant garde. By Daryl Worthington; The Inner Sleeve Djrum on Svarte Greiner’s Knive; Against The Grain: Underground music must urgently defend its trans and queer communities, urges Rosie Esther Solomon; Epiphanies: Joy Guidry finds true freedom in the life lessons of Sun Ra. Plus 40 pages of reviews including Mourning [A] BLKstar: Blooming collaboration. By Esi Eshun; Kevin Drumm: The multitude dude. By Raymond Cummings; Bennie Maupin: The lotus position. By Phil Freeman; Meredith Monk: Calling: Sublime to the ridiculous. By Daniel Glassman; Long Play Festival: Banging renditions. By Kurt Gottschalk; and much, much more.