David Bowie’s Blackstar

David Bowie’s Blackstar turns a decade old this week. What was it like to witness the creation of (and help shape) such a landmark release?

My interview with saxophonist and band leader Donny McCaslin 👇

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In My Ears #21 – more great records from 2025 They might have missed the AOTY cut, but they deserve recognition all the same

They didn’t make the AOTY list, but they’re still bangers.

For the final listening diary of the year, I reviewed Crippling Alcoholism, Swans, Bambara and more ⬇️

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AOTY 2025

My 20 Best Records of 2025 👇

 youtu.be/jD5GYBiFgUo

30 electronic records that rewired my brain

Just published the second half of my fave electronic records list - from OPN to Cluster, Skee Mask to Burial.

Read it for free at the link! open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...

30 electronic records that rewired my brain

From Underworld and Jlin, to Autechre and Coil, these are some of the electronic records that have rewired my brain ⚡️

Read the piece for free: open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...

Hot takes

Just posted a new hot takes reaction video over on Substack - including the excellent “venue tickets should be allocated by height’”.

As a man under 6ft, I respect it!

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The cover art of Codename: Dustsucker

Bark Psychosis is a music project I treasure, but its sophomore record is often unfairly overlooked. Read my latest deep cuts essential now 👇

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In My Ears #12 – Cardiacs, Maruja & The Tuss Plus: Massive Attack to leave Spotify. Will it change anything?

This week’s listening diary is up! Reviews of:
* Cardiac’s LSD
* Pain to Power by Maruja
* Rushup Edge, one of the best AFX projects
* Between the Buried and Me’s new one

Plus: Massive Attack leaves Spotify. Will it change anything?

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Surfing on Sine Waves: an Aphex Twin pilgrimage As the Polygon Window reissue nears, I travelled down to Cornwall to the place immortalised in the Surfing on Sine Waves cover art

As the Surfing on Sine Waves reissue nears, I headed to Cornwall on my own Aphex Twin / Polygon Window pilgrimage.

Read it at the link ⬇️

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In My Ears #11 – Big Thief, David Byrne & Stars of the Lid Plus: The ongoing identity crisis of the Mercury Music Prize

The Mercury Prize was set up as an alternative to the Brits - these days they share nominees.

Also this week, I review:
* David Byrne’s very odd new record
* the new Big Thief LP
* a new Stars of the Lid remaster
* Fleshwater’s latest
* a classic from Death

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Frank Zappa: 5 Albums to Get You into Rock’s Strangest Genius YouTube video by deep cuts

New video 👇

In My Ears #10 – Blood Orange, Marissa Nadler & Autechre Plus: The crippling anxiety of trying to bag Radiohead tickets

Latest listening diary is up! Thoughts on:

- New Blood Orange
- New Marissa Nadler
- Floyd's Wish You Were Here at 50
- The joy of Lunatic Harness
- Autechre's 90s protest EP

deepcutswrites.substack.com/p/in-my-ears...

In My Ears #9 – Deftones, Red House Painters & Wolf Alice Plus: Why Anthony Fantano's lawsuit win is good for music criticism

Some thoughts on Fantano’s lawsuit in this week’s listening diary ⚖️

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Singing for your all-time favourite band: Mike Vennart on joining Cardiacs Our conversation covered LSD – the mythic new Cardiacs record – and the 20th anniversary of Oceansize's Everyone Into Position.

Imagine being asked to join your favourite band? I interviewed the former Oceansize frontman and Biffy Clyro touring guitarist all about the mythic new Cardiacs record, LSD.

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I spent 20 minutes reacting to music hot takes from the deep cuts readers – I swear some of them are just trolling. "The snare on St. Anger is remarkable" smh

Watch a five minute preview at the link, or become a paid subscriber to watch the whole thing!

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Delia Derbyshire, a tape-looping pioneer Introducing Modulators, a new series on the groundbreaking figures of electronic music

Delia Derbyshire is a perfect place to start for Modulators, a brand new series spotlighting the great innovators of electronic music ⚡

If there’s a particular figure you’d like me to write about, be sure to comment below

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In My Ears #8 – Ethel Cain, For Those I Love & Dirty Three Plus: Show Me The Body? A bandstand? In the middle of London?

Watching Show Me The Body play a bandstand in the middle of a London park was likely the highlight of this week – also listened to some pretty damn good records (For Those I Love, Ethel Cain, and Dirty Three)

deepcutswrites.substack.com/p/in-my-ears...

Riff worship: 30 records that keep me headbanging (part II) The second half of my heavy music exploration, including Bolt Thrower and Godflesh.

The second half of my ‘forever heavy’ series is live! Featuring all sorts of legendary bands like Bolt Thrower, YOB and Sleep 🎸

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In My Ears #7 – The Armed, Jenny Hval & Casiopea Plus: Releases for your radar over the next few months

Lots of good records in this week’s listening diary, including one that got me through a pretty rubbish period more than a decade ago (it’s not Casiopea, though I can see how a slab of tasty jazz fusion could!)

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Forever heavy: 30 records that keep me headbanging (part I) Metal is a huge part of my life – these are the ones I keep coming back to over and over again.

These are my forever heavy records - how do they stack up to your favourites?

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In My Ears #6 – Mamaleek, Open Mike Eagle & Neptunian Maximalism Plus: a slither of schadenfreude

This week’s listening diary includes Mamaleek, Open Mike Eagle & Neptunian Maximalism - plus a bit of schadenfreude in the intro …

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In My Ears #5 – Alex G, Coil & Clipse Plus: the passing of a titan

This week’s listening diary is up - words on Clipse, Coil and Alex G, plus some thoughts about the legendary Ozzy Osbourne

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“If I hear AI music and I like it? Shoot me” Discussing all things streaming with Qobuz boss, Dan Mactka

The latest Substack piece is an interview with Qobuz streaming boss Dan Mackta - a refreshingly honest take on the streaming industry!

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5 Albums to Get You Into DRONE YouTube video by deep cuts

New video 📺

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30 records that fuelled my ambient obsession (part II) The second batch of albums that changed my thinking – from Éliane Radigue to Tim Hecker

Just published the second half of my ambient list - check out the article and playlist at the link!

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In My Ears #3 – Hesse Kassel, Alice Coltrane & Deftones "Shove it shove it shove it"

This week’s listening diary post is up 🔗 open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...

30 records that fuelled my ambient obsession (part I) Some of the absolute best the genre has to offer – and why I love them

Ambient music has played a huge part in my obsession with music – so I thought I’d delve into the records that got me there!

Which ambient records are your favourite, or mean something to you?

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Glastonbury thrives as the grassroots music scene dies As festival goers head to Worthy Farm this week, independent live music has never been more at risk

As festival goers head to Worthy Farm for Glastonbury, independent live music scenes are collapsing. I spoke to people across the industry to get their take - and whether anything can be done

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In My Ears #1 The first in a weekly series – requested by the deep cuts paid subscribers

Latest edition to the substack is live - a weekly listening diary full of new music, old stuff and oddities I’ve found. New editions every Friday!

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Down the spiral with author Adam Steiner On the Nine Inch Nails legacy and the best Reznor/Ross soundtracks

Check out this week's Substack newsletter – a sit-down chat with Nine Inch Nails scholar Adam Steiner

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