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The best 100 albums of 2025
My favourite music of the year
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A day in Tokyo's record stores
Mar 1, 2025
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Will McCartney
192
32
16
The 50 best albums of 2024
Dec 6, 2024
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Will McCartney
57
6
8
The science of music taste: why we like what we like
Nov 13, 2024
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Will McCartney
34
4
How the CIA hijacked jazz
Apr 10, 2025
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Will McCartney
31
7
7
Essays
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Why music gives you goosebumps
Plus, take part in my crowd-sourced experiment into the phenomenon
Jan 20
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Will McCartney
26
7
9
Our NTS Radio show: West Midlands Sound Lore
An aural portrait of the juxtaposed British region that I call home
Sep 29, 2025
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Will McCartney
6
1
2
Do national anthems represent you?
Exploring what national anthems say, and what they leave out
Jul 8, 2025
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Will McCartney
5
1
2
Why pirate radio reflects our need for truth
How the history of outlaw broadcasters offers a blueprint for finding truth in a continually filtered world
Jun 13, 2025
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Will McCartney
24
9
8
How the CIA hijacked jazz
Inside the Cold War’s most unexpected covert operation — and the musicians who used the frontline to fight back
Apr 10, 2025
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Will McCartney
31
7
7
Leon Theremin: the man who made air sing
The story of the Soviet Spy who created the first electronic music instrument
Feb 6, 2025
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Will McCartney
16
1
6
Our NTS Radio show: a history of Irish Trad
An aural journey through the timeline of Irish trad, a music rooted in occasion.
Jan 6, 2025
•
Will McCartney
15
1
2
The science of music taste: why we like what we like
It builds bonds. It breaks them. It harbours harmony. It fosters feuds. Music taste is a bittersweet superpower. But what makes us love sounds…
Nov 13, 2024
•
Will McCartney
34
4
Interviews
The importance of DIY festivals and collectivism in music
An interview with Gut Level (Sheffield) and Cobalt Studios (Newcastle) ahead of Field Maneuvers festival
Aug 14, 2025
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Will McCartney
11
3
2
A conversation with Africa's leading ecomusicologist
From natural disaster survivor to global change-maker, meet Dr. Olusegun Stephen Titus, the man sat at the intersection of sound and the environment.
Jan 16, 2025
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Will McCartney
10
2
Auntie Flo interview: the meaning of it all
A rich conversation with the DJ, producer, label owner & sound therapist, discussing new music, the impact of time, the psychology of self-releasing…
Nov 25, 2024
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Will McCartney
5
1
4
The Arab World's first queer protest play
Lifting the lid on the nightmare of queer life in post-revolution Tunisia, in conversation with playwright Essia Jaubi, NGO Mawjoudin We Exist and…
Oct 4, 2024
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Will McCartney
4
3
3
The Latvian hero of revolutionary rave culture
A deep dive into Indulis Bilzens, the late Latvian visionary who smuggled dance music beyond the Iron Curtain.
Sep 18, 2024
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Will McCartney
11
3
3
Photographic scene reports
A weekend of music in Amsterdam
I spent a few days crate-digging, hi-fi chasing and bar-hopping in the Dutch capital
May 14, 2025
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Will McCartney
27
8
3
Japan's beating heart: my time in Osaka
Beneath the city's commercial reputation lies a colourful musical underground
Mar 13, 2025
•
Will McCartney
19
5
2
A day in Tokyo's record stores
I worked my way around the independent music shops of Japan's capital, in a bid to learn about its musical undercurrents
Mar 1, 2025
•
Will McCartney
192
32
16
Album recommendations
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Listens: February 2026
My favourite music of the month, described based on how it made me feel
Mar 2
•
Will McCartney
10
2
Listens: January 2026
My favourite music of the month, described based on how it made me feel
Jan 30
•
Will McCartney
10
1
The best 100 albums of 2025
Our favourite records of the year
Dec 2, 2025
•
Will McCartney
116
26
16
Listens: October 2025
My favourite music of the month, described based on how it made me feel
Oct 29, 2025
•
Will McCartney
6
1
Listens: September 2025
My favourite music of the month, described based on how it made me feel
Oct 2, 2025
•
Will McCartney
10
1
2
Listens: August 2025
My favourite music of the month, described based on how it made me feel
Aug 29, 2025
•
Will McCartney
8
2
Listens: July 2025
My favourite music of the month, described based on how it made me feel
Jul 25, 2025
•
Will McCartney
8
5
2
Listens: June 2025
My favourite music of the month, described based on how it made me feel
Jun 27, 2025
•
Will McCartney
6
1
Guest mixes
Broadcast 005: Das Druid
A mix & interview with the Meanjin band making Madchester music
Dec 15, 2025
•
Will McCartney
7
1
Broadcast 004: Marina Zispin
A cracking hour of euro disco, electro, leftfield and post-punk from the Geordie-Glaswegian duo
Jul 16, 2025
•
Will McCartney
3
1
Broadcast 003: Kimber
An hour of speed garage, 2-step and bassline from the Leeds-hailing DJ
Jun 18, 2025
•
Will McCartney
1
1
Broadcast 002: NYX
Our guest mix and interview series
Jun 4, 2025
•
Will McCartney
7
4
Broadcast 001: Ruf Dug
Our guest mix and interview series
May 21, 2025
•
Will McCartney
5
2
Playlists
10 songs about loving anything but people
Not everyone has someone to celebrate today, but everyone has something
Feb 14, 2025
•
Will McCartney
6
1
1
A cynical Christmas playlist
For those who are sick to death of Michael Bublé
Dec 12, 2024
•
Will McCartney
11
1
2
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