At close range

The grand parade of lifeless packaging? Far from it, as this much-delayed blockbuster reissue of one of prog’s most fascinating and frustrating albums finally proves.

Suede Antidepressants BMG The Suede resurgence ...

IF PARADISE LOST guitarist Gregor Mackintosh gets his wish, music fans might be adding the gloom-driven sounds of his band’s Ascension LP to their Christmas playlists this year, perhaps alongside Yule

With their new album Bleeds refining leader Karly Hartzman’s raw, astute songs about Southern life, WEDNESDAY ’ s path to indie-Americana stardom looks clear. But this triumphant next chapter has been buffeted by behind-the-scenes dramas – not least the breakout solo success of guitarist MJ Lenderman. “There’s been a lot of shakeups this year,” hears Brian Howe

Every month we get inside the mind of one of the biggest names in music. This issue: Roy Harper . Since the mid-60s, the progressive folk singer-songwriter has enjoyed a successful solo career that’s also found him collaborating with everyone from Pink Floyd and Peter Gabriel to Kate Bush and Ian Anderson. But he’s never quite reached the commercial heights of his peers. As his Final Tour: Part Two fast approaches, he looks back over highlights from his career so far and teases a brand-new album.

Amarok prove they’re more than worthy of their ...