Oliver Kemp
banner
deepcutswrites.substack.com
Oliver Kemp
@deepcutswrites.substack.com
Audience Editor @ TBIJ / creator of Deep Cuts
My 20 Best Records of 2025 👇

 youtu.be/jD5GYBiFgUo
December 8, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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...
October 14, 2025 at 3:23 PM
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...
September 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
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!

substack.com/@deepcutswri...
September 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Bark Psychosis is a music project I treasure, but its sophomore record is often unfairly overlooked. Read my latest deep cuts essential now 👇

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
September 23, 2025 at 4:10 PM
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?

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
In My Ears #12 – Cardiacs, Maruja & The Tuss
Plus: Massive Attack to leave Spotify. Will it change anything?
open.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 2:46 PM
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 ⬇️

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
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
open.substack.com
September 16, 2025 at 2:39 PM
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

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
In My Ears #11 – Big Thief, David Byrne & Stars of the Lid
Plus: The ongoing identity crisis of the Mercury Music Prize
open.substack.com
September 12, 2025 at 5:21 PM
New video 👇
Frank Zappa: 5 Albums to Get You into Rock’s Strangest Genius
YouTube video by deep cuts
youtu.be
September 9, 2025 at 2:58 PM
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 #10 – Blood Orange, Marissa Nadler & Autechre
Plus: The crippling anxiety of trying to bag Radiohead tickets
deepcutswrites.substack.com
September 5, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Some thoughts on Fantano’s lawsuit in this week’s listening diary ⚖️

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
In My Ears #9 – Deftones, Red House Painters & Wolf Alice
Plus: Why Anthony Fantano's lawsuit win is good for music criticism
open.substack.com
August 29, 2025 at 5:38 PM
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.

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
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.
open.substack.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:54 PM
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!

deepcutswrites.substack.com/p/reacting-t...
August 22, 2025 at 2:43 PM
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

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
Delia Derbyshire, a tape-looping pioneer
Introducing Modulators, a new series on the groundbreaking figures of electronic music
open.substack.com
August 19, 2025 at 3:23 PM
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...
In My Ears #8 – Ethel Cain, For Those I Love & Dirty Three
Plus: Show Me The Body? A bandstand? In the middle of London?
deepcutswrites.substack.com
August 15, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The second half of my ‘forever heavy’ series is live! Featuring all sorts of legendary bands like Bolt Thrower, YOB and Sleep 🎸

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
Riff worship: 30 records that keep me headbanging (part II)
The second half of my heavy music exploration, including Bolt Thrower and Godflesh.
open.substack.com
August 12, 2025 at 3:10 PM
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!)

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
In My Ears #7 – The Armed, Jenny Hval & Casiopea
Plus: Releases for your radar over the next few months
open.substack.com
August 8, 2025 at 4:09 PM
These are my forever heavy records - how do they stack up to your favourites?

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
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.
open.substack.com
August 5, 2025 at 2:46 PM
This week’s listening diary includes Mamaleek, Open Mike Eagle & Neptunian Maximalism - plus a bit of schadenfreude in the intro …

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
In My Ears #6 – Mamaleek, Open Mike Eagle & Neptunian Maximalism
Plus: a slither of schadenfreude
open.substack.com
August 1, 2025 at 4:44 PM
This week’s listening diary is up - words on Clipse, Coil and Alex G, plus some thoughts about the legendary Ozzy Osbourne

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
In My Ears #5 – Alex G, Coil & Clipse
Plus: the passing of a titan
open.substack.com
July 25, 2025 at 5:52 PM
The latest Substack piece is an interview with Qobuz streaming boss Dan Mackta - a refreshingly honest take on the streaming industry!

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
“If I hear AI music and I like it? Shoot me”
Discussing all things streaming with Qobuz boss, Dan Mactka
open.substack.com
July 23, 2025 at 4:03 PM
5 Albums to Get You Into DRONE
YouTube video by deep cuts
youtu.be
July 15, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Just published the second half of my ambient list - check out the article and playlist at the link!

open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
30 records that fuelled my ambient obsession (part II)
The second batch of albums that changed my thinking – from Éliane Radigue to Tim Hecker
open.substack.com
July 9, 2025 at 10:41 AM
This week’s listening diary post is up 🔗 open.substack.com/pub/deepcuts...
In My Ears #3 – Hesse Kassel, Alice Coltrane & Deftones
"Shove it shove it shove it"
open.substack.com
July 4, 2025 at 1:21 PM
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?

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
open.substack.com
July 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM