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Special bumper double issue. On the cover: Releases of the Year: We asked our contributors to vote for their top ten records, CDs, streams and more, then added up the votes; Critics’ Reflections: Our writers discuss their memorable cultural experiences of the year; Columnists’ Charts: Our specialist critics delve deep into their musical niches from noise to modern composition; Archive Releases of the Year: We asked our contributors to vote for their top ten archive records, CDs, streams and more, then added up the votes. Plus: Engineered Phantoms: AI for the masses. By Abi Bliss; Back to the Land: Strange as folk. By Louis Pattison; Rival Camps: Crossing the streams. By Britt Brown; Weapons of Mass Distraction: Artists and Gaza. By GAIKA. Also inside this issue: Invisible Jukebox: Linton Kwesi Johnson: The veteran reggae poet faces down The Wire’s mystery record selection. Tested by Gabriel Bristow; Laetitia Sadier: The Stereolab founder promotes community and healing with her new solo work. By Claire Biddles; Fred Frith: The Henry Cow co-founder returns to his groundbreaking 1974 album Guitar Solos with a reissue and a new album. By Clive Bell. Plus: Unlimited Editions: Bead Records; Unofficial Channels: Lanner Chronicle; Phil Geraldi; HUUUM; Lisa Ullén; Thomas Ignatius; Global Ear: Chicago; The Inner Sleeve by Vince Clarke; Epiphanies by Mariam Rezaei; many pages of reviews and much more.