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Cover: Mourning [A] BLKstar photographed by Da’Shaunae Marisa

Issue 439

September 2020

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Inside this issue:

Mourning [A] BLKstar: The prolific Cleveland, Ohio ensemble speak to the power of community with a continually evolving amalgam of soul, funk, blues and jazz. By Neil Kulkarni

Beverly Glenn-Copeland: The resurgent Philadelphia born singer-songwriter’s new age folk-pop promotes compassion and kindness in defiance of harsh reality. By Joshua Minsoo Kim

Lao Dan: The Chinese multi-instrumentalist blends formal training with strategies of unlearning to create stark and physically demanding works. By Josh Feola

Bunita Marcus: The post-minimalist composer and conductor quietly reclaims the spotlight. By Louise Gray

Invisible Jukebox: Marcia Bassett × Samara Lubelski: New York psych/folk/noise lifers experience both sides of The Wire’s mystery record selection

Unlimited Editions: Anòmia

Unofficial Channels: CHEWn!

Theresa Wong: The rulebreaking cellist gets sensitive. By Julian Cowley

No Home: London bedroom punk artfully bemoans the rat race. By Stephanie Phillips

Alan Braufman: Second wind for the New York saxophonist. By Philip Clark

Eve Maret: Electronic therapy, Eno homages and community soundcraft from the Nashville synthesist. By Emily Bick

Global Ear: Our regular column continues to report on music in the time of pandemic. This month: record shop survivalism in Leeds and clubbing compilations in Lisbon

The Inner Sleeve: East Man on Play For Today: Destiny

Epiphanies: A teacher’s mixtape reveals other aspects of Eric Dolphy to Harald Kisiedu

Soundcheck: Marisa Anderson & Jim White, Steven Ball, Mick Barr/Ocrilim, Daniel Blumberg, Bob Vylan, Bonjintan, Boris, Peter Brötzmann & Fred Lonberg-Holm, Loren Connors, Chick Corea, Anla Courtis & Daniel Menche, Crumpsall Riddle, Lucrecia Dalt, Rhodri Davies, Deafkids & Petbrick, Deap Lips, Deerhoof, Deerhoof & Wadada Leo Smith, Duma, Wendy Eisenberg, Eleh, Roger Eno & Brian Eno, Mahan Esfahani, Euphorials, Evicshen, The Flaming Lips, Full Blast, Gaika, Nubya Garcia, Gate, Gaudi, Howe Gelb, Carol Genetti & Claire Rousay, Gnod & Joao Pais Filipe, Malcolm Green, Charles Hayward, Hayward Versus Harmergeddon, Ted Hearne & Saul Williams, Ice Yacht, Igorrr, Inner City, Iron Wigs, Jyoti, Amirtha Kidambi & Lea Bertucci, KTL, Suzanne Langille & Neel Murgai, Christian Lillinger, lojii & Swarvy, London Contemporary Orchestra, Marlowe, Matmos, Mix Master Mike & Steve Jordan, Jason Molina, Hedvig Mollestad, Michael Morley, Napalm Death, Obnox, Pauline Oliveros & Alan Courtis, Aki Onda, Renegade Connection, Claire Rousay, San Agustin, Philip Sanderson, Senyawa & Stephen O’Malley, Archie Shepp/Raw Poetic/Damu, The Fudgemunk, Skyzoo, Sour Spirit, Sour Spirit/Sour Data, Sparkle Division, Still House Plants, Swarvy, Cadu Tenório, Thumbscrew, Charles Tolliver, Windy & Carl, Wool & The Pants, Yo La Tengo, Various Blue Note Re:imagined, Various Kaleidoscope: New Spirits Known & Unknown, Various Touch: Isolation

The Boomerang: The Awakening, Walter Bishop Jr, Biting Tongues, Doug Carn featuring Jean Carn, The Mark Harvey Group, Ike Yard, Milan Knížák, Lightning Head, Pale Cocoon, Philip Perkins, Phew, Gene Russell, The Stooges, Sylvester, Various Black Riot: Early Jungle, Rave & Hardcore

Print Run: Rockers by Ted Bafaloukos; Hawkwind: Days Of The Underground: Radical Escapism
In The Age Of Paranoia by Joe Banks; The Meaning Of Soul: Black Music And Resilience Since The 1960s by Emily J Lordi; Small Hours: The Long Night Of John Martyn by Graeme Thomson; An Incomplete History Of Long-Gone Illegal Punk Venues In Boston From 2000 To 2015 by Chris Strunk; Vital: The Complete Collection, 1987–1995 edited by Frans de Waard, Beefy’s Tune (Dean Blunt Edit) by Dhanveer Singh Brar

On Screen: The Otolith Group INFINITY Minus Infinity; Adesiji Awoyinka Elder’s Corner

On Location: Backxwash, Montreal, Canada/YouTube; Laura Ortman: Dust Dives Alive, issueprojectroom.org/Vimeo; SOPHIE: Heav3n Suspended, Twitch/YouTube; Open Mike Eagle, Pickathon Concert A Day Series/YouTube; Sara Serpa & André Matos: Recognition, Estremoz, Portugal/YouTube;The Quarantine Concerts: Vox Effusis Volume 2, Various locations/YouTube; OsCiLlaTioNs: Summer Solstice Improvised Music Festival, Various locations/YouTube/Twitch; Unpredictable Times, YouTube/Vimeo/unpredictable.info; Stephanie Cheng Smith/Liam Mooney/Sarah Hennies’s Everything Else, Various locations/Twitch

On Site: Graham Lambkin, New York, US/online; Charlotte Prodger, Bristol, UK/online