Inside this issue:

Lyric & Robert Hood: The first family of techno reflect on salvation through dance music and the emancipatory power of technology. By DeForrest Brown, Jr

Susan Alcorn: With pedal steel undergoing a resurgence outside of its natural habitat in country music, the US player prepares to release her first album as bandleader. By Peter Margasak

Raed Yassin: The Beirut and Berlin polymath unveils a new big band project channelling Egyptian pop, political soundbites and a global cast of improvisors. By Clive Bell

Voivod: For almost 40 years the Quebec outfit have forged a singular path through thrash metal, hardcore, post-punk and beyond, with recent work ranking among their most adventurous. By Joseph Stannard

Invisible Jukebox: O YAMA O: London based duo Rie Nakajima and Keiko Yamamoto pit their wits against The Wire’s mystery record selection

Lamin Fofana: Radical Black ambience. By Kashif Sharma-Patel

The Carbonators: Bouncy punk-funk for lockdown times. By Abi Bliss

David First: Heavyweight drone from the former Notekiller. By Clive Bell

Unlimited Editions: Aguirre Records

Unofficial Channels: nothingelseon

Global Ear: Our regular column continues to report on music in the time of pandemic. This month: the return of opera in New Zealand; survival through streaming in São Paulo

The Inner Sleeve: Victor Herrero on Kazuo Ohno’s Admiring La Argentina

Epiphanies: Michaelangelo Matos joins the gated community

The Boomerang: Dave Brubeck, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Dropdead, The Gun Club, Takashi Inagaki, MIYUMI Project, Charlie Morrow, Michael Rother, Horace Tapscott & Michael Session, Trees, Unique 3

and a lot more!