Inside this issue:

Nicole Mitchell: Her latest album Mandorla Awakening II: Emerging Worlds may constitute a dire warning against humanicide, but for the flautist, composer, AACM member and Afrofuturist, hope springs eternal. By Daniel Spicer.

The Primer: Evan Parker: A user’s guide to one of the UK’s most accomplished and daring improvisors, whose catalogue takes in collaborations with Derek Bailey, Steve Lacy, Cecil Taylor and many more. By Seymour Wright.

Bites: Parris: The Bristol based soundman embraces the unexpected. By Joe Muggs

Eloïse Decazes: The Paris based vocalist shapes new songs from old materials. By Abi Bliss

Martin Bartlett: Luke Fowler’s new film celebrates an electronic outlier. By Geeta Dayal

Ectopia: Life’s a drag for the UK performance group. By Claire Sawers

Invisible Jukebox:
Shabazz Palaces: Seattle’s sci-fi hiphop duo trip back in time with The Wire’s mystery record selection. Tested by Dave Segal

The Inner Sleeve: awe IX on the Necromunda game

Epiphanies: UK TV’s Tiswas substitution forces an existential awakening for Paul Rooney

On Screen: New films and DVDs: Carlos Casas's Sanctuary and Noah Payne-Frank's Nothing Here Is Perfect

On Site: Recent exhibitions and performances: Mark Mothersbaugh, New York, US

Print Run: New music books: David Rodigan's life, Charles Ives's sonata, Billy Bragg on skiffle, and more

On Location: Recent festivals, gigs and clubs: Blacken Festival, Arca & Jesse Kanda, Midori Takada, Phew, and more

Soundcheck: Yazz Ahmed, Algiers, Sarah Angliss, Félicia Atkinson, Andrea Belfi. Best Available Technology, Binker & Moses, Blue Lines Sextet, Julian Bradley & Neil Campbell, Jaimie Branch, Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber, Neil Campbell, Kate Carr, Circle, Steve Coleman’s Natal Eclipse, Collocutor, Richard Dawson, Der Plan, Ekoplekz, Fhloston Paradigm, Fis & Rob Thorne, Gravetemple, Larkin Grimm, Karen Gwyer, Nick Hakim, Laurel Halo, The Heliocentrics, Arve Henriksen, Here In Now, Robert Hood, Ikonika, The Inward Circles, Jason Kahn, Jason Kahn & Alice Hui-Sheng Chang, Ka5sh, Lisa Knapp, Knife Liibrary, Nidia Minaj, Roscoe Mitchell, Moniquea, Jessica Moss, MXLX, Bill Nace/Chris Corsano/Paul Flaherty, Jan Nijdam Kwartet, Nite Jewel, Alison O’Donnell, Daniel O’Sullivan, Porter Ricks, Royal Trux, SassyBlack, Signor Benedick The Moor, Cory Smythe, TALsounds, Tanzania Albinism Collective, Träd, Gräs Och Stenar, Umfang, The Unthanks, Various Firma Do Txiga, Various Ltd Ascetic House 4GB USB Flash Drive, Various Monika Werkstatt, Various Xquisite Nihil: Seize The Means Of Production

The Boomerang: Charles Amirkhanian, Angelo Badalamenti, Peter Brötzmann/Fred van Hove/Han Bennink & Albert Mangelsdorff, Can, Tony Conrad, Disco Inferno, JD Emmanuel, Dominique Lawalrée, Look Blue Go Purple, Andy Partridge, Various Boombox 2: Early Independent Hip Hop, Electro & Disco Rap 1979–1983, Various King Jammys Dancehall 1–5, Various Scotty Hard: The Science Of Sesh – From Iceland To Africa