Issue 1348

Take Notes
The 1975’s fourth record, Notes on a Conditional Form, has polarised critics, with some heralding the album as a work of genius and others saying it’s a mess. Frontman Matty Healy tells Jared Richards that in these strange times he’s just trying to be sincere.

Coming up for air
It’s no silver lining but the pandemic has at least led to an improvement in air quality. It’s up to us to keep the pressure on politicians to ensure the life-saving benefits are made permanent, says Tim Smedley.

Heaven and the mundane
Over eight novels and counting, Cloud Atlas author David Mitchell has created a multiverse within his ever-expanding ‘über novel’. As he releases his latest musically infused instalment, he tells Stuart Holmes his ambition is bigger than Westeros and at least on a par with Middle Earth.

Plus
News, arts and entertainment, columnist Roger Ratcliffe on road rage, Mica Paris’s letter to her younger self, crossword, Sudoku and more.