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Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's Voice Offers A Sonic Refuge

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and his Party, performing live at the WOMAD festival in 1985. Andrew Catlin/Courtesy of Real World Records hide caption

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Andrew Catlin/Courtesy of Real World Records

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's Voice Offers A Sonic Refuge

July 18, 2019 • Right before he recorded a string of beloved albums for Peter Gabriel's label, the Pakistani vocal master of qawwali gave a milestone performance in 1985. It's now available for the first time.

Playlists

Hand-picked songs curated by the NPR Music staff

Moon Tunes: Songs To Celebrate Our Glowing Orb

In this playlist, musicians imagine what it might be like to take a step on that bright glowing ball in the sky. A. Dagli Orti/De Agostini via Getty Images hide caption

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A. Dagli Orti/De Agostini via Getty Images

Moon Tunes

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, a far-reaching playlist of off-the-beaten-orbit tracks for your space travels.

Alt.Latino Playlist: Cuban Funk, Mexican Blues, Brazilian Reggaeton

Cimafunk's Erik Iglesias Rodriguez continues his goal of world domination by way of funk and clave on this week's playlist. Hutton Supancic/Getty Images for SXSW hide caption

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Hutton Supancic/Getty Images for SXSW

Alt.Latino

Cimafunk sees the future of Cuban funk, Chilean vocalist Mon Laferte sings a "Chilango Blues" to her adoptive hometown of Mexico City and Anitta drops a verse on Ozuna's new track.

Chris Sharron

Discover a variety of vocalizations on this week's playlist, as Flamenco singer Esperanza Fernández spices up music by de Falla, a choir from Kiev goes mystic and composer Mason Bates adds choral touches to club-friendly beats.

Heavy Metal Anthems To Battle Heavy Times

Daniel Warren Johnson's Murder Falcon comic features an anthropomorphic, bionic falcon who kills demons from the underworld by the power of guitar shredding. Daniel Warren Johnson/Courtesy of Skybound Comics hide caption

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Daniel Warren Johnson/Courtesy of Skybound Comics

Heavy Metal Anthems To Battle Heavy Times

Dio-era Black Sabbath, Darkthrone and Power Trip feature on a playlist inspired by Murder Falcon, a metal comic that not only battles demons from the underworld but also demons within.

Angela Hsieh/NPR

Bob Boilen's Playlist

The creator of NPR Music's All Songs Considered and Tiny Desk Concerts adds new tunes by Wilco, Mountain Man's Molly Sarlé and a cut from Khruangbin's dub record.

Rosé Rising: 24 Songs For Your Summer Star Chart

You don't have to believe in astrology to believe in roséwave. Emily Bogle/NPR hide caption

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Emily Bogle/NPR

Rosé Rising

Our roséwave playlist highlights each astrological sign's best and worst attributes, whether you're as meticulous as fellow Virgo Beyonce or free-spirited as Bjork.

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Essential stories and videos from npr music

The Remix Race: Why It Pays To Release Songs More Than Once

The single art for the latest "Old Town Road" remix, which features Young Thug and Mason Ramsey alongside Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

The Remix Race: Why It Pays To Release Songs More Than Once

"Old Town Road" has been unstoppable since spring, but keep your eyes on the pop charts this week. A battle for No. 1 is coming, and there will be a story to tell no matter who wins.

'Rigoletto' In Vegas And The Pleasures Of The Metropolitan Opera

Vegas, Bambino! The Metropolitan Opera's 2019 production of Rigoletto. Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera hide caption

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Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

'Rigoletto' In Vegas And The Pleasures Of The Metropolitan Opera

A recent Pop Culture Happy Hour trip to New York took the team to see Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera. A jester in a rat pack? We saw it.

Brian Eno's 'Apollo' Makes The Music Of Our Spheres

The Apollo 11 mission celebrates 50 years this month. Brian Eno's score for 1983's For All Mankind documentary — released as Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks — has been reissued with brand new music. NASA/Corbis via Getty Images hide caption

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NASA/Corbis via Getty Images