This year is a constant reminder that even in dark times, there are musical messages to hear. Bandcamp has extended their Fridays giving back commissions to artists, so it’s another chance to stock up on downloads and assemble a collection you’ll listen to on repeat.

From Reason Studios comes a new physical modeling instrument, Friktion, focused on bowed and plucked strings. The twist: it lets you push the envelope sonically, but never loses its cool.

When words fail, perhaps there is music. Morphine Records dropped its compilation The Sacred Rage last night, a profoundly personal LP. And even with a storm of crises the world over, these projects find receptive music lovers. On this moment, and the music it is assembling:

Tehran-born, Vienna-based artist Rojin Sharafi plays electroacoustic music that’s kinetic, complex, and grippingly powerful. But just watch.

Channeling pain and ecstasy, from dance and avant-garde and genres newly brewed, Abadir to Cinthie to Lamin Fofana to patten to Pole, summer brings more spectacular ways to fill your hard drives and souls with music.

The fine plug-in-smith of Valhalla gives us another free plug-in. And this time, it’s a gorgeous flanger / doubling effect, perfect for thickening up your tracks.

Discover the wonders of the QUAD ALGORITHMIC RHYTHM module from Frozen Wasteland. We’ll learn how to compose rhythms, trigger them live, and more – all with free modules and VCV Rack.

Those gnarly Dreadbox analog oscillators and filters keep popping up in new places. This time, it’s a collaboration with Sinevibes – and it makes for a compact, jam-friendly, portable synth for 349 EUR.

This is not a museum. This is not a time to wax poetic about FBK’s stellar 25-year career. Because FBK has things to say with a steady parade of new releases, now. So if you don’t know Kevin yet – now is a great time to discover him.

Apple’s desire to tax and control its app ecosystem is earning outcry from developers, government, and outside observers. It’s a stand-off musicians and creators should watch closely.