Playlist 09.15: Ai Weiwei, data design, desktop DJs

This article was first published in the October 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online

We round up the top cultural picks of September 2015, including Ai Weiwei, vlogging the apocalypse, desktop DJing, data by design and more.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

Renowned German aerial photographer Bernhard Edmaier's shots are like geological studies. After last year's stunning Earth, Edmaier turn his lens to H<sub>2</sub>0 with Water, from Venetian bays to glaciers. Refreshing.

BATTLING BACK

Four years after the superb Gloss Drop, Battles are back with a new album La Di Da Di, featuring edible-looking artwork and a web-themed tracklist ("Dot Com"; "Dot Net" -- but no "Dot IO"?). Expect the unexpected. Out September 18 bttls.com

THE PHANTOM MENACE

The latest in the stealth franchise, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, has Big Boss back in Afghanistan. All new: a real-time day-night cycle and full-motion capture, including Kiefer Sutherland. Out September 1https://www.konami.com/games/jp/ja/

DATA BY DESIGN

Paranoid about giving info away when you Google, tweet or swipe? private i by Signal + Noise -- part of The London Design Festival -- asks who really owns our data. You won't like the answer. From September 25

VLOGGING THE APOCALYPSE

Sky's new end-of-the-world drama You, Me & The Apocalypse is set in a world doomed by a meteor. Produced by YouTube film-makers Bigballs Films, it features a variety of cameos from social-media stars. On Sky One this month

CHINA'S MOST WANTED

In Ai Weiwei's first full exhibition in the UK, the Chinese dissident takes on Beijing's snooping and poor free-speech record. Among the exhibits: marble cameras, Ming-style -- the weight of surveillance. From September 19

DESKTOP DJ

Ever wished that your computer was more like a DJ set-up? Like LEGO bricks, Palette's dials, toggles and sliders can be combined and their functions customised to your needs. Ideal for Photoshop pros.

This article was originally published by WIRED UK