You’ve probably heard the theremin before, even if you haven’t heard of it. The instrument is responsible for that eerie, bewitching sound in 1950s space films. Almost as otherworldly as the music the theremin produces is the sight of its being played—the device has two antennas that form capacitors, each controlled by a hand’s movement relative to it. Clara Rockmore lucked into being the greatest thereminist of all time when, having fled Lithuania in the wake of the October Revolution, she developed tendinitis and could no longer play the violin. With a stoic moon face and unearthly grace, she appeared to conduct the instrument’s wah-like sounds out of thin air, exercising absolute pitch and total control. Her mastery was so complete, in fact, that the instrument’s inventor, Leon Theremin, proposed to her several times. (She ended up marrying a lawyer instead.) Rockmore didn’t release her first commercial album, The Art of the Theremin—produced by none other than Robert Moog, who essentially invented the synthesizer as we know it—until 1977, but she toured with Paul Robeson and gave regular concerts throughout the 30s and 40s. Listen to her performance of Antonín Dvorak’s 8 Humoresques and you’ll hear the sound of the universe after all our hopes, dreams, and loves have petered out. It’s more comforting than you might imagine. (spotify.com) —Nathan King

There’s no design rut that Henry Bourne’s new book cannot conquer. In Turn of the Century, the British photographer captures scenes of creative interiors from the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. “I have always tried to approach interiors photography as an exercise in making a portrait,” says Bourne, “an attempt to bring out something of the essence of those who inhabit these private worlds.” His subjects include everyone from architects John Pawson and Zaha Hadid to artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster. Bourne documents design influences over the last three decades while steadfastly reminding us just how far interior design can be pushed to reflect the individual. ($75, rizzolibookstore) —Jeanne Malle

The British are coming. Some of our favorites, in fact. Me&Em, the fashion house founded by former advertising executive Clare Hornby in 2009, has opened its first U.S. store, at 980 Madison Avenue, in New York. It’s all there—the sharp tailoring, easy dresses, barrel-leg denim, leather goods, and, later this year, the velvet separates we rely on all holiday season. So pop on by, and bring your spaniel, because it’s not only dog-friendly; the boutique is also carrying beds and bowls from London-based canine outfitters Mungo & Maud. The good news is traveling downtown, too—another Me&Em outpost will open in SoHo later this spring, and a Hamptons boutique is planned for the summer. (meandem.com) —Ashley Baker

Like George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones or Frank Herbert’s Dune, the contents of James Clavell’s 1975 epic novel, Shōgun, were ripe for a screen adaptation. A limited series based on the book came out in 1980, but FX’s new, expansive production takes full advantage of the sprawling source material (1,299 pages, to be exact). Set in a 17th-century feudal Japan, Shōgun begins when English sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) comes to shore in search of riches. He and his men are immediately apprehended by Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a daimyo who is already embroiled in a power struggle with his political enemies. Toranaga employs Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), an outcast from a samurai family, to work as a translator between the two men. The lord’s aim is to utilize Blackthorne’s intrepidness and Western sensibility to his political advantage, and the story takes off from there. Shōgun is visually astounding, and its acting is superb. Co-creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks have developed an enthralling show that shouldn’t be missed. (hulu.com) —Jack Sullivan

It’s a sneaker’s world, and we just live in it. But the quest for ones that wouldn’t look out of place at Le Rock can be maddening and elusive. Thank goodness for Zegna, which has recently released a new iteration of its comfortable Triple Stitch style. Known, and loved, for its lightweight footprint and flexible sole, the Secondskin version improves on perfection by using glove leather. (Can you say “supple”?) The only challenge is picking just one color: Will it be dark brown, dark beige, blue, black? The mind boggles, but the heart does not. Spring is approaching; just stock up already. ($1,390; zegna.com) —Ashley Baker

It’s generally best not to publicize office drama, but there’s a bit of a rift within Air Mail headquarters this week, and a correction is in order. Last week, in this very column, Deputy Editor Nathan King recommended Fisherman’s Friend mint pastilles. A fine breath mint, I’m sure, but there’s no way that it can compare with Santa Maria Novella’s offering. These lozenges are made of essential ingredients culled from various aromatic plants, but the truth is that none of that really matters. You see, these could have my breath smelling like a Florentine butcher’s, and I’d still buy them, because their real glory is in the packaging. Each mint is embossed with Santa Maria Novella’s monogram, and they arrive in an elegant tin decorated in a language I don’t quite understand. One of my goals in life is to eventually turn into an old Milanese grandfather (is there a male equivalent to a sciura?) with a standing Sunday reservation at Le Specialità. After the inevitable post-pizza cigarette, a mint is essential, and these are the only ones that will do. ($10, smnovella.com) —Michael Pescuma