Inspired by the ancient civilisations referenced in the spring/summer 2009 Collections, Dazed & Confused summons "Divine Power" and sets about channelling everything that is awe-inspiringly ancient and majestic RIGHT NOW in the worlds of fashion, art, music and film.

Model of the moment Lakshmi, creative director Nicola Formichetti and photographer Josh Olins joined forces to create this issue’s dramatic cover shoot, while fashion editor Katie Shillingford gained access to the inner circle of Stonehenge for her unprecedented shoot with photographer Mel Bles. Meanwhile, acclaimed photographer Ellen Von Unwerth makes for the town of Bedrock in her Flintstones-inspired shoot with stylist Joanna Schlenzka. 

Legendary outsider artist Joe Coleman invites Dazed into his Brooklyn chamber of horrors, revealing the latest in his series of paintings that explore the darkness at the heart of American history. PJ Harvey returns to her mermaid fashion mistakes with longtime collaborator John Parish, while man of the moment Jim Sturgess reveals what it’s like to research a film role about an IRA informer.

Elsewhere, Pete Fowler interviews legendary Japanese artist Keiichi Tanaami, maverick filmmaker Michael Winterbottom remembers bringing real sex to the mainstream, photographer Roni Horn selects an iconic image from her archive and The Black Marquee trip out on psychedelics. Finally, Dazed drops by and asks if much-hyped London trio Golden Silvers are really ready to pop. All this, plus Rose Byrne, The XX, MF Husain, Jeremy Deller, Asher Roth and Clint Mansell, not to mention some shaven-headed guitar-shredding 60s garage rockers called The Monks.