Monthly Archives: January, 2021

The fastest pop songs arrive like a notification. Ben Lester’s self-titled debut does something more interesting: it lets the listener wait for the message to finish forming. Across 13 tracks for Mayfield Records, the London singer, songwriter, performer and producer turns patience into part of the pleasure. The result is indie pop with an arranger’s discipline, a record built for people who like a chorus but...

Atlanta-born indie rock outfit Last Relapse broke a 13-year hiatus last year to share their devastatingly patient single, “In My Place.” Reunited and unhurried, the band proves that letting a track simply breathe is sometimes the boldest creative move. By skipping the click track entirely, they capture a delightfully human, swaying waltz pulse that pulls you in long before you realize you are drowning...