Shawn Brown’s EP, "Into the Furious Light," doesn’t slip quietly into the stream of modern indie-folk releases; it instead cups its hands around your soul like you’re a candle in danger of flickering out. The Portland troubadour crafts songs that feel like fragments of conversations—maybe ones you walked in on too late or letters unsent to someone dear but no longer near. You’re never...

CCT Beats has consistently demonstrated that he is talented and skilled. One can wonder how he finds such experienced musicians for each new track and idea. The high production standards and catchy atmosphere of the song are also present here. O'Hara's voice sounds like a soothing lullaby, and the song is well-composed. Despite the fact that the songs' stated purpose is to draw attention to problems...