Lyia Meta's latest album, "Always You," confidently pays homage to the literary prowess of Denise Dimin while simultaneously infusing it with her own personal experiences and emotions, creating a powerful and original musical expression. Lyia is more than simply a vocalist; she was born in the middle of Los Angeles but spent much of her life honing her skill in Malaysia. She is a multi-talented...

Seishin Takeno's "Echoes," a sonic postcard from Kanagawa. Nine instrumental pieces, I've been told. Not nine songs, mind you – more like nine shaded windows into a particular kind of quiet. This isn't music that yells; it leans in, like a friend confiding a secret you half-hear on a summer porch. Immediately, you're not so much listening as remembering. Or maybe anticipating. It feels...