Listening to Nom De Plume’s new album, Circle the Dream, is like finding an old, intricate map for a place that doesn't exist on any globe. This is a record for the motionless traveler, the soul pacing the perimeter of its own skull. Aris Karabelas and Michael Magee have crafted a landscape not of highways and canyons, but of the vast, contradictory terrain behind...

Imagine being strangers to the best of friends. It is a depressing scenario, and in his most recent song, "Strangers," Fate Under Fire speaks about it. With a powerful felt piano and half-time drumming, the American vocalist takes an increasingly acoustic approach. These elements can add a new and exciting aspect to a song, making it feel more natural and emotive. Concerning electronic or overly manufactured...