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...

The latest single by SMILEZ, an American rapper, "Someday" has the perfect amount of energy and vibe to make you feel connected to it. This is the first tune off of his next album, "Ur In My World," which will consist of 15 songs all of the same high quality. The words of this song are well-written. They leave an impression on you and stir your...