Ultan’s single, "The Tempest," erupts not so much into the room as it does through the floorboards, dragging with it the scent of wet wool and imminent confrontation. This Dublin solo musician, a cartographer of past agonies, presents an energetic rock piece that feels less like a song about history and more like a fragment of it, throbbing and urgent. The main riff careers...

Water Street's "Alone in a Crowded Place" – Have you ever felt like a sock in a washing machine, tumbled and spun with no real control? That’s kind of the vibe Water Street throws down in their new 8-track EP. This New Jersey indie outfit – Dave Paulson, Alex Kerssen, Brendon Gardner, Connor Konecik, Edward Woodcock, and Julia Aiello – are churning out a...