The recent release of Naeli, a Paris-born artist, "En Passant" ("By the Way"), from the lively second album, is staying on the French music scene to surprise and enchant the listeners once again. This time, Naeli is not just known for her soulful lyrics but also for her mesmerizing stage performances. She again proved that she could grow and attract her audience. From her hit song...

Robin James Hurt’s “A Song, A Story Told” arrives with a sound you can almost run a thumb over, like worn corduroy. In an age of sterile, diamond-polished productions, this album is a defiantly handmade thing, tracked onto vintage cassette machines. The result is not a flaw, but an ingredient. A faint, persistent hiss breathes alongside the instruments, a ghost in the machine who...