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...

There's an intimacy to the new FREE/MAN release, "The Reconnection EP," that borders on a welcome invasion of personal space. It is the sonic equivalent of someone leaning in, not to share a secret, but to create the silence where your own might finally surface. Charlie Freeman hasn't built a grand cathedral of sound here; he's simply furnished a quiet room with stark, necessary...