There is a peculiar friction to the digital textures of Skylarka and her new album, "Somnorine". It’s supposed to be chiptune-influenced synthwave, but listening to it feels less like browsing the internet and more like chewing on aluminum foil while watching Blade Runner on a CRT monitor that’s slowly degaussing. It’s a sensory contradiction bright, crystalline pop hooks wrestling with the deep, existential dread...

There’s a strange and lovely tension in "My Ears Are Attentive" from Glory Company, a sensation akin to watching a storm gather over a placid lake. Husband-and-wife duo Matthew and Pearl Nagy have built a vessel of spacious synths and contemplative pop, yet beneath the surface, there’s a current pulling you under with an undeniable, almost danceable, rhythm. It's an odd invitation to move...