Near Death Experience's single, "Shake," arrived not so much as music, but as a sudden, urgent insistence. It’s London psych-rock-soul alright, but brewed with something fiercely immediate, demanding attention like a ringing telephone in an empty room. The core quartet – Ian Whiteling guiding the trip with vocals and guitar fuzz, Joshua Van Ness laying down a heartbeat that feels both frantic and locked-in,...

Today, Josh Hicks and "Eyes On You" come at a time when truthfulness in music seems to be getting harder to find. With this single, the Welsh singer-songwriter has made something truly moving, one that feels both close and wide. It is been three years since Hicks last worked with his long-time partner ShatterJack, and this change in tone is very interesting. Teaming up with rising producer...