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...

The flawless arrangement, the production, and the writing are all top-notch, and Mardeee's song is a testament to his extraordinary abilities as a musician and songwriter. The new single "Away" features an appealing rhythm that hooks listeners and keeps them hooked, while his powerful voice shows that he sings the lyrics with passion and conviction. Mardeee's music is easily accessible because of his talent for creating...