As he prepares to release his upcoming album "Afrikan Boy," it's only natural that he dishes up some fresh calming, and engaging songs. He understands his role and executes it flawlessly. The 23-year-old Montreal singer/songwriter is offering a great 10-track album that combines Afrobeats with an unexpected injection of R&B, dancehall, and kompa, with the result likely to be a dynamic and fascinating blend that...

Micah Rose-Trespeuch’s new album, "Coughing Up Blood," feels less like a listening experience and more like witnessing an urgent, almost involuntary act of transmutation. Rose-Trespeuch (piano, vocals), with Julien Baraness masterfully texturing the soundscapes and Gaetan Allard providing the often-fractured, sometimes thunderous pulse on drums, has crafted something akin to a diary written in volatile ink. One moment, you're amidst Chopin-esque piano runs that...