Joe Rian has made a single for the moment the work shirt comes off and the car stereo goes up. “Think Yer In Luv,” is presented as an up-tempo, rock-and-roll-leaning blues track and the first release from his 2 October album of the same name. It is the promise of motion, companionship and a little room to breathe after a long week. Rian made the accompanying...

The fastest pop songs arrive like a notification. Ben Lester’s self-titled debut does something more interesting: it lets the listener wait for the message to finish forming. Across 13 tracks for Mayfield Records, the London singer, songwriter, performer and producer turns patience into part of the pleasure. The result is indie pop with an arranger’s discipline, a record built for people who like a chorus but...