By eliminating potential sources of distraction, he succeeded in his goal of making this song compelling and interesting. The new single "Cherry," featuring the seductive singing of French vocalist Kenri Louis, is the fruit of his labor. The audience is more likely to be transported into another world when listening to music that mixes sensuality and captivating vocals. That's the song's first redeeming feature. Deep understanding is...

I spent a solid hour this morning watching dust motes suspended in a single shaft of sunlight, my entire nervous system held absolutely captive by Magdi Aboul-Kheir and his devastatingly immersive new album, "Slow Heat". The Germany-based journalist and classically trained pianist usually writes across a massive spectrum of genres, pivoting wildly from trance to late romanticism. Today, he has dropped an ambient, contemporary...