Maverick Smith’s “We Make Fire, They Make Smoke” lands not with a thud, but with the distinct, satisfying crackle of something catching alight. It’s a title that carries the grit of the Ohio Valley in its consonants, a resolute statement from a band – Paige Bosic on commanding vocals and rhythm guitar, Sean Boynes sculpting soundscapes on guitar, Jim Courtney’s intricate drumming, Charlie Kovach’s...

There is a precise sort of chaos within the architecture of Cries of Redemption and the new release "Abstract" that feels entirely purposeful, like a storm trapped inside a glass bottle. Ed Silva, the Savannah-based mastermind behind this project, isn’t merely writing songs; he seems to be conducting experiments on how much tension a melody can hold before it snaps. https://open.spotify.com/album/4jjLaAirbw3BMrPXXFvgSq?si=m44bJJwWROeEHVSVJqoZoQ Listening to tracks like "The...