There is a specific kind of melodic stride in Lana Crow’s new release, “Orwellian Times,” that reminds me, quite vividly, of the way people walk when they’re late for a meeting they know is going to be an absolute disaster. It is brisk, purposeful, and rhythmically catchy, yet underpinned by a distinct, vibrating anxiety. This British singer-songwriter has crafted a track that feels less...

With their new single “Backbone,” Joseph Turner & The Dudes of Hazard carve out a gritty, swampy corner of dark Americana directly from the Dutch delta. Turner, operating as core songwriter alongside a rotating collective of collaborating friends, channels the kinetic friction of delta blues and stomp-and-holler rock to craft something deeply rooted and road-worn. https://open.spotify.com/track/7kOvoDCrUHtcHeQpZdYRvc?si=bbfa1f129d3840a2 The track locks into an insistent, cyclical groove that grabs...