With The Mortal Prophets and the release "Hide Inside The Moon", John Beckmann isn't just making a record; he seems to be curating a gallery exhibit for the ears, where the paintings are made of reverb and the sculptures are built from anxiety. It’s a curious, swirling thing a "gentle psychedelic weather system," to borrow a phrase, that hits you with the specific humidity...

Well, Ricky Leroy Brown has gone and done it, presenting us with "SEXUAL MANUAL FOR EXPERTS," and I confess, the title alone sent my mind skittering off like a startled cat at a séance. This solo Madrileño, who conjures entire soundscapes from his own hands and instruments, is clearly still communing with the spirit of Prince, all slinky guitars and a rhythm section that...