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...

Consequential, hailing from Bury St. Edmunds, England, those folks decided to put out some electricity- they’re calling this electricity, “Down”. A single. Pure instrumental. You know, sometimes I think instrumental tracks are like staring at a Rorschach test made of sound. What do you see? Or, rather, feel? https://open.spotify.com/track/7pGKTKxCQfbhm7SGSrmpAr?si=8ee8c6cea2164b2d Because "Down," is all about feeling. This isn't background music for folding laundry. No, This is music...