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...

Lisha Tahrea’s new single, “Momentum,” does something quite clever with its rhythm. It doesn't just play; it seems to breathe, pulling you into its warm, afro-fusion haze before you’ve even noticed your feet are stuck to the floor. The beat has that beautiful, cyclical quality of things that are both nourishing and dangerous, like a rip current or a second piece of cake. https://open.spotify.com/track/43PVyDFQf2CKwkAKe8RQZW?si=177b6b17f8f54347 This is...