Fiona Amaka’s new single, “Cowards and Shadows,” doesn’t kick down the door; it slips the lock and vanishes into the night, leaving the chain on. There’s a particular London cool to this departure, a swagger in its disappearing act. The track's lauded Bowie-esque posture is immediately apparent, thanks in no small part to Andy Zanini's sharp, stalking guitar work. It’s less a gentle fade...

Because of the profound impact that the music has, it is clear that it was created with a significant amount of emotional attachment by the artist. This becomes more apparent with each passing second. Because Karen Denieffe (O'Neill)'s vocals are so genuine and unadulterated, Paul Hickey made the best decision possible when he recruited her to work on this song. The new song "Lay Down" creates...