Arn-Identified Flying Objects Alien Friend caught me entirely off guard with his single, "John in Roses' Deep". Since setting off on his own in 2020, the Swedish solo artist and former REDMOON singer and guitarist has frequently stirred acoustic Americana and electric power pop together. Here, though, he unearths a pitch-black, traditional murder ballad. https://open.spotify.com/track/0t1vuoXfweiH62utynIwEt?si=aIBBxd2ESI-DrcivYHMIrg The track revolves around a rhythmic, stubbornly cyclical melody that sets...

Monrad's latest EP "Not by Design" dives into the complexities of middle age with unflinching honesty and gritty musical prowess. "Not By Design" is Monrad's newest album. He is a great Belgian singer-songwriter who lives in Kortrijk. The emotional and mental problems of middle age are at the heart of "Not By Design," a six-track album that looks at life's big questions. Each song on this album...