Listening to “Small Town Syndrome” by thinking silly is an exercise in delightful contradiction. Dylan Morrison’s project, shaped here by the production hand of collaborator Margot Taylor, builds a sleek, propulsive chassis of dark pop and minimal techno, only to house an engine of pure, grinding ache. It’s the sound of someone forcing a smile so wide their face hurts, a dance track for...

The Sydney-based band Sundryver blends nostalgia and modernity in a whirlwind of sound and sentiment, placing their unique signature on the indie rock scene. With a sound that combines the grunge-infused alternative of early Foo Fighters and the melodic rock of Arctic Monkeys with the aggressive intensity of Deftones, the young Sydney band Sundryver has taken flight, as if driven by the creative muses themselves. Their...