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 Canadian-born, Ireland-based artist Ndidi O pulls us by the collar into a staggering emotional space on her new album, "It’s About Time". You might recognize her commanding vocals drifting through high-stakes television moments on Netflix or HBO Max, but here, she strips away the glossy screen to sit right beside you. This is her most intensely personal and politically fierce work to date...