There is a specific kind of caffeine-jitter energy driving the new collaboration from Doctor Noize, titled "Diversity". It hits you immediately a bright, bouncing sequence of notes played with the frantic urgency of a silent film chase scene, yet anchored by a stride-style rhythm that feels surprisingly sturdy. It’s the musical equivalent of a golden retriever that has just realized you are holding a...

When you hear the name Stephen Thomas, you might right away think of Charleston, West Virginia, or maybe his own genre name, "Universal" As a label, it does not feel like a neat box. Instead, it feels like an open field where hip-hop and alternative pop music mix. His most recent song, "Breaking Hearts," sounds a lot like that. It utilises sounds from artists like...