The arrival of Dan Devlin’s EP, "SCREAM," feels less like a music release and more like discovering an exquisitely crafted, slightly alarming Fabergé egg on your doorstep – open it up, and a miniature, glittering opera of heartbreak and eventual, roaring triumph plays out. Devlin, who seems to juggle the roles of singer, songwriter, producer, and DJ with the aplomb of a seasoned circus...

Well, Ricky Leroy Brown has gone and done it, presenting us with "SEXUAL MANUAL FOR EXPERTS," and I confess, the title alone sent my mind skittering off like a startled cat at a séance. This solo Madrileño, who conjures entire soundscapes from his own hands and instruments, is clearly still communing with the spirit of Prince, all slinky guitars and a rhythm section that...