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...

Some songs grab you by the collar, but "Not Country Enough For You" sneaks up on you. It starts quiet, almost hesitant, before wrapping around you like a heavy blanket. The immediate vibe is one of late-night introspection, the kind of feeling you get when you are driving alone with the windows down and nowhere to be. It is a track that demands your attention...