Originally part of an audiovisual project, Soaring Wayne Phoenix Story the Earth and Sky by Wayne Phoenix retains an intense component of sonic imagery that’s instantly recognizable. As the first few tracks suggest with their trance-like ramblings about the challenges of daily life, Phoenix designed this record to put us in a meditative state that enables a deeper form of communication.

Spashy indie rock–you know, the type with massive, earwormy riffs and airy, harmonized choruses–often tackles dark personal themes through lyrics, but rarely will a band cross the line into introducing musical darkness as well.

It is extremely satisfying when a project so deftly aligns its musical expression and its thesis in the way Freedom Doll does.

Exploring suffering from every angle, This Body Is A Burden is a cathartic expression that showcases just how far one’s meatsuit can be pushed before it finally gives out in the end.

With a strong debut that proves the genre’s continued relevance, Bugslam enters the scene with their EP This is All There Is. Harboring an undeniable moodiness, its emo attitude is what drives it forward, launching fuzzy math overtones from one idea to the next alongside aloof yet sensitive lyrics.

Featuring the combined talents of over 25 international musicians, and with British comedian James Acaster at the creative helm, this short EP leans even harder into the genre-defying bravado that made their first record so groundbreaking.

Coming closest to the Lil Yachty rebrand of rock-infused rap, GAIKA also skirts past the potential traps of pretension that Yachty was accused of, landing on a style that augments the rap verses rather than trying to overcome them.

For those questioning the point of making art in this oversaturated, hectic world, Luge brings one inspiring message: art is fun.

With its ebbs and flows, Time Lost / Time Regained follows the emotional contours of a cathartic crying session, always applying pressure but expressing extreme upwellings at a few intuitively well-timed moments.

Constant sonic pinches cast Mermaids in the golden hour lighting of an eternal ending, continually zooming out to provide a clearer picture of the conclusion of an adventure.

Singer-songwriter Prewn briefly pulls off the road of ambition and takes stock of their journey on their new record Through the Window, thumbing through a trucker’s atlas and struggling to find their destination or even their current location.

While most people usually respond with fear or disgust towards our invertebrate brethren, Euglossine takes a more whimsical approach, with an evocative sound that borders on onomatopoeia.

Every track reads like one of Aa & Tyr’s diary entries, naturally following the contours of the artist’s emotional storytelling, whether that appears as a traditional song format or not.

Their new record Solitude Absolute crafts a detailed diorama of the process of depression, from the absolute depths of nihilistic despair to some instances of self-aware euphoria that quickly melt back into the wet clay of discomfort.

Polish ambient artist Dawam listens intently to the grass growing up through the cracks, the groaning of rusted iron, the transient grumblings of dissatisfaction.

The band’s new record PLASTIC+GLUE+LOVE gives us a nine track salute to the creative liberty afforded by a steady, deafeningly heavy beat, showing us what goes through the minds of musicians in awe at their own propulsive power.

Wojtas pins her immaculate vocals up on a wall painted with the deep, dark hues of downtempo alternative electro pop, forming her impressive performances into stories with distinct individual narratives.

“The pessimism of EXTERNAL ACTOR is like a bitter medicine. But by painting a portrait of our post-accelerationist dystopia, CRUEL AND STUPID provides comfort in commiseration. That's why this album is one of my favorite releases of the week.”

Long-running darkwave and post punk artist Soft Riot deftly avoids a sense of superficial nostalgia with their newest release No. This project is packed with darkwave synth bangers for the goth club, presenting 80s industrial packaged for the present day in a way that feels authentic and enjoyable.

Croy and the Boys’ new album What Good’s the Medicine? serves up anticapitalist Texan americana inspired by classic country music and cowboy culture while incorporating introspective lyrics that demand answers for the ways life fails us.