Introducing her song "Bleeder" at Hiro Ballroom on Saturday night, Emiliana Torrini talked about times "where everything just peels away and you just kind of stand there all mortal, and it gets very clear and very real."

Many of her songs are set at those moments. Although Ms. Torrini is from Iceland, her lyrics are in English, and they are confessions of longing and loneliness, elated infatuation or caffeinated uncertainty. "I laugh out loud, my life's a mess," she sang in "Heartstopper," which seesawed between brisk bravado and pensive intervals.

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Me And Armini
Jungle Drum