After winning our Artist of the Month Poll in October, Mon Khmer landed a residency at the LES indie-rock hotspot Piano and therefore headed into the studio to record their debut LP, set to drop in a few weeks. Led by the enigmatically-named Hammarsing, the band’s ambient-leaning sound is grounded in steady rhythms and solid song structuring influenced by the more electronically-oriented descendants of Bowie. The Deli caught up with Hammarsing to discuss the band’s creative’s process, where to catch the best live music in the city, and future of Mon Khmer’s rule. – Read Toney Palumbo’s interview with the band here.

The Madison Square Gardeners, a rock ‘n roll band with members from Canada, Ohio, and New York, released their EP this December,  and are planning to release four EPs a few months apart—each with its own hand drawn cover art, t-shirt package and video content. With a tinge of country soul, they describe their songwriting as both a collective and individual process.  As one MSGer may enter rehearsal with a song individually composed, it will be revised and arranged by the entire band as a group effort. “Usually the person who writes the song trusts the other members of the band to come up with parts, blah blah blah… – Read Gina Alioto’s interview with the band here.

The revolution brought by affordable computers powerful enough to allow home recording is generating a slew of indie electronic one or two man bands/remixers. Half of this slew is apparently based in the land comprised between the beaches of Montaulk and South Jersey – with a higher concentration in Brooklyn of course. Tanline is a two man project that rises from the pack for their tastefully textured tribal use of electronics and for their clinical melodies. The duo is scheduled to release a new EP called "Settings" in March and play Brooklyn Bowl with Acrylics on February 5.

Orange, linguists like to point out, is the most famous word in the English language that has no rhyme. It stands alone, in a class by itself, boldly declaring its independence and spirit of defiance. It’s entirely appropriate, then, that guitarist Jim Campilongo‘s ninth album bears that lone word–Orange–as its title. Considering his obvious Italian descent, Jim could have called this album "Fegato" – Italian for liver – which is the corresponding un-rhymeable word in the mediterranean language. "Orange" definitely sounds better, no doubt about that… but interestingly enough Italians say that you need to have a big "fegato" (liver) to do something bold, and being an original musician that plays instrumental music is definitely something bold – at least in our eyes. Don’t miss the show at The Living Room on February 15 (photo by Arthi Krishnaswami).

P.S. I have no idea why the italian word for liver is used this way, but apparently this digestive organ has been a symbol of courage and physical strenght since the ancient Greeks.