Standing out from the crowd of eighties dance music revivalists, Brooklyn trio Psychobuildings pull from the darker side of the new wave cannon. Their music is a psychedelic blend of heavy bass lines, synthetic beats, funky guitar licks and leader Peter LaBier’s vigorous vocals. Sometimes sinister, but always danceable, the band have been showcasing their six track self-titled EP with an energetic live show that highlights not only their music, but LaBier’s impressive dance moves. It’s something he’s not afraid to speak about on the record, nor to put to good use for this brand new video of the single "Terror Management". – Read Dean Van Nguyen Q&A with the band here.

Finding out about a NYC artist we never heard about who has 10k+ friends on Facebook always makes us feel slightly incompetent – why were you hiding from us j.viewz? Yeah, deflecting guilt always helps, right? Anyway, this is the multi-genre electronica act of the Brooklyn-based producer & remixer Jonathan Dagan, who runs this project "Massive Attack-Style", i.e. inviting ever changing vocalists to sing on instrumental tracks he created – which is always a wise idea both for inspirational and promotional reasons. The musical style here is also reminiscent of the Bristol based Trip Hop duo, consisting mostly in sparsely and elegantly arranged down to mid tempo electronic ballads, with a strong alt-sould flavor and a slighty poppier edge. We really enjoyed this stunning (and rather sexy) video featuring talented Newyorker Kelli Scarr‘s vocals (DO NOT WATCH IF YOU ARE AT WORK!). CD release party at The Studio at Webster tonight, with ambient masters The American Dollar also on the bill.

Lead singer Jared Scott has a couple stories to tell, and having already served time as lead guitarist in Brooklyn-based Demander, he’s well prepared to bring his seasoned outlook from the axe to the mic in his latest power pop outfit, Northern Bells.
Bells aren’t exactly a new band. But while they used to be called In Cadeo until recently, a better way to get to know them is by listing some of the many bands their members have already been a part of: from The Hold Steady to The Spies to Oberhofer, they’ve run the gambit of mid-tempo power-pop outfits over the last decade.
But this quintet sounds a bit different than their previous groups. Bells doesn’t list its female backing vocals among its principal members, but it’s this boy-girl dynamic you hear in a lot of their songs that moves the music away from typical heartland confessional, and to a wider audience. Like in new single ‘Wake Up,’ a song that shares a couple things in common with Arcade Fire’s anthem, complete with boy-girl sing-along- ready chants over a story spanning the trials of growing up.
Having released two 7-inches already this year, they’ll be releasing a third EP early next, which will (hopefully) followed be followed closely by a debut full-length.
See them at Glasslands Gallery on Nov. 8th with Chappo, Bridges and Powerlines, and Dynasty Electric, an electro-dance group sure to get the booties shaking. – Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)