We had the chance to talk about Gabi Jimeno a bunch of time already, since she’s the drummer of dream pop Brooklyn band Balancer – a very impressive drummer for that matter. We never covered her solo project Ela Minus though, which also deserves attention. Recently nominated one of the "Queens of the South-American Indie" by this webiste, Ela Minus offers minimalistic synthpop, at times resembling a less dramatic version of Bjork, at others filtering through an electro filter Gabi’s homeland musical influences , like in the first single "Jamaica" (from of her upcoming "First Words" EP) based on what sounds like a Bossanova drum pattern, enriched by a delicate melody and harmonies that are at once pretty and edgy. The Deli NYC is premiering here the second single from that EP, entitled "Kiddo," a sparser, more experimental track, in which Gabi’s soprano reaches sky high altitudes with a melody as vague as it is haunting. Look out for the third single to be released in the next few weeks.

The soaring rock songs of Boston trio blindspot are serious yet warm. Enlivened by frontwoman Alexa Economou’s Nicks-like voice, such drum-pounced tracks as "I Won’t Let Your Heart Break" (streaming below) and "Lay Me Down" uplift even as they stir, seeking happiness while still considering such hardships as disappointment and heartbreak. Pleasantly, though, the 2012-formed group portrays the inherent messiness of life with elegance, moving the listener while expressing what he/she sometimes struggles to. Blindspot plays at Great Scott in Allston, MA on 12.20. – Zach Weg

For us here at The Deli, it’s always a great feeling to see an early Deli NYC Record of the Month artist keeping at it with great new releases. Alice Cohen was rewarded with the highest Deli honor (short of being on the cover of the mag) back in 2008, thanks to this gem of a record, full of references to many of our favorite new wave bands. Since then she kept releasing her dark and mysterious records (five to date), all dwelling in a world reminiscent of the darkest days of The Cure, the lush melodicism of Cocteau Twins and the tense experiments of Wire – "Walking Up Walls" being the most experimental of the bunch. Her latest albums, which for some reason we overlooked, showcase an exciting songwriting and production growth. 2015’s "Into The Grey Salons" confirms Alice as a musician full of ideas, both in the sonic and melodi departments. If you dig her music, don’t miss a rare live appearance at Union Pool on December 1st.

Hailing from New Jersey, and armed with a seemingly unlimited supply of fuzz, reverb, and catchy melodies, Sunshine & The Rain‘s Ashley Anderson and Justin Angelo Morey form one of the noisiest married couples of the current NYC scene. Rediscovering the "three chords songs buried in distortion" sound of early Velvet Underground and The Jesus and Mary Chain, the duo lets Ashley’s airy pop melodies float on top of what sounds like (deliciously) organized sonic mayhem. On December 6th, Sunshine & the Rain will be opening for legendary band Rocket from the Tombs (not to be confused with Rocket from the Cripts), a Cleveland band whose debanding, back in the late ’70s, gave birth to Pere Ubu and the Dead Boys. 

The music video (playing below) for New York band Ursae‘s "I Swear" is a crushing yet cathartic tone poem of shorn love. As the nimble guitars and winding strings of project head Andrew Campbell (previously in local folk band Little Sur) ominously hover above electronic distortions, a young couple gradually draws apart, the ravages of anger and jealousy severing their affection for each other. Campbell’s calm voice glides over the ensuing drama, though, giving it integrity and compassion. "I Swear" is off a forthcoming full-length effort scheduled for a Summer 2016 release and, meanwhile, Ursae will play shows (details to-be-determined) this winter. – Zach Weg