Plastic Picnic’s light indie pop is the result of two duos – Lute and Panerio, and Hunt and Taylor – coming together with compatible musical talents. The Brooklyn-based quartet’s name doesn’t quite capture the essence of their music, which, although incorporating synths, doesn’t sound as synthetic as the word ‘plastic’ would make one think. On the other hand, single Nausea in Paradise (streaming), would work nicely as a picnic soundtrack – notwithstanding the not very appetizing title.  Fans of sophisticated ’80s pop like Prefab Sprout should check these guys out at Rough Trade on July 15th.  – Madeleine Grossman 

Bent Knee keeps going bigger and bolder with each project they release.  Never being afraid to blend genres before, on Say So the six-piece Boston band embarks on a sprawling musical journey that seems to hit every stop on the pop-avant garde spectrum. Not discrediting the band’s impressively diverse instrumental arrangements, frontwoman and keyboardist Courtney Swain’s cinematic vocals stand out as the sound’s core. Whereas the instruments and sounds around her are constantly changing, Swain’s voice provides an anchor that never lets the band’s complex sound descend into unruly juxtaposition of elements. Bent Knee are about to go on a North American and European tour to promote ‘Say So’. – Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Out of Boston, Narrow Waves is a new indie-pop band whose alternating male/female vocals form a striking contrast. The two vocalists take turns singing about themes pertaining to love and relationships, while shimmering synth patterns and understated guitar riffs back them up to round out the band’s sound, which could be compared to R.E.M. from the ‘Out of Time’ period. The band played their second ever show on May 28 at Cantab Lounge. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

New Jersey quartet Dentist is about to release their wildly fun sophomore LP Ceilings just in time for summer. The album will be out on June 24th via Little Dickman Records, and features 10 uptempo tunes featuring catchy melodies contrasting with singer Emily Bornemann’s often dark lyrics. Ceilings is a consistent and cohesive piece of work, with songs that blend into one another. “Joel” (streaming below), one of the record’s darker tracks, starts as a slow psych ballad before exploding into the bright and upbeat sound the band established in the opening tracks, marrying elements of surf rock, pop punk, and dream pop. The band will be playing The Saint in Asbury Park on June 24th and Berlin in NYC on June 25th. – John Honan

The Deli LA is proud to present the first of many collaborations with eminent underground synth venue OSCILLATOR: A Late Nite Synth Party!

These intimate, future-retro events will feature LIVE performances by ORIGINATORS of SYNTH as well as the best of the NEW SYNTH-SET. The early part of the evening will be a live-streamed set of performances, followed by a line-up of baddass DJs giving us classic synth-pop and new tracks from around the globe that will take us dancing into the night, house party style.

Los Angeles’ distinguished exoti-goth horrors Native Fauna rev up the night with a very special live set, and synthpop/Hi-NRG duo Trans-X will also make an appearance to perform "Living On Video". DJ sets after midnight include HUSH TONES, Adrian Dark, Abe Mora, Gabe Reanimator, and Wayne Lyons.

The live-streaming party will be held at a private location in Koreatown, with limited availability. RSVP is required to receive private location and password. Doors open at 9PM and show starts promptly at 10PM—tickets and more info here.