It’s not surprising that Brooklyn-based Atlas Engine, the solo project of Nick LaFalce, experienced a whirlwind of success following the release of his debut EP After the End. Without question, this EP is upbeat, melody-driven indie pop, but it is also saturated with lush, dream-pop elements. The intimacy of this record is sure to be paralleled by his upcoming double single release, which he is previewing at The Mercury Lounge on July 20th. –Lilly Milman
Pool Cosby plays Bowery Electric 07.20
Electronic trio Pool Cosby recently released their LP, Blind Gold, a record that’s at once soulful and… brainful. With its dynamic layer of samples and live instruments accompanying the electronic experimentation, the album showcases a symbiotic relation between ambient, chillwave leanings, and a hip-hop based style. The LP also includes an intriguing selection of featured artists: single “Thrive” (streaming) features the delicate vocals of Tiger Darrow alongside subtle instrumentals that shift between a calm droney atmosphere and a dancey chorus with deep electronic kick drum beats animated by a minimal, but funky, bass line. Don’t miss these guys at Bowery Electric on 07.20. – Tafari Lemma
bellwire’s new single “Dreamin’” is a modern take on the Everly Brothers
If the chorus of Boston-based bellwire’s new single sounds familiar, it’s because it is. The classic repetition of the word “dream” comes from the Everly Brothers song “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” but that is where the similarities between these two tracks end. bellwire’s take on this song is dark, stripped down, and is more comparable to the likes of Patti Smith than the pop duo (maybe not sonically, but definitely lyrically.) Tyler Burdwood, the lead vocalist of bellwire, is currently on a solo tour with Massachusetts-based Jake McKelvie, of The Countertops. – Lilly Milman
Moon Honey plays romantic psych rock
Describing themselves as “musical soulmates,” founding members of Moon Honey, Jess Elaine Ramsey (vocals) and Andrew Martin (guitar), make music that is complexly romantic. In wild, bird-like vocals battling powerhouse guitar melodies, they illustrate an especially human relationship in their psych-rock sound. Hand-Painted Dream Photographs, their 2013 release, is not just a turning, twisting psych record, but an emotionally personal music. On later releases like “Boy Magic,” it gets even more pseudo-confessional, with lyrics like “on wings of fruit trees/my boy sings sweet to me.” Moon Honey illustrate an adventurous marriage of sound and meaning, and if you’re not yet convinced, just look for their Magritte references.-Allie Miller
New Music Video: “Shadow Expert” – Palm
Palm explore a second life as digital avatars in the music video for “Shadow Expert,” the title track of their latest EP, released via Carpark Records. Friends of the band, JP Mayer and Valentina Tapia, produced the video, which features the band’s members waking up in a jaunty, iridescent world of shapeshifting animals and pulsating structures. Much like Jerry Paper’s music video for “Real. Now. Love.”, Palm’s “Shadow Expert” toys with the impartiality and limitations of ironic digital design, while producing in effect a thoughtful and dynamic visual experience that comes in at around the three minute mark. The quartet is currently on tour with Palberta through the end of July, and also will be embarking on a European tour in September.
New duo Frills release chill summer debut single “My Love”
Frills, a newcomer duo to the Brooklyn scene, consists of two seasoned songsters who’ve given time to other projects; only now do they combine to release their first single "My Love." Dropped in late April, the track ekes summer groove in the style of MGMT and slow-jam Vampire Weekend. The New Zealand-based artists behind the track — Simon Oscroft and Dan Gibson — have years of indie experience under their belts. Oscroft comes from projects such as Midnight Youth and MOTHXR, while Gibson comes from Streets of Laredo. The band don’t seem to have any shows lined up, but "My Love" on repeat will do to tide you over until Frills announce a live gig. Listen to the debut single below. – Will Sisskind
Harry & the Hitmen: classic soul for contemporary ears
Harry & the Hitmen are a soul-laden six piece that rely heavily on lighthearted, loose takes on some of the most influential sounds of Motown. Each member is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and well-versed in on-the-spot improvisation, making every experience a unique and certifiable hit. Last fall they released their debut album, Deep In Your Soul, and are gearing up for a string of live dates this fall. – Joshua D. Huver
KYYN’s soulful indie-pop fusion in self-titled EP
Local indie-pop artist KYYN released her debut, self-titled EP last month. In stand out single "This is the Way Things Go" (streaming below), KYYN’s soulful vocals are immersed in a dreamy and edgy R’n’B production that delivers a perfect sonic carpet for her smooth soprano. The track features a collaboration with fellow New York artist Miss, and illustrates KYYN’s talent for delicate and sharp lyrics and dusky, detailed electronic arrangements. – Tafari Lemma
New Track: “Exquisite” – Amanda X
Giant, the forthcoming album from the trio of Amanda X, will be released via Self Aware Records on August 18, with proceeds benefitting Women Against Abuse. The record’s starter, “Exquisite,” gradually wakens as the guitar stretches before a percussive surge announces its arrival. Calmly contemplating lonesomeness, co-lead vocals volley back and forth, banked by the refined rush of instrumentation. Amanda X is slated on this Friday’s bill at Boot & Saddle, with Magic Deal and The Van Pelt.
Bent Denim release ‘Diamond Jubilee’ EP + play The End 8.27
With the release of their EP Diamond Jubilee, Bent Denim has carved out a dreamy space for themselves in the world of indie pop. The new release has the same narrative drive as their 2015 LP, Romances You, but with more detached vocals and a hazier soundscape. There is a sobering honesty that comes across in these five tracks, which mostly focus on mortality and the human experience. However, ultimately, this is a record about space: considering that this band is equally based in Nashville, New York, and New Orleans, Bent Denim’s music fills in the space between these cities (quite literally, as the band members send each other tracks through the internet.) The group will be reconvening in Nashville to play a show at The End on August 27th. – Lilly Milman
Listen to our favorite track, “Miss You, Kid” streaming below.
New Track: “Sainthood” (Demo) – Cult Objects
Bass gives way to a tumultuous torrent of noise in Cult Objects debut offering, “Sainthood”. Describing the unfortunate fallout of a relationship gone sour, the demo utilizes emotive fuel, adhering while demonstrating the chaotic aftermath. You can catch the fledgling punk outfit’s first show on Wednesday, August 16 at LAVA Space with Minneapolis’s Tony Peachka.
Wild Pink brings punk-influenced indie rock to Goldsounds, 7.26
Wild Pink is one of those rare bands that’s able to channel the emotional without being melodramatic, the nostalgic without the overly sentimental. The New York-based three-piece informs their brand of indie rock with punk and garage influences, while their narrative-inspired lyricism channels a singer-songwriter vibe. Their New York roots become clear in songs like “Great Apes” (streaming below) where they make specific references to their surroundings (“Riding out some psychotropics / In the shadow of the World Trade / Trying hard to understand the culture in my face.”) The dynamics of the song are reminiscent of early 2000s indie rock, but their simple, raw lyrics modernize the track. Their next live show will be at Goldsounds in Brooklyn on the 26th, and after that, The Knit on 08.23 and then a September East Coast tour. – Lilly Milman