Contemporary electronic music has never been as delectably weird as it has been this past decade, with producers and artist more inclined towards incorporating strange, tactile textures into their craft. I.D.E.N.T.I.T.Y is the newest entry into this canon, a minimal debut by NYC duo Minutes Unlimited; with the right amount of tingle-inducing sonic accents, a healthy dose of synth and static, and an ever-wobbling bass presence, the two person group artfully craft an idiosyncratic sound. Replete with a layered sound that’s engaging but never too heavy, I.D.E.N.T.I.T.Y is a carefully balanced LP that will immediately resonate with fans of esoteric acts like Vegyn or SOPHIE — give it a listen below.
Irene Diaz navigates lost love on new single “Another Observer”
Irene Diaz returns after a long hiatus with her new single "Another Observer", a cut from her upcoming full-length Lovers & Friends, out later this year. In "Another Observer", the alt-pop singer-songwriter navigates lost love using her soulful voice and mournful arrangements. This slow jam comes with a music video depicting Diaz working through her grief in text message format as she sits in her car overlooking the California dusk. With moody and electronic textures on top of Diaz’s rich voice, "Another Observer" is just a taste of what’s to come later this year on Lovers & Friends; take a look at the video for the track now. – Will Sisskind
Jeremy Cunningham “Sleep”
Jeremy Cunningham (of Resavior) has released the first two singles, “1985” and “Sleep”, from his forthcoming debut album, The Weather Up There. The album is set to be released via Northern Spy on February 28th, and finds the drummer/composer enlisting the services of friends Jeff Parker (Tortoise), Paul Bryan (Aimee Man), Ben LaMar Gay, Makaya McCraven, Matt Ulery, Dustin Laurenzi, and more.
Premiere: Albon releases “Kids on Fire”
photo credit: Mike Cardiello
Alexander B. Lappin aka Albon, began making music in his Northern Chicago suburban bedroom when he was but a boy of twelve. He eventually made his way over to California, where he makes folk rock music with Beach Boys and Grizzly Bear influences; we hear a touch of REM and a little Magnetic Fields, too. This new single off Albon’s Dream Weaver//Bee Keeper has a fun yet distressed energy about it. Lappin says of this song’s creation story that it was “…written in a pretty funny way!” Lappin and some friends were filming a tequila commercial and they all took a tiny bite of mushroom to go with that tequila. “I ended up on a roof where I was still very sad about my breakup but was also very high on this little stem of mushroom. I ended up laughing as hard as I ever had and then crying hysterically. It was all very cathartic. After words me and my two friends went for pancakes at some classic diner. I then went home and wrote this song." We do love a good story. The Deli is proud to premiere Albon’s single, “Kids on Fire.” –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor
Miracle Sweepstakes invoke present and past on Rorschached
The story of Rorschached, the latest offering by NYC indie four piece Miracle Sweepstakes, involves several rounds of demoing tracks, a zip folder entailing twenty five songs, a failed basement recording session and a power outage inducing snowstorm. Three eventful years later, Miracle Sweepstakes offer their tie dyed effort to us, a psych-tinged LP of bright late 60s vocals and riffing abound. Fans of Unknown Mortal Orchestra and post Oracular Spectacular MGMT will appreciate the vintage depth of sound present on each of the album’s eleven tracks paired with the band’s inclination for contemporary songwriting — standout tracks “Black Bouquet” and opener “Forcefield” artfully split this difference, delivering lush listens and warm instrumental vamps. Give it a full listen below.
01.24: Trends paint dream pop picture with show at The Roar Room
On January 24th, dream pop quartet Trends will mark the release of their debut album Palettes with a colorful show at The Roar Room. Trends has grown from lead vocalist Marina Paiz’s lo-fi solo project to a four-piece indie powerhouse, creating songs that expand from soft and introspective musings to rapid-fire proclamations in both sound and verse. Palettes has the band processing life’s complex moments through song; on tracks like "Ampersand" and "Blanket Party", Trends explore grief and missed opportunity, as well as what we do to cope and make our own way through our lives. Take a look at the music video for "Branches", a single from Palettes, below. – Will Sisskind
Slow Mass “Music For Ears 2”
Slow Mass has released a new 7” single via Landland called “Music For Ears 2”. The single features two new tracks, “Mal” and a cover of the Pygmy Lush song “I’ll Wait With You”.
You can catch Slow Mass on February 28th at Lincoln Hall with Ratboys.
WIG “Swell”
WIG released their second EP, “Swell”, on the first day of 2020. The tape will be release by Let’s Pretend, but the EP is currently available digitally.
WID is the the DIY trio of Chris Gottlieb (guitar/vocals), Lucas Sikorski (bass guitar), and Clayton Demuth (drums).
If you can find Situations (or DM the band) you can catch WIG on January 21st with Old Joy and Chatanooga’s Riversedge.
The Seshen releases single, video, “Don’t Answer”
Photo cred: Brittany Powers
Latin-infused live drums form percussive harmonies with synthesizers and drum machines to create an other-worldly listening experience. The Seshen, known for their fusion of synth-pop, R&B and electronic music, is a six-piece Bay Area ensemble with powerful messages and relaxing beats. Lalin St. Juste’s vocals have just the right amount of mysticism, wisdom and grounding presence. Single “Don’t Answer” arrives today off the band’s third album, CYAN, out on Feb 28 via Tru Thoughts, along with the song’s video, featuring mystic lades of the ocean. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor
TIFFY is touring New England, plays O’Brien’s Pub 01.19
It is always nice to see New England artists joining forces to showcase their music to fans of the area and beyond. Boston bedroom pop act TIFFY is touring New England alongside Lowell’s Tysk Tysk Tysk. Stops include Pawtucket, RI, Portsmouth, NH, and Portland, ME, with the tour culminating at O’Brien’s Pub in Boston. Those familiar with TIFFY know Tiffany Sammy deploys a unique brand of fuzz-pop able to take hold of any venue with its robust basslines, distorted guitars, and stormy synth swells. The tour is in support of TIFFY’s latest EP Fire Sale, released back in June, filled with an array of tracks that range from cool lo-fi pop to jagged indie rock. Tysk Tysk Tysk, for its part, has a new single out now titled “Yeah, Right.” Stream TIFFY’s title-track from the new record below and catch the groups at one of the mentioned stops listed here. – Rene Cobar
Thamatic “Dream Lights”
Thamatic recently released a new single called “Dream Lights” and a remastered version of their 2017 debut single “Ghost Boy”.
2019 saw the group release two singles, “After School”, and the song featured in the video below “Spacesuit”.
Thamatic blends rock with elements of electronic music and pop.
More Fatter’s delightful “Yeah You” video hits waves
Last week funky pop boys More Fatter released the video for their single “Yeah You” and it is a fun and spunky time. Filmed at San Francisco’s Dolores Park, the video features the cuatro doing synchronized, shoeless dance moves, some poppin’ lady dancers and loads of onlookers and smilers. Props to the kiddo who slides down the slide right into the band. Like most of their tracks, “Yeah You” has got some great trombone highlights and it’s fun to see those things in action. Check out More Fatter’s video and let yourself feel the young energy. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor