If you’re paying attention to the 90’s revival that’s happening across genres everywhere, you should probably be familiar with Brooklyn’s Doubting Thomas Cruise Control, who are set to release their new “Appleton ON” EP on Cassette (and digital download), April 22nd . The EP promises to be an intensified, more confident continuation of their effects-driven sound — somewhat gloomy, yet injected with catchy riffs and flowing vocals. Immediately following the cassette’s release, DTCC play a record release show at Emet, in Brooklyn, on the 25th. – J.P. Basileo

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best Guitar Rock/Punk Rock songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

We blogged about Brooklyn electronic droners Glass Gang a few weeks ago saying that they were the perfect band to see live on Friday the 13th. Well, we just stumbled upon this really cool video that – if that soup is actually blood as we suspect – brings extra evidence to support our claim. But what if it’s not? See them live at Glasslands opn May 1st.

Member of Brooklyn bands between the dreamy and the shoegazer like The Depreciation Guild and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Abel Boynton (aka Christoph Hochheim) is the man behind Ablebody. Under this moniker, Abel put out the debut EP "All My Everybody" in 2013, and just followed it up with a new single entitled "After Hours" (streaming). Almost meditative in tone, the track develops chillwave and dream pop elements through a songwriting approach that is a little more sophisticated than the average – at times almost jazzy – in a way reminiscent of cult (and terribly underrated in the US) UK pop band Prefab Sprouts. Joined by his twin brother Anton on drums, Abel will tour the US in the spring with The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, with a final stop at The Bowery Ballroom on May 22.

Bleachers is the solo project of New Jersey’s Jack Antonoff of Fun. (and NJ rock band Steel Train). Jack’s project apparently was solely an independent goal of self-discovery, and news about the band, and its debut album, were kept secret until release of the single “I Wanna Get Better” (streaming) in February. “Except for a small group of people, most of which happened to be members of my immediate family, no one was aware that this music, or this album even existed … even though it existed so deeply to me." The anthemic single has gathered more than 230k plays on Soundcloud in just two months, spreading good vibes with its upbeat optimism. We’re waiting to see what else Antonoff’s band has in store, but in the meantime, fans in the NYC area will have the opportunity to see Bleachers live at the next Governor’s Ball Fest on June 8. – Sammie Spector

Fans of live music everywhere: Beautiful Small Machines have just written your anthem. There’s something so triumphant about the electro-twang group’s new single ‘The DJ Stayed Home,’ you’ll find yourself ecstatic by the end of the tune, no matter what’s going on in this troubled DJ’s life. it’s this kind of excitement that the band’s always been able to get across pretty easily in their tracks, from the bleep-blopping synth joys of debut record ‘The Robots In Love,’ to their moving cover of ‘Paper Planes.’ It’s an unapologetic warmth and joyeux de vivre that collaborators Dan DiLego and Bree Sharp always seem to find in the keys and frets of their synths and strings.

Taken from the upcoming full-length of the same name, ‘The DJ Stayed Home’ single is exactly what you need after finally allowing yourself to venture outside again after this winter. Take a listen below and check out their website as the band announces new dates soon. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best Rootsy songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

Brooklyn band Relations (not to be confused with pejorative-in-name-only Gross Relations, also from the same borough), released their debut full length album "Songbirds" with a show at Shea Stadium on April 4. The booking agents at Pianos’ must have liked it, since they booked the band for a 3 date May residency starting on the the 7th. Our favorite track "Believers" – streaming below – shows a band equally inspired by the edgier sound of the 80s (think Echo & the Bunnymen’s "Heaven Up Here"), and the expressionist guitar sounds of shoegazer bands, with synth pop elements like arpeggiator flourishes thrown in to make things texturally even more appealing. Check out also this video for single "Goodbyes," also featured in the new record.

This summer, Xeno & Oaklander bring their minimal electronic sounds to Ghostly International with new album Par Avion, their first for the label, June 24th. The album’s title is a reference to postcards — it translates as "by plane", and was used to mark airmail sent from exotic places. The songs are postcards of love for a cold age — shimmering moments from the present, romantic messages from the past, and love mementos for the future. Together, they make up an album of contrasts — the songs move from upbeat to downbeat, slow to fast, light to dark.

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best Electronic songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

Dramatic orchestral folk ensemble 5j Barrow was featured a few weeks ago in this very blog for winning the Manhattan competition within WNYC’s battle of the boroughs – hey, we thought ALL NYC musicians lived in Brooklyn! – and a week later for winning our Artist of the Month poll. The band just released this new single entitled "Wildwood" from their debut album to be released in the summer. You’ll have a cool opportunity to see them live at Union Square on April 22 during Earth Day celebrations.

Dream-pop Brooklyn band Field Mouse are preparing to release their debut LP “Hold Still Life” via Topshelf records. Scheduled for July 22, the album was co-produced by the creative forces of singer/lyricist/guitarist Rachel Browne and producer/guitarist Andrew Futral. After splitting recording time between two noteworthy Brooklyn studios (Seaside Lounge and Let Em In) in late 2013, the band delegated the mixing of the songs to Kyle Gilbride (Swearin’ Waxahatchee, Upset). We’ve had the privilege to preview the record and the new tracks stay true to the band’s original dreamy, guitar based style, while adding new sonic elements like synthesizers to the mix. Heartfelt pathos can be frequently found through the combination of sweet vocal melodies and introspective lyrics. “Asteroid,” laments that “it’s a shame” how often we just “walk away” from each other. Deeper cuts like “Horizon City” shows the band expanding on preconceived notions of their overall sound, simultaneously touching on both prog and punk elements. “Bright Lights” ostensibly incorporates bittersweet feelings of longing, joy and sadness, all at the same time. The band will be playing at Cameo Gallery in Brooklyn on May 26, and while you wait, check out the video of Field Mouse’s latest single from one year ago, entitled "Tomorrow is Yesterday" – below. – Dave Cromwell

Sometimes all you need – besides a better band picture – is to break things down to the essence. Which if applied to rock’n’roll means drums and distorted guitars. Then throw some vocal melodies over that, layer it a little bit, and voila! Long Island/Brooklyn two-piece Washer does this with effortless ease. With a lo-fi sound that reminds us of our (semi-forever-lost) youth, echoing in part Local H and even contemporary acts Ty Segall or Mozes and the Firstborn, these guys deliver good songs blessed by unpretentious fun. Their jangly jams come to us just in time for spring: it’s time to roll down the windows and enjoy the time-ride back to the 90s. – Joe Fish

Don’t let the name fool you. Terrible Terrible is actually a talented group of optimistic musicians from New Jersey (ok, their upcoming record will be called ‘Fail Better,’ but I guess you’ve gotta set the bar somewhere…). New single ‘Pulling Teeth’ takes the quartet to soaring landscapes, where ambient synths marry tightly placed, reverb-soaked, loungy harmonies that take you to church and heaven and back down to Earth again. Fans of the genre known as "sophistipop" (i.e. jazzy pop from the 80s a la Sade and Everything But The Girl) should find common ground – although the NJ quartet seems to enjoy a little electronic experimentation every now and then. Look out for their debut record dropping in the early summer. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Featured on the cover of our Fall 2013 issue (and Deli NYC Record of the Month some time before that), NYC’s Wilsen excels at the art of mesmerizing through sound. The new single "Magnolia" – the title-track of an upcoming EP scheduled for a May release – is no exception. Check it out below, and read the cover story from last year’s issue here.