Anyone thirsty for a sound that’s classic New York reinvented, should check out Cosmonaut. The band carries a torch for acts like Television and The Strokes, (they were even featured on ‘Occupy This Album’ alongside Patti Smith!), while bringing shades of dreamy (and more British leaning) pop shoe-gazery along for the ride. It’s an ecstatic, melodic high that’ll reconnect you to a New York before John Varvatos took over CBGB’s, and at once transport you the (hopefully) warmer months ahead. The project of guitarist/singers, Fordham classmates Jack Manley and Daniel Quinn, Cosmonaut has been together since 2009, and is about to release its second EP (‘Radio Silence’) this April. Check out the trippy video for the title track below, and catch them at the first date of their Piano’s April residency: next Tuesday, April 8th at 10pm. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

We missed to highlight Lips‘ new EP "Ghosts and Demons," dated December 2013, even though the artist got some exposure from us for making it in our latest Year End Best of NYC Poll for Emerging Artists. The brainchild of New Zealand native Stephanie Brown, Lips plays edgy, keyboard driven synth-pop of the non-breezy/summery variety. The signature tension and "noir" elements in her tracks are always counterbalanced by melodies that are memorable and sophisticated. Opening single and EP title track "Ghost Demons" is a suspenceful number where stomping distorted drums and a simple (but cool) synth arrangement are carried by the vocals towards a chorus where Stephanie’s voice is left alone, singing about loneliness. Fans of Bjork and Lykke Li will find something very interesting here, and not just because of the cute foreign accent.

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

Check it out HERE – it’s basically the best of our New England blog in music! You can always access this playlist by clicking on "LOCAL CHANNEL" on the Navigation bar.

P.S. We couldn’t add some bands because we didn’t find their music on Soundcloud.

NYC/Philly/DC based collective The Band Called Fuse (that’s their actual name), fronted by Brooklyn MC Silent Knight and MC and MPC maestro Soul Qloc, is hot-wiring Rap Rock back into the race. The video for “Soul Rock Anthem” from their recently released album Impossible Dream is a bare bones throwback to rock videos from the early 80s. As the MCs prowl the strobing soundstage delivering their raps, their bandmates thrash and jitter in the background with surreal vim. Balancing out the electrified raps, K-Dez’s analog croon takes over the end of the track and pulls it all together. The Fuse Nation is growing; can you feel the heat? – BrokeMc

NJ based duo Donovan Blanc is the latest addition to Brooklyn label Captured Tracks’ rather dreamy (and admirable) roster. The single ‘Minha Menina’ (streaming), which precedes a full length scheduled for June, showcases chilled thoughtfulness a la’ Real Estate, and a slightly baroque style consisting in a subtle jazz influence in the arrangements (this track at times takes us back to Joni Mitchell’s "Hejira"), and sophisticated melodies that – rather than hitting you on the first listen – grow on you over time.

Grand Cousin tend to act out when they’re feeling nervous or scared. But while some people throw things at walls when experiencing emotional duress, this alt-rock group rocks hard and funky for their tell-all jams. From the playful ‘Take Me Out’ to the brooding ‘Let Me Know,’ the three-piece undergoes a genuine catharsis with each lyrical sentiment, especially in our fave ‘I Hate People‘ (and we can all relate to that of course). Check out their latest single ‘Camera’ below and watch out for their debut EP set to be released this Spring. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

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

Since the days of The Velvet Underground’s ‘Banana’ album, NYC has been setting the standard in the rockn’n’roll femme fatale department, but admittedly hasn’t yet produced a presence as charismatic and powerful as Nico. From the tracks on her debut EP – and the retro press pictures coming with it – Brooklyn-based performance artist and vocalist Ziemba (aka René Kladzyk) may have the presence and the talent to fill this void – although the first thing we’d like to hear from her is better recorded music, in particular more attention to details in the vocal department. Like the German chantause from the 60s, Ziemba isn’t afraid of sadness and sparsness, and single ‘Phantom See" is a tasteful tune that might entrance fans of David Sylvian, Brian Eno, John Cale and other semi-experimental luminaries. Ziemba will celebrate her debut EP release at Cameo on April 15. – Photo by Miriam Fanger

Ratking’s new album drops in the US on April 8. If “So Sick Stories” and the accompanying video are any indication of this Uptown trio’s aesthetic, their premier album ‘So It Goes’ portends to be a quantum leap for Hip Hop’s current sonic landscape. MCs Wiki and Hak, like a reborn El-P and Bigg Jus, scatter abstract syllables and concrete imagery like shards of broken glass on so many Harlem overpasses. They seem to conjure the spirits of the city’s restless ghosts in their frenetic verses, and the accompanying beats bear somber witness. U.K. up-and-comer King Krule dips in for an intense hook on the track; an unlikely yet brilliant complement to Ratking’s gritty and astute meditations. – BrokeMC

The Long Island punk rock trio InCircles is a band whose energy, clarity and raw power is something you don’t want to miss. Led by female vocalist Jewlee and her passionate, swaying vocals, the band showcases a sound betraying influences ranging from Nirvana and Fugazi to Violent Femmes (a group that more emerging bands should rediscover). They just released their debut full length album titled ‘YoungBlood’ via MonkMusic Records, you can preview a few tracks on their SoundCloud profile. They have a bunch of upcoming show in the NYC Metro area – check out their live schedule here. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

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

Check it out HERE – it’s basically the best of our Austin blog in music! You can always access this playlist by clicking on "LOCAL CHANNEL" on the Navigation bar.

P.S. We couldn’t add some bands because we didn’t find their music on Soundcloud.

A series of recent EP releases by Dead Heart Bloom sees the New York City band expanding their sonic palette. Founding members Boris Skalsky and Paul Wood enlisted the recording services of Mercury Rev bassist Anthony Molina to produce three EPs over the last year. The most recent release “So It Goes,” showcases a shimmering ambiance proper of quality recordings, and leads off with the track “Broken Babylon” (streaming and free for download) which moves with a pace and sensation of flowing waves. Deliberate snare drum roll punctuation echo the style of Colm Ó Cíosóig in My Bloody Valentine, while guitars ultimately launch off into the stratosphere like a NASA space shot. Although the dense layers of keyboards and effects-heavy vocals fill the entire sonic field, every bit is audible and never feels crowded, making for a pure headphone/headtrip listing experience. The band is currently on tour, playing select shows around the east coast. – Dave Cromwell

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

Since the weather is finally giving us a break today after what felt like a decade long winter, this is probably not the ideal time to play this colorless, icy video by NYC via Australia electro goths Vows. Problem is, it’s a well done video for a well written song, and when something is beautiful you shouldn’t miss it, no matter if it’s sad, weird, or gray. Check out the band’s full self titled 2013 EP here, and see them Friday April 25th at Radio Bushwick in Brooklyn.