Probably the least predictable orchestral NYC band, Cuddle Magic is formed by musicians whose sole mission is to write songs that are pretty, conceptual, and daring at once. The band has a new record coming out in April, a collaborative album with NYC pianist Phyllis Chen, with whom they share "love of imperfectly pitched percussion, overlapping rhythmic cycles, and rigorous pitch sets." The band just released a preview video of single "An Extra Life" (streaming), which features a pointillistic arrangement in which higher pitch wind instruments, are not allowed to play notes longer than a semiquaver – as if they were softer sounding mallets.

A frantic collection of pop punk tunes, Lost Boy ? is a blistering package of gritty and antagonistic pop songs. A buzzing caffeine drenched rampage through distorted filters, immediate melodies and nervous bass lines, their music is an exercise in songwriting delivered with petulant energy. Scratchy, gritty guitars, heaps of danceable drums and rolling basses… each track is short, to the point, and powerful. There is just one thing. That question mark. What DOES it mean? Nothing like an elusive edge to capture the attention. Check out opening track from 2012 EP "Big Snow" and see Lost Boy ? at Shea Stadium on March 1st. – Francesca Baker

A little bit Brian Eno, a little bit Bryan Ferry, singer Alexis Georgopoulos’s psych-pop group ARP delivers ambient charm, but keeps his songs catchier than we’ve heard from the group yet. Nodding heavily to theatrical acts like Donovan and Momus, the band’s latest LP ‘More’ takes a break from many of his dance and theater projects, to re-define the ARP sound and mission as something of a cinematic experience: complete with actors, glamour and a larger-than life setting for his orchestral backlot of instruments and sounds. It’s a pleasant surprise, and one of the more layered and seductive records we’ve heard in some time. Check out leading track High-Heeled Clouds’ below, and add a little drama to your day. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Chairlift, brainchild of singer/keyboardist/composer Caroline Polachek, has been one of our favorite NYC pop bands since they broke out back in 2008, when they graced the cover of our Best of NYC issue – those were the times of single "Bruised," blessed by an Apple ad.

Caroline is now announcing the release of a solo album – to be released on Terrible Records in April – under the moniker Ramona Lisa. Preview single and video "Arcadia" (streaming below) shows us an unexpectedly gloomy atmoshpere, so much so that we are tempted to think this is not just a parallel project, but alsmost a Chairlift antithesys – a necessary outlet of somebody who starts feeling curbed by pop music’s brightly colored straitjacket? Gone are the upbeat rhythms and the uplifting melodies, gone the meticulous and somewhat intricate production. A completely anti-pop 2 minute drumless instrumental intro guide us to the haunting vocal melody, which betrays Gregorian influences. The song is rather uneventful, like a beautiful, intimate chant that listens to itself, rather than being projected out to others. And that’s exactly what pop music is not.

We realized that Caroline had serious balls when we saw this video, this record only comes as a confirmation.

Like sailing through an indigo sky, surrounded by deep darkness that you have the power to penetrate, SoftSpot‘s sophomore record ‘MASS’ and its lead single ‘You / Yours’ (out April 8th) is full of the dramatic intensity. Architecturally transient, it swoops acrobatically through seductive guitar work and sometimes sinister drums, in a sort of dreamy but certainly never sleepy fashion, the instruments cavorting with Kinlaw’s sometimes Bjork-esque vocals. Two minutes into ‘You / Yours’ there’s a blistering culmination of all its assets, swooping grandly together to a drum dalliance before filtering down into gentle tings. Glorious. Other album highlights include the punctuated chimes of ‘Black Room Blues,’ the dual layered vocals on ‘Gathering,’ (an initially slow moving song that builds and blisters with its looping lyrics) and the garage rush of ‘Pick Up Lines,’ its ominous delicately picked bass line and Keller’s vocals adding a tense dark counterpoint to proceedings. The Bushwick trio, joined by recently permenent member Blaze Bateh play the Shea Stadium on Feb 28th and Piano’s on March 11th. – Francesca Baker

Deli Nation,

Our Year End Poll for Emerging NYC Artists was – as usual – a painstaking (and somewhat excruciating) process, but we pulled it off with remarkable flair!

Kudos to punk rock hell raisers BIG UPS (pictured and streaming) for winning the poll and – with it – the cover of our Spring 2014 issue!

Thumbs up to wicked avant-indie trio Celestial Shore (already featured on our mag’s cover last summer), and to quirky electro-soul-pop band Wet, our record of the month back in October.

Here is how it all went down: first, we let the local bands submit their music (for free), and got our Deli editors to pick the nominees. Then we polled a list of 15+ NYC scene expert (our jury) and asked them to nominate 3 more bands of their choice each. Then we polled our writers, then we polled our readers. We tried to keep things open for each single genre, from Indie Rock to Roots Music to Hip Hop.

If you are a geek interested in all the subtelties related to how this poll works, you can read its rules here (happy reading!). But if all you care about is the awesome new music NYC produced in the year 2013, this list is all you need. Enjoy!

BEST OF 2013 POLL FOR EMERGING NYC ARTISTS ****** FINAL RESULTS ******

NYC NYC semi-super-group Beverly signs to Kanine, releases debut single “Honey Do” Posted on: February 18, 2014 Brooklyn duo Beverly – recently signed to Kanine Records – is the collaboration between Frankie Rose and Drew Citron. Debut single “Honey Do” presents rough-hewn guitars merged with sugary sweet vocals. Iconic 90’s female-fronted dreamgaze pioneers Lush comes to mind, as creative vocal harmonies establish an appealing minor chord feel on the chorus. Discovering that scene veteran Frankie Rose is involved goes a long way in explaining this band’s already mature sound. However it is relative newcomer Drew Citron who takes the lead here, exhibiting an impressive ability at capturing this classic genre. A fuller version of the song will be included on their debut full length to be released this summer. Until then, you can get this track on Kanine’s upcoming compilation “Not Violent Femmes,” which features 11 tracks from their roster of female fronted bands. To be released on Record Store Day, the comp will come on pink vinyl in a limited to 1,000 copy edition. – Dave Cromwell We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best Psych songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out! NYC The Can’t Tells place 5th in our Best of NYC Poll + plays Pianos on 02.25 Posted on: February 18, 2014 For The Can’t Tells first full-length ‘No Television,’ the highly energetic rock band powers their way through a set of turbulent emotions: revealing a wealth of insecurities and anxieties set to an insistently pounding block of anthemic eagerness. From the title track’s rocking buoyancy, to the somewhat creepy, angular closer ‘Real Imitator,’ these guys lay out their inner demons for all to see. It’s an album that will keep you guessing to the finish. Just like their name implies, these are guys whose intentions may not be clear, but that’s half the fun. Watch the hilarious video for ‘Insincere’ below and find out why they may be missing a band member when you see them play at Pianos on Feb 25. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets) The Can’t Tells placed 5th is our recent Year End Best of NYC Poll for Emerging Artists. NYC Samuel Cooper (of Sunglasses) announces solo album Posted on: February 17, 2014 We were really into Brooklyn based weird pop duo Sunglasses, so much so that we honored them with our Record olf the Month some time in 2012. The band split up shortly after, and the half known as Samuel Cooper started playing under his own name and working on his solo album, which will see the light of day in April. Here’s a first taste of it. NYC Punk rockers Your Skull play Mercury on 02.20 Posted on: February 14, 2014 If you are lucky enough to have a boyfriend/girlfriend who cringes at the idea of spending a "romantic" St. Valentine’s day, try playing him/her this electrified track by Brooklyn punks Your Skull, entitled "Special Feelings,” from their latest EP ‘Make Elegance.’ Yeah because this band’s mission is to “resexualize the nation’s college rock scene” – so maybe he/she might want to "resexualize" your relationship after listening to it! (Let’s stress the might, just in case…) At it since 2008, the trio, who molds their sound after the the tradition of 90s inventive punk rockers like Fugazi, tends to mix precise upbeat electric riffs with raw/raspy vocals that range from whispered to full lung screaming. Catch them live at Mercury Lounge on 2.20, when they’ll open for Kansas City’s Deli darlings Radkey. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor) NYC Drone Rock Brooklyn trio Woodsman releases new album Posted on: February 14, 2014 Brooklyn’s drone rock institution Woodsman celebrated on 02.08 at uncompromisingly DIY venue Death By Audio their new CD’s release party – the band has been around since the late 00s (ions for a project of this kind) and has a bunch of releases under its belt. The trio’s music challenges short attention span – a disease common to many music fans – with drawn out, instrumental psychedelic tunes that are best enjoyed under the influence of your favorite illegal substance – not sure alcohol will do. The new self titled album merges Dub elements in the form of syncopated delays with shoegazer stylings, noise rock moments, and ambient atmospherics, for a sonic experience that ranges from delicately textural to ear-damagingly full on.   ARTIST J OS W R TOT   1 Big Ups 6   2 0.011 8.011 2 Celestial Shore 3 3 1 0.006 7.006 3 Wet 7     0.005 7.005 4 The Whiskey Bitches 3 2 1 0.678 6.678 5 The Can’t Tells 6     0.002 6.002 6 EMEFE 5     0.123 5.123 7 Dough Rollers 1 3 1 0.014 5.014 8 NGHBRS 3   1 0.756 4.756 9 Wyldlife 3 1.5   0.052 4.552 10 Spirit Animal   3 1 0.127 4.127 11 Blank Paper   3 1 0.06 4.06 12 Hey Anna   3 1 0.033 4.033 13 Zula   3 1 0.005 4.005 14 Hunters 3   1 0.003 4.003 15 Drowners 4     0.001 4.001 16 Dear Georgiana   3   0.482 3.482 17 Late Cambrian   1.5   2 3.5   Pushmethod   2   1.5 3.5 19 Tall Tall Trees 2   1 0.417 3.417 20 Twintapes   1 2 0.195 3.195 21 oddlogic 3     0.176 3.176 22 Bridget Davis + the Viking Kings 3     0.168 3.168 23 Belle Mare 2   1 0.132 3.132 24 Steel Phantoms   3   0.087 3.087 25 Poor Remy   3   0.035 3.035 26 Butter The Children   2 1 0.023 3.023 27 Half Waif   3   0.018 3.018 28 Spires 3     0.01 3.01 29 YC the Cynic 2   1 0.008 3.008 30 denitia and sene 3     0.006 3.006   MisterWives 3     0.006 3.006 32 Emily King 3     0.005 3.005   Nude Beach 3     0.005 3.005 34 Weyes Blood 3     0.004 3.004 35 Life Size Maps 3     0.003 3.003   Lodro 3     0.003 3.003   Mutual Benefit 3     0.003 3.003   Shark? 2   1 0.003 3.003   Tropic of Pisces 3     0.003 3.003   Zongo Junction 3     0.003 3.003 41 Daytona 3     0.002 3.002 42 Psychic Twin 3     0.002 3.002 43 After the Smoke 3     0.001 3.001 44 Dots Will Echo 3     0.001 3.001   Hess is More 3     0.001 3.001   PRE WAR 3     0.001 3.001   Storyman   2 1 0.001 3.001   Such Hounds   3   0.001 3.001   Wilsen 2   1 0.001 3.001