"Electric Love" is the new single from Brooklyn band Dynasty Electric featuring special guest Brian Chase of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs on drums. Catchy, high-energy, and with a punky edge, the song perfectly encapsulates Dynasty Electric, a Brooklyn duo who have patiently perfected their electro-rock sound through years of experimentation in the studio and stages throughout the world. Featuring Jenny Electrik’s sexy lead vocal, the song was originally written whilst producer/saxophonist Seth Misterka and YYY’s drummer Brian Chase were on a duo tour in Australia. Check it out here. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).
I’m Turning Into plays Don Pedro on 10.01 and Deli CMJ party on 10.23
The ambiguously (and excellently) named I’m Turning Into play angular post-punk that’s rife with catchy melody and little quirks. The band has discovered a way to merge jagged guitar riffs and up-beat, playful rhythms with infectious vocal hooks. The song “I’m Going” stands out as perfect example, opening with cutting-yet-melodic guitar lines before exploding into a chorus that you can only imagine a room full of sweaty, dedicated fans singing along to. There’s a bit of that sloppy 90’s indie sound in there too—sort of like the Archers of Loaf meeting Devo or even the Dickies. The band also has a penchant for playing around with rhythm and noise; the 12-minute song “Don Keehotay” is a cacophonous—yet glorious—mess of scattered drums, weird psych harmonies and feedback-laden guitar. Basically, I’m Turning Into have taken the best parts of indie, punk, and post-punk, added their own idiosyncrasies, and created some amazing tunes. Don’t miss their Deli CMJ party at Spike Hill on Saturday 10.23 with tons of great indie bands! Full schedule here. – Bill Dvorak
Bing and Ruth CD release at le Poisson Rouge on 09.28
Bing and Ruth play mellow instrumental music that can be described as a blend of ambient, classical, orchestral and pop. Tonight (09.28) the full 11 member formation is going to celebrate the release of the band’s 3rd CD with a show at Le Poisson Rouge , available digitally and as a double LP – as a side note we just realized that when releases will be digital only (because that’s going to happen of course) double albums will disappear! They will be just very long digital releases… Anyway, for the many stressed out New Yorkers out there, this show might actually have a therapeutic, calming and meditation inducing effect. it’s October, we may all need it.
Five O’Clock Heroes back with a new album after 4 years
Five O’Clock Heroes announced the February 15th release of their third album "Different Times". Although the Anglo-American group has always been based in NYC, this marks the first time their music will be properly released in the United States. Their previous two efforts, "Bend To The Breaks" (2006) and "Speak Your Language" (2007), were confined to the shores of Europe and the UK. As a preview of what is to come they’re making the single "Rough Boys" available for free – check out the stream down here.
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Anni Rossi plays Deli CMJ show on 10.21 at The Living Room
4AD artist Anni Rossi began her violin training at the tender age of three, so she’s been around music – studying it, exploring it, playing around with it – for most of her life. Perhaps that’s why she understands and appreciates the appeal of delicately rich music. “West Coast,” a gorgeous track from her album, Rockwell, is about taking a trip across the country. Rossi starts the song slowly, plucking strings and flirting with the listener; she then makes a quick shift, progressing into something very powerful. The shift is unanticipated, but extremely evocative, with emotional lyrics (“shifting my life and my belongings/ on a road trip that turns into going home / I can’t really feel it…”) and passion-filled instrumentation. Aside from her serious grasp of the instrument, her music can also be playful in a fun and folky way. Rossi bears quirky traces of Ingrid Michaelson and Regina Spektor – tracks like “Candyland” from her newest album, Heavy Meadow, are simple and sweet songs that float amidst sonic movement. And then there are the covers – like the one of Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody” – which are an adorably fresh take on popular music and a nod to Ms. Rossi’s creativity. – Vann Alex Daly
Kordan releases video + announce CMJ show and release party
Shoegaze electro-pop outfit Kordan – currently running for our NYC artist of the month poll, just released their debut video through Stereogum. The band announced a CMJ show at The Cake Shop on October 20, and a CD release party at Bruar Falls on October 13 with Zaza and Brahms.
NYC Artists on the Rise: Headless Horseman
We saw Headless Horsemen open for Avey Tare’s DJ performance last Saturday ar Glasslands (it was actually their debut show), and they sounded like a quite unique band, notwithstanding obvious but not overwhelming Animal Collective influences. Bizarre, often mechanical sounding samples and high pitch vocals that are quirky and soulful at once are the recurring signature sound of this duo, that plays live with an extended lineup of musicians. Their textured and structurally complex tunes could be described as a more industrial/soul version of Javelin. Their home recorded 5 song EP will be released on October 31, but can be already streamed in its entirety here.
Hundred in the Hands CD release party at Coco66 with Blood Orange
A quick note about an interesting electronic show in Brooklyn tonight 09.24 at Coco66 (a NYC venue that’s suddenly booking really good shows). It’s the release party for Warp Records signees Hundred in the Hands. On the bill also bicostal electro-alt-soul Blood Orange.
Blank Dogs’ free mp3 from upcoming album “Land and Fixed”
Mike Sniper, one Brooklyn’s ‘most mysterious musicians, is the man behind the freak-psych-electro-lo-fi project called Blank Dogs. Starting about 2 years ago, the singer/multi-instrumentalist released a steady stream of limited singles and EPs on reputable indie labels as Sacred Bones, HoZac and Woodsist. The fact that he sent a "blank" image whenever asked for a photo of the band (see here for example) definitely help build up the mystery. Sniper founded his own label Captured Tracks in 2008, through which he released a carefully-curated roster of artists that’s grown as quickly as Blank Dogs itself, including Dum Dum Girls’ debut EP and recent records by Beach Fossils, Wild Nothing and Minks. The news is that Blank Dogs has a new DIY record coming out in the fall and that according to the Sniper the "lo-fi" label won’t be applicable to his band from now on, as improvements in recording techniques and better equipment allowed clearer recording, as you can hear in the embedded track. Does that mean Blank Dogs isn’t weird anymore? No, it just means their music won’t grate your inner hear if you play it too loud. – Read a 2008 Deli interview with Blank Dogs here.
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Weekly Feature #219b: Brahms – Live at Glasslands, 10.03
BRAHMS’ electro, indie-pop melodies are danceable and infectious gracefully delivered. Tracks march forward with the forceful intensity of layered drums, guitars, and synths. Eric Lodwick, Drew Robinson, and Cale Parks, three admittedly spontaneous people with eclectic musical influences, spawned BRAHMS in an unplanned but natural manner. It was this process that allowed them to create their tight Coldwave power, melding their undefined differences and artistic unpredictability. The “buzz”-about-this-electro-band pun never really gets old, and in the case of BRAHMS, it’s actually totally warranted. BRAHMS have made a name for themselves in large part because of their impressively successful live openings for larger acts (e.g. Passion Pit, Delorean) and healthy sense of immediacy. The ability of BRAHMS’ expressive music to elicit both emotional and physical reactions is a true reflection of the time period from which their name originates. – Read Paul Dunn’s interview with the band here. – BRAHMS will be playing a Deli CMJ party at Brooklyn Bowl on 10.20 with Keepaway, Oberhofer and Bear Hands. See full schedule of The Deli’s CMJ parties here.
Weekly Feature #219a: Eskalators, live at Silent Barn 09.24
Eskalators are part band and part public performance piece. As if being a ska-influenced band in the Brooklyn indie scene isn’t already enough to raise some eyebrows, the band’s infamous and well-documented subway car performances have grabbed the attention of the Village Voice, the New York Post and Time Out New York. Eskalators formed in 2007 and performed their first show on—yes—an escalator in the Mall of America, and have since gone on to incorporate 18 members, including Williams. On the new record, Cats and Dogs Living Together, the band combines melodic and raw power-pop/punk vocals and power chords, a horn section, and everything from flute and glockenspiel to djembe. The songs are instantly infectious—melodic hooks abound and Williams’s vocals tap into the urgency of 20-something angst. The Eskalators aren’t totally a ska band (and to be fair, not everyone in the band grew up listening to ska) there’s enough pop melody and instrumental variety to push the band into other musical categories, and anyone with an interest in fun, energetic, and well-crafted songs should hop on board and sing along (lyrics are included with the band’s new record for that very purpose). – Read Bill Dvorak’s Q&A with the band here.
Three NYC bands compete to go to CMJ + win 10k in equipment
The Young Things, Galaxy of Tar (pictured) and Trent Hancock are the 3 NYC finalists (out of a total of 20 from all over the US) of the Sennheiser/CMJ HearIAm initiative, which will reward one band with a CMJ show at Le Poisson Rouge on October 20th and $10k in audio equipment. Fans of the bands that will participate to this initiative by casting their vote (here) will be elegible for some free CMJ badges + and a trip to NYC – all expenses paid! So I mean, even if you are already in NYC you can still get out of your 150 square feet studio and rent a luxury hotel room for 5 days, right? Semi-luxury? Ok, we’ll see…