Brooklyn solo artist COTE’s luscious dream pop continues to charm in her newest single, “Restoration.” Having recently released an accompanying video for her single “London,” filmed from the back corner of a local convenience store, this artist has come to define her style by her pure, unembellished approach to production. Her vocals in this track are reminiscent of the haunting styles of Lana Del Rey, exhibiting her balance between delicacy and power. This, combined with her nonchalant sonic demeanor, creates a clean sound that has shed its layers of excessive production. The positive spirit of her previously released single, “Meet Me In The Middle,” belongs in your ‘Morning Motivation’ playlist for when you need a bit of optimism to kick-start your day. This artist has found the middle ground between atmospheric and grounded, and aptly carries it into her timeless sound. Keep an eye out for COTE’s forthcoming album, out this November, and catch her album release show live at Union Pool on November 28.  

With digital releases dating as far back as 2008, Gabby’s World has always been a little more than a side project for Eskimaux‘s Gabrielle Smith. But the artist decided to make it her main outlet when the previous band name proved controversial for PC reasons. Beast on Beast is the first full length to come out under the new moniker, but still delivers all the goods Ms. Smith has gotten us accustomed to: her delicate melodies, introspective lyrics, and fragile voice. Single Winter Withdraw, streaming below, feels particularly appropriate at this time of year. 
Be ready to catch Gabby’s World live at Zone One on November 15 befor she leaves on a US tour with like-minded Philly artist Yowler.

There is a lot of excitement among musicians about the new musical technology brought by a new, powerful generation of synthesizers, audio plugins and guitar effect pedals – we know something about it because this blog is supported by the various music gear expo we organize. And yet, 90% or more of the new music we cover doesn’t exploit this new technology to its full potential. If it’s true that great songs don’t need special effects, it can’t be denied that the sound of indie has mostly turned stale, and that the genre is in desperate need of a sonic lift. Rock’n’roll has always been propelled by new technology: the electric guitar’s role in the early days, the Beatles’s experimental pop, Jimi Hendrix’s creative use of feedback, Robert Fripp’s tape-based music and Radiohead’s sample mangling – just to mention a few – are all proofs that new technologyand experimentation are central to the genre’s health.  
NYC’s Altopalo is one of the few local artists we’ve heard this year that’s accepting the challenge posed by this new technology. Their latest full length frozenthere is a collection of ambient-soul, experimental tracks seemingly played by an abstract orchestra of camouflaged instruments. The soulful vocals of Rahm Silverglade tie together a record whose BPM is slowed down to downtempo territory to allow and highlight the band’s sonic exploration, and that carries on the conversation Tom Yorke and company started in 2000 with Kid A.  

Chloe Lilac’s coined ‘bedroom pop’ has torn through the NYC scene with the release her latest single, “Summer,” released October 24 with an accompanying music video. Her reach, however, has not stopped there, as this new track has already accumulated over 800K streams on Spotify, gaining widespread critical acclaim in the process. This solo artist debuted her lighthearted sound with a series of three self-released singles—the first of which, “Reckless,” immediately catching industry attention with its rapid ascent to the top of pop charts. Rooted in nuanced coming-of-age themes, her carefree style brightly captures the liberated feeling of being young. Her newest 90s-inspired music video tugs at latent memories of summertime during youth, showcasing an image of reality that is tinted by wistful nostalgia. Lilac’s spirited lyrics and nonchalant sound merge to create an explosion of feel-good dream pop. Stream Chloe Lilac’s latest music video, and catch her performing “Summer” live at Mercury Lounge on December 6 with NYC-based rock group, Demi. 

Legendary, Brooklyn-born, mystery schizo-prog-rock musician Von LMO – née Frank Cavallo – was supposed to perform tonight at Market Hotel in Bushwick, but he was hit by a car making an illegal turn, and his pelvis was shattered – now he faces multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation to walk again. Von LMO is on Medicare and his expenses are only covered to a fraction of the astronomical medical expenses he faces

To help the artist offset his expenses, the show organizers have turned the event intpo a benefit to raise funds towards Von LMO’s substantial medical expenses, and a celebration of his music. A gofund me campaign is also underway.

Another NYC legend, Martin Rev from seminal ’70s electro-punk band Suicide, will now headline the show, featuring also James Chance & the Contortions. More info and tickets here.

Sean Henry, formally known as Boy Crush, disappeared into the ether for a few years. After this 2015 release, there was nothing new from the New York-based artist for a while. The silence came to an end this past summer, with the release of 10-track album Fink, which may make you regret those three years without new music even further. Fink has a shaggy sound to match the floppy hair of the man behind it, and it fits right in with other artists on the Double Double Whammy’s roster. It’s loose, at times sloppy, but in that endearing way that sucks you in. You can check out Henry’s vibe in person this November, as he is performing a few shots. That includes a stop at the Park Church Co-op in Brooklyn on November 5. – Chris Morgan

In 2016, New York band Mustardmind released the six-song EP Peep; they are back today with a double single featuring singles "Saving Face" and "Bad Juju" – we are premiering the latter here right now, while the former premiered on The Wild Honey Pie yesterday. The quartet calls themselves alternative rock, and their music does hearken back to the early ’90s, when the term became prominent through the grunge explosion. However, six-minute sprawling track "Bad Juju," with its use of synthesizers and ethereal vocals, showcases a more complex sound betraying several other influences from the ’80s to today. These two songs will be on a new EP released early in 2019, so if you like what you hear keep Mustardmind filed away for the new year. – Chris Morgan

If you aren’t on the QWAM bandwagon yet, now’s the time to jump on. Perhaps the music video for "Dirty Feet," which the New York quartet is premiering here, can serve as your jumping off point. The song, the closing track to their 2018 five-song EP Feed Me, evokes a sound that feels akin to Sleater-Kinney, right down to the vocals of frontwoman Felicia Lobo. The video, which features the band, as well as a charming little pooch named Toby, has a lot going on in it. It feels at times like QWAM had several ideas for a music video, and decided to go with all of them. However, the excess doesn’t diminish the quality of "Dirty Feet," a real standout track. Check out the video, and see the band at El Cortez in Brooklyn on September 28. – Chris Morgan

QWAM, a quartet hailing from New York, call Feed Me, their five-song EP released earlier this year, the first EP they are proud to show their moms – who were probably in their teens when the Sex Pistols’ Never Mind the Bollocks dropped in 1977. Given how good it is, they should be proud to show anybody, even the most cynical of punks out there. At its best, Feed Me is a propulsive ball of rocking energy that will warm your heart before ripping it out. If they are in your area, and they have a show at the El Cortez in Brooklyn on September 28, do yourself a favor and check them out. – Chris Morgan

NYC quartet Coco Verde will headline Baby’s All Right on September 19th to celebrate the release of their debut EP Marathon. The two singles available online, the title track (streaming below) and Cinnamon Peaches, showcase a band able to work within the sonic realms of both indie rock and folky pop, adopting tense vocals and distorted guitars in the latter track, and a more melodic and lyrical approach for the former. NYC bands Roya and The Muckers will also perform that same night.

The project of glamorous alt rock vocalist Ann Courtney and keyboardist/singer Elizabeth Carena, Mother Feather is a band born to be on a stage. Active since 2009, the group is approaching their ten year anniversary with a new single entitled "Red Hot Metal" (streaming below) and a show at Brooklyn Bazaar on September 29th. The song, a tense yet sparse post-grunge track resting on Ann Courtney’s solid alto, is among the best material the band has released so far, and will hopefully be followed by a full album (no mention of it at this stage). The band will perform live at Brooklyn Bazaar on September 29th.

A staple of the NYC resurging soul scene, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds have been churning out soul music in all its possible variations for almost two decades now. After two live albums that are a testament to the group’s fierce live performances, the group returns with a shortened moniker (just Sister Sparrow) and a new sound that takes their nu-soul in a more produced and sophisticated direction. Single Gold (streaming) is a preview of the artist’s upcoming album, scheduled for an October 12th release, and it makes the most of Arleigh Kincheloe’s larger than life vocals, carving space around them with shrewdly sparse production by Carter Matschullat.
In support of "Gold," Sister Sparrow is currently on a major U.S. tour, including several festivals and an appearance supporting Nathaniel Rateliff. New Yorkers will have a chance to see them live at Irving Plaza on December 1st.