Already known for her decade long activity in dreamy electronic three piece ensemble Au Revoir Simone, Annie Hart releases her first solo album Impossible Accomplice today. Self-recorded in true DIY basement style (with one of Fred Armisen’s rooms serving as the only other tracking location during a brief stay in Portland) first single and video "Hard To Be Still" (streaming below) celebrates oscilloscopes and devoted love. Heavy on deep bass synths, the chorus “you gave me what I want” and “I’ll never give you up” is an instant earworm. The video is simple, managing at once to be stilish and humorous – it even features a revealing "outtakes" section at the end that reveals how the DIY approach extended to the shooting process, not only the recording one. Catch Annie live on 9/15 at Main Drag Music (a free event featuring live keyboard looping and vibraphone, celebrating the record release), and supporting Matt Pond PA and Wild Pink on 9/25 at Brooklyn Night Bazaar. – Dave Cromwell

Former Deli Artist of the Month winners American Darlings expand their catalog with the release of their latest recording “Glow.” The six brand new tracks are available via multiple formats, and lead track “Roll With Me” (streaming below) shows the three minute power-pop anthem format is alive and well. Essential verse lyrics “days” and “haze” are as clean a rhyme as “take” and “heartbreak,” and set up an instantly catchy chorus. Crunchy guitar and handclap percussion brilliantly usher in the hook that goes: “If you say that you’re in it – come on roll with me baby. Till you say that you’re gonna – come and do what you wanna.” That perfect blend of hard rock and “first time” longing conjures up memories of influential pop bands like The Raspberries and Badfinger. You can catch them live supporting The Ataris on 9/23 at Goldsounds in Brooklyn. – Dave Cromwell  

After releasing their debut full length album “Human Ceremony” in early 2016, Brooklyn psych rockers Sunflower Bean (who graced the cover of The Deli’s 40th issue back in 2014) dropped a four song EP towards the end of that same year. Featuring cover versions of four distinct artists, “From the Basement” serves as homage to the bands diverse influences. “Old World” finds Nick Kivlen impressively channeling Jonathan Richman’s vocal phrasing and attitude on that Modern Lovers classic. A keyboard part find its way into the band’s three-piece sound, a very necessary addition in this circumstance. The country waltz of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” (also featuring an organ part, streaming below) benefits from Julia Cummings sweet voice, the way Joni Mitchell might have interpreted it in the 1970’s. “Shine A Light” captures the floating in a dream vibe Spiritualized is known for, while T Rex’s “Life’s A Gas” is turned around by another Julia vocal. Sunflower Bean will play a number of key festivals soon and support the PIXIES on tour including local shows on 9/22 in Westbury and 9/23 in Asbury Park. – Dave Cromwell

Having spent a two year period recording, mixing and finally mastering 10 fully realized tracks (while performing much of the material out at live shows) gothic rockers Autodrone released their album “This Sea Is Killing Me” at the end of 2016. That long journey produced a number of engaging results touching on a range exploring psych, darkwave, drone- and dream-pop. Opening track “49:51” is an edgy just over 2 minute ambient instrumental that leads into more structured follow-up track “Corvus” (streaming below). Making full use of classic buzzing synths, vintage organ sounds, and shimmering tremolo guitar chords, the stage is set for dreamy ethereal vocals. Even with the full band effect in motion via a solid drum track, the vocals remain angelic and unintelligible, in perfect shoegazer style. Epic closing track “Thunderbolt” mysteriously unfolds through synth pulses, cymbal rushes and passionate reverberated vocals. Autodrone plays tonight August 7th at The Bowery Electric with Mama Bear and Mélissa. – Dave Cromwell

At the end of 2016, psychedelic rockers gods released the first new tracks since their outstanding debut EP Endless Stunner (reviewed on The Deli here).  Epic track “Wash” (streaming below) builds off the lyrical hook “I got a feeling that I can’t believe.”  Exotic sounding guitar parts set a middle-eastern sitar vibe – or is that really a sitar? A powerful, droney bass, slashing cymbals and stomping drums conjure up an image of a caravan marching across mystical desert landscapes.  Deliberate and methodical, elaborate progressive instrumental sections reveal a tight interplay.  “Wash away this light that shines on me” becomes the emotional takeaway, as a dominant guitar lick mingling with whooshy rising synth rushes concludes this journey.  While gods have no live dates listed at the moment, parent band The Parlor Mob (which include a number of the same members) will headline the Saturday portion of Asbury Parks upcoming Indian Summer Fest next month. – Dave Cromwell

 Deli Austin scene Artists of the Month Glaze have earned this distinction largely on the basis of their recently released EP “Wasted Mind” (streaming in full below).  Combining lively three-piece alternative rock interplay with explosive dreamgaze elements, the four songs make for a compelling listen.  Lead track “No Surprises” features open note arpeggio guitar chords with matched bass figures propelled along by quick pattern high-hat and snare percussion.  Shredding washes of distorted guitar erupt over frenetic drumming as affecting melodies emerges via dramatic background vocals and extended guitar tones.  “Who Can Say” (which contains the EP title lyric) follows with a similar lead in structure while coming at an even quicker pace.  Along with effective quick-stop staccato breaks, there is an overwhelming romantic feel not unlike the gone (but not forgotten) Depreciation Guild (minus that bands chiptune/8 bit music underpinnings). “Mercury” adds a dreamier shimmer while advocating a desire to throw off the “nostalgia” and be “ready to be someone new.”  Final cut “Chow Mein” shifts the mood away from sentimental longings opting for the quiet-to-loud musings of “Surfer Rosa” era Pixies. – Dave Cromwell

With the recent roll out of lead single "Get Away" (streaming below), Brooklyn psych-rockers BIRDS prepare to release their debut album “Everything All At Once” on 8/18 through Greenway Records. Emerging from a two-chord progression similar to Iggy & The Stooges “Search & Destroy,” the single adds bass counter-melody and rising background vocals, positioning the track closer to a pop song. “I’ve been awake all morning, watching the light pour in. I keep away from stealing – I do my own healing,” describe the self-reflective lyrics. Catchy melodic lines unfold via speedy guitar lines woven in and around emphatic vocals. “I get away so easy” becomes the ultimate key line towards the end of a power-packed two and a half minute song. You can pre-order “Everything All At Once” now and catch them live at the Greenway Pop-Up + Free Day Show on July 8 at St. Vitus. – Dave Cromwell

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

Brooklyn musician David Van Witt records and plays live (with a band) under the name HNRY FLWR.  After spending the last two years honing his project’s live show, he found a home for his debut EP ‘Flowerama’ at NYC’s Paper Garden Records.  Opening track “Stranger” moves from somber beginnings into a bright keyboard driven anthem. Nuanced layers emerge throughout with cascading background vocals and buzzing synths.  “As Above, So Below” (streaming) slithers along like a soundtrack to some middle-eastern mystery quest film.  Ballad “Little Brother” explores the cycle of violent abuse, ultimately concluding that “now I’ve become those bruises on your arms.”  “Down In Carolina” is propelled along by a deliberate bass line under bright synthesizer enhancements.  There’s a muted, distant quality to the vocals that add an air of mystery and depth to the track.  Closing track “Context (Trans-Pecos, On A Full Moon, On A Monday)” sounds pretty much as the title suggests – this acoustic-guitar-only live track was recorded at the Queens’ venue. The EP release show is Friday 6/16 at Berlin with The Undercover Dream Lovers and Rhinestone. – Dave Cromwell

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

Emerging from their own previously established bands, Brooklyn’s Teen Vice prepares to release their debut EP Saddest Summer on July 14 via Commission Music.  Tammy Hart, who provides lead vocals and guitar, initially made a name for herself in the bands Winning Looks, Making Friendz and MEN. Bassist/vocalist Joshua Ackley and drummer Derek Pippin had long been the core of punk band The Dead Betties, previously featured on The Deli here.  Guitarist May Dantas rounds out the quartet, whose sound attempts to meld Fleetwood Mac style melodies with the punk aggression of Hole.  On featured track “Kiss It Goodbye” (streaming below) clean, jangly guitar chords establish the three chord rhythm before thrashing drums, fuzzy electric guitar and bass throb crash through.  Tammy’s vocals provide a softer touch on verse lyrics like “swear I didn’t mean it – really didn’t mean it,” while the chorus explodes with Joshua joining in on title line lyrics “so kiss it na, na, na, na, na – goodbye”.  Teen Vice will play Sunnyvale on 8/5 with The Suzan. – Dave Cromwell

As one half of influential noise-rock duo Talk Normal, Andrya Ambro graced the cover of The Deli Magazine’s Best of NYC 2010 Issue.  Since 2014 Andrya has been active in her own band Gold Dime, who are releasing their debut album ‘Nerves’ on Fire Talk Records. The band is sharing “All We Have To Be Thankful For” (streaming below) which is an expanded re-adaptation of British spoken-word artist Anne Clark’s 1982 original.  Amid percussive bursts of cymbals and jingly metallic strikes, forceful guitar chords establish a slow building progression.  Ambro recites the original spoken word lyrics describing frustration with simply trying to “not to make a mess of it all.”  Melodic bass lines emerge within a shifting landscape of background voices and sparse instrumentation.  Additional lyrics (not in the original) are presented before a wave of pure industrial noise which ultimately leads back to the original progression. Nerves is out on 6/3 with the band playing their release show on 6/3 at Alphaville. – Dave Cromwell

Premiering their latest video “Nons” exclusively here on The Deli, dreampoppers Vivienne Eastwood present a gazey journey of internal discovery.   The track’s slow motion groove, rising bassline and dramatic guitar melody would seem the perfect match for David Lynch’s newly revived Twin Peaks franchise.  With a languid minor chord feel, images of sea creatures in fish tanks are superimposed over pensive looking band members.  Mysterious notations like the wording “Friedrichsthalii 1999” appear momentarily before disappearing under the aquatics.  Using cinematic techniques like split-screen allows for dual image storytelling and a multi-view experience.  While angelic background vocals create lush emotional peaks, it’s the calmer moments that ultimately provide for deeper reflection.  Vivienne Eastwood will be playing at Brooklyn Bazaar on 5/28 with Surf Rock Is Dead and Melt. – Dave Cromwell

NYC-based, art-rocker Zach De Sorbo shares his latest video for “Party Hardy” (streaming below) under the moniker Demure For Sure.  This lead single from his forthcoming LP Tie-Dye Shadows is a two and a half minute guitar fueled psych out trip.  While the song title may sound more like an Andrew WK anthem, the track soon crosses over into an increasingly psychedelic realm.  Mad synth twiddles emerge then quickly recede for a less noisy surf-rock feel, while the video’s imagery depicts… an exploding mind:  golden wigs, masks and too-close-for-comfort, slightly-oddball plush toys vie for attention alongside lollipops, jellybean “drugs” and “Be-Bop-A-Lula.”  With the protagonist now transformed into a clown costume and party hat (not unlike David Bowie’s character in his “Ashes To Ashes” video), the imaginary nature of this “party” is fully realized.  Having a soft-character collection as your only party guests seems appropriate for the frenzied vocal and riff-driven hook punctuating each line of the chorus.  The full album is set for release in June. – Dave Cromwell