Sunflower Bean has been powering through the Brooklyn scene for only a little while now, but they’ve got more interest than most bands in this part of town… especially considering how young they are (just out of high school).   The band’s sound has taken a direction of clarity that a lot of Brooklyn bands seem to reject.  They employ flurries of brightly colored atmospheres along with dark and wispy vocals, taking as much time as they need to let their songs unfold into long and inexhaustible jams of psychedelic trance.  Guitarist Nick Kivlen is a whiz on the pedal board, taking after artists like Tame Impala (in fact, they have a song named after the Australian band) and Thee Oh Sees, while co-singer/basssist Julia Cumming’s intimidatingly serious presence provides an unmistakable aura of mystique. All three possess an impressive presence on stage, and a confidence truly hard to come by with bands this young. You have a lot of opportunities to see these guys: at Shea Stadium on July 09 and at Palisades the day after, and then Gigawatts fest on the 17th and Baby’s All Right on August 02. – Jake Saunders

"City", the first single off No Lands‘ upcoming debut, ‘Negative Space,’ is a sprawling landscape of buttery synthesized goodness. Opening into a flurry of smooth ambient textures, layers upon layers of motifs and pulsations begin to materialize, and much like the title of the LP presumes, it’s what comes between the pulsations that stand out.  Everything in this song is moving backwards and forwards, left and right, turning into what ends up feeling like a heavy cross between the musical terrain of M83 with the vocals of My Bloody Valentine.  Join No Lands for the album release show at Baby’s Alright on August 24th.  ‘Negative Space’ is out on July 29th. – Jake Saunders

Praise be to the band who avoids the genericism that inherently exists in so much pop music today.  In the name of all things catchy, Leapling are proving to be true masters of the hook.  “Here comes the summer/Waiting for you/Whether you want it baby/There’s nothing you can do,” the lyrics which open up their most recent release from January of last year feels like a declaration of sorts; indeed, whether we want it or not summer is upon us, just as Leapling will be.  Their infectiously catchy melodies are surrounded by shimmering guitar licks and incredibly groovy yet relaxing backbeats.  Dan Arnes’ lyrics contain a wonderful simplicity, and a voice that matches the intimacy of the late Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse).  The members of the band are all over the Brooklyn scene; Arnes and Yoni David were both founders of the now-closed venue, Big Snow Buffalo Lodge. R.J. Gordon and David are both members of Baked, and Gordon’s in a band called Lost Boy.  All great acts that you should check out.   Leapling will open things up tomorrow at the Glasslands Gallery on July 1st  so don’t be late! -Jake Saunders

You haven’t experienced Tonstartssbandht until you’ve seen them on stage. Two brothers by way of Florida, Andy and Edwin White expel a presence powerful enough to bring us close to a religious experience.  Their heavily delayed vocals and precise guitar effects create an incredibly unique yet distinctly psychedelic wash of sound, but don’t pigeon-hole them into the psych-rock genre; they harness about as many different rock n’ roll aesthetics and styles as you can imagine in just one song or – in their case – medleys.  Andy, who plays a 12-string guitar and is one of the most personable front-people out there, exhibits an incredible array of guitar tones and playing styles, with colors ranging from jangling melodies to heavily distorted break-downs.  But the single most important thing about Tonstartssbandht is their incredible spirit, we have yet to see a band come to Brooklyn with as positive an energy as these two brothers. Check out their live album they just put up on bandcamp, the release show is this Friday (that’s TOMORROW), June 27th at The Silent Barn. -Jake Saunders

Letting their songs unfold into blossoming landscapes of warm and fuzzy nostalgia, Luluc, a NYC based duo from Australia, definitely knows how to take their time.  Simple juxtapositions take precedence in their lyrics: the moon and the sun, a frown and a smile, rain or shine. This tactic allows their songs to swing from uplifting to melancholic.  “What a big smile, what a frown / You’re dancing and jumping like a clown / You choose the best dream to pull off / Then we move about to your song / Maybe fall down to your knees / In a world of make believe” they sing in “Without a Face,” a track full of sprawling and ambient acoustics, nostalgic images and tender playfulness.  If this single’s promises are kept, their upcoming LP, ‘Passerby’ – due July 15th on Sub-Pop – might very well become a summer must-listen. See them live at Pianos this Friday (06.27) and at Rough Trade on July 14. – Jake Saunders

Balancer is a three piece from Boston by way of Columbia and Puerto Rico that has finally settled in our quaint Brooklyn scene (HA… quaint, what a riot!).  Avoiding the grandiose, Balancer in their first album ‘Tipsoo’ focuses on the subtleties, which they magnify within a textured landscape of mellow ambience. Soothing synths and trance-like song structures provide an incredibly relaxing record, grabbing onto sounds and moods tweaked by bands like Givers or Grizzly Bear. Take a listen to the streaming standout track, “The Age is a Gift,” an effective melding of melting psychedelia and pop song structure. We are seeing pictures of lakes, sunsets over oceans, crystalline ice, and children on see-saws. – Jake Saunders

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