Combining pop sensibilities with the classical textures of violins and twinkling pianos, Brooklyn’s beguiling trio, Half Waif, sends un on a dazzling journey in her album Probable Depths – which we had the chance to preview, or rather, pre-hear. With swelling vocals, billowing synths, and blinking electronic melodies that lull us into a dream, the album is both achingly private and daringly open, as if each song was a stolen glance into Plunkett’s sonic world, each painting an acutely fine and deliberate stroke of her emotive life. A mellifluous pirouette of musical resplendence, Half Waif’s Probable Depths is an aural triumph set to be released on May 6. Catch Half Waif at Baby’s All Right on May 12 for their album release show and tour kick-off. – Adriana S Ballester, photo by Adan Carlo.

If you close your eyes while listening to Negative Gemini you’ll feel like you’re floating in some technicolor daydream. The brainchild of Queen’s producer Lindsey French, has been bubbling around for a few years now but has really peaked with her recent releases. Often wielding her vocals as instruments, French delivers tunes that are dancey and emotional at once, and tightly (self-)produced. Native Gemini is set to release a new album, ‘Body Work,’ sometime this year via 100% Electronica (this will ring a bell if you’ve heard George Clanton’s work) and, if her preview singles are any indication, it’s going to be a treat. Can’t wait? Then catch Negative Gemini tomorrow, May 4, at the Good Room in Greenpoint. Who knows, maybe she’ll play some of her new stuff. But until then, “Body Work” (streaming below) and “You Never Knew” will have to do. – Adriana S Ballester

There’s a peaceful tide that will wash over you when listening to Boston’s Covey. Each track is suffused with a comforting warmth that’s echoed in the gentle guitar chords and Tom Freemans’ textured croons, a sense of familiarity permeates the simple melodies. Though they have only released two singles since 2013, Covey has already a clearly developed sound for themselves that has left us anxious for more. Keep tabs on their Facebook page for any news on new music and join Covey at Great Scott on May 10.

Ahead of the release of her latest album ‘Choreographic’ on 5/20, New York singer/songwriter Rachael Sage today premieres "I’ve Been Waiting" (streaming below) off the effort. A sultry yet warm song that smoothly melds potentially disparate genres as folk and pop, the string-lined track tells of interpersonal longing with Aimee Mann-like poetic bewitchment. "Cover me with butterfly kisses/I could be the one you haunt," Sage sings, unabashed desire sliding through. Rachael Sage will perform at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 on 5/13. – Zach Weg

Mobile Steam Unit (who recently made our list of the Best emerging NYC bands of 2015) is not your usual Brooklyn band. Their second EP, Country Raw, released this past February, is a collection of moody tracks that blend melodic and electronic elements in a personal way. While opener “Waste My Time In The City,” with its deep electronic synths and vocoded vocals,  sets a dark and weird atmosphere reminiscent of French duo Air, following track ‘VHS & SEX‘ relies on a more classic pop melody, with electric piano accompaniment evocative of Supertramp. In the remaining three songs, things keep bouncing from eerie to airy. The band will be performing at Shea Stadium on May 3rd together with Silverteeth. – Adriana S Ballester

Have you ever found yourself wondering what it would be like to fall into the world of the music videos you’ve watched? Well Boston’s rock’n’soul band Aloud is attempting to do just that with “Falling Out of Love: The Virtual Reality Experience.” By creating a video using virtual reality technology, the band will immerse you into their tracks’ journey of love and heartbreak when a long term relationship ends. The song, with slinking guitars, sensual saxophones, and Jen de la Osa’s smooth vocals, slowly builds to a climax before exhausting itself to an end–much like most relationships do. To support their virtual reality endeavor they have announced a headlining tour in three major cities, including their home base–Boston. Catch them May 5 and Hojoko @ The Verb Hotel for a VR demonstration and an intimate acoustic performance.

 

You may think that the Massachusetts three piece punk band Bugs and Rats is just noise. And you’re right. But it’s great noise. Their tracks usually start with an indiscernible, arhythmic introduction before settling into a more focused, but no less raucous, groove. The vocals often get buried under a tidal wave of furiously jagged electric guitar riffs and stop-and-drop drumming all presented to you in a lo-fi package (whose been crushed and kicked and torn, held together by some duct tape). Honestly, this is probably as close to punk as you can get without actually having lived in the punk era of the 70’s and 80’s. With simple, repetitive chords, a wall of noise so loud that it will knock you off your feet, and a brazen delivery oozing confidence and an attitude fit for Sid Vicious himself, you can expect one heck of a show from these guys. Keep a tab on their Facebook page for future shows.  

Anyone living in New York City can attest to the fact that it’s a bit of a mess, wonderful and cacophonous but also slightly terrifying and frustrating. Brooklyn based post punk quartet Journalism manages to encapsulate the nervous energy of trying to make it in this city with their new album ‘Faces.’ Bouts of energetic anxiousness permeate the songs, exacerbated by feverous guitar riffs and accentuated by the mild tension in frontman Zema’s vocals. The reverb drenched guitars pluck away tenderly in songs like “Watching and Waiting” and “Everywhere I Look” before erupting into a string of mesmerizingly fast paced chords, climaxing with “Naked.” Journalism questions if what we’re doing in the end amounts to anything, but the inherent uncertainty of it is what makes it thrilling in the first place. Catch Journalism live at Trans-Pecos in Queen on May 21 and give their album a listen.

At first you think that this band sounds like most indie rock bands: melodious guitar riffs, a fat bass chord, steady drums, and a captivating voice. But Julius Earthling quickly dispel this notion with their EP NFL Bliss, which erupts into a raucous rhythm that starts heading one way before completely changing up the tempo and heading down another path, then switching up again. It’s quirky, spastic, catchy and unpredictable which makes for one heck of a fun album. They play tonight at O’Brien’s pub so head on down for a night of great music. If you miss them make sure to keep tabs on their Facebook page for upcoming concerts.  

Just last month, Brooklyn avant-pop sextet Arthur Moon released its sonorously boisterous debut EP, ‘Our Head.’ Starting with the reverb-backed call to awareness “Room” and featuring “Bold Affair” (streaming below), a drum-nicked, Deradoorian-esque track that is as romantically audacious as its title, the four-track effort doesn’t just marvel in its ability to meld disparate genres (rock, minimalism, art-pop, amongst them) but also in the way it imbues vulnerability with calmness; one may just find solace in these beatific songs. Arthur Moon will have its debut show at National Sawdust in Williamsburg on Saturday (4/23). – Zach Weg

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

To listen to Boston based trio Tuxis Giant is to delve into the deep recesses of your mind. The rollicking guitar riffs and the gentle plucking of the chords play out like quiet, contemplative ruminations that creep up to you in the dark hours of the night. O’Conner’s voice glides over the melancholy melodies like pleading whispers before the electric guitar swells and his voice bellows over them. Tuxis Giant is the type of band you can listen to during long, midnight drives by yourself–the windows down with the wind racing past you. The band released a full length album in 2015 but just released a 4 song EP split with Traded (streaming below). Expect a full band show in a month so keep an eye on their Facebook page for details and listen to their album below!  

In a world where the lines between genres keep blurring it’s no surprise when bands or artists create works the defy fitting into any one of them. What is refreshing, though, is when they do it well. Enter Nothing, Nowhere. With self deprecatingly analytical lyrics glazed over with a layer of anger, dreamy reverb guitars, rapping, and samplings from movies and readings Nothing, Nowhere. builds tracks that take cues from emo, indie dream pop, and hip hop. Thus forging an LP (streaming below) that explores love, frustration, religion and loss of faith with an unique style. Keep an eye out on their facebook page for any future concerts.