Progressive, liberation, free jazz ensemble Irreversible Entanglements just released its self-titled EP via International Anthem/Don Giovanni Records. Combining the socially conscious, poetic prowess of Camae Ayewa (a.k.a. Moor Mother) with the expansive fervor and fury collectively by Keir Neuringer (alto saxophone), Aquiles Navarro (trumpet), Luke Stewart (double bass), and Tcheser Holmes (drums), the group pushes against the status quo in a raw yet refined demonstration of resistance. Musically advancing on a non-linear, albeit absorbing path, while providing a detail-rich, sonic canvas, lyrically, the messages ring clear and direct. What may initially sound "out there" is in fact right here in front of you.

Anxiety Driven Nervous Worship, the forthcoming debut EP from Plaque Marks, is slated for release on October 27 via Learning Curve Records. Grim desperation resounds in the vocals, as a pulverizing spiral of backend and merciless guitar steamroll ahead on its new single “Oregon Chem-Trail”. Unifying members of Creepoid, Ecstatic Vision, Fight Amp, and The Powder Room sounded good in theory; now, that hypothetical can be heard, and it hits as hard as one can hope. You can catch the band at Kung Fu Necktie on Wednesday, November 15, with Bardus and Rubber. (Photo by Dante Torrieri)

Soulful R&B singer Jordan Brown initially caught our ear, collaborating with the likes of RJD2 and STS, and now, on his upcoming EP, Brown steps into the limelight. “Goodbye”, which was produced by Kayin, captures a melancholy form of love in the wake of retreat. Infusing flecks of saxophone amid the compact, cushioning snap of percussion, the song serves as a temporary letter of departure, exhibiting a heartfelt appeal to a hopeful future outcome.

The Amulet, Circa Survive’s 6th full-length album, is now available via Hopeless Records. There’s a crisp, cathartic, expressive sense of melody, as tight threads of instrumentation branch ever outward. That duality of a centered calm focuses inward while pushing the physical boundaries, creating a temporary tunnel of sonic escape. Circa Survive will be heading out on tour this fall with Thrice, CHON, and Balance & Composure, which will be pulling into the Electric Factory for a two-night run on Friday, November 24 and Saturday, November 25.

Las Vegas tranplant Shamir performed in his new hometown of Philly last week at SoFAR Sounds & Amnesty International’s worldwide concert series, which benefitted Give a Home, an Amnesty project dedicated to raising money and awareness for the world’s refugees. He also teamed up with his new neighbors Sad13, The Dove & The Wolf, and Queen of Jeans, as well as video production crew Out Of Town Films, to record a cover The Cranberries’ "Linger" at the Bok Building in South Philly. Dubbed The Dove Jeans & Sad Shamir, you can now check out their live performance video below. You can also catch The Dove & The Wolf and Queen of Jeans, along with Girlpool, at Underground Arts on Thursday, October 12, as part of Red Bull Sound Select’s "3 Days in Philly" Festival. (Photo by Out Of Town Films)

Krust Toons: "Still In Tune" by Tedd Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations and animation shorts HERE.

Hearing about the passing of Pill Friends‘ Ryan Wilson was quite a shock to us all here at The Deli. We were instant admirers of his biting, sardonic yet painstakingly truthful tunes, with both Blessed Suffering and Fade Into Nothing being chosen as our Record of Month for October 2013 and June 2014. However, more positive news recently appeared on Pill Friend’s Facebook page about the posthumous release of Let’s Be Nice, "a compilation of ryan/pill friends b-sides, covers and demos," which should be coming out soon. You can now stream the album’s heart-wrenching lead single, "Time of Need," below. <3

Square Peg Round Hole‘s Carlos Pacheco-Perez and Sean Gill have join forces with W.C. Lindsay‘s Will Lindsay and George Legatos to form Caracara. Moving from delicate, baroque compositions to more epic, post-rock crescendos and peaks, while still traversing the shadowier, more sensitive terrains of alt-rock/pop, the quartet’s diverse collection of tunes can all be found on the group’s debut LP Summer Megalith, which is now available via Flower Girl Records, the indie label of Sorority Noise’s Cam Boucher. Caracara will also be celebrating the album’s arrival this Wednesday, September 27 at Philly DIY space Everybody Hits with locals So Totally, Sixteen Jackies, and Atlanta’s World Greatest Dad. (Photo by Emily Dubin)

Summertime has come and gone, and fall is upon us. However, those in need of some music therapy can hone in on one place, and make a two-day appointment. This Friday and Saturday, World Café Live hosts the succinctly named Philly Music & Arts Fest. Among the plethora of local artists canvassing both levels, the spellbinding free-floating melodies of Kississippi, the experimental existential-searching of Eric Slick, the serenading surges of Abi Reimold, the cruising, cosmic psych-pop of Ceramic Animal, and the infectious, rumbling emotives of Cayetana. The quintet of Tiny Hueman kicks off the affair on Saturday afternoon with the endearing open-book of Dominic continuing down the line. Familiarity meets futuristic in the groove-spiraling, psych folk of Pine Barons. Exploring personal depths with a robust energetic push, Sports instantly adheres. And the episodic, comforting narratives of Slaughter Beach, Dog and the candidly soulful hip-hop, hybrid observations of Ivy Sole serves as a snapshot of a lineup that offers a solid sampling of the litany of artistic excellence within our city. – Michael Colavita

Other places where the locals will be hanging out this weekend…

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Philly Music Fest: (Upstairs) Slomo Sapiens, Kississippi, Harmony Woods, Abi Reimold, Skull Eclipses, West Philly Orchestra/(Downstairs) Chris Kasper, Eric Slick, Ceramic Animal, Work Drugs Cayetana, SAT Philly Music Fest: (Upstairs) Tiny Hueman, Sea Offs, Dominic, Local Smokes, Shannen Moser, Sports, Ivy Sole New Sound Brass/(Downstairs) Sixteen Jackies, Cheerleader, Pine Barons, Deadfellow, Slaughter Beach Dog, Strand of Oaks, SUN (Upstairs) Jeremiah Tall

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Frances Doefeen, American Trappist, Greg Mendez, SUN Matt Pond PA

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Career Crooks, SAT Phantasm (Release Show)

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI This Way To The Egress (Record Release)/Petunia, Lawn Talk/Philly Soul Syndicate/FeauXX, SAT No Gods, Assayer/Total Discharge/Fame Lust/Labyrinth, DJ Ha, SUN Full Blown Cherry/Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band, Long Hots

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SUN Remote Control

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Burlesque-N- Beyond Presents: Music To Strip Bi

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.)  FRI The Russells, Automatic Colors, Down The Way, SAT Dev79

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT Only On Weekends, Saver, Faringwell, SUN Boogieman Dela (Album Release), E. Berrios / Twiceyoung

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI 1AM, Shon Goner, Jermie Falcone, Scottie Kash, SAT Mo Lowda & The Humble, SUN Jim Stephens, Boy Wonder, Xpresidents, Melissa Clampffer

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Long Miles, SAT Soraia (Record Release)

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Muppet’s Titanium Stardust Machine, Mercury Retrograde, SUN The Tisburys, Mat Burke & The Pain Killers

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Breathing, House Plant, The Ardvark Felon

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI S.R. Frost & The Sanctuary Band, Samryebread, SAT The End A.D.

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI The Cozy, Shark Tape, Under This Fire, Stealing Fame, SAT Matt Duke, Greenough+ Wilde

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SUN Conjunto, Ensemble Novo

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT DJ Kevin Kong SUN Burnt Sienna

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SUN You’re Welcome Philadelphia

First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) SUN Solarized, Callowhill

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT DJ Haram, DJ  Delish, Andre Altrez,  SUN Yowler, Junipur

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Cavity Kids/Sidenail, Kelsey Cork, SUN The Retinas, Tremellow

LAVA Space (4134 Lancaster Ave.) SAT Manikineter, Downtrodder, Disappearances

Double H Ranch (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Loose Tooth, Clique, Yankee Bluff

 

Hardcore outfit Downtrodder‘s forthcoming EP II is marked for release on October 30. Its lead single, “Business Acumen,” serves as a snarling indictment of 45. Shifting the onus of blame and responsibility, the song tears down the facade, revealing the true motivations of the powers that be, in quick order. You’ll find the quartet at LAVA space this Saturday, September 23 as part of a bill that also includes Manikineter, Disappearances, and Spirits.

Featured on Spells, the debut album from Berdmajik, a.k.a. Donnie Felton (of Grubby Little Hands), “Circles” is steeped in a mesmerizing, electro-soul vacuum. Its corresponding video, produced by animator/videographer Andrew Knives, extends those hopeful, daydreaming vibes via a kaleidoscope of imagery. One becomes pleasantly trapped in an endless loop of optimism. You can catch Berdmajik, who is slated to perform with Sound of Ceres and Retroglyphs, on Monday, September 25 at Kung Fu Necktie.

Spirits, the debut full-length album from singer-songwriter Julia Rainer, taps into a soulful, stripped-down serenity via Creep Records. Soothing, meditative vocals illustrate a full range of emotions, tugging at one’s heartstrings. Without the weight/protection of overly complicated instrumentation, there’s a subtle, haunting nature. The shield is down, allowing the songwriting spell to take hold.