A graceful, classical-meets-electronica convergence flows as one listens to the new MINKA album, Reincarnation. The complexity of the compositions is tastefully complemented by beat-driven movements. An elegant, serenity glides along as the vocals guide us through the seamless mergers of these recordings. It’s a more subdued MINKA than you might be used to, but in a very good way. Enjoy!

It’s been a moment since we’ve heard from Joshua Britton and his project Psalmships. Well, he’s back with a new EP, titled Keep Your Words. Haunting, folk-blues turbulence permeates. A hearty heaviness quakes as one feels the emotive impact of the music.

Led by Tyler Asay, The Tisburys have a new EP, which they’ve titled Wax Nostalgic. Exuberant folk/Americana streams in loose, catchy bursts that hit a personal chord. Meshing a sense of the optimism that one often holds in memories and ideal hypotheticals, there’s a bright, bouncy tone that lifts one up but is countered by a sadness felt in real time. The Tisburys will be performing this evening upstairs at World Cafe Live, where they’ll be joined by The 40th Parallel and Solars.

Deals, Deals, Deals!, the forthcoming album from Ramona, is scheduled to arrive on June 7 via Red Scare Industries. Directed by Ted Quann, the trio recently shared a new video for its lead single, “Not Your Token”. Agitation over a spilled beverage quickly transforms into a playful, competitive, pinball face off. And those matching/team jogging suits are stellar! Ramona will be performing next in Philly on Friday, June 21 at Kung Fu Necktie, opening for Teenage Bottlerocket, who they are currently accompanying on tour.

After listening to Eliza Bird, it isn’t very surprising to learn that the band’s name was inspired by grave stones in an old cemetery. There’s an inherent sadness in the vocals that seems to weigh heavily on the poetically obtuse lyrics, encouraging you to take a deep dive in search of the meaning behind each tale. The band, which consists of Devyn Luzniak, Jake Soojian, Peter Dampman, and Carson Hyde, “want to feel weird with you.” So check out their tunes below and our latest Featured Artist(s) interview HERE.  

Lame-O Records recently released a deluxe version of The Obsessives‘s self-titled 2017 album. The expanded 24-song tracklist offers further insight into the band’s earnestly emotive sound. Revisit the LP, and explore the previously unreleased pieces of the puzzle. The Obsessives will be performing at PhilaMOCA on Thursday, July 18, with Prince Daddy & The Hyena and Retirement Party.

Mattress Food‘s Sami Rahman recently dropped a solo release, Birdboy – EP. Drenched in synth, the album occupies a silky, soulful, R&B/hip-hop setting, which may come as a surprise compared to Mattress Food’s more noise-laced indie rock. These songs wash over in reassuring, tranquil waves. You can catch Rahman at The Fire tomorrow night, as part of a lineup that also includes yeenar, Georgey V, and Grand Rapid’s Cønrad Shøck + the Nøise.

The first singles from Slaughter Beach, Dog’s forthcoming album, Safe And Also No Fear, have arrived. “One Down,” the LP’s opener, recalls and catalogs one’s actions in an isolating, step-by-step progression. A subdued sense of routine allows a bit of sadness to enter the equation; however, it may just be a way of reviewing one’s day and clearing thoughts before going to sleep. Safe And Also No Fear is scheduled for release on August 2 via Lame-O Records.

Over the course of eight tracks, Kevin Lamarra creates a compelling, laidback, experimental folk sound on Demo. Sparse instrumentation invites you in as the shimmering acoustic guitars weave through layers of genteel vocals, gaining the harmonious, familiar feels of home. Those subtlety intricate, beautiful stacks of sonics sweep you up in their web, cultivating a comforting environment.

Krust Toons: "Why Are You Dressed Like That?" 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.

Conversations (Tone Tree Music), the new album from The Dove & The Wolf, is something worth talking about, and this Saturday, the band, led by Paloma Gil and Louise Hayat, are slated to celebrate its arrival at Johnny Brenda’s. Hypnotic harmonies and subtly layered instrumentation induce an intimate, daydreaming state. The gentle, jangly vulnerability of the songs endears with an empathetic, heart-aching honesty. They’ll be joined by multi-instrumentalist and tourmate Michelle Blades, who creates graceful, compelling, genre-experimenting pop. Shamir will also be on hand with their latest, Be the Yee, Here Comes the Haw, in tow. – Michael Colavita

More shows to hit this weekend…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Carroll, SAT The Dove & The Wolf, Shamir

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Crozet, Arch of Love

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Bring Da Ruckus: Hip Hip 90s to Now (with special guest DJ Dame Luz), SAT Cardinal Arms/Fame Lust, SUN DRAMA!, Babe Grenade, lylyly

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) FRI Mazie, Zack Krall Band, Cold Soul, J Solomon

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT Dj Baby Berlin

TLA (334 South St.) FRI A Benefit Concert for Michael Leavy: Jealousy Curve, Jeff Campbell, SAT Blac Papi, Yung K

The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) SAT So Far Gone: Dirty South Joe, Magglezzz

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Jesse Gimbel, Erin Fox, SAT (Upstairs) Native Harrow 

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Green Cathedral, Blackjack Rose, SAT The 1940s, Glass Leaf, SUN Haxon, Perennial

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Dean & Company presents: The Spectrum Series Vol. 3, The Quixote Project

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Nematode, Goodnight/Goodluck, Talk Louder!, SAT Longspells, False Tracks, SUN Effusion 35, Mr. Lisp, Secret Drawer

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Saver, Midfield, SAT The Magnificent ShitHawks Of The Greater Northern Americas, Space Caravan

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Silk City & Eric Wortham II Present: Feast of Art Part 7

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI John Gilbride, Emily Drinker, SAT Patrick Feliciano, Dizzy Valdez, SUN Katie Bird

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Tim Leslie, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St) FRI  Katie Barbato, AfroBear, Calla Bere

Century (1350 S. 29^th St.) FRI Black Cat Habitat, One Hundred Men on Mars, Baffle the Cat, SAT The Barren Marys (Tape Release), Teenage Bigfoot, The P’ids, Under 95

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SUN DJ Drootrax

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) SAT DJ Kevin Kong, Fisher, Menace Cartel, SUN Ear Me Now, DJ Lean Wit It

The Grape Room (105 Grape St) FRI Colin Lenox, SAGES, Masila Muli (w/Pet Lizard ), Goodthief, Elaine Rasnake, SAT Tubey Frank, Dweller, Andrew Huston & Friends

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI In Memorium: A Celebration of the life of Brendan Browning Lafferty: The Quelle Source, Seamus Browning, Cardillo

The Mothership (602 S. 52^nd St.) SAT Erik Ruin’s Ominous Cloud

Warehouse on Watts (923 N. Watts St.) FRI Lifecycle: Aime, Max Swan, Eric Boss

Haus of Yarga (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT The Polychromatics, Double Suede, Yeet

Son Step‘s new LP, Fossilillies, recently dropped via Grind Select. A dichotomy of calculated and free-flow, synth-soaked instrumentation converges, allowing the well-honed vocals to flourish. Within a psych-pop vessel, one is engaged on a journey of personal discovery, which retains a bright, backend buoyancy, while exploring place & purpose. Supported by Great Time and Data, you can also join Son Step at their album release show on Thursday, June 6 at Johnny Brenda’s, performing a rare four-piece set.