A danceable psych-pop tune inspired by the homeless epidemic in our sunny city, “Hail the Madmen” is the first single from newbies, Honeymoon. Despite the heavy subject matter, this is a tune you want to blast rolling down Sunset with the top down. Layers of psychedelic synths swirl over funky bass lines and dreamy guitar licks allowing the conscious message to be an easy pill to swallow. This LA-by-way-of-Australia duo have been working on their debut full length over the past year, with an expected summer release. – Jacqueline Caruso

Los Angeles prog metal outfit Intronaut always keep you in an addled state of unease, constantly counterpointing their intricate arrangements between ambling, burnished guitars and soaring melodic lines. "Sore Sight for Eyes" perfectly exemplifies this in how it seamlessly shifts from shock to bliss with its’ textured, multi-hued sections and outré time signatures, but it never comes off as forcefully technical. Their latest full-length, Habitual Levitations, was just released this week via Century Media Records. 

The newest single off their full length release, ‘Island Universe,’ out on Innovative Leisure, “Big Mother” packs a serious punch. An in your face garage-y psych rock tune that’s punk rock short, and full of those sexy, Grace Slick style vocals from frontwoman, Jessie Jones that make you swoon and sweat. The video is cheeky and fun. It’s the best kind of tease, sure to send you straight to your e-retailer of choice to buy the whole album. Feeding People will join The Black Lips, Nick Waterhouse, and many more at Burgerama Day 1 on March 22 at The Observatory in Santa Ana. – Jacqueline Caruso

The glory days of house music were heavily marked with a physicality that could be both seductive and goofy. This has translated in revival house acts like Pharaohs, whose exuberant track "Miraculous Feet" takes you right to the dance floor with a wobbly synth line that insists on going and going until your feet can’t take it anymore. And then there’s that sinuous bass lines that’s juxtaposed with Maria Minerva’s cut-and-dried vocals, explicitly implying the rise of a sexual urge that’s triggered by a stranger’s irresistible moves. The group’s debut full length, Replicant Moods, comes out on April 20th via LA label 100% Silk.  

Shreveport, LA five-piece Engine truly know their way around a shimmering pop hook. The fuzzy, amplified drone and moaning guitars that open "Lands of Sleep" vaguely recall the Flaming Lips in their mid-nineties period. It is fueled with a subtle swagger that is just begging for release. And then it does in a big, big way – the song’s finale breaks into an athemic refrain that emphasizes its spindly guitar lines and histrionic harmonies. The video comes off the album of the same name, which was self-released through bandcamp late last year.

 Former Depreciation Guild and Pains of Being Pure at Heart guitarist Christoph Hochheim has created a new solo project called Ablebody, and will be premiering his new songs live at SXSW. Appearing to have put aside his primary instrument in favor of synths, samplers and a laptop, the most surprising aspect of All My Everybody is how the vocals are much stronger than anyone could have anticipated (since he never sang in either of those bands). The recently released 5 song EP’s cover image is a seated body with no head, placing clear emphasis on the band name’s meaning. That of an able body, ready for instructions.

Chimes on the dominant beat accentuate the multilayered atmospherics of first single “Sally Hot Jazz.” With vocals that evoke Tears For Fears at their peak, (“Sowing The Seeds Of Love”) the chord progression does in fact touch the edges of actual jazz. Wonderfully streamlined at under three minutes in length, impeccably crisp synth textures share sonic space with a marching, natural sounding percussion (capably supplied by former Depreciation Guild band member and twin brother Anton) while otherworldly sine waves build to a sunburst conclusion.

“No Room For I” expands on this sonic palette as its near five minutes in length would allow. Brief moments of sparser instrumentation encourages focus on the emotion being conveyed. Curiously, this wonderfully strange and mysterious song’s title does not seem to be mentioned even once. However, hook sequences with the repeated lyrics “one more night” and “I can see your eyes” create the sense of wonder as to why it wasn’t called either of those. Vocal placement is artfully crafted here as deeper harmony cascades under the higher register lead.

The cleverly titled “Phantasy” pops along a synth bass and danceable beat with those wonderful chiming bell sound samples at the forefront. Using perhaps The Pet Shop Boys as a reference point this time, the bridges are still more sophisticated structurally, with minor chord passages lifting the track above mindless dancefloor fare. “Quick & Painless” slows everything down significantly; with its near dirge-like pacing, the chirping synth textures evoke “The Man Who Fell To Earth” era David Bowie. The overall feeling is as reverential as seeing sunlight streaming through a cathedral’s stained glass window.

Closing track “Sister Marie” is a Harry Nilsson composition that surprises, not only as a cover choice, but also in its execution. Presenting this one as something you might hear on a post-Pink Floyd Syd Barrett solo album, it is perhaps a fitting conclusion to a most creative debut. – Dave Cromwell

Electro-pop duo, holychild, have released the video for their feel-good summertime jam “Best Friends.” Filled with spastic dancing, confetti, and youthful shenanigans, the video is set in the bizarre wasteland of Bombay Beach, focusing heavily on the frontwoman of the group, Elizabeth Nistico. In the vein of Sleigh Bells, the tune has a kids in the schoolyard, sun-drenched pop tilt, but with an ever-growing undercurrent of chaos that drives it forward. The ominous moaning and jarring sound design between chorus and verse leave you feeling unsettled, as though something sinister is afoot. The juxtaposition makes for a dynamic, yet still playfully fun song. Peep the video below, and catch them at the Hotel Cafe on March 21. – Jacqueline Caruso

There’s no stopping Post-Surf/Garage Pop band, Cotillon. Their debut EP, Votive Flower, was released in October, and they’re already presenting their second offering – the less heartbroken ‘White Roses’ EP. This second dose still carries the same moodiness, pep and youthful vigor, but with more cohesive, stylized production, and more assured songwriting. Standouts “Talk to Her” and “Tijuana” are filled with frontman Jordan Corso’s slacker vocal moments and the amazing guitar work from Zach Miller we loved on the first EP. ‘White Roses’ is equal parts nostalgia, peyote-drenched romanticism, laissez-faire francophilia, and post-post-modern anxiety. Stream the entire EP before it’s release on March 14, to be celebrated with a release show at The Echo on the same day, with support from Raw Geronimo and Free Moral Agents. – Jacqueline Caruso

Los Angeles trio Beware of Darkness are all about the attitude – "Howl" the first reveal off their upcoming debut release, Orthodox, epitomizes a classic brand of guitar rock built around sharp-toothed riffs and thumping rhytmic grooves that is seldom seen as inspiration for the new wave of bands currently at the top of the modern rock charts. Yes, there is some of that smoky, jam-oriented approach the Black Keys popularized ever since they released Brothers, but their skeletal arrangements dominate with an urgency that is all their own; their raucous, whiskey-infused sound screams instant gratification. With a confidence that cannot be ignored, the gritty, bluesy tones of Beware the Darkness are too potent and pervasive to think that they merely replicate the sounds of a seventies jukebox. Orthodox will be released on May 7th via Bright Antenna Records.

Robotanists have recently been in the studio prepping for a new album, and have released a sneak peek demo and unofficial video for fans to get a glimpse of what’s to come. The track, called "No Loss Really," was created mostly of first takes, and will be re-recorded for the group’s next album, Make It Count, due out later this year.

Hailing from Redondo Beach, the avant-garde alt-rock trio, Yolk, is the brain-child of siblings Asia and Matt Graves, along with Travis Brown. While they may be self-proclaimed “weirdos” making “alien pop,” their most recent single, “Lighthouse” has some serious radio-friendly production and melodies that will be stuck in your head for days. From the moment the melancholic Erhu weaves it’s other-worldly moans into the verse it becomes clear there is depth to the creative power lying within this trio. What truly dominates this track, though, is Asia’s striking vocal prowess. Her voice is grounded and strong in the verses, but soars with tender vulnerability in the chorus. Having just the right amount of Indie pop flair, textural sound design, and modern rock punch, “Lighthouse” has put Yolk on the Band to Watch List.- Jacqueline Caruso

Future funk duo and most recent Artist of the Month poll winners, Maximum Hedrum, are set to release their debut album on March 19. In anticipation, they have released a video for their first single, “Keep in Touch,” a track that just happens to feature George Clinton. The video, co-directed by band member, Sam Spiegel, chronicles a true-life inspired story featuring Javier Silcook, a young man with cerebral palsy. It explores themes of intimacy and connectivity in an increasingly sterile and technology-driven world. – Jacqueline Caruso