The New York synthpop duo Saint Marilyn has dropped a new EP called "Tangle." The duo of Saint Marilyn is comprised of Che Houston and Kevin Marksson, who began work on the album last spring as a deliberate departure from their existing drums-and-guitar arrangement. "Tangle" is synth-heavy and moody, with upfront basslines and battering-ram percussion anchoring celestial-sounding synth explorations. The compositions themselves are unconventional, hearkening to both disco and new wave, with extended instrumental sections throughout and Houston’s forceful-yet-ethereal vocals carrying the songs’ momentum. Overall, the sound of "Tangle" is a bold one, and it’s a success. Listen to "Matchless" below! – Ethan Ames

The debut EP entitled Burns From the Rope from Boston-via-Mystic trio Fish House drips the cool and collected confidence of seasoned vets. It’s evident from the first track, “Young People” (streaming below), that there is a certain chemistry pushing this project forward. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that the three members — Jake Benavidez (guitar, bass, vox), Kyle Torr-Brown (drums, vox), and Adam Jacey (guitar, bass, vox) — have known each other for a little over a decade. These tracks are summery without being overbearing; while undeniably upbeat, there’s definitely nothing forced here. The foot-tapping, head-bobbing, soul-infused indie rock of Fish House is not forcing you to feel anything, but rather giving you a gentle push towards the idea of taking a bad situation and making something beautiful out of it. Catch their next show at Bella Luna in Boston on June 7. – Lilly Milman, photo by Carter Howe

What’s most impressive about Kodacrome’s latest album, Think of the Children, is its ability to feel weightless. Despite the dominance of synthesizers and drum machines, which often lend a heavy hand to electronic music, Kodacrome often seems to be floating by, almost effortlessly. Its in no small part due to the vocals of Elissa LeCoque which brush gently across the music beneath. LeCoque and musical partner Ryan Casey set the ambience with minimal arrangements and preferences for analog synthesizers. It’s not until the three songs in, on the titular track, that the backing beat even builds to a strong pulse. The duo’s airy production softens the edges and makes Kodacrome’s third album a worthwhile listen as a whole. Think of the Children is out now, stream it below. – Cameron Carr

NYC singer Amy León offers a unique and powerful blend of spoken word and soul, through a delivery that fuses singing and poetry. She tackles social inequality and celebrates blackness in her most poignant track, “Burning in Birmingham,” which starts as a soul ballad and turns to spoken word: “Didn’t I die for them? / Didn’t we do this already? / Who let Jim back in the White House?” Her voice is soothing, her lyrics stop-you-in-your-tracks striking, and her music builds to a point where it sounds as if it might burst. The way she reaches a chaotic, bustling climax in both “Burning in Birmingham” and “Child of the Sun” seems to express some sort of catharsis for León, a form of healing through art. Don’t miss the chance to see her unique style on June 5th at Baby’s All Right. -Lily Crandall

Forth Wanderers‘ new self-titled album, their Sub Pop debut, is symphonic and rollicking. The band’s songwriting duo – Ben Guterl on guitar and Ava Trilling penning lyrics – are perpetually in sync, despite often writing at a physical distance. The five-piece band’s members are rarely in the same place at once (they’re all college students in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Ohio, respectively). Despite this, their chemistry and synchronization as a band is abundantly evident on this release. "Forth Wanderers" is a triumph, bursting with angst and dissonance while maintaining an innate pop appeal. This album has something for just about everyone who has an ear for good songs – it’s bright and jangly at times, distorted and gnashing at others, and it always has something to say. Stream "Not For Me" below! – Ethan Ames

In this new age of bedroom pop and DIY everything, Georgia’s band Triathalon, who recently resettled in NYC, offers a sound all its own, blending elements as varied as soul, pop, jazz, and electro. Attempting to label their music proves challenging – and that’s part of the plan, since they state that they "work towards a sound that can’t easily be defined.” Thriathalon’s first two EP sounded like rather unfocused takes on anything within the indie realm, from dream pop to slacker rock. Third LP Online, released earlier in 2018, sounds like music made by a different band altogether: the production is more mature, the sound more focused, and a newfound passion for soul seems to have shuffled the band’s sonic cards. “Hard to Move” is reminiscent of a lo-fi, "synthy" version of Michael Jackson’s “Blame it on the Boogie,” while “3” is backed with a thumping bass verse that cleverly transitions to a jazz-inspired keyboard interlude. This is a band with lots of potential, check them out live on June 1st at Mercury Lounge. -Lily Crandall

Harnessing the power of her weathered yet powerful voice, Felicity channels emotional turmoil into triumph on “Pilot with a Fear of Heights”. The new single from the Australian-born, South African-raised New York resident mirrors her anxieties about destiny’s role in love, both sonically and lyrically. Opening with haunting vocals before being jolted alive with grandiose production flourishes and a gospel-tinged chorus, the artist fatally remarks about the anxieties that come with falling in love. However, instead of wallowing in this emotional conflict, she surrenders to whatever her fate may be as she boldly sings about free-falling through life. This moment is rapturous and heart-racing, and she sounds fearless when the chorus builds up one final time. It’s reminiscent of Kesha’s 2017 single “Praying”, but Felicity’s vocals combined with the dynamic production offer something more vibrant without losing any of its radiance or catharsis. – Tucker Pennington

quest?onmarc’s brand of house music balanced moments of wild fervor and restrained beauty, creating tracks that can be as uneasy as they are energetic. The Qween Beat affiliate describes their music as ballroom house, a mixture of traditional house music with theatrical elements traditionally found in vogue performance. With their new single “Ok!”, however, they set their sights on a more traditional and uptempo sound without losing the heart-racing nature of their previous releases. Skipping along with tight synths and an off-kilter drums, there are traces of footwork and juke, but the consistently thunderous beat marks a distinct shift towards a more danceable and bigger sound. With the only vocals being periodic interruptions from a monotone voice saying “ok”, the artist has crafted a song that sounds like it was forged in clubs but meant for arenas. quest?onmarc will be performing their unique blend of club and footwork as a part of Jubilee’s Magic City on the rooftop of Elsewhere on Saturday, June 2. Check out their newest single “Ok!” below. – Tucker Pennington

Throwin’ Bo’s is shaking it up this month, with an R&B and hip-hop influenced lineup that leans heavily towards the experimental. From the moody and mesmerizing avant-soul of LA-via-Boston-via-UK-via-Hong Kong songstress Cehryl (pronounced Cheryl), to the eerie and unsettling flow of San Francisco’s own Mr. Yote, to the infectious bounce of Oakland’s Just Rese, this may be the best showcase yet. If you’re still unconvinced, the proof is in the playlist, which you can stream below. – Lilly Milman

This event will be on Thursday, June 7 at 9 pm. Throwin’ Bo’s is a monthly 21+ showcase held at The Elbo Room. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. RSVP on Facebook here.

“I’m so dumb / I don’t think before I speak,” proclaim the opening lines of “Cool Me,” the first track off the self-titled debut LP by Stamford, Connecticut’s Chousand. The rest of the 10 track debut follows the same route of self-deprecation so blunt that it inexplicably makes you smile, in true pop punk fashion. From the aggressively careless “Subaru” to the anxiety-ridden “I’m All Gums,” this album is a triumph — a tongue-in-cheek salute to shouting with a beer in your hand and a smile on your face. They will be playing their album release show at The Shamrock in Waterbury, CT on June 16th at 7 pm. Until then, stream all of Chousand below. – Lilly Milman

There are currently three singles out from The Dreebs‘ upcoming album Forest Of A Crew and each is a dark, musically mysterious taste of the band. The three members have all spent time with New York avant-punk group PC Worship and it shows. Adam Markiewicz fronts with half-shouted, half-rapped vocals and dissonant, droning violin that would make John Cale and the Velvet Underground proud, Jordan Bernstein’s guitar contributions are twisted into metallic clangs, and Shannon Sigley’s drums thump with a dark fervor. The Dreebs will co-headline a release show at Secret Project Robot on May 31, the day before Forest Of A Crew is released via Ramp Local Records, alongside The Sediment Club, who released Stucco Theives on May 25. – Cameron Carr

Gearing up for the release of their debut album Poach via Modern Sky Entertainment, Brooklyn-based indie rockers Navy Gangs are preparing to kick off an over 30 date North American tour. After their well received 2016 self-titled four song EP, the upcoming full-length (expected in early August) boasts an ambitious 14 tracks, which was mixed and mastered by six string indie virtuoso Delicate Steve Marion. Lead single “Housekeeping” shows his touch on the guitar sound production, with its brightly buzzing riffs and distorted jungle rhythm. The easy-going slacker rock groove is accompanied by a tale of new roommate remodeling. “You’ve really made yourself at home” begins a conversational story capped by the ultimate compliment “it’s your own feng shui.” The closest thing to a chorus comes by way of the repeated line “I really love what you’ve done with the place,” capably serving as hook and emotional center.  The tour begins with a show on 5/31 at Trans-Pecos with support from Poppies and Dan English. – Dave Cromwell