At every junction of F!GHT N!GHT!, the 2018 offering by insect-enthusiast no-wave trio Bug Fight, the band embeds a deep sense of uncomfortable, mild dread; their wandering tempos, electric banjos, occasional gang vocals and abstruse lyricism make for a sordid listening, a mix of experimental bluegrass with dark noise rock that would make well the score for a stage adaption of any H.P. Lovecraft story. It’s these increasingly off-kilter elements that also make this EP the engaging effort that it is, one that’s a cerebral mix of narrative forays into the shared nature of men and cockroaches (“WORM”) and dynamic, drawling explosions (“The Lawnman”). Coupled with an engrossing mythos (the band’s members are identified as Old Bug, Papa Roach, and Star Bug) and esoteric liner notes and you’ve got an entrancing, beautifully strange final product. Imbibe it below, and catch Bug Fight at Planet X on Friday, February 28th. —Connor Beckett McInerney

If you relish listening to bands who are “always fast [but] hardly accurate,” in their own words, then the freewheeling punk outfit Flasyd may be your cup of tea. Their self-titled EP loses no speed over the course of three short-and-sweet tracks, all characterized by a healthy amount of bright fuzz, occasionally indiscernible lyrics, and daring percussive theatrics. Highlight minute and change “Johnny” is nothing short of a sonic defibrillation, marked by punchy drums and a scathing hardcore lyrical performance — stream it below ahead of Flasyd’s February 26th performance at Venus in Furs.

There are some days when it’s difficult to leave the house — a sentiment New York synth pop duo Boyish well understands. Their most recent bop “anxious butterball” details antisocial feelings in lurid detail, the desire to “[stand] in the corner at the back of the room,” the occasionally overwhelming nature of simple conversation, all communicated through muted vox over textured echoing electronic leads and a meandering beat. Leaving room to incorporate hazy guitar chords during the track’s more explosive chorus (while keeping things forever chill), the group captures the dissociative nature of attending a function when you’d rather be at home, of knowing a single person at the party who can help you feel grounded when just existing is difficult, rendered in an appropriately dream-like fashion. Listen below, and catch Boyish at C’mon Everybody on February 27th, presented by Indie Witches.

Newly (re)formed jangle-pop four piece Forever Honey (formerly known as Queue) evoke the late 80s / early 90s zeitgeist on “Christian,” offering soft bops, sweet licks, and playful atmosphere in their debut single. The song (and accompanying visuals) draw heavily from the “clever, no nonsense spirit of brit pop,” in turn channeling this energy into a syncopated, upbeat track, lushly orchestrated by interweaving, dreamy guitar lines. Its John Hughes-inspired video, likewise, adds to this aesthetic; the track’s poppy chorus chorus (“Christian, well you warm my hands, but will you hold my hair back?”) soundtracks images of the band playing a high school prom, all in all coloring the release with a vibrant, youthful tone, the sort of production that makes viewers and listeners feel 17 once more (but without the associated teen angst, thankfully). Watch it below ahead of Forever Honey’s next show at Alphaville on March 11th. —Connor Beckett McInerney

Uptown overdrive champs Guilty Giraffe shine on their newly released self titled LP, incorporating an aggressive smattering of varied guitar-driven subgenera over the course of ten immaculately-produced tracks. From the introductory “Babyface” the Yonkers quartet makes their love of effects pedals well-known, quickly pivoting from a shoegazing overture to dream-pop arpeggios; this dynamic blend of sounds dark and bright continues well-through album standouts like “Xanax” and “Washed Out,” wherein frontman Mathew McGinnis’s growling vox shifts between grungy, full-throated yells and plainspoken singspeak, a delightful performance that places him somewhere between Kevin Shields and Andrew WK. With acrobatic licks and a penchant for the occasional, experimental soundscape (“Cool as a Fan”), Guilty Giraffe shreds through and through — listen to our premiere stream of the record below, and catch the band at Berlin on March 1st.

T.V.O.D. (short for Television Overdose) detail generational sins and derail American exceptionalism on single “Wallmart,” infusing their patented brand of “disco-punk” into a white knuckle introduction. A post-punk vocal delivery by frontman Tyler Wright helps to establish the outfit’s raw bona fides, a raw sound made danceable (and moshable) by bright electric guitars and rapid-fire drumming. Sardonic one liners abound (“All hail the Burger King” / “Would you like a cheeseburger, I think I’m gonna black out”) to make this single the groovy protest anthem it is, one that’ll be right at home with fans of LCD Soundsystem and Franz Ferdinand. Listen below, and catch T.V.O.D. at Our Wicked Lady’s Winter Madness on February 22nd. —Connor Beckett McInerney

“Mermaids (Hafgua),” the latest single by New York artist (and erstwhile Deli NYC contributor) Susan Moon finds its niche in the space between minimalistic electronica and sound collage, a disparate collection of textures electronic and analogue. Solitary synths intertwine with the sounds of an ocean tide as Moon’s haunting vocal performance drifts through the scene, contributing to a melancholy, lonely final product. Susan Moon’s stumbling melodic phrasing, alongside her choice to incorporate field recordings embeds this track with a disorienting energy; with no percussive backbone tethering it to a familiar structure, one can’t help but feel lost at sea while listening, themselves at the whim of the artist’s winding, accessibly avant-garde craft. Stream it below, and catch Moon at the Well on February 19th, opening for Renny Conti.

The lofi indie of JW Francis has a permissive, mellow quality, the type of music you might use as the soundtrack to a Super 8 home movie of you and your friends chilling about Prospect Park on a perfect summer day — and this vibe continues with his infectiously chill latest single “Everything.” Against blue wave chords and psych production stylings, Francis’ vox lazily drifts through the scene, sliding and homespun, espousing both a desire to tell his beloved that “he wants to tell [them] everything,” but also “wants to see what we can figure out on our own.” A short sweet song on discerning life’s enchanting mysteries in time, it’s perfect for fans of artists such as Makeout Videotape or Soko — listen below ahead of his show on Thursday, February 20th at Berlin.

New York and Philly-based indie trio Personal Trainer modulate between energies hushed and explosive on debut single “Backyard,” a standout first release that demonstrates the group’s aptitude for powerfully anthemic songwriting. This is in large part due to the immense restraint that separates the track’s verses from its immediately sing-alongable chorus; underpinning lead vocalist Melina Harris’ initially quiet performance are the soft palpitations of a muted percussive backbone and feedback-adjacent guitar arpeggios, both of which come to the precipice of burning it all down before artfully scaling back. Personal Trainer’s balancing act eventually leads to a rip-roaring, instantly memorable vamp (“Well I’m making the rules as I go”), accentuated by harmonies and scorching garage rock riffs, delivering a satisfying, triumphant listen. No NYC gigs on the horizon (though they are playing in New Haven on May 26th), so stream the track below in the meantime. —Connor Beckett McInerney

A healthy dose of synth and dream pop inform “Wundergurl,” the debut single by Jersey City indie trio June Pageant, a fitting introduction to their relaxed, lounge-friendly bops. Written by members Lauren Rosato and Oscar Suh-Rodriguez (the latter formerly of no-holds barred punk project NoPop), the track quickly hits its stride, transitioning from sparse keys and percussion to a brighter, fuller sound as bright, overdriven guitar riffing emerges in the tracks second-half. This instrumental interplay between colder and warmer elements underlines Rosato’s vocal calming vocal performance, which serves as the track’s centerpiece and keeps things delightfully cool, but never sleepy. Recommended for fans of RHYE and Parcels, we’re excited to hear what else June Pageant has to offer in the (hopefully) near future — until them, stream out premiere of “Wundergurl” below.

The lyricially insightful, thinking-persons rock of Brooklyn’s Modern Diet returns with their latest single “Post Grad” premiering here on the Deli in time for Valentine’s Day. However, the sentiment expressed here focuses on an existential crisis of being, rather than traditional romantic notions. Chiming open note guitar chords, soulful keyboards, bright tambourine percussion and a progression defining bassline immediately establish wistful sentimentality for the lyrics that follow. “Sticking to the script I used to know. Making plans and standing up to go. All my old tricks slip into places as we carry on. It’s a three piece suit made of stone and it weighs a ton. Take it off for me won’t you?” These vocals are delivered with clarity touched by just the right amount of contemporary studio enhancements. Open spaces are provided in the mix for click-clack percussion and celestial rising ambiance. While the title implies what is learned after basic formal schooling, the emphasis focuses on it’s struggle. “Meanwhile I keep getting older. Go uphill, pushing my boulder – to fall down, back to the bottom and up once more,” is how the defining chorus goes. The track is available now and can be had (along with their other work) via the band’s linktree here. – Dave Cromwell

Coming off their raucous first round win at Our Wicked Lady’s Winter Madness, it’s as good a time as ever to revisit Woodstock by-way-of NYC garage band the Bobby Lees and their energetic sound. 2018’s BEAUTY PAGEANT (rerecorded last year with new tracks in a REDUX format) rips and thrills, due in no small part to Sam Quartin’s frothy vocal delivery, an unhinged, at times drawling performance that well-complements the outfit’s grungy, melodic guitar rock. Listening to PAGEANT is a breathless experience with few downtempo pauses, the majority of its tracks a breakneck, white hot fury; rendered live, it’s an absolute barnburner. Give it a listen below ahead of their Winter Madness quarterfinals performance next weekend.