For those lacking Vitamin D during the balmy season, nine out of ten doctors* recommend a quick injection of sunny, jangling rock n roll. To that end, do yourself a favor and stream Lois, the latest offering by NJ-based garage band Shred Flinstone. Never too discordant and propelled forward by a healthy dose of power chords (and the occasional classic film sample), the record’s a bright listen, bolstered by sweet twee vocals and clean guitar production; standout “Nemo” winds and kicks with driving drumming, laying down an energetic track able to kick any seasonal affective disorder. Listen below, and see Shred shred at the Meatlocker on February 22nd (trust us, it’s worth crossing the Hudson River for).

*not real doctors obviously

Contemporary electronic music has never been as delectably weird as it has been this past decade, with producers and artist more inclined towards incorporating strange, tactile textures into their craft. I.D.E.N.T.I.T.Y is the newest entry into this canon, a minimal debut by NYC duo Minutes Unlimited; with the right amount of tingle-inducing sonic accents, a healthy dose of synth and static, and an ever-wobbling bass presence, the two person group artfully craft an idiosyncratic sound. Replete with a layered sound that’s engaging but never too heavy, I.D.E.N.T.I.T.Y is a carefully balanced LP that will immediately resonate with fans of esoteric acts like Vegyn or SOPHIE — give it a listen below.

photo credit: Mike Cardiello

Alexander B. Lappin aka Albon, began making music in his Northern Chicago suburban bedroom when he was but a boy of twelve. He eventually made his way over to California, where he makes folk rock music with Beach Boys and Grizzly Bear influences; we hear a touch of REM and a little Magnetic Fields, too. This new single off Albon’s Dream Weaver//Bee Keeper has a fun yet distressed energy about it. Lappin says of this song’s creation story that it was “…written in a pretty funny way!” Lappin and some friends were filming a tequila commercial and they all took a tiny bite of mushroom to go with that tequila. “I ended up on a roof where I was still very sad about my breakup but was also very high on this little stem of mushroom. I ended up laughing as hard as I ever had and then crying hysterically. It was all very cathartic. After words me and my two friends went for pancakes at some classic diner. I then went home and wrote this song." We do love a good story. The Deli is proud to premiere Albon’s single, “Kids on Fire.” –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor 

The story of Rorschached, the latest offering by NYC indie four piece Miracle Sweepstakes, involves several rounds of demoing tracks, a zip folder entailing twenty five songs, a failed basement recording session and a power outage inducing snowstorm. Three eventful years later, Miracle Sweepstakes offer their tie dyed effort to us, a psych-tinged LP of bright late 60s vocals and riffing abound. Fans of Unknown Mortal Orchestra and post Oracular Spectacular MGMT will appreciate the vintage depth of sound present on each of the album’s eleven tracks paired with the band’s inclination for contemporary songwriting — standout tracks “Black Bouquet” and opener “Forcefield” artfully split this difference, delivering lush listens and warm instrumental vamps. Give it a full listen below.

Photo cred: Brittany Powers

Latin-infused live drums form percussive harmonies with synthesizers and drum machines to create an other-worldly listening experience. The Seshen, known for their fusion of synth-pop, R&B and electronic music, is a six-piece Bay Area ensemble with powerful messages and relaxing beats. Lalin St. Juste’s vocals have just the right amount of mysticism, wisdom and grounding presence. Single “Don’t Answer” arrives today off the band’s third album, CYAN, out on Feb 28 via Tru Thoughts, along with the song’s video, featuring mystic lades of the ocean. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Last week funky pop boys More Fatter released the video for their single “Yeah You” and it is a fun and spunky time. Filmed at San Francisco’s Dolores Park, the video features the cuatro doing synchronized, shoeless dance moves, some poppin’ lady dancers and loads of onlookers and smilers. Props to the kiddo who slides down the slide right into the band. Like most of their tracks, “Yeah You” has got some great trombone highlights and it’s fun to see those things in action. Check out More Fatter’s video and let yourself feel the young energy. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

While Brooklyn shoegaze newcomers Minaxi gear up for the release of their debut LP Khwab, last year’s similarly monosyllabic Zidd is a heavy, pedal-friendly extended play, a release that doesn’t eschew melodic, alt rock sounds and the muted, introspective vocals we’ve come to expect of the subgenre. EP standout “In The Blur” hits all the right notes; grungy vox, heavy effects, and the right amount of somber sweetness to induce a healthy degree of ennui. A good tune for an evening M train commute, give it a spin below ahead of Minaxi’s Alphaville show on January 15th.

Today Oakland’s The Saxophones released the second single off their forthcoming, sophomore album Eternity Bay (out March 6 on Full Time Hobby). The song is a fusion of jazz, quiet pop and folk. Vocalist Alexi Erenkov says of the album, "While this record was influenced by a broad range of music the through line seems to be conveying a strong mood or sense of place. I love music that transports listeners to another space, whether it’s Jonathan Richman making you feel like you’re walking the streets of Boston in ‘I Love Hot Nights’ or Arthur Lyman transporting you to a Hawaiian hotel lobby in the 50s." Erenkov and wife Alison Alderdice create songs that live up to that transportive feel. Catch their latest single here and be on the look out for upcoming tour dates and Eternity Bay. –Lucille Faulkner

Emerging five years after the joint release of double albums ! and ?, Sean Cronin’s Very Good bursts back onto the New York scene with the timely release of new record Adulthood. The ragtag band of banjoleles, clarinet, plectrum resophonic guitar and tuba belie Cronin’s New Orleans jazz background, superimposed over contemporary indie-inspired songwriting, freak folk gang vocals, and forays into the theatric; in short, there’s no shortage of disparate threads Very Good has weaved into this impressively diverse nine track offering. As so much of this LP was inspired by the “several musical lifetimes” lived prior to its release, Adulthood very much lives up to its namesake, a sonic memoir that represents differing influences that magically congeals into a cohesive, functioning album, a smattering of eclectic folk and chamber pop that delights and surprises the listener at every turn. Stream it below, and catch the band at the Ace Hotel on January 19th. —Connor Beckett McInerney

A persistent sense of dread dominates “Gracie,” the latest music video by Brooklyn-based indie outfit LAPéCHE. Perhaps it’s the synergy of outdated televisions and a 1950s costume aesthetic that seems inherently Lynchian — alternatively, the track’s dramatic vocal performance by Krista Holly Diem and esoteric lyrics create for a somber listen external to any aesthetic accompaniment. Regardless, “Gracie” is a compelling visual, seemingly existent in a universe of its own, that showcase the New York four piece’s ear for harmonically minor melodies and engaging, interweaving guitar work, a track that will immediately resonate with enthusiasts of darker post-punk. Watch it below, and see LAPéCHE at Gold Sounds on January 30th.

NYC and Iowa-based musician Pictoria Vark is fresh off her first 2020 show at Muchmores — as she hits the road for her ongoing winter tour, her self-titled remains a collection of sad and predominantly quiet tunes inspired by feelings of inertia, a soundtrack for quiet contemplation and personal crossroads. Written around the experiences of “being home, being young, quitting music, and falling out of love,” the EP is a venerable endeavor, punctuated by the artist’s dedication to radical honesty and a minimalistic instrumental approach, a succinct release for those seeking a fresh voice. Stream it below. Photo by Kevin Jiang

Imagining the haunted machinations of a drum machine is a good way to begin to understand Ghost Piss’s sound. Songwriter and purveyor of 808s River Allen excels at creating spacey electro-pop with off-kilter subject matter, from her ode to Stranger Things’s Nancy Kerrigan (“Nancy, Oh Nancy”) to her celebration of shiny teeth enthusiasts (“I’m Chip Skylark”). Underscored by echoing beats, atmospheric vocals, and a minimalist mindset, Allen’s tracks bring an experimental, dance-friendly soundtrack for nights out on the town or a private disco in your own bedroom; give it a listen below, and see Ghost Piss at Berlin on January 16th, alongside Den-Mate, The Spookfish, and Loren Beri.