The Guggenheim has a unique history of pairing independent-minded musicians with touring exhibitions. From 2009’s ‘It Came from Brooklyn,’ to Matthew Barney’s Cremaster Cycle freakout, the results have been mixed, but the institution has always embraced visual/aural experimentation as few museums have. But with John Chamberlain’s work taking over the rotunda for the next couple months, the museum is practically begging for musical accompaniment. In his first show since his death late last year, Manhattan artist John Chamberlain will have his colossal structures dominate the museum until May 13 in the expansive collection, John Chamberlain: Choices.

His brand of three-dimensional abstraction re-assembled the detritus of American consumerism into a Frankenstein of metal and chrome. No matter the scale of these pieces, Chamberlain always worked in enormous proportions. And the same can be said of the four musicians chosen to perform among the artist’s assemblage over the next two months.

Beginning with Portland’s Grouper and NYC’s Julianna Barwick (pictured) playing together on Fri, April 13, the museum is matching soundtrack to exhibition with Divine Ricochet. The vastness of Liz Harris’s soundscapes, coupled with Barwick’s orchestrally looped vocal arrangements, could very well cause these sculptures to float into space if things get too otherworldly. But assuming gravity has it’s way, make sure to also check out Cold Cave’s lush synth pop later next month on April 27, followed by the hypnotic Zola Jesus, when she collaborates with composer JG Thirlwell on May 10.

John Chamberlain’s maxim was always: “It’s all in the fit.” So I’ll be looking forward to seeing (and hearing) what you get when you take a loop machine and wrap its sound around auto parts. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Julianna Barwick, "Never Change" by asthmatickitty

Grouper – Alien Observer by felix-5

Birthed from Bushwick ugly warehouses and decadent weekends is a Brooklyn-based quartet called Jangula. Their new EP "Strange Child" (streaming below) takes some of those debaucherous nights and combines them with a utopian vibe that together bring to mind a post-apocalyptic Shangri-La. Their music has been described as "Beach Boys meets Joy Division" and more recently, The New Yorker compared them to the post punk UK pioneers The Monochrome Set. They are celebrating their album release at The Studio at Webster Hall on Friday, March 23rd. Get your free download of the album here and go debauch yourself you decadent thing! – Read Amanda Dissinger’s interview with the band here.

Recent Deli Artist of the Month nominees Dead Stars bring the sound of the 90s back with gusto – their grainy but extremely melodic power-trio-rock will tickle the sonic appetite of fans of early Foo Fighters. The band is premeiering the video for the single "I get By" below, and playing live at Bowery Electric tomorrow (03.23) for the anniversary party of the SoundDessert Blog. Also on the bill Cold Blood Club and Tatiana Kochkareva.

Let’s not forget why we go to shows in the first place…. we are hoping to witness an event! Late Guest at the Party are exactly that. Their music is catchy, unadorned… it’s britpop sent back to us from wherever it’s been hiding for all this time – and it’s been gone way too long. Listen to the floor-shaking bounce of ‘Icebergs’ (streaming below) or to the clave-happy rhythms of ‘Electric Bongos’ (bizarre video here). The band has distilled the pop formula to a confectionary sweetness: this is music that does exactly what it’s supposed to, it delivers the show. Don’t be late at their Pianos’ party on march 23. – Mike Levine @goldnuggets

The Dirty Grand might have the moves of late night gyrating and PBR binges baked into their dance-ready rock anthems, but a more attentive listen reveals the group’s disposition as closer in style to reflective, after-hours groups like Destroyer and The Weeknd. Beyond the novelty of carving out a place equal parts electronica and post-punk, Dirty Grand also displays a deep cynicism, providing an unsettling backdrop to their urban meditations. Listening to barnburner ‘Roman’ for instance, I’m not sure if the party’s ended or just spun a bit out of control. But this kind of anxiety suits these NY vets well. The trio includes Lou Reed’s touring guitarist and the former members of BM Linx working through some hard learned lessons, while staying out too late for their own good. And what could be more New York than that? See the band at their sophomore EP’s Release Party at Cameo on Tuesday, March 27 with Warsonic. – Mike Levine

The Loom is one of the most interesting NYC based Alt-Folk groups. Their dark songs are blessed by an impeccably sober immagination, which is perfectly matched by Ben Stamper’s imagery in this video of the song "In Your Doldrums." The band is currently on a west coast tour, they’ll be back in NYC in April.

It seems like anything shot in Super 8 format becomes instantly interesting, as if it was a projection of somebody’s memories, rather than just a primitive recording of real events. I guess the 8mm film’s approximation and lack of definition makes these videos look more like dreams or decaying memories than to real life… The format works well with Brooklyn’s own Crinkles, whose music is blurry, sleepy and undefined – see their new video for the track "Elevator" below. Don’t miss them live at Glasslands on March 28 and at Shea Stadium on April 7.

Not since Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” has a band made such intentionally inspired references to The Wizard of Oz, and made it sound so good. Though channeling a different sound than the 70’s psychedelic rockers, Brooklyn-based group The Wiyos loosely based their latest album “Twist” on the Frank Baum classic. Combining ragtime and pop, The Wiyos explored the mythical side of Oz on songs like “Tinman” and “Roll Down The Road,” giving what vocalist Michael Farkas calls the “feel of a journey.” Be sure to check out The Wiyos at Brooklyn Bridge Spring Fling on March 31, and then again at Le Poisson Rouge on April 14. – Devon Antonetti

Wave Sleep Wave is a NYC duo made up of Jerry Adler and Yuval Lion, who released two college radio hits in the early 2000s with indie band The Blam. Adler also received praise for a solo project under the Flugente moniker. Wave Sleep Wave’s self-titled debut album is due out March 27th on Curb Cut Records and features the track “Hey… What?” – streaming below. The song, loopy, layered and droney, features a bleak and sparse atmosphere which allows every sound to serve its own purpose, with Adler’s thoughtful lyrics sung with a punk attitude reminiscent of the early post-punk days. – Jen Mergott

Hi there Deli readers! I thought you all should know that there’s a seriously great show happening this Friday night at The Dunes!

Local indie-roots rock group, Alex Vans & The Hideaway will be sharing the stage with Philly’s The Makes. If you haven’t heard The Makes yet, then what you’ve been missing is a face-melting rock and roll band that will be fusing attitude-heavy guitar solos (somehow I want to say Pink Floyd meets Tool meets Radiohead) from frontman Chris Weyh with the saxophone stylings of Rick Tate (of the Roots) (yeah, seriously!).

Rick Tate will also be jamming with Alex Vans on Friday night which should make that set extra special. It’s also worth noting that Alex Vans & The Hideaways will be previewing a bunch of new songs from their upcoming release which feature a fuller, more plugged-n sound than Alex’s self titled EP.

Finally, if all of this wasn’t already enough for you to stop drooling over cherry blossoms and fleeting glances of freshly exposed summer skin and get down to The Dunes on Friday, you should know that this will be Alex Vans & The Hideaway’s last show in DC for the next several months. The band is currently scheduled to play several months of shows in Australia. When you come out this Friday, be sure to wish them well on their tour – but, be a good sport and don’t remind them that it’s actually going to be winter in Australia…Tough break!

Show info:

The Dunes (1402 Meridian PL, NW)

Doors 7 PM, Show 8 PM $10

RSVP here.

–Jarrett

These are tough times for true rawk – pop and electronic music are imposing their charming but innocuous sound on the masses of music fans, and it’s getting harder and harder to find quality and original bands with a pushy sound. LA’s own Dead Sara is certainly such band. We stumbled upon them at BuzzbandsLA.com‘s unofficial SXSW show in Austin and were impressed by the intensity of the delivery and by the songwriting. These guys sound a little as if Rage Against the Machine had a female (early) Bono as a singer, and the results are as incendiary and epic as you can imagine. Check out the video of the single "Weatherman" below, and head to Club Nokia on March 29 for the release party.

If there was a label for "horror music", like there is one for horror movies (metal would go under a separate label, the equivalent of "splatter") masters of sonic suspence White Hills would probably top that chart. If quality horror music had as much market as quality horror movies do these guys would be millionaires – I wonder why we are more prone to be scared visually than sonically. Anyhow, this new video of the single "You Dream You See" will frighten both senses. It’s taken from their brand new album "Frying on this Rock" out today on Thrill Jockey. See them live at Glasslands on 04.09 and at Mercury Lounge on 04.10.