Smart, sensitive and wielding accordions, Dark Dark Dark is a nomadic tribe spreading its love of making music across the globe. Nona Marie Invie and Marshall LaCount met and almost instantly hit the road, forming Dark Dark Dark in 2007. Today the pair is joined by equally enthusiastic instrumentalists — Todd Chandler, Jonathan Kaiser, Walt McClements and Brett Bullion — who contribute to the haunting, lush melodies created by a moody mix of piano, banjos, horns, accordions, vocals and more. While known for passionate live performances, Dark Dark Dark captures this energy on its new album “Wild Go,” the follow up to its well-received EP “Bright Bright Bright.” As heard in the new single “Daydreaming,” the genre-defying music gains a dreamlike quality through Invie’s childlike vocals and personal lyrics. Members of Dark Dark Dark hail from Minneapolis, New York City and New Orleans, but belong only to the strange world they’ve together created. – Read Whitney Phaneuf interview with the band here.

The last few months were an exciting time for NYC indie rockers Grandfather – the band recorded their debut CD in Chicago with master sound engineer Steve Albini (the guy doesn’t like to be called a "producer", although he is one), and then opened for legendary post punk pioneers Mission of Burma at Maxwell at the end of January. Deli contributor Dave Cromwell had the chance to review the guys record and ask them a few questions, read the interview here.

I have one question about Alex Winston. Where does she hide the helium tank? Don’t get me wrong, Sister Wife (download link under the video) is a light and fun jaunt, with soaring melodies and satisfying hooks…but I’m serious about that helium thing. Winston’s soprano is so ethereal and high, that I feel like she’s sucking birthday balloons dry before recording each track. Kate Bush fans, rejoice! Title track "Sister Wife" catches you with the "ooooh," so hard you don’t even realize it’s about bigamy. And let me say, it’s one of the best songs about bigamy I’ve heard since…a while. Her debut EP is consistently filled with breathy girlpop dreamscapes that lets your mind wander, with enough of a backing beat to keep you from floating away – "Choice Notes" and "Fingers and Toes" especially. "Sweet James" is a stand-out, a sweet and pretty nostalgia-infused Motown crooner, conjuring visions of summer love and picnics in sunny parks. Put that one on your make-out playlist. And add "Sister Wife" too…y’know, if you’re into bigamy. – Allison Levin

DOWNLOAD: Alex Winston – Sister Wife (MP3)

Brooklyn-based band and Deli NYC favorite Very Fresh (featuring members and ex-members of Larkin Grimm, Quilty, Ava Luna, The Kitchen Cabinet, and Viva L’American Death Ray Music) will be playing their inaugural show as a full band at Bruar Falls (in Williamsburg, Brooklyn) on Wednesday, February 23rd at 8pm: 11:30 Life Size Maps 10:30 Very Fresh 9:30 Strawberry Hands 8:30 The Rex Complex $7, 21+ Very Fresh’s EP ‘Americana’ was The Deli NYC’s CD of the Month in July 2010! – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

New York catchy and upbeat popsters and recent Deli band of the month Murder Mystery will be playing this Friday night (February 11th for those not near a calendar) at Zebulon. According to the band, the show will be inspired by the great success of the Spiderman musical "Turn Off The Dark," and also include dramatic acrobatics, embarrassing technical problems, and most importantly fatal injuries – mixed with new music of course! That sounds like a winner to us. Friday night the band will be playing with Philadelphia band The Homophones and New York bands MiniBoone and Shiv Hurrah. – Leah Tribbett

Brooklyn experimental pop band Octant (whose only human band member we covered in the past and also interviewed about his crazy robotic band mates here) are playing two pre-release shows, one in Brooklyn and one in New Brunswick. The Brooklyn show is completely free and takes place on Saturday, February 19 at Pete’s Candy Store. Octant goes on at 10:00 sharp and will be joined by New Brunswick band Trintron. Available at the show will be limited edition CD versions of the record with hand-stamped covers, as well as free posters and free 1" buttons (there will also be 2.5" buttons for $2.00). The New Brunswick show will take place at CoLab Arts Space on Sunday, February 20. The doors are at 6:00, the show starts at 7:00 and Octant plays second. There will be complimentary wine and cheese while supplies last. Also playing are New Brunswick bands Trintron, Seahorse Valley and Fairychaser. The poster and 1" buttons will be free at CoLab Arts as well, but the CD versions of the record will be $5. You can listen and download a copy of the LP, or pre- order the vinyl, at Octant’s website or purchase it via iTunes. – Leah Tribbett

Deli Readers,

The Deli’s Year End Polls for Emerging artists are over (YAY!). You can find the list of winners and runners up organized by scene here.

The Deli Staff

Totally out-there dance machine Gang Gang Dance has an announcement to make. Their new album, Eye Contact is going to be out on May 10th by 4AD records. Can you wait that long? At this point, the Manhattan-based band does not have any US dates in their upcoming tour, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. Of course, if you happen to find yourself in Europe in April or early May, you can take some "Crystals" and shake your little ass off. If not, you’ll just have to be patient, like the rest of us. – allison levin

Akron/Family’s new album "S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT" was released today together with this video of the single "Silly Bears". Don’t miss the band’s show at The Knit on 02.17.

When will it be summer again??? The band Beach Fossils have to tease me with their promises of beachfront indulgence while my BedStuy backyard shows no signs of melting away its snow anytime soon. Weather aside, Beach Fossils is one more reason to think this trend of summer-drenched music is not fading away anytime soon. Their music communicates the wistful pleasures of hanging out, doing nothing and being happy with all your free time… it’s refreshing to hear a band candidly describe the creature comforts of middle-class Brooklyn hipsters. The songs never get weighty with false grandstanding, instead delivering a simple, digestable formula that could easily provide the soundtrack to your next getaway weekend. Now they have a new EP on its way courtesy of Captured Tracks, a label that has taken an active interest in curating some of Brooklyn’s finest Lo-Fi jangles. Singer/guitarist Dustin Payseur and bassist John Peña have composed 8 new tracks for What A Pleasure that includes a guest appearance from Wild Nothing’s Jack Tatum on track Out in The Way. Look for it March 8. – Mike Levine