The idea that our world is the result of musical vibrations and clang phenomena is an old one – fortunately, there are bands like Glad Hearts that, through their musical sense and harmonious interplay, remind us of this philosophical intuition. While listening to this New Jersey based four piece it may easily happen that you find yourself in another world where bells are broken or – to quote the band’s lyrics – “a needle melts wax”. Although at times melancholic and thought-provoking, Glad Hearts, as their name suggests, succeed in bringing forth the joy and naturalness inherent in music, shining with a uniquely diverse and dense sound derived from a huge instrumental assortment that brings the fantastic into the everyday. Their country-tinged indie folk rock album “The Oak and the Acorn” is a promising and multifaceted output – you’re in for a treat! – Read Susi Muhr interview with the band here.
This video from Obits is a lot of fun. The only thing we wonder is… was it really necessary to get each band member to sing the song with the head upside down? Wouldn’t have it been easier to turn the camera upside down? If you are planning on having a true Rock’n’Roll New Year’s Eve Party this year, Obits will play at the The Bell Hourse on 12.31.
Western Vinyl (current or former home of Balmorhea, Dirty Projectors, Here We Go Magic, Ola Podrida, J. Tillman, and more) will release Tomorrow Becomes You, the new album by NYC’s own Slow Six, on January 26th, 2010. Deli interview with the band from about one year ago here.
Diehard is a super catchy, no-fuss 4 person guitar pop band reminiscent of the indie rock darlings of the late ’90s. They may have the same name as that hit Bruce Willis film, but their music is better suited for all those great high school teen flicks that contributed to forging many into hipsters (think "10 Things I Hate About You"). Diehard’s vibrant electric guitar wall of sound and their strong melodies reveal the band’s obsession for artists like Dinosaur JR and Pavement – something we definitely share with them. The characteristic fragile vocal style is recreated here with a delicate harmonizing of male and female voices – the beauty of their melodies perfectly balanced by the "beastie" power trio sound. Look forward to their 5 song EP, "Oh So Premier", set to be released in January of 2010. By the way, there’s a song called "Back to the Future IV"! How can you not be excited?
The Big Apple is a bit sweeter because of the rich sounds of Hilary Hawke. The musician combines an extensive musical education in clarinet with her experimentation in classical guitar and a rustic skill of banjo playing. The result is a lil’ bit country, a lil’ bit rock ’n soul – a sound created all within the bustling city streets of Brooklyn. The emotional lyrics and soothing arrangements of Hawke’s debut release, “Goodwill,” showcase her broad talent. Hawke plucks and strums her way through the banjo to create music that ranges from dark and alluring to energetic and cheerful. Her piercing vocals blend effortlessly within the sharp, choppy notes of the banjo on each track of the CD. The jug band experience intensifies with the dynamic presence of her large background band (complete with such instruments as the fiddle, mandolin and trombone). It’s pure instrumental bliss. Hilary Hawke plays Rodeo bar of 11.30. – CM
Led by Long Island-bred songwriter Mike Savino, Tall Tall Trees competently executes a sound influenced by traditional American roots music, incorporating elements of folk and country. Largely built around meandering banjo lines, the songs of Tall Tall Trees are often upbeat and always melodic; “Bubble Gum” is an especially poppy gem featuring appropriately sweet vocal harmonies. While “The Ballad of Sallie Mae” may be, lyrically, a ham-handed attempt at tongue-in-cheekiness, its intricate song structure and the integration of fiddle and backcountry percussion make it an interesting and representative track. The band only stumbles when overproduction becomes an issue; the crisp, bright guitar and drum sounds of “I Got You” hit a little too close to contemporary pop-country radio territory for comfort. Ultimately, however, Tall Tall Trees successfully captures the rural feeling Savino’s tunes are designed to evoke, which is a laudable feat for a big-city East Coast band to accomplish. The band has a busy December live schedule with shows at Pete’s Candy’s Store (12.03) Hank’s Saloon (12.11) and Union Pool (12.18).
Here’s the new music video for the song "Sugar Pill" from The Bravery. This video was directed by the band’s bass player Mike Hindert, the same person who directed the band’s previous chilling clip for "Hatefuck." The new album by The Bravery, Stir The Blood, comes out on December 1.
Kite Operations‘ third full-length album FESTIVAL it out now on Actually, Records. Filled with visceral noise spirituals, ‘Festival’ is a joyous exaltation for the no-wave set; an exhilarating testament to the band’s ability to infuse dissonant experimentation with the emotionally incisive. "…rock that’ll shock your testicles like Kabangers. Heavy on guitar feedback madness, straight up noise, and dadaist vocals, the Asian American sound is now officially over. The [New York] band killed it brilliantly…" – Giant Robot "With its deep lyricism and carefully constructed accompaniment, ‘Festival’ is an unparalleled mixture of celebration, emotion and passion." – Lucid Forge "Free-jazz inspired noise-rock improv-spazz-pop. Sounds like Don Caballero meets Cap’n Jazz plus more noise. Super energetic and fierce." – KUCI 88.9fm The album release party on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at Bar Matchless in Greenpoint, Brooklyn brings together many of the band’s labelmates and friends from around the country, with performances by: Grapefruit Experiment (VA) Faello Nor (Boston) XYZR_KX (Chicago) Jienan Yuan (Chicago) The Gold Medalists (SF) Jack Tung (SF) Kite Operations and DJ sets by Zach Lipkins Doors at 6:00 PM Admission $8, 21+ (Please bring ID) Bar Matchless 557 Manhattan Ave.(corner of Driggs and Manhattan) Greenpoint, Brooklyn – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).
Talk Normal is a NYC band that is gathering more and more recognition. Here at the Deli we have are fascinated by noise and tense atmospheres… enjoy this video, and don’t miss their live show at the Music Hall of Wburg on November 24 with Sonic Youth!
Bed-Stuy-based Kagero’s newest record “Japanese Gypsy Rock,” due out November 19, 2009, is appropriately titled for the band’s striking fusion of sounds from around the world. Taking lead on violin, J.W. masters Eastern-inspired fiddle glissandos and double-stops, while bassist/vocalist Rob Simpson adds a salsa swing and klezmer kick. Kaz Fujimoto, defines “Japanese Gypsy Rock:” hailing from Japan, entertaining in a lounge-meets-Bohemian vocal style, and accessorizing each track with flamenco guitar and select Spanish phrases on standout tracks “My Little Bonita,” “1 + 2 Is Almost 5,” “Red and Black,” and “Grappa. Guest musicians, Georgie Markov (drums), Yoed (cello), Wynn Yamami (chindon, aka Japanese drum), and Emilio (trumpet) ably enhance “JGR” in these notable selections. Rooted in uplifting elements from eclectic origins, "Japanese Gypsy Rock" unites Kagero’s musical influences and talents into a cross-culture dance party. – Meijin Bruttomesso
Ivana XL’s music sounds like it’d perfectly complement a Tim Burton landscape, as it conjures shadowy forests, stretching fog fingers and creaking attics in Antebellum mansions. Her breathy, beautiful voice floats atop the complex arrangements like a chilly breeze sneaking into the room through a drafty window. The sparse, almost haunted songs sound like something Joanna Newsom might produce if she spent an entire winter in the house from "The Shining" taking Xanax and staring into the snow-blanketed landscape. Though IvanaXL is essentially just one woman with an acoustic guitar, her music brilliantly defies the tones and tropes so often associated with that set-up. The term "singer-songwriter" couldn’t be more misleading than in the case of this promising young Brooklynite. – Read David Schneider interview with Ivana here, and see Ivana live at The Outpost (Clinton Hill) on 11.21.
Although Dead Leaf Echo began as an “art experiment” in Morningside Heights, this band is far from amateur or unpleasantly bizarre. Dead Lead Echo has worked with a cadre of professional mixers such as John Fryer and Ulrich Schnauss to perfect its dreamy post-punk. The band creates a blossoming world where Cocteau Twins and My Blood Valentine influences swirl and mix with Vladimir Nabokov and Ernest Hemingway love letters. Dead Leaf Echo entices listeners with its shimmering guitar work and closes the deal with crashing waves of hypnotic harmonies. If the wait is unbearable for a full-length record, Dead Leaf Echo will be releasing a 7-inch featuring “Half-Truth” and a previously unreleased b-side “Babyeyes” this fall. – read Nancy Chow’s interview with the band here.
Dragon Turtle released their debut album "Almanac" last week, and Fader mag liked it so much that they decided to premiere the video of their single "Broken Glass" – see it here. There is also a free mp3 available – which we actually prefer – here. It sounds a little like an ambient version of Dinosaur Jr.!
The Shake release new album, give away single for download for 1 week
To promote the release of their upcoming album, "The Shake Go Crazy," the New York foursome has launched a 1-week campaign allowing users to download the single, "Got No Soul," for free. The CD was the result of an entire summer of work with producer Gregory Lattimer (Albert Hammond Jr, Milo and The Fuzz). See the band live at Crash Mansion on 11.19. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).
Black Gold CD review – live at Hammertstein Ballroom on 11.22
Black Gold’s debut release, "Rush," plays to a variety of ears. Besides being pleasantly pop, Brooklynites Eric Ronick (vocals, keyboards) and Than Luu (drums, guitar, percussion, vocals), backed by guitarist Alistair Paxton and bass player Siggy, bring a spectrum of other personal influences and industry experience (each member has toured with well-known pop/rock artists in the past) to the composition table. A richly symphonic “Plans and Reveries” and heavily electronic “Detroit” were selected as “Rush’s” singles. They highlight Ronick’s lounge-meets-lyrical voice which melds with Luu’s falsetto back-vocals, Classical string and piano arrangements, synth sequences, and unchained guitars. Black Gold fall into their best groove on the funky “Breakdown” and alluring “The Comedown,” while glowing harmonies on “Shine,” “Run’s” bright melodies, dreamy air of “Idols,” and Southern sway on “Canyon” sustain “Rush’s” appeal with ever-changing styles. Overall, Black Gold’s “Rush” is mellow but playful, providing both tunes for dancing and songs for decompressing. Don’t miss Black Gold’s show at Hammertstein Ballroom on 11.22 – Meijin Bruttomesso
We were quite surprised yesterday to see Brooklyn band Bear in Heaven jump ahead of Real Estate in our self generated chart of NYC Psych Rock artists with the most "Web Buzz" (Top 300 here, for the Top 20 scroll down in this page, left column). They actually rehed #2 of the overall most buzzed NYC bands of the moment (orange chart on the top left). The band recently got some blog-love (or just "blove" maybe?) from many influencial sites including Stereogum, Prefix Mag and Brooklyn Vegan. Bear in Heaven has a show scheduled at tiny Zebulon in Willimsburg on 11.20 – that will be surely a packed night, so get there early if you are interested in checking out these guys’ psychedelic wall of sound.
Once upon a time in the fluorescent wilderness of New York City, four musically talented work-a-holics got together and formed the rock band known as Finding Fiction. With a DIY style and steadfast work ethic, the group has spent most the past year zig-zagging across the U.S. to perform in over 100 shows (including SXSW and NXNE). Finding Fiction also released their first full length CD, “Idaho by the Sea,” this past summer, a heartfelt follow up to their “Plastic & Change” EP. The album is chock full of evocative lyrics set to lonesome vocals, fluttering backbeats, and billowing chord progressions. The result is an emotional storm of melodies, from the distorted rumbles of tracks like “I’ll Buy” and “Imitating You Imitating Me,” to the unbroken pouring of melancholy in ballads such as “Cheap Shot Advice” and “Big Blue Sky.” Don’t miss Finding Fiction when they perform at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn on Nov. 14. – Cecilia Martinez
Exuberant female duo Zambri (comprised by sisters Jessica and Cristi Jo and is The Deli NYC new Artist of the Month thanks to an… exuberant last day of voting yesterday, that allowed them to jump in front of North Highlands. Keep an eye out for their picture on top of our NYC page starting monday, and in the meantime enjoy this video.
