Probably the least predictable orchestral NYC band, Cuddle Magic is formed by musicians whose sole mission is to write songs that are pretty, conceptual, and daring at once. The band has a new record coming out in April, a collaborative album with NYC pianist Phyllis Chen, with whom they share "love of imperfectly pitched percussion, overlapping rhythmic cycles, and rigorous pitch sets." The band just released a preview video of single "An Extra Life" (streaming), which features a pointillistic arrangement in which higher pitch wind instruments, are not allowed to play notes longer than a semiquaver – as if they were softer sounding mallets.
