Screw Spotify and Pandora’s automatic discovery algorhythms, that are supposed to find the next band you are bound to like – they never work for us, NEVER! Plus, you can’t even tell them you only want to listen to NYC artists – ugh… The only thing that works here at The Deli is to parse relentlessly through the listings of small local venues like Palisades, Shea Stadium, Cake Shop, Rockwood, The Living Room… at time also Baby’s All Right and the Mercury Lounge. In the latter’s listing we found a really interesting local band called Pollens. They are a quartet with an LP entitled "Brighten and Break" released back in 2012 and a sophomore album ("+=+=+=+=") out earlier this year. Single "Helping Hand’ (streaming) from their debut, is an avant-pop gem, featuring looped harminizing vocals, an arrangement growing in intensity, and a vocal melody that’s as cerebral as it is catchy – and vaguely reminiscent of all time NYC favorites Buke and Gase. The band has grown experimental with the years, and the sophomore record, more electronic, cerebral and textural, rarely gives in to pure melody, emphasizing instead angular drum patterns and quirky arrangements. See them live at The Mercury Lounge on 11.13.
We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!