THE DELI

The music video accompanying Pezzettino’s new single “Home” is an ASMR-inducing mix of images and sounds. There’s soapy handwashing, a slow ladeling of sauce over cheesy noodles; images of ginger and leaves and tacos and twinkling lights and it’s all accompanied by the gentle crisp voice of Pezzettinos’ Margaret Stutt. Stutt’s compositions are infused with similarly soothing sounds: twinkling piano, magical percussions, warbling reverberating synth that gives songs a roomy, powerful sound. It’s no surprise Pezzettino’s newest album is enriched with such relaxing feels. After dealing with depression for years, Stutt is an advocate for mental health with the Stability Network and speaks frequently about “the need for fierce hope”–which is exactly what this album brings to the table. Her single “Home” was just released into the world and we welcome the release of her full album, Resin, on February 8th. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor 

 

It’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of security by first impressions – even as the painful truth is staring you right in the face. That’s what’s remarkable about the music of Pecas – behind tranquil synths lie words of fear and uncertainty so subtle they could easily get washed away, like a whispered confession to a friend after midnight. However, Sandy Davis, the mastermind of Pecas, holds command over the impact of her music, and lyrics like those from her 2018 track "Tuesdays" stick with you long after your last listen: “Do you ever just fall apart on Tuesdays after dark?” Pecas has been working on music with record label Broken Circles, and on Valentine’s Day, she will be premiering a new single and music video at Alphaville – but in the meantime, check out her 2018 EP After Dark, below. – Sunny Betz

While other genres toy with imaginary futures for sources of inspiration, those writing folk music today still find endless lyrical material in the traditions and sounds of the past. But more often than not, a "new" sound is simply a forgotten one, reimagined. Perhaps that is what makes the music of Nighttime so special: listening to her 2018 LP Hand in the Dark takes us back to a soundscape that’s vaguely familiar but almost entirely forgotten. In the record, Goodman relies on influences dating back to the middle-ages, with drum-less acoustic arrangements, droney harmonies (in a church choir kind of way), and a voice deepened with conviction and more than a little sadness. The results are mesmerizing.
Nighttime will play at Alphaville on February 6th – have a listen to the haunting Hand in the Dark below. – Sunny Betz