Toronto

Tasseomancy share hallucinogenic video for “29 Palms”

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Tasseomancy‘s new video for “29 Palms” is an accurate visual interpretation of the twin sister duo’s sound. It’s colourful, dreamy, and even hallucinogenic at times. It plays like a beautiful journey, albeit in its own creepy sort of way. The uneasiness of the visuals mirror the thick atmosphere of the song, evoking an underlying tension that is never really broken. The song and video are both individually compelling, but they’re much more powerful when combined into a successful merger of dread and comfort. – David Levy

Philadelphia

Unveiling Dominic at Ortlieb’s Dec. 1

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Dominic Angelella’s creative evolution stretches from Hop Along to DRGN KING and Lithuania with stops along the way. His latest musical manifestation is simply titled Dominic, and will release an album, Goodnight Doggies, on February 3 via Lame-O Records. The album’s first single, “Birthday Song,” possesses subtle layers of instrumental warmth, intermingled with a catchy, folk jangle and a thoughtful personal narrative, sweeping one up in a pensive daydream with a grounded core. Tonight, Angelella will be unveiling his latest project at NoLibs watering hole Ortlieb’s. He’ll be supported by Vexxed, which features Lucy Stone (who had been part of the recent incarnation of DRGN KING). The bare, introspective sounds of Photo Jenny will also be joining this mid-week affair. Ortlieb’s, 847 N. Third St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

NYC

From the NYC submissions: Maris’s bone-chilling ambient-pop

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Earlier in 2016, NYC based Belgian singer-songwriter Mariske Broeckmeyer released her bone-chilling debut album ‘On Gods And Other Things’ under the moniker Maris. The first track off the record, “How’s Things” immerses us into an astounding experimental soundscape, full of electronic details. An expansive, almost looped melody, sung with a soft, delicate expression, plays catch up with a slowly building rhythmic pattern; seemingly conflicting sonic textures somehow melt together to create a gracious, feral, ever evolving drone, at times reminiscent of Bjork’s darker compositions. The rest of the album employs samples and effects of the quirkiest variety, always faithful to some sort of avant-ambient language, which allows Mariske’s slightly foreign sounding vocals to disclose their magnetism. – Ashley Muniz

This artist submitted music for coverage here.

NYC

Buzz Alert: Ex Reyes bring their inspired psych-soul to Union Pool on 12.09

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There’s a couple of ways that you could try to label NYC-based group Ex Reyes, but maybe the tag that really sums it up is one they’ve already laid claim to: "future nostalgia" (something similar was said of French band Air’s debut album ‘Moon Safari‘). Ex Reyes, the project of Mikey Hart (Bleachers, The Cranberries, Santigold) is a genre-bending mix of soul-psych–melding Motown vibes, Beach Boys innovation, creamy falsettos and swirling synths to create mid-60’s music from the 21st century. The sound is like a sock hop populated by robots, or maybe a reflection of Hart’s New York–a city defined by its history, but never separated from the hum of moderniztion. Check out Ex Reyes’s Do Something EP here, listen to single ‘Bad Timing below, and don’t miss the upcoming live show at Union Pool on December 9th. – Olivia Sisinni

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

NYC

Electro-soul NYC trio JIL plays Mercury Lounge on 12/2

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Despite a number of high-profile perfomances with the likes of Pusha T and Dev Hynes, electro-RnB act JIL have kept a relatively low profile up until now. With a lack of information out there about them, the trio has let the three tracks released to date do all the talking – and they certainly have lots to "say." The band’s sound is a head-bopping mix of distorted synths and guitars, booming percussion and the soulful, pristine vocals of their anonymous singer. Latest single "All Your Words," (streaming) sounds like a dark, tempestous sea thrashing about, while unexpectedly serene vocals seem to offer safe haven above its rough waves — and a vantage point to stare at the chaos below. JIL can’t release new material soon enough. Maybe you can hear some when they take the Mercury Lounge’s stage on 12/2. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber 

Philadelphia

The Deli Philly’s December Record of the Month: Welcome – Slaughter Beach, Dog

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Jake Ewald, well-known as one-fourth of Modern Baseball, steps into the spotlight on his first full-length album as Slaughter Beach, Dog. Suitably titled Welcome (Lame-O Records), Ewald’s ten-track confessional holds nothing back. Each melody and each emotion is unfettered and nostalgic without apology. Like the grownup and more articulate version of your favorite band from undergrad, Slaughter Beach, Dog’s dream-pop adjacent anthems will melt your heart with ease.
 
Opening with the self-aware ‘90s throwback “Mall-rat Semiannual,” Welcome’s strength lies in Ewald’s ability to build an entire universe within a matter of seconds. Like a lyrical rendering of an intricate diorama, the album’s first track unfolds with earnest inflection, sway-worthy riffs, and a romanticism reminiscent of Pavement’s “Gold Soundz” meshed with Modest Mouse’s “Dramamine”. The directness of “Toronto Mug” is perfectly mirrored by the its brevity, while “Monsters” feels like the song you wish you wrote about yourself, depicting with precise rhythm what it means to be haunted by the shortcomings of others as well as your own.
 
“Bed Fest” plays out like the soundtrack to a mumblecore flick at its climax – bittersweet and subtle – awash in acoustic chords and swelling snare, ending in trippy reverb as Ewald croons, “You can’t stay here.” “Forever” and “Jobs” are pragmatic snapshots of the millennial plight framed by poppy backbeats and relatable proclamations like “I think that we’re better off just believing in ourselves, but that’s just me.” A sweet but solemn love song, “Politics of Grooming,” effortlessly bleeds into “Drinks,” a wistful theme for lovers not quite over their past, but unafraid of diving headfirst into the future, hand in hand despite misgivings. Like a premature epilogue, “Toronto Mug II” is lo-fi in all the right ways, serving as a welcomed primer to the album’s instrumental exit, “Essex Street.”
 
Staying true to its namesake, Slaughter Beach, Dog’s latest slew of songs will remind you of where you came from and who you really are. – Dianca London

Portland

Blue Skies for Black Hearts does X-Mas

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Now that December is just a few hours away, let’s break out the Jesus birthday jams. Now in it’s 9th volume, XO for the Holidays is a compilation put out by Portland and Detroit based PR firm XO Publicity. This year, XO for the Holidays presents the rocking power pop of Blue Skies for Black Hearts doing a Christmas classic.

We all miss David Bowie terribly and Bing Crosby‘s influence is undeniable, so hearing Blue Skies for Black Hearts taking on their 1977 holiday hit "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" brings about a true sense of joy. 

Frontman Pat Kearns’s vocals fittingly encapsulate much of what Bowie and Crosby were serving in their original rendition, but with his own twist of course. His recently released solo record, So Long City, showcases his vocal talents further.

Listen to all of XO for the Holidays here, and give Blue Skies For Black Hearts’ take on "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" below.

Portland

Stream: Dowager – ‘Title Track’

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It’s refreshing to see that the screamo-emo-hardcore stylings many of us grew up enjoying, though often denied, is again becoming a popular genre. Local trio Dowager have been receiving much and well deserved press as eclipsing purveyors of this musical class, especially with their long awaited and recently released Title Track EP.

Title Track, which came out the day after November’s notorious food fest, is five songs worth of formulaically aggressive screamocore that translates into an addicting experience in headphones and on stage.

Dowager’s all-ages release show for Title Track will be this Saturday at Black Water with the bewitchingly darling Bashface, Seattle’s Curse League and one of the best band names to come out of 2016, Dranky Skelerton (members of Robot Boy and Don Quixote). 

If you haven’t been doing this already, stream Title Track again and again until the weekend.

San Francisco

Afraid Releases New Single – All This and More

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​Berkeley, California​ ​based band,​ ​Afraid​ ​has released a new track entitled "All This and More"​ ​from the split album ​with Maine based artist, Jared Fairfield​, ​Eternal Motherfucker II​.​

Afraid was formed in a damp, spider-infested basement at the bottom of Portland, Maine’s Munjoy Hill during the summer of 2013. Since then, founding members Jakob Battick and Ryan Cutler have guided the band’s ever-evolving lineup through a handful of EPs and splits, including collaborations with Herbcraft’s Matt Lajoie, Swans’ Jarboe, and Sterling Black, and one paranoid, hallucinatory full-length, Sinister Vibes (Crash Symbols). In the summer of 2015, the group relocated cross-country to the birthplace of American psychedelia, Berkeley, CA, and evolved two lifetimes along the way. Currently, the group is laying low in the idyllic Northern Californian surround and searching for its own vision of “Cosmic American Music.”

Philadelphia

New Music Video: “Chandelier Thief” – Petal

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Petal, a.k.a. Kiley Lotz, captivates from every angle in her latest video for "Chandelier Thief". Found on the LP Shame (Run For Cover), the footage was directed and edited by Sarah Trad. Petal will be performing next in Philly on Sunday, December 11 at Union Transfer, opening for Pinegrove and Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band. (Photo by Emily Dubin)

Portland

Mood Music: Sallo – “The Creeping Locust (L)”

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Rumor has it Portland may be getting hit with some snow coming up soon. Will it be enough to lead us into forced snowpacalype hibernation? Doubt it, but if you’re into that sort of thing anyway, you likely know the importance of having premium tunes to soundtrack your isolation. Enter Sallo and in particular, their track "The Creeping Locust (L)."

Post-rock has made a glorious comeback in the city’s scene and Sallo, a strictly keys and drums endeavor done by Shelly Strunk and Mark Brittenburg, vaunts magic through experimental, haunting classical instrumentation. Their music has been featured on theater stages and in films and their collaborations span from work with string ensembles to comedy troupes. Now, let them serve as a score to your hopefully snowy confinement.

Sallo will be playing this Friday at the High Water Mark with shred-masters Toim and enlivened warrior princess metal from headliners Ice Princess

NYC

Buzz Alert: Satellite Mode releases single “Warm Fire Lightning,” plays Mercury on 12/2

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After years spent writing songs for other acts (the technical term is "ghost-writing"), about a year ago, New Yorkers Jess Carvo and Alex Marko decided it was time to "come out:" a tragedy in Jess’s family paved new paths in the band’s direction and sound, in a way that made their songs too personal to be signed off to others. That’s how electro-pop duo Satellite Mode was born. Just a month ago they gathered all the singles released in the past year in the approproiately named ‘Singles‘ EP.  Their brand new track “Warn Fire Lightning” (streaming) features undulating electronic textures set behind haunting, pop-tinged melodies. Check out the song below and come see Satellite Mode live at Mercury Lounge with Slow Sugar on December 2nd. Let’s hope there’s more to come in the near future! – Ashley Muniz