Bushwick’s own SoftSpot was founded by Sarah Kinlaw and Bryan Keller who have been friends “since the sandbox.” With the help of drummer Blaze Bateh, the band charges through their art-rock compositions with vehement wails – channeling their inner-Jonsi. The trio released the EP Nous in the fall of last year, with a new single “The Cleansing Hour” that followed in February, and early in September, dropped their latest album ‘Ensō’. Catch them at Fireproof on November 15th & read Devon Antonetti’s interview with the band here. 

Dinosaur Feathers have been active in the NYC scene for quite some time now, but their peculiarly colorful pop hasn’t lost any of the exuberance of their beginnings. Single ‘Untrue’ (off their latest record Whistle Tips) is something Franz Ferdinand might have made if they spent some time surfing in Mali. The band just released a new track, ‘New Frontier’, on Unhabitable Mansion’s latest compilation ‘Torrential Zen’, which also features songs by Fatty Acids, Sat. Night Duets & Radical Dads. Read a Q&A with the band here.

Those searching for a post-election night event to either celebrate or drown their sorrows need look no further than Tammany Hall in NYC and the NordAmerican showcase on November 7. This inaugural event (intended to turn into a monthly showcase in early 2013) will feature a variety of Nordic talent, two acts of which are already firmly based in New York. Headlining the night will be the lovely chanteuse Amalie Bruun . Many locals may already be familiar with her captivating vocals as one half of the duo Ex Cops. Amalie’s work as a solo artist has very little to share with that group’s psych sound. Her latest single Crush (released in August and streaming below) tastefully touches on bits of torch pathos and at other times country sentimentality.

Popular New York alt rockers Lion in the Mane are also scheduled to appear. Drawing on an emotional feel and sound that made waves in the mid-2000’s because of bands like Jimmy Eat World, their lyrics strike a bit deeper. EP title track “The Way We’re Wired” has an optimism running through the self-questioning and soul searching. Despite “New York City ’s soulless little lullabies” there is still a desire to “find a way for you to believe in me, the way I believe in you.” Building crescendos up to the dynamic conclusion indicates the work of experienced musicians and a conscientious attention to songwriting detail. – Dave Cromwell

For those seeking some warm vibes as we march on towards winter, the guys over at Heard have put together another one of their fun events: Brooklyn’s first Funk Fest, for which have been lined up an exciting cast of -mostly local- funk/afrobeat-based acts spread over four days. Where? At Paper Box, Meadow Street. Yup, the one with the hole-in-the-wall taco guy.

Headlining this series of shows – which will kick off on November 28th, ending on December 1st –  are The Stepkids, featured on the cover of The Deli’s 2011 CMJ issue, sharing the top of the bill with local soul/r’n’b band HEAVy, and playing alongside Emefe, Zozo Afrobeat, Sophistafunk, Pitchblack Brass Band, Night Of The Living Funk (the names alone are a definite giveaway!) & many more. Full details regarding line-up, tickets etc. can be found on the event’s website – stay tuned, as a couple of surprise guests should be announced early next week!

There are many ways by which a bright young man might garner the affections of a fine young lady. In the video for “Girl” by Brooklyn darlings (and ex Deli artist of the month) DAS RACIST, the dubious method of 80s dancing and hip gyration is explored and revealed to be less effective than simply adding said lady to one’s friends list on a social networking site. If you had already crossed this flirtation from your list, you can at least brush up on your 80s dance moves, including a fine moonwalk by the lead actor. The track, produced by Blood Diamonds, would make an excellent addition to your next late night dorm room youtube dance sesh, but first you must find your elusive British Knights. -=brokeMC

The secret it out, Claire’s Diary is ripe with juicy stories and naughty fun. With just two tracks to their name, the lovely trio from Claire’s Diary has given us the most fun I’ve had with political feminism in a long time. While the band will be pounding you over the head with their riff-baked stew of crushing riot grrrl grooves, the result is more fun than a pizza party. Smashing guitar riffs not unlike Sleater Kinney or Care Bears on Fire all grown up, coupled with keyboard action lifted straight from the B-52’s, this is how you want to spike your punch. Check out the band’s two releases on their bandcamp.. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

One-girl-band extraordinaire Emily Wells, who recently moved from LA to NYC, will be headlining the Deli curated night at the 2nd edition of Brooklyn Night Bazaar, on December 7. Inspired by night markets across Asia, this event brings together the borough’s most creative independent vendors, musicians, artists chefs and brewers to vast indoor and outdoors spaces during Friday and Saturdays from November 23 until December 22, from 6pm until Midnight. This year the event will be hosted at 45 N 5th St. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. There will be bands playing every night, to be announced soon.

For a guy with a theremin player at his disposal, singer/songwriter John Washburn is a bit too hard on himself. A thoughtful band in the Indie Britpop vein of Blur or Pulp, The Cardinal Points’ debut EP ‘I Promised You Mermaids, But The Ocean Was Empty’ finds Washburn with some mixed up plans, but good intentions nonetheless. It’s a landscape of frozen dreams and tumbling anxieties on the pounding ‘Circle the Sun’ and theremin-kissed album opener ‘The Strangest Days.’ My favorite, title track ‘I Promised You Mermaids,’ is an epic tour of these settings, where Washburn tries to repair a disappointing relationship. An impressive debut, The Cardinal Points are as bouncy as they are stark, and I’m looking forward to seeing them announce some more dates. So pack your bags and take a visit. The album is streaming on their bandcamp. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

With the world slowly coming to terms with the fact that John Taylor just can’t pull off feathered hair anymore, millions of Duran Duran fans are wondering what to do now. Not to worry. Fashions is here to make sure we all still know exactly what’s cool, and what’s not. Brooklyn-based members Matthew Maclaren Jonathan Hudak and Lepaux have taken on the heavy task of making sure our city gets down properly in style… just like the ‘80s would’ve wanted us to.

To that end, they’re pulling out all the retro synths, dark sunglasses, and perfect hair they can manage, and serving it up on latest atmospheric dance banger “Young Heart.” The track is a perfect display of New Order/Duran Duran four-on-floor gusto sure to rally you up for your next big montage. Grab your hot pants and hang on… it’s going to be a long night. – This band submitted their music for review here – Mike Levine

Brooklyn isn’t much known for its singing-to-the-rafters crooners these days. For that kind of anthemic bloodletting, one usually has to look across the Atlantic. Our borough is best known for its host of freaks, and the music usually exists on a planet accessible to only the more experimental among us. Well, Candidate must have had a sort of epiphany with their latest record ‘Psychic Dissonance,’ released a few weeks ago. The album takes these freak worlds and brings them to a place of shared anthemic pleasure.

Tracks like opener ‘April Again’ and ‘Untimely End’ remake psych jams as emotional excavations on par with bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and the genre-hopping Super Furry Animals. A hard group to pin down, they had a solid run at CMJ this year, where We Listen For You voted them one of the top 10 bands of the fest. Keep checking their website for upcoming live show. In the meantime, check out ‘April Again’ below – we just added it to our Soundcloud compilation of the best tracks by emerging NYC bands.

Featured on the cover of The Deli back in 2007, Clare and the Reasons play elegant pop propelled by married couple Claire Muldaus Manchon’s sublime voice and Olivier Manchon’s imaginative orchestral arrangement – they both worked on several Sufjan Steven’s songs, and scored several movies’ soundtracks. Definitely darker and more tribal than the band’s average material, the band’s new single "Bass Face" was inspired by a conversation the couple had in Berlin with a bass player, who claimed he "made no face" when playing his instrument. The single’s video (streaming below) protrays the "bass man" as some sort of new Elephant Man, while strolling aimlessly through the frozen streets of the German capital city.

Following a single and an EP, Brooklyn five-piece Gross Relations released last week a first (self-titled) full-length – and it’s tasty. Rarely has lo-fi seemed like such a good alternative to routine. Driving synth-heavy melodies through a stream of 90s alt-rock a la Lemonheads, Fountains of Wayne & acolytes, the album takes fuzz to its cheerful place through a (free!) collection of hopeful anthems. Starting with Signs – the most vivid example of this tendency – Gross Relations rethought the buildup of a pop rock song, one part at a time, as a path that doesn’t have to end in a scintillating explosion but can convey the exact same satisfaction in a crackling, confused mess of a climax. Download their single "Fine Tune Something" below. – Tracy Mamoun

Mp3: Gross Relations – "Fine Tune Something"