"Tino Drima is a cauldron of then, now, and what will be" boasts the band’s profile. Though that may be a lofty statement for an artist to make, there’s no denying that Tino Drima has the uncanny ability to effortlessly wade through multiple styles, feels, and time periods with their music. Frontman Gregory DiMartino’s crooning vocals are as enchanting as they are distant, and the band’s instrumentals manage to pull off both a laid-back effortlessness, and driving, visceral rock ‘n’ roll. The band’s new album dropping 9/22, Her Kind of Man, is a hearty mix of lax, cool-kid ballads and borderline-experimental doo-wop anthems that leave us scrambling trying to choose a favorite. Listen to Tino Drima streaming below and catch the band live at the Verdi Club 9/22.-Olivia Sisinni
The edgy sound of NYC: LANZ unveils video for “Karla’s Retreat”
Benjamin Lanz has played in several bands you might know, including the National and Beirut, but the solo debut of his new project LANZ is just as compelling as his other acts. "Karla’s Retreat," from his upcoming album Hoferlanz I, is a driving and forceful track, laden with melodic hooks from piano, guitar and an unexpected brass section, and the song is helped along by a powerful, yet tasteful rhythm section. The instrumental breaks are some of the most confident we’ve heard this year, but their impact is deepened by Lanz’s self-assured vocals, which also keep "Karla’s Retreat" structurally sound. All this is supported by a charming video depicting Lanz in a slightly ominous, cabin-y studio, and outdoor scenes of potentially creepy houses. It’s shot on film, which you might’ve guessed. "Karla’s Retreat" is defiantly indie, but perhaps the most captivating thing about this song in a sometimes uncertain genre is that LANZ’s feet are planted firmly on the ground. Hoferlanz I was released on August 25th on Brasslands Records, and will also be released as a cassette for Cassette Store Day. –Geena Kloeppel
VIOLENCE Releases Human Dust to Fertilize the Impotent Garden
Seven months after the single release "The 16th Descent to Verdant Victory," experimental artist Olin Caprison unveils Human Dust to Fertilize the Impotent Garden—a collection of seven songs blending power dynamics, industrial sonics, and rap composition—as VIOLENCE on New York-based label Purple Tape Pedigree. Blatantly irreverent toward genre conventions, the album ebbs and flows with blast beats, power electronic bursts, and permutations of metal riffplay.
"This music is a struggle," describes the Baltimore-raised Caprison.
"It is a struggle from within this anti-history vacuum, a struggle against the all-embracing, multicultural, ahistorical ecosystem of contemporary music that renders all hierarchies impotent and null."
VIOLENCE performs live on October 5th in support of experimental composer Aïsha Devi’s debut Los Angeles appearance, along with a live ambient set by Los Angeles by-way-of-New-York producer Kelman Duran. Cop tickets here, and stream "Human Dust" off the album below.
Psych rockers Birds talk about pedals on Delicious Audio
While the NYC scene seems to be crawling with psych bands, local rockers Birds tackle the genre in a way that sets them apart from the pack. Though the band is certainly taking cues from music of the past, their angular and distorted sliding guitars and bizarre vocal melodies suggest that they’re digging through vinyl crates that have not been thoroughly picked through yet. With such a unique sound, we wanted to ask the band a bit about the driving forces surrounding it, and members Jess and Duane were nice enough to dig into to the stories surrounding their pedals for us. – Olivia Sisinni
Read the Birds Q&A about their stompboxes on Delicious Audio.
A Deli Premiere: Oginalii’s “7799”
When it comes to the Nashville-based sludge-pop four-piece Oginalii, slowing down is not an option. With forthcoming EP The Grey coming out on October 20th, their build-up of momentum has been nonstop, between coverage, concerts, and SXSW showcases —and their music is the same way. The female-fronted group, whose name translates to “my friend” in Cherokee, is making waves in the Nashville scene with their complex arrangements, unapologetic songwriting, and technical skill. In the track “7799” (streaming below), front-woman Emma Hoeflinger’s vocals are positively lethal, while the track impressively alternates between a 7/8 and 9/8 time signature. Oginalii will be hitting up The Cobra tomorrow (09.22) for a live show that will definitely hush any doubts about the state of the local Nashville scene. – Lilly Milman
Listen to the Deli’s premiere of “7799” streaming below.
Kino Kimino brings their garagey post punk to Alphaville 9/25
Brooklyn darlings Kino Kimino serve up gutsy, garage-y pop with a serious side of post punk. The brainchild of Kim Talon, the band features deadpan vocals, gritty guitars and 90’s cool-kid vibes. Their latest release, 2016’s "Bait is for Sissies" is unapologetic, innovative, fierce and hits in just all the right ways. Check out Kino Kimino at Alphaville on 9/23 but stream them below in the meantime. – Olivia Sisinni
Boon to bring psych sounds to Alphaville to 9/22
The transportive power of psych music is a tired cliche, especially in a scene overflowing with every flavor of psych rock imaginable, but Brooklyn-based Boon cuts through the packs with a sound that is distinctively immersive. Boon’s brand of psych rock is multi-layered, glitchy, and nearly thick enough to wade through. Where other bands fall into pitfalls of rehashing ideas that have been tired since the late 70s, Boon presents the listener with edge-of-your-seat experimental tones and full-fledged freakouts that feel forward thinking instead of regressive. Check out the band streaming below and catch them live at Alphaville on 9/22. – Olivia Sisinni
Arhcie Alone drops new single, “Heavy Hearts” – release show at Meatlocker on 09.30
Though New Yorkers have an eternal obligation to hurl mild-mannered disgust toward New Jersey Dwellers (I mean, have you been on those highways?) we still have to give credit where credit is due. Jersey’s emo/post-emo sound is where it’s at and it’s long legacy of churning out seminal emo bands is admittedly hard to challenge. Archie Alone happens to be one of those bands eager to assume the Garden State’s mantle. They produce emo tunes with chomping choruses guaranteed to give you some serious mid-2000s nostalgia, while also managing to add heaps of atmospheric breaks in between, giving their songs a distinctly modern feel. Their latest single, "Heavy Hearts," does all this. It’s a track crafted with more nuance and subtlety than its early naughts counterparts, but its raw emotionality and killer hook will satisfy you inner middle-schooler. We’re stoked to premiere "Heavy Hearts" streaming below, and keep your eyes peeled for the latest EP from the band hitting the shelves on. The band will be celebrating the release of their self titled EP at the Meatlocker on September 30th. – Olivia Sisinni
Úlfur’s New LP “Arborescence” Out October 2017
Úlfur, the post-rock project of Úlfur Hansson, readily reflects the artist’s native Iceland. At times, his songs are as desolate and expansive as the country’s central highlands, a trait shared in the music of some of his fellow Icelanders, like Sigur Rós or Ólöf Arnalds.
However, Úlfur’s blend of electronic and acoustic instruments (some of which are homemade like his SEGULHARPA, an electromagnetic harp) never feels alienatingly robotic or inhuman. Úlfur’s music is a nuanced reflection of the natural world. Since his move to NYC, his music has exchanged its wilderness sensibility for dreamier, folk-like soundscapes. Make sure to check out Úlfur’s new single "Fovea" from his upcoming album Arborescence, available next month. —Amanda Ogea
Steady Sun brings vintage psych pop to The Knit on 09.23
"Television Eyes" by Steady Sun (strreaming below) is one of those songs that only takes a few seconds to keep you hooked. It’s only one of many gently persuading psychedelic tracks on the NYC-based band’s June 2017 remarkable album "Indifferent World." Clearly inspired by the British psychedelia of the ’60s, the band’s paced acid guitars and Hammond organs open up space for Dylan Nowik’s familiarly "out there" melodies. Other surprising instruments appear throughout the album, including cello, accordion, what sounds like an oboe, and the unmissable sitar. Where this project departs from vintage psychedelia is in the controlled pop structure and flawless production, that never falls into the traps of self indulegence (so often triggered by the doping substances this kind of music is linked to!). If you are in the mood for some mildly mind altering music, don’t miss these guys’ show at The Knit on September 23rd. – Allie Miller
Jess Best at the Bowery Ballroom 10.28
Jess Best and her vision of jazz-inspired pop sparkle in rose-gold and are as cozy as broken-in denim. Her contribution to this summer’s albums, “Saturday,” showcases a mature songwriter gifted with an incredible voice (and the right producer, co-writer Connor Schultze). The album evolved from the more traditional jazz found in 2014’s “Gone Baby” and 2016’s more experimental “Kid Again,” which offered concurrent visions of youth: joyful pop or melancholic jazz.
However, with “Saturday," Jess Best is able to successfully synthesize both genres into a fresh examination of everyday life. You can see her at the Bowery Ballroom on 10.28. – Amanda Ogea
Humiliation, by The Dreebs, an experimental project you don’t wanna miss
We have an interesting project to share with you guys, one that slipped through our coverage cracks several years ago. Humiliation is an EP from The Dreebs, a band that has recently performed with Guerilla Toss, and was even mentioned by their lead singer. The fellow experimental rockers create a dreary, unstable soundscape throughout through ambient, looming guitar chords backed by drawn-out vocals and hums, like on the track “Wanton Eye”. They even bring forth a more rock-oriented vibe later on the track “The Wall,” which at points sounds like a gloomier version of Radiohead’s Kid A. But as they hint at something recognizable, they lose all touch with reality in their closing track, “Godfather II”, easily the harshest song on the EP. The highlight of the track (and arguably the entire project) is the borderline dissonant guitar riff that continues for two straight minutes, until an eruption into noise rock closes out the EP. Check out the unique work below from The Dreebs. – Pearse Devlin