Fruit & Flowers is a female fronted Brooklyn band that’s been playing a gazillion shows lately (and seem to have as many scheduled), which is always a good sign. Oh, and, for the record, when we say "female fronted" we mean to say that whoever is not on the front of the stage (the drummer) is the dude out of four band members. At this stage they only have one song out for streaming, a slow burning track called "Turquoise," featuring a melody that is tele-porting us back to the days of Rain Parade and those other spacey American psych bands of the late ’80s. If you are curious about the rest of their repertoire, you can check hear it live at Shea Stadium on 11.13.

Cindy Lou Gooden, aka Very Fresh, is a quirky and multi-faceted talent. She spent the last year recording on Ava Luna’s last album, touring with Kino Kimino (Sonic Youth) and Leapling on bass, and prior to that, forming the all-female Pavement cover band, Babement, with Speedy Ortiz’s Sadie Dupuis. She also worked on her third EP to date, ‘Hey, it’s Me!,’ which reveals a songwriter drawn in many directions. Opening track ‘California Low,’ with its whispered beginning, soon exploding into a ’90s influenced guitar-pop chorus, only to settle again into a mellow bridge, sums up well what comes next – although this track is pretty darn out there. Our favorite song here is ‘Schedule IV’ (streaming), which develops in more linear ways, revealing Cindy’s melodic talent and her remarkable voice. Don’t miss her EP release show at Shea Stadium on 11.13.

After – quite literally – storming the local DIY scene with their super tense live shows and a borderline insane debut EP, this past summer the trio of NYC natives Show Me the Body released their debut album ‘Body War,’ a ten track, electric banjo driven sonic assault that manages to successfully blend post-hardcore, industrial, math rock and hip hop. The album inserts itself in the lineage of hybrid punk releases that includes seminal records by Fugazi and Rage Against the Machine, but maintains a level of rawness and desperation neither of those bands ever managed to convey. (This makes us wonder if that’s what a few decades spent in NYC’s "less trendy" neighborhoods does to kids…). Intriguingly, unlike most post-hardcore acts, Show Me The Body isn’t afraid to slow down the tempo (‘Death Sounds 2’), or even give up the drums entirely every now and then (‘Honesty Hour’), which opens up sonic space for sound experimentation and even textural moments, like in ‘Chrome Exposed.’ The quieter sections also allow for a greater contrast when the instrumental explosion eventually arrives, taking the ’90s rock loud/quit/loud idea to its extreme. But the most effective tracks are the ones where the band’s signature tension finds an (explosive) release, like title-track. 

This is the record most NYC kids involved in the vital, seminal, local DIY scene – and in all likelihood, most rock critics too – will remember years from now. It’s a record we think is destined to inspire many young, offbeat musicians – from underground, where so many NYC scene gems are buried.

The reckless abandon of Brooklyn rockers partying hard is on full display in Baby Acid’s debut music video and song “Baby Guts.” The recently premiered track previews their full-length Moon Sounds Records release on December 9. Recorded and produced by band visionary Lindsey and Jasno from Vandelles/Hellbirds notoriety at his Secret Loft Studios, while mastering was handled by A Place To Bury Strangers Oliver Ackermann. The track itself emerges via full-on fuzzed out guitar chords while initial vocals proclaim that “my baby comes from France, my baby don’t wear no pants.” While the lyrical output may playfully favor words that rhyme over actual storytelling, ferocious riffs and rhythms are executed with serious intent. Video imagery depicts the black-clad band against a white backdrop interspersed with footage from a raging house party. As walls become increasingly covered in handwritten graffiti, impromptu crowd-surfing and bathroom shenanigans mirror the track’s explosive conclusion. Baby Acid play their album release show on 12/9 at The Footlight w/ Parlor Walls, Ex Girlfriends and Thick. – Dave Cromwell

Back in 2013, when they released their his and hers LP, denitia and sene was one of The Deli’s most written about artists (heck, we even booked them at our 2013 electronic CMJ stage!). We simply couldn’t get enough of the singer/producer pair’s obscure yet very poiginant electro-RnB. Three years later, the pair is back with a new album titled love and noir, and judging from the two singles, "favourite." and "Open Wide,"  the record should be as richly textured and spell-binding as the group’s first full length. "Open Wide" has a glitchy, industrial beat with distorted synth glissandos and robotic backup vocals that clash perfectly with denitia’s pristine vocals. With "Favourite," on the other hand, less is truly more. Denitia’s vocals and lovesick lyrics carry the track, occasionally aided by a horn blast and modulated synths. It’s a song of few elements, sure, but each is crafted, curated and utilised to its fullest extent. Catch the duo live at Mercury Lounge on 11/18 for their release party. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Ladies and Gents,

We are proud to unveil (for now just digitally) issue #48 of The Deli Magazine NYC. It’s an issue entirely focused on Electronic music, featuring a gear section focused on our upcoming Brooklyn Synth Expo, and many Q&As with the most promising emerging electronic bands about their favorite synths. On the cover, EDM-World duo SOFI TUKKER; inside, a feature about NYC’s LGBT Hip Hop scene and a two page article about nu-soul up and coming diva Cruel Youth.

The print version of it will hit the streets of NYC on Friday November 4th.

Hope you enjoy it!

The Folks at The Deli

P.S. Check out Sofi Tukker’s new video for ‘Awoo,’ streaming below.

LA-born Julian Cubillos graced the world last Friday (just in time for Halloween weekend!) with two-track single Scared, his newest release on Tiny Montgomery Records since his 2015 full-length album Evil. Scared – which includes the A-side of the same name and the B-side “Can I Win” – offers the same mind-warping lo-fi and colorful gravitas as Julian’s past output. 

The brand-new psychedelic video – from which the single’s cover takes its image – comes from the mind of Brooklyn visual and recording artist Christina Schneider. In it, she blends clips of old horror films (Psycho, to name one) with CGI images of rotating knives, vintage commercials for toys and toiletries, and images of bugs that crawl uncomfortably close. Check it out below. – Will Sisskind

Hailing out of Northern NJ’s underrated hip hop scene, Topaz Jones is equipped with a sound that’s catchy and all his own. His latest record Arcade is aptly named: it’s a joy to listen to, showcasing bright, flashy production and Jones’ own suave mix of rapping and soul. Following his recent release, Jones just dropped a music video for standout track, "Motion Sickness,"  where he serenades while basked in vibrant light colors, donned in eccentric high fashion and at one point tethered to ballons Pixar’s "Up"-style.  It’s a surreal video that highlights Jones’ unique ability to get bodies moving and minds thinking at the same time. Definitely an artist to watch. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Tomorrow, Danger Collective veterans Slow Hollows release their third album Romantic, graduating from the manic inferiority complex of Atelophobia into a more assured compilation of youth retrospectives. The homespun procession of tape warp, appregios, and Austin Feinstein’s somber voice sketches the songwriter’s ennui and rose-tinted glasses. A release party is being held at the Teragram Ballroom for Slow Hollows’ new album, and in 2017, Slow Hollows will support a national tour with Cherry Glazerr, another Slimane select. Listen to the album in its entirety below. – photo by Joey Tobin

Dolly Spartans, whose self titled debut EP was our Record of The Month last year, delivers organic, feel-good pop’n’roll with a side effect of tapping feet and bopping heads. Today, we premiere the band’s new single “I Hear the Dead,” off their upcoming EP ‘Time Sides With No One’. The hint of rasp in Michael Eliran’s voice, the tube crunched guitars, and the dynamic, energetic drums contribute in forging a sound that’s classic and modern at once. Listen for yourself down below. – Ashley Muniz

We are glad to see Buscabulla back in action – the stylish, Brooklyn based Puerto Rican band graced the cover of our magazine back in 2015 (issue #43 of The Deli NYC). The duo recently released a new single entitled “Tártaro,” which came with this elegant video. After an exciting summer during which they toured Chile (!) they are now back in the US on a mini-east-coast-tour with Helado Negro, which included a gig at Bowery Ballroom last night. Looking forward to a new release!

We go a long way with Brooklyn songwriter Frances Cone – she played one of our SXSW shows back in 2013 – and it’s great to see her climb our ‘NYC New Bands With Buzz" top ten chart on this same page. After her 2013 debut album ‘Come Back,’ her releases have been somewhat sporadic, but high in quality. Earlier in 2016, her intimately atmospheric, slow burning single ‘Arizona,’ caused a stir on Spotify, approaching 4 million plays, and opening up a series of show opportunities in reputable venues all along the east coast, including a show at Music Hall of Williasburg on September 30th. Frances and her band’s next show will be at Baby’s All Right on 11.07.

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