If, in the US, the music equivalent of horror movies was as popular as its visual counterpart, a band like Brooklyn’s Lushes would be very happy indeed – although, to stay in charachter, they would frown and stare at you lifelessly. For cultural reasons, middle Europe (who has always been ok with celebrating tragic despair) is a lot more open to strident atmospheres and dissonant sounds than America. No wonder then Lushes is currently traveling through places like Stockholm and Berlin (where they opened for Kurt Vile), finding audiences who appreciate the kind of dark enterteinment they can provide. The trio recently released their full lenght debut "Service Industry," which features a series of raw, understated tunes celebrating tension, dissonance and aural desolation. The record forges a rather unique identity for this band, that will be performing live at Brooklyn’s Baranquilla on Novbember 15.

"Direct Message" is the first single from KOH-IZT, the new collaborative project between Joe Valle (drummer of Wet) and Orlando Volcano (owner of Escape From Nature, the label releasing the compilation this track is included in). Established in 2015, Escape From Nature is a boutique record label based in New York which "observes, disregards and redefines the boundaries of what club music is and what it can be," which is certainly an ambitious mission statement. The duo keeps faith to it with a truly bizarre track that’s dancy without featuring the routine four on the floor. The crucial question here seems to be: will people really feel like shaking their butts to music this unconventional? We tried and… well, we felt like it! 

Trying to convey irony or sarcasm in the Facebook profile’s "Short Description" box is one of Brooklyn bands’ favorite hobbies. Indie rockers Narc Twain do so by wrapping the word band in quotes: ‘ Narc Twain is a "band" ‘ – they state. Well, quotes or no quotes, they certainly sound like a "band," and a rather tight and punhcy one for that matter. Yeah because "bands" don’t always sound like bands (or viceversa), in particular when they are sloppy and unawarely out of tune. Something these guys are not. So, yes, NT "members": The Deli is ok with you removing those quotes! The quintet unveiled two singles from their upcoming debut EP, the release of which will be celebrated through a show at the Knit on December 3rd. Their sound seems to incarnate the paradox of a fast and furious – and sometimes dissonant – band led by a… "gentleman." After the fierce intro of "Downhill," we were all expecting the guttural scream of a rabid lead singer, but were instead surprised by Tommy Siegel’s (of Jukebox the Ghost fame) rather polite delivery. This inconsistency kind of works though, shifting the band’s sound towards a sonic terrain poppier than we had anticipated. Check out also second single Future Shock.

The recent reinassance of the slacker rock sound of the ’90s in the NYC scene is something so obvious that can be indisputably filed in the skinny folder of "absolute truths" – and we call ourselves relativists! Not many bands saw this coming as early as Collingswood, New Jersey’s trio Aspiga. Their sound, obviously affected by a youth spent listening ad nauseam to bands like Husker Du and Dinosaur Jr, has remained very consistent since their 2010 debut "Tense," through a remarkable number of releases. Latest full length "What Happened To You?" sees vast improvements in the recording and production, and features noteworthy single "Wide Eyes," which develops their songwriting in more unpredictable directions. Aspiga will be performing live at Aviv on November 12.

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

Boastin one of the best band names ever, Dinowalrus have been at it for quite some time now (they started in 2008). In that time frame, their sound has evolved quite radically from the crazy psychedelic beginning. The band had a couple of really prolific years with two full lengths released in 2013 ("Best Behavior") and 2014 ("Complexion"), both packed with quality songs that underscore the band’s transition towards a more linear synth-pop structure, while referencing new wave bands with psych tendencies like Talk Talk and Psychedelic Furs. The opening track of their latest album, "Lucite," perfectly illustrates this metamorphosis. Check out our favorite song "Tropical Depression," below, and don’t miss Dinowalrus live tonight (11.10), opening for UK legends The Charlatans at Webster Hall, or at The Knit on 12.15.

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

Did you happen to watch the Country Music Awards the other night? I will admit I flipped to it for a second… and I’m a bit confused because there wasn’t any country music, not sure what you call that stuff. However there’s an Ontario fella making his rounds these days that makes REAL country music. His name is Daniel Romano and he hails from Welland, Ontario. He used to play punk rock but now has settled on making old time western tunes. He has a number of releases including 2011’s "Sleep Beneath the Willow," which has a very soothing folk feel to it. 2013’s "Come Cry With Me" sounds like your grandparents’ country music and before you turn your nose up just have a listen and enjoy the wonderful melodies – they might make you cry though. This year he released his latest album "If I’ve Only One Time Asking" and with this album he really comes into his own making the same old time country with a more original feel to it. Many of the songs seamlessly blend into the following track which makes for a very pleasureable listen. The best example of this is tracks 2 and 3 "Old Fires Die" and "Strange Faces". Both great tunes, definite highlights of the album. Daniel spends a lot of time touring through the USA but we’re lucky enough to have him right here in Toronto tomorrow night at the Mod Club. Take it from a rocker… this is bad ass music. Enjoy. – Kris  Gies

Providence duo INFJ calls its music "mom rock" and its January-released EP ‘s/t’ provides the sublime consolation of that parent. Mostly Americana-twanged folk with a splendidly poppy number ("Best Laid Plans," streaming below), the five-song album gracefully explores such common feelings as longing and loneliness with compassion, Scott Thompson’s patient guitars and Hayley Simmons’ gliding voice providing angelic warmth. The creaky elegance of early Sharon Van Etten and Grizzly Bear is a possible influence on these songs but, largely due to Thompson’s pining lyrics, they sound remarkably fresh. INFJ plays at Machines With Magnets on 11.20.- Photo by Matthew Clowney Zach Weg 

Shades of classic ’90s era dreamgaze can be found woven through the music of Brooklyn’s No Honeymoon (not to be confused with shoegazing colleagues ohnomoon – there’s almost an anagram there!). Their sophomore EP “Together Alone” (the second one in quick succession after debut "I Wanna See Everything") presents three well produced tracks recorded at Converse Rubber Tracks studio. Lead cut “Yes/No” (streaming) opens with Slowdive/Souvlaki-style looping, which soon gives way to a fuller band sound. Fuzz-buzz guitars and fluid drum fills echo the band Ride, and are complemented with a female voice. Melodic guitar lines emerge between vocal segments, further enhancing the songs overall charm. Unlike role-model band of the shoegazer sound My Bloody Valentine, the vocals presented here aren’t buried under deep layers in the mix, but rather quite clear, and vocalist/guitarist Cait Smith exudes a level of passion and appeal with her semi-distressed delivery. The band has been playing a number of shows around town lately and this EP can be had at their bandcamp page at the always popular name-your-own-price. – Dave Cromwell

They’re from Baltimore and they know how to rock. The Milestones just put out a new EP, Honey, and it rocks. Flat out, the music rocks and knows it. The band’s shows makes for great dance parties and they exude a solid confidence and love for the music. The EP has a deep spread, touching on different emotions and diverse rhythms, making it a great addition to a road trip playlist. Give it a listen or, better yet, step over to The Black Cat tomorrow, 11/10, and catch The Milestones open for Moving Units! -Jonathan Goodwin

Boys and girls, we have the feeling that a quirky psychedelic wave is about to flood the streets of NYC – how awesome! After Jerry Paper and Jib Kidder, Company of Selves is another really talented (presumably) Brooklyn based artist who released in September an intriguingly unique record entitled ‘Butterfly Handlers & Memory Travelers.’ The LP features heavy psychedelic influences and imaginative arrangements and lyrics blended with an intimate "bedroom pop" sound reminiscent of early Momus – a modus operandy that seems reflected in the band’s name. We are streaming below single "Presidential Model," but we recommend giving a listen to the entire album. We are digging in particular third song "Pyramid Schemes," where things get a lot more noisy and upbeat.

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

Bringing jazz to the masses is a complicated task. In most cases, to be accepted and enjoyed by a multitude of people, the genre needs to be heavily processed and (like KFC’s chicken) reformed within a more traditional pop structure. Also, this is music that most young fans (the main consumers of popular music) don’t really get, which doesn’t help. Sade managed to accomplish this task with a mix of beautiful songs, great voice and her uniquely discreet sex appeal. NYC (via Woodstock) Lindsey Webster seems to follow in her footsteps with music that charms in very sophisticated ways. Check out single "Fool Me Once," from her sophomore album "You Change" (out in the summer of 2015), to be enjoyed while lounging in the company of your favorite human being – or simply of a good scotch and cigar combo.

I wonder how many musicians move to NYC just because of their love for The Ramones. It feels like garage rock has been in vogue in NYC since the beginning of time, and Baby’s All Right tomorrow night will celebrate the most NYC centric of all genres with a trio of quality local artists. The Britanys (Deli Artist of the Month earlier this year and recently part of our CMJ shows) will headline the bill, sharing the stage with psych-garage rockers Acid Dad, another band that’s getting some deserved buzz these days. But in this post we’ll focus our attention on opening artist Tall Juan (pictured), since he just released a new EP entitled "Why Not?," where his mercurial and whimsical songwriting reaches new heights. The Queens via Buenos Aires artist got his EP recorded and mixed by Mac DeMarco, with whom he shares a bizarre attitude, an uninhibited vocal delivery and a preference for clean guitar sounds.