The Blakes released album "Art of Losses" this summer, which blends dreamy pop, electro-tinged rock, moody post-punk and lo-fi guitars mixed with big harmonies. They are now unveiling the video for “Narwhal, the first clip from their recent album, Art of Losses, check it out here – video-less song streaming below.

There aren’t many front ladies (or gentlemen, for that matter) as convincing and seducing on stage as Stephonik Youth, who sings and looks a little like a reinvention of those intriguingly dark pop stars of the 80s – from Robert Smith to Siouxie. The Deli featured and booked her electro-rock band Living Days several times a couple of years ago, and we are excited to hear they will be back with a new record in early 2013. As an appetizer to the full release, the band just unveiled a video on IFC of their cover of Pete Townshend’s "Let My Love Open the Door" (the song is also streaming below). The sound seems more electro than the previous material, check out other tracks here.

This song was added to our SoundCloud playlist of emerging NYC artists here.

St. Claire is a band that deserves the folk label. Hailing from across the globe, the members of this quartet have chosen to build their home atop the muddy waters of rustic guitars and banjos, and solid foundations of wide open spaces of love-weary lyrics. Indeed, while other ‘folk’ performers don traditional instruments but keep the melodies as radio-friendly pop fodder, (Mumford and Sons anyone?) St. Claire isn’t afraid to tell a story of heartbroken pain, rooted in tradition, but sounding like the first time it’s been told. Like the beautifully haunting ‘He is a Ghost,’ where a repeated ode to love becomes an anthemic act of desperation. But you’ll have to listen to these pleas yourself to really appreciate the fact that the band’s now settled into Brooklyn. See them when they play Piano’s on Tuesday, December 11th (tonight) or at Rock Shop on January 6. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

The song "He is a Ghost" was added to our Soundcloud playlist of folk NYC based artists here.

Dream pop met 80’s electronic revival and became the Brooklyn based duo Color War. Lindsay Mound’s sweetly spacy vocals keep the mood dreamy, and Billy J’s inimalist beats and electronic arpeggiators give the sound a "technical" edge while moving the music forward. This is a softer side of electro pop that favors simplicity and clarity of sound over layered synthesizers and full-bodied noise. Color War has a few songs available online in "The Prismatic Collection," including a cover of Lee Hazelwood’s “Some Velvet Morning,” and are currently busy writing the soundtrack for the film "Night and a Switchblade" by director Ben Finer. – Lucy Sherman

The Amputees‘ debut e.p. "Commence The Slaughter" has been out since Sept. 1st a blend of hardcore, pop punk, indie and Garage Rock. With a sound centered around a swirl of rage, Manson and guitar layers, the six member band have been playing round New York since June of 2011. You can stream the 4 song e.p on The Amputees Bandcamp page, and check out their Occupy Wall Street-inspired video here. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli’s NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building.

Elika has a certain knack for re-making tragedy into beauty. Taking from personal tragedy and turning her experiences into a reason to persist, their latest video for ‘No One Gets Lost’ juxtaposes a halcyon youth against the cold realities of dangerous machinery like power drills and buzzsaws. Make of it what you will… but it certainly sounds like something malicious is happening here behind the scenes. Like a lot of their music, Elika presses on with a definite sense of optimism that shines through their stacks of shimmering keyboards and melliflous soprano. Taken from her new record ‘Always the Light,’ Elika is a powerful voice puncturing through pain and adversity with each new record. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

"No One Gets Lost" was added to our SoundCloud playlist of emerging NYC artists here.

Take a listen to Corrupt Autopilot and you’ll wonder why the band hasn’t been invited over to your house yet. Or maybe they have… perhaps yours is the ‘Quiet House’ they’re referring to in the album opener (streaming below) of trash rock anthems ‘Oh No!’

In a clear ode to grungey 90s bands like Mudhoney and old, old Weezer (the Blue record of course), the trio have recreated the decade in all its garage rock majesty. Through eight tracks of messy awesomeness, the NY group transcends the past two decades and even finds time to discuss Panda blood along the way (nice!). I’d say… if you can’t invite them over to your place, the least you can do is power this record through your speakers, and maybe break out the flannel again while you’re at it.- Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

This band submitted their music for review here

(Photo by Todd Zimmer)

Anya Skidan is a young Brooklynite unafraid to throw herself decidedly at life’s shadows, attempting to illuminate some psychedelic light over her settings. We enjoyed her performance at our flagship CMJ show at Pianos, and recommend you go see her live since you’ll have three opportunity in December: she’s playing Pinebox Rockshop on 12.15, Pete’s Candy Store on 10.18 and Goodbye Blue Monday on 12.29. Read Mike Levine’s interview here.

Cuddle Magic may have a weird name, but it somehow makes sense. Their music inspires hugs (sophisticated ones though) and is achieved through instrumental wizardry involving a large list of unusual instruments. They played our CMJ show last October at The Living Room and charmed us inside out. That’s why we interviewed them here. 

Mice Parade just announced the release of the album "Candela," scheduled for late January 2013. This is a band we’ve been following for years and always manages to inspire us with their suggestive music and intriguing imagery – check out the new video for "This River has a Tide" below.

Mice Parade — "This River Has A Tide" from paul yates on Vimeo.