Like being exhausted by a hot sun, Bryan Harding and Amalie Bruun’s dream pop sways slow and nonchalant; carelessly, it wraps itself around jangle-pop melodies and vaporous synths, lost in a hazy confusion where layers mingle, melt into one another, and a voice echoes from afar, barely there. Sure, we don’t know much of Ex Cops so far. They’ve only been around for about a year, and have to this date only released a single, and a few tracks circulating online. But with their debut album "True Hallucinations" coming in January, we should be hearing more of these guys, who impressed us at our recent ‘Mostly Psych’ CMJ show at Pianos. Check out the first single from the album below. – TM

A Brooklyn-based classic punk rock four piece, barely a year old, Half Day released late September a first album. Filled with gang chants and that bottoms-up cheer, keeping ‘rough round the edges’ as a thread, In Public streams through its ten tracks an indie-friendly rumble of colliding riffs and raucous unisons, somehow balancing a taste for clean-cut aesthetics and their true string-shredding, barking natures leaning towards the gritty gutter-bred edge of punk. Following a string of Brooklyn shows in support of the record’s release, the band will be playing XPO 929 on November 17 with Very Rare and Ex-Wife, but for now, you can get acquainted with the record on their Bandcamp. – TM

As a fan of Sad Companion, I’ve come to expect a couple things from the band’s frontmen,cellist/experimental songwriter Christopher Hoffman. Namely: a cello, a good song, and some experiments. While you’ll find these elements in the Brooklynite’s first solo venture, what you won’t find are any flirtations with the pop format. The pieces from ‘Induction’ exist in a world of their own. Built from drum and string loops and wound together tightly by unearthly vocals, these tunes might reminded at times of the uneasy hysterics of Kid A. But rest assured, Hoffman’s an artist firmly in control of his abilities. If the amazing child in full KiSS makeup on the album’s cover doesn’t convince you, the evocative cello solos certainly will. Check the record out and see him live when he plays Roulette on November 23rd and 24th. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Courtesy of Raccoon Fighters, here comes raw rock and roll repackaged for the post-everything generation – exploring 60s garage, blues rock, grunge sounds in a manner that stands at reasonable distance from faithful revivalism and anything formulaic. How? Complete incoherence and a soft contemporary frame. They’ve well-understood that it isn’t one particular aesthetic we’re after but an energy altogether. Those who are expecting monster rock are at the wrong door, but for the others, a tasty mouthful of dirt is awaiting – at The Knit on November 7th. – TM

Here’s a video which wouldn’t really come at a better time if it tried. Presidential election coming up, the sempiternal pro vs. anti-abortion debate sparked up again from the Republican front. In the midst of it all, Broooklyn-based songwriter Shilpa Ray has concocted, with her Happy Hookers (and a little help from her fans) this iconography-saturated video she released last week to illustrate the moody, sour drone of her song ‘Nocturnal Emissions’. A black&white DIY silent movie-style montage, it takes the shape of a vindictive dig at man-made contraception policies imagining a violent women-led pro-natality campaign straight out of a dude’s worst nightmare. See for yourself, and mainly, don’t forget to vote tomorrow! – Tracy Mamoun

Following the release of their third album "Worship" early this summer, A Place To Bury Strangers recently revealed their new music video for ‘I’m All UP’ (below), off the slightly softer edged full-length which came as the latest in a gradual slip away from the band’s original devastatingly abrasive shoegazing. On the backdrop of this sweet, shamelessly melodic, effects-encrusted pop downer, the video portrays an epic massacre of an army of toys, real-life recreation of a young boy’s fantasy, orchestrated by Oliver Ackermann’s brother Karl, who calls it a ‘Toy Story IV: Battle Royale’ – check it out below. APTBS’ US tour, which kicked off October 27th in Richmond, VA, will find them heading back home to headline the Bowery Ballroom on November 18th, as one of their last dates with Philly-based shoegazers Bleeding Rainbow. Streaming below also the single ‘You Are the One.’ – Tracy Mamoun

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!