This album is noisy — these guys sampled The Flaming Lips and lean toward Flying Lotus in sonic convolution just to give you a clue. Two of the three rappers in Blue Belt aren’t particularly innovative, but they make up for their lack of prowess with character, weirdness, and occasional dash of good-natured insight. All in all, it’s an unexpected mix of styles blending street-rap with nerd-rap over electro-clash beats. Listening to this CD may have given me A.D.D. (Wow! My hands are PALE!). Anyway, it’s a funny album, and it’s considerably more innovative than most of the “tv-dinner” rap being cooked up these days. They were obviously very high when they made it, so you might want to roll something up before you check it out. – BrokeMC

NYC via New Jersey singer songwriter Fleet Walker’s debut release, "Morning Void” was noticed by TheCoolTV, a music channel which will be airing his “Faro” music video on televisions in over 50 million homes nationwide. – (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 and APS Mastering.

Calling upon an era when pop songs and hooks had a secret cleverness about them, Hooray for Earth‘s “True Loves” incorporates a few tricks from 1980’s synth pop/new-wave playbook, while still sounding totally current. The hooks are molasses-y sweet and emotionally charged enough to make the cut of a John Hughes film ("Baby’s Day Out" notwithstanding), but can still throw their weight around on a playlist next to MGMT, Animal Collective, LCD Soundsystem or Passion Pit. Currently touring with Cymbal Eat Guitars in support of their sophomore album "True Loves" , the band will be abck in NYC with a show at the Bowery Ballroom on 10.27. – Read Chuck Davis interview with the band here.

See Not Blood, Paint play live, and you might find yourself falling for their quirky way of seeing the world. NBP don’t just re-arrange the stage for their engrossing performances, they inhabit the entire room filling the space up with anything from giant heads and mandatory facepaint, to choreographed guitar solos and random wardrobe malfunctions. After such an immersive experience, you’re left with a lot of questions and the only thing you can be sure of is that you want more. You don’t want to miss their Deli’s CMJ show at The Delancey on 10.22 with Yellow Ostrich, Sea of Bees, Monogold and more. – Read Mike Levine’s Q&A with Not Blood, Paint here.

Grimace, a.k.a. “Belly,” has reemerged from the subterranean caverns of his underground Brooklyn laboratory with a fresh collection of dirty beats and dirtier words. Though halcyon Indy Hip Hop label Def Jux has passed on into the ether, their vibe resonates strongly in this release. Collaborations with L.A.-based Cassettes Won’t Listen and upstate NY Slobber-slanger Dezmatic are highlights to please your discerning ears, and the beats are crunchy and throbbing in the best possible ways. Whether you choose to believe him or not, Grimace’s “Whole Lies and Half Truths” should at least be given the benefit of the doubt. – BrokeMC

I saw Sebastian the Crab playing his NORD keyboard in the subway tunnel and was immediately taken by the swelling harmonies reverberating throughout the expansive tile of the Canal Street station. The tone of his songs calls to mind images of robots drinking coffee, philosophizing over their distant origins at the hands of a fabled “human race.” Throughout "Hungry Heart," slightly blown-out keys and sparse electro drums titter and percolate, permeating your whole body with a warm buzz. There is an invigorating sense of inspiration teamed with a pinch of desolation in the way he plays comparable to Bibio and Mt. Eerie. For fans of lo-fi instrumentals, this Hungry Heart will leave you quite satiated. -=brokeMC

Slowly, Great Elk’s songs creep from a position of distance and unfamiliarity to a timeless groove, like something your parents would play on the first cold day of fall. Starting out sparse and confused, Vocalist Paul Basile carries the band as they gently layer their sound, adding minimalist drum and bass, with an ever-weeping pedal steel guitar. Bryan Trenis’s dramatic keyboards and, “approximate vegetarianism,” help to portray the lonesome yet confident quality of Great Elk’s sound. They have self- released two EP’s, handing out limited editions to lucky show-goers this past February, and are currently on tour in Portland, Oregon, but will soon return to their home of Brooklyn.

On September 27, Indiana-spawned Kid Savant, who now reside in Williamsburg, joined The Humans, an experimental dual-bass group featuring Bill Rieflin (RIP R.E.M) at Highline Ballroom. The unexpected sit-down dinner layout did not dampen Kid Savant’s set of danceable, nightclub-esque tracks, many of which will be included on their upcoming EP, “Drop it On the Stereo,” due out October 24. Strobes, flickering lights, and patterned projections enhanced the waves of synthesizer crescendos, swelling electro beats and live drums, and howling, melodic vocals of “4 Years” (see video), ethereal “Drop It On the Stereo,” ebullient and high-flying “What It’s Worth,” heartfelt, piano-driven “Better Side of Paradise,” and chromatic and dynamic “Cher aKido” . The electro-rock quartet will be celebrating the release of “Drop It On the Stereo” on October 14 at Brooklyn’s The Knitting Factory and will be hitting the stage at The Studio at Webster Hall on October 21 for CMJ. – Meijin Bruttomesso – photo by Deneka Peniston

New Seattle band Sad Face have an upcoming show at the Tractor Tavern on October 18th.  The five piece make introspective, well balanced tunes.  At their best, the band is actually reminiscent of Radiohead circa In Rainbows.  Melodic guitar interplay and general noise ambience coalesce into a fine ethereal sound for the group.  They are definitely worth keeping on your radar.  Their first release, Gosh Darn!, a multifarious 7 track compilation, is out now on Groovehouse Records.   

Postscript by wearesadface

NYC boy/girl power duo Naked Hearts just released this video of the song "Animals We Were", which will be featured in their upcoming sophomore album "New Growth", out in late October. The Mp3 of this song can be downloaded for free on the band’s website.

Pixie Brooklynite Danielle Johnson – better known as Danz – began cutting music little over a year ago under the moniker Computer Magic, but has already garnered some encouraging write ups, an enthusiastic fan base and a sturdy collection of tracks, all of which she’s made freely available online. Despite not charging for her music, the 21 year old’s vintage synth pop style already sounds fully formed. The arrangements bounce along efficiently, with Danz’s gentle voice cooing out the sweet melodies with candid optimism. In fact, there’s not yet a dud among her growing portfolio, which could easily fill a double album. A DJ, graphic designer and blogger to boot, you get the sense that this super-gifted Hunter College kid can do whatever she puts her mind to. Check out this new video and come to see her live at The Deli’s CMJ electronic stage at The Delancey on Tuesday October 18 with Psychobuildings, Pretty Good Dance Moves, Caged Animals and other awesome NYC electronic artists. – Dean Van Nguyen

Not be outdone by his drummer Tommy Gardner’s own awesome EP as Crush, Beach Fossils guitarist Cole Smith’s new band DIVE is an even more washy and atmospheric group than anything the Fossils have given us yet. Dive’s new single ‘Sometime’ is as catchy as it is haunting. Complete with moody guitars that only hit one string at a time, it’s Beach Fossils on a rainy afternoon. The song will be released as a single October 7 on Captured Tracks. They’ll be playing one of their first shows at Death By Audio next month, supporting Spanish Prisoners at the CD release party for their dreamy self-released full-length Gold Fools. See the show next Thursday October 6 with Caged Animals and Quiet Lights and look out for Dive’s EP to follow this December. – Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)