Brooklyn indie folk artist Ace Reporter (born Chris Snyder) spent one full year of his life, 2009, busy with the occupational side of being a musician without the music part. Frustrated, Chris set himself a quest: to write, record and post one song a day for the entirely of 2010 (a short blurb written by the artist about this project can be found here). As Chris says, "[The project] became a journey of my physical and mental state…It was something I poured myself into." Now that the threesixfive project is completed, Ace is releasing free EPs featuring various tracks from the project, from the quiet first title track Sleepyhead to the playful juxtaposition No Planes. The 5-track Sleepyhead EP is now available for free download here, the release party will be at Cameo on 02.17. – Leah Tribbett

I keep hearing The Caribbean’s music described as "Avant-garde" or maybe "Avant-Pop." Certainly, the title seems to fit the music on a lot of levels. There are raspy vocals recounting narratives that don’t quite go anywhere in that very postmodern kind of way, there are uncommon chord changes that can remind you of late 20th century orchestral music, there are drones and echoes and backwards guitars played and recorded on a mixture of modern and vintage equipment. But, to my ears, something about that "Avant-garde" label just doesn’t seem to quite fit. 

The term usually carries an implied context that what you are about to hear was written only for the enjoyment of other musicians, or at least for a well-trained ear. When I first heard The Caribbean’s music, that was not my impression at all. Instead, I found it relaxing and casually familiar in a way that makes me want to make a mix tape for a mid-summer evening on the beach. 

Certainly, if you take the time to really listen to their music, you will find layers and layers of complexity –  musically, lyrically and emotionally. But, The Caribbean has managed to produce music that both the thinking man’s musician and the casual music lover can appreciate together.

The band’s fifth album, Discontinued Perfume, is scheduled to be released by Hometapes on February 22. They’ve released their first single from the album, "Mr. Let’s Find Out," as a free download. The song was inspired by Leonard Bernstein. Or rather, by a New Yorker article on Leonard Berstein. Or rather, by the way that article made The Caribbean feel when they reflected on it. I know, I know. We’re slipping back into Avant-garde territory. But, don’t fret about it. Just relax, listen and pretend that winter is already over.

P.S. If the single teaser track isn’t enough for you, The Caribbean has also released a free-to-download 12 song, 8 year retrospective here. 

–Jarrett

The Caribbean – Mr. Let’s Find Out

The Brooklyn two-piece Argotec, consisting of rapper Alex Argot and producer/engineer Defpotec, combines forces to generate chaotic soundscapes heralding an imminent apocalypse. Defpotec engineers beats that blip with Squarepusher frenzy and honk like an ethereal goose born from one of Mike Patton’s recurring nightmares. Argot’s deep vocals plow through these rocky rhythms with staccato rants on all manner of topics from current political turmoil to personal emotional rants. Though Argot’s flow can be inconsistent at times, his style and charisma generally make up for it. The screamo influence paired with staunch independent hip hop ideology makes for an interesting if not bi-polar listening experience. Argotec is not dance music; however if your headphones need a good workout on your daily commute, it’s a worthwhile download. If you prefer the direct impact of a live performance instead, the band has a busy live schedule, check them out at Sullivan Hall on February 3rd. – BrokeMC

Robin Bacior is an emerging Brooklyn based singer songwriter we stumbled upon about one minute ago. We liked the simplicity, sincerity and tastefulness of this song and video. She is playing lovely Pete’s Candy Store on February 6, an appropriately intimate venue for this kind of music.

Warm Ghost (birth name Paul Duncan) play music best experienced in a dark, damp, basement setting after you’ve knocked back a couple or a couple too many, Duncan’s vocals sounding so dark and echoing that he very well could have railed lines off a vodocer with Ian Curtis. In embracement of our digital age, his songs feature electronic-based instruments such as sythns, drum machines, and processed field recordings, to create listenable, enjoyable, and even danceable (if you count languid head-nods and toe taps) soundscapes of our modern day. In collaboration with Oliver Chapoy, Warm Ghost will be releasing their EP Uncut Diamond (Partisan Records) ion February 15. Don’t miss their CD release party on 02.12 at Glasslands. – Katie Bennett

Vivian Girls are about to release their third album (first one on Polyvynil).  "It’s cleaner and more hi-fi than the previous records," Cassie says of Share the Joy, which the band recorded at Rear House, the home studio run by Jarvis Taveniere (of the Brooklyn combo Woods), who engineered the album. "The sound is more open, more free. I think that this album really shows our strengths as musicians, and shows us melding together musically. It’s more psychedelic and less shoegaze. There’s also a lot of organ on it, which is new for us." – You can download the first single "I heard You Say" for free here.

Congrats to orchestral pop sextet Canasta for winning our Chicago Best of 2010 fans’ poll. After a seriously tight race the band preceded charming and somewhat quirky rootsy combo (another sextet!?!) Dastardly and Soft Speaker and their songs ranging from the mellow to the rocking. Here’s the Fans’ Poll Top Ten – thanks to all the bands for spreading the word about it! The composite chart results (including the vote of our jury of scene makers listed here) will be out later this week, so be sure to check back for the overall winners!

Artist   1 Canasta 2 Dastardly 3 Soft Speaker 4 Secret Colours 5 Jon Drake and the Shakes 6 Sad Brad Smith 7 Suns 8 Verona Red 9 Está Vivo 10 Gemini Club

The Deli Staff

SF Bay Area Deli readers,

After some serious number churning and link pasting we are finally able to give you the results of our Best of SF Emerging Artists 2010 poll. This chart is the result of a combined vote involving local scene makers (i.e. our jury, listed here), Deli writers and music fans (fans poll results here). If you wonder how all this works you can try to figure it out here (2 and 1/2 words of warning: it’s complicated!).

Artist J W F OS TOTAL   1 Weekend 6   0.011   6.011 2 Michael Musika 3   2   5 3 The Family Crest 1   3   4 4 Geographer 3   0.5   3.5 5 Debbie Neigher 3   0.072   3.072 6 Man/Miracle 2 1 0.009   3.009 7 Skeletal System 3   0.006   3.006 8 Hottub 3   0.003   3.003 9 The Splinters 3   0.001   3.001 10 Lazarus 3   0   3 11 Ben Thompson     1.5 0.75 2.25 12 Indianna Hale 2   0.074   2.074 13  The Definite Articles 2   0.07   2.07 14 Birds and Batteries   1 0.013 1 2.013 15 Shannon and the Clams 2   0.009   2.009 16 LSD and the Search for God 2   0.006   2.006 17 Butterfly Bones 2   0.005   2.005  18 The Dashing Suns 2   0.003   2.003 19 Dominant Legs 2   0.002   2.002 20 Business 80 1 1 0.001   2.001 21 Amp Live 2   0   2 22 Ash Reiter     1 1 2 23 Moon Duo 1   0.067   1.067 24 FpodBpod 1   0.016   1.016 25 Swanifant 1   0.006   1.006 26 Sugar & Gold 1   0.005   1.005 27 Exray’s 1   0.004   1.004 28  Nobunny 1   0.002   1.002 29  Moe Green 1   0   1 30 Here Come The Saviours     0.046 0.75 0.796 31 B. Hamilton     0.004 0.75 0.754 32 The Spyrals     0.089 0.5 0.589 33 Slowness     0.005 0.5 0.505 Legend: J = Jury – OS = Open Submissions – W = Deli Writers – F = Fans

The Deli’s Staff

Here at The Deli we take winter seriously. Our frostiest cover ever graces our 25th NYC issue (check it out in pdf version here), which was coincidentally delivered yesterday throughout a frosty Big Apple, covered in snow. Psych Folk songstress Lia Ices – who is celebrating her CD release party at Joe’s Pub on February 1st – and the gorgeous foggy picture shot by Kate Edwards add two extra wintry elements to the package. In this issue you will also find features about NYC Indie Labels, Delicate Steve, Appmoattox, and – of course – a slew of Q&As and reviews. Enjoy!

Tonight’s show at Joe’s Pub, sponsored by BMI, is also our 25th issue’s launch party, hope to see you there at 9.30 on the dot!

The Deli’s Staff

Today it seems as if every musician sets out to claim the term “indie” for his or her own, adding slight nuances to a hackneyed structure in the name of innovation. In their often futile efforts, they forget the roots of their sound come from deep in the heart and soul of rock ‘n roll. But for Raccoon Fighter, there’s nothing else but good, hard rock ‘n roll and all its implications of drugs, sex, and sweat. Like their fore-bearers The Troggs, their sound is based in loud electric guitar, hard drums and cymbal crashes, and Sean Gavigan’s crackling yowling vocals, reminiscent of the late great Joey Ramone. These guys are about to rock the socks out of Cake Shop in February with a 3 day residency – the show on the 9th has our #4 and #70 Best of NYC bands Turkuaz and Lily & the Parlour Tricks in the line up as well. – Katie Bennett

We got familiar with Alison Clancy through her Huff This! project, which made it in the list of our Best of NYC Emerging Artists Poll 2010. Electric Child is another project featuring this intriguing NYC based singer/songwriter/dancer – here’s a review of the song "Airshow".
It starts with an insistent beeping, the kind you would hear on a heart monitor or some other piece of annoying machinery. Then, with the static pop of a PA announcement, a pleasantly detached voice intones "good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. This is your pilot. The plane is about to crash. This is not a safety announcement. There is no plan for your survival." "Welcome to the air show" indeed. This slightly-electronic ethereal authority then tells us to sit back, relax and enjoy the crash. Cryptic predictions about rows 15-18 and row 25 make this reviewer think bandleader Alison Clancy is more than just the pilot of this flight, she’s the one pulling the strings of time and space. And it’s true. Clancy leads Electric Child on a disjointed journey; a touch of string guitar here, an electro-clash back beat there, a little bit emotional catharsis ("I can’t let go!"), and then an abrupt sign-off. This is her rollercoaster, and we’re all strapped in with blindfolds on, waiting for the next twist. – allison levin

Here at The Deli we take winter seriously. Our frostiest cover ever graces our 25th NYC issue (check it out in pdf version here), which was coincidentally delivered yesterday throughout a frosty Big Apple, covered in snow. Psych Folk songstress Lia Ices – who is celebrating her CD release party at Joe’s Pub on February 1st – and the gorgeous foggy picture shot by Kate Edwards add two extra wintry elements to the package. In this issue you will also find features about NYC Indie Labels, Delicate Steve, Appmoattox, and – of course – a slew of Q&As and reviews. Enjoy!