4AD artist Anni Rossi began her violin training at the tender age of three, so she’s been around music – studying it, exploring it, playing around with it – for most of her life. Perhaps that’s why she understands and appreciates the appeal of delicately rich music. “West Coast,” a gorgeous track from her album, Rockwell, is about taking a trip across the country. Rossi starts the song slowly, plucking strings and flirting with the listener; she then makes a quick shift, progressing into something very powerful. The shift is unanticipated, but extremely evocative, with emotional lyrics (“shifting my life and my belongings/ on a road trip that turns into going home / I can’t really feel it…”) and passion-filled instrumentation. Aside from her serious grasp of the instrument, her music can also be playful in a fun and folky way. Rossi bears quirky traces of Ingrid Michaelson and Regina Spektor – tracks like “Candyland” from her newest album, Heavy Meadow, are simple and sweet songs that float amidst sonic movement. And then there are the covers – like the one of Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody” – which are an adorably fresh take on popular music and a nod to Ms. Rossi’s creativity. – Vann Alex Daly

Shoegaze electro-pop outfit Kordan – currently running for our NYC artist of the month poll, just released their debut video through Stereogum. The band announced a CMJ show at The Cake Shop on October 20, and a CD release party at Bruar Falls on October 13 with Zaza and Brahms.

We saw Headless Horsemen open for Avey Tare’s DJ performance last Saturday ar Glasslands (it was actually their debut show), and they sounded like a quite unique band, notwithstanding obvious but not overwhelming Animal Collective influences. Bizarre, often mechanical sounding samples and high pitch vocals that are quirky and soulful at once are the recurring signature sound of this duo, that plays live with an extended lineup of musicians. Their textured and structurally complex tunes could be described as a more industrial/soul version of Javelin. Their home recorded 5 song EP will be released on October 31, but can be already streamed in its entirety here.

A quick note about an interesting electronic show in Brooklyn tonight 09.24 at Coco66 (a NYC venue that’s suddenly booking really good shows). It’s the release party for Warp Records signees Hundred in the Hands. On the bill also bicostal electro-alt-soul Blood Orange.

Mike Sniper, one Brooklyn’s ‘most mysterious musicians, is the man behind the freak-psych-electro-lo-fi project called Blank Dogs. Starting about 2 years ago, the singer/multi-instrumentalist released a steady stream of limited singles and EPs on reputable indie labels as Sacred Bones, HoZac and Woodsist. The fact that he sent a "blank" image whenever asked for a photo of the band (see here for example) definitely help build up the mystery. Sniper founded his own label Captured Tracks in 2008, through which he released a carefully-curated roster of artists that’s grown as quickly as Blank Dogs itself, including Dum Dum Girls’ debut EP and recent records by Beach Fossils, Wild Nothing and Minks. The news is that Blank Dogs has a new DIY record coming out in the fall and that according to the Sniper the "lo-fi" label won’t be applicable to his band from now on, as improvements in recording techniques and better equipment allowed clearer recording, as you can hear in the embedded track. Does that mean Blank Dogs isn’t weird anymore? No, it just means their music won’t grate your inner hear if you play it too loud. – Read a 2008 Deli interview with Blank Dogs here.

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BRAHMS’ electro, indie-pop melodies are danceable and infectious gracefully delivered. Tracks march forward with the forceful intensity of layered drums, guitars, and synths. Eric Lodwick, Drew Robinson, and Cale Parks, three admittedly spontaneous people with eclectic musical influences, spawned BRAHMS in an unplanned but natural manner. It was this process that allowed them to create their tight Coldwave power, melding their undefined differences and artistic unpredictability. The “buzz”-about-this-electro-band pun never really gets old, and in the case of BRAHMS, it’s actually totally warranted. BRAHMS have made a name for themselves in large part because of their impressively successful live openings for larger acts (e.g. Passion Pit, Delorean) and healthy sense of immediacy. The ability of BRAHMS’ expressive music to elicit both emotional and physical reactions is a true reflection of the time period from which their name originates. – Read Paul Dunn’s interview with the band here. – BRAHMS will be playing a Deli CMJ party at Brooklyn Bowl on 10.20 with Keepaway, Oberhofer and Bear Hands. See full schedule of The Deli’s CMJ parties here.

Eskalators are part band and part public performance piece. As if being a ska-influenced band in the Brooklyn indie scene isn’t already enough to raise some eyebrows, the band’s infamous and well-documented subway car performances have grabbed the attention of the Village Voice, the New York Post and Time Out New York. Eskalators formed in 2007 and performed their first show on—yes—an escalator in the Mall of America, and have since gone on to incorporate 18 members, including Williams. On the new record, Cats and Dogs Living Together, the band combines melodic and raw power-pop/punk vocals and power chords, a horn section, and everything from flute and glockenspiel to djembe. The songs are instantly infectious—melodic hooks abound and Williams’s vocals tap into the urgency of  20-something angst. The Eskalators aren’t totally a ska band (and to be fair, not everyone in the band grew up listening to ska) there’s enough pop melody and instrumental variety to push the band into other musical categories, and anyone with an interest in fun, energetic, and well-crafted songs should hop on board and sing along (lyrics are included with the band’s new record for that very purpose). – Read Bill Dvorak’s Q&A with the band here.

The Young Things, Galaxy of Tar (pictured) and Trent Hancock are the 3 NYC finalists (out of a total of 20 from all over the US) of the Sennheiser/CMJ HearIAm initiative, which will reward one band with a CMJ show at Le Poisson Rouge on October 20th and $10k in audio equipment. Fans of the bands that will participate to this initiative by casting their vote (here) will be elegible for some free CMJ badges + and a trip to NYC – all expenses paid! So I mean, even if you are already in NYC you can still get out of your 150 square feet studio and rent a luxury hotel room for 5 days, right? Semi-luxury? Ok, we’ll see…

Former Antler’s bassist, Justin Stivers, has been getting some good Brooklyn buzz going with his own band Pet Ghost Project. The songs in the band’s new EP "Winter Variations" share similarities with his ex band in the mellow atmospheres that suddenly build into thick wall of guitar sounds. The overall sonic atmosphere ranges from liquid ambient parts, droney psych rock buildups, shoegazer explosions and at times also industrial moments – but with a playful edge. There is also an obvious noise rock attitude that emerges from interesting fuzz guitar tones and all sort of guitar feedback used in layers. This is definitely a band that deserves some attention, you can see them live at Cameo Gallery on 09.25.

Mice Parade’s new album “What It Means To Be Left-Handed,” which released on September 14th, is your new favorite record. This album leaps right into the pool with Animal Collective, Beach House, and Grizzly Bear and splashes them all in the face. Their amalgamation of global rhythms, lo-fi folk, and electronica creates a lush sonic landscape that glitters and thumps with a refreshing earnestness. If you don’t know them, now is your chance to beat all your music-snob friends to the punch. They’re playing at Le Poisson Rouge this Friday with Les Shellys: Tom Brosseau & Angela Correa. Go buy a T-shirt and every CD on the table. BrokeMC – Read a 2005 Deliinterview with Mice Parade here.

In the Nineties, one of the things I could have sworn on was that there would have never been an 80s dance revival – how naive of me. I was a rocker into The Pixies and Nine Inch Nails of course, and lack of distorted guitars in music bothered me as much as sugary falsetto melodies sung by guys. In the meantime, while I was at home alone recording distorted guitars on my 4 tracks, the majority of the human beings out there was actually partying to the sound of… the dance hits of the 70s and 80s! Yes, the perception of a lone rocker can be extremely flawed, and dance music from that period in reality has always been extremely popluar. But French Horn Rebellion somehow managed to bring that sound to the indie hipster crowd, through their ironic attitude matched by a really authentic vibe and really good songs. If you around for CMJ, mark October 23 at Santos Party House.

Tuesday, September 14 was a guitar-centric evening at New York’s Terminal 5. For one, Slash was headlining the sold out show, and yes, some Guns’n’Roses tracks were performed! Hand selected openers and emerging act, TAB the Band, held their own against the blessed-by-fame dude, as they filled the 3,000-person capacity venue with raucous rock tracks, biting guitar riffs, and an air of humor. TAB jumped into high gear with “The House of El Ron” and barely took breaks as they pressed on with songs from their January release, “Zoo Noises:” “Bought and Sold,” “Run Away,” “She Said No (I Love You),” and “Lookin’ Pretty, Pretty,” which was featured on HBO’s “Entourage.” “Sticky Wickets “Little Water,” and “Heavy Idea,” the “oldies,” drew in the crowd, amping them up for the two-plus hour Slash extravaganza. www.TABtheBand.com – Meijin Bruttomesso