New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
The Mercury Caves is the new moniker of musician Nate Leslie. He recently released an EP of inspirational instrumental soundscapes called “The Navigation Verses”. The three tracks were created in celebration of the lives of his two Uncles, Frank and Alec, whom both passed away from an illness. The EP is beautiful, heartbreaking, and inspiring all at the same time.
Exploring newly-discovered terrain with the comfort of a dance-enriching backdrop, Black Zone Myth Chant’s new release, Black Zion Mystic Chant, hints at the familiar, while delving into the unknown. Stacking instrumentation into unexpected, free-associating shapes, the innovative sound sculptor creates a trippy, futuristic headspace, as elements zip and zap by. Pausing in points of animation, one simultaneously notices the push and pull of airy intensity. The ability to dig deep into these sonic caverns is a mind-warping gift.
Moon is the rock trio of David Azizinamini, Christopher Schneberger, and Chris Shen. They recently released the first single, “There’s Light Here”, from their forthcoming third album, Extinction. The track is a hard hitting, driving rock anthem.
You can help Moon celebrate the new album at Martyrs on June 9th with Model Stranger, We Killed The Lion, and Polarizer.
Avery Springer of Retirement Party has begun writing and recording with Photographer Sarah Beidatsch, and the duo is called OPE. Yesterday they released their first single, “Pepperoni Palace”.
Local emcee Skooda Chose has teamed up with Cleveland-Based producer M. Stacks to release a new 8 track EP called “Mutant”. The EP has a throwback feel, and features a ton of great samples. My favorite track is “Karaoke” which features a great looping soul sample.
The Deli NYC premieres Hot Curl‘s new single, "Endless Summer", a six-minute psych track dropped just in time for warm weather and top-down drives to the beach. According to lead singer Prescott Horn, the song took shape during the coldest months of winter in the back of the now defunct Bushwick venue, Silent Barn. Nevertheless, the song delivers the torrid and laid-back aura of a ’60s surf film with billowing bass lines and blown-out drums to help drive the jangly guitars and acid-trip soundscape. If you enjoy Slowdive or DIIV and want a new addition to your Summer 2018 playlist, "Endless Summer" is your jam. You can experience it in a live setting on May 24th when Hot Curl releases it at their show at Berlin. – Will Sisskind
Krust Toons: "Yanny or Laurel?" by Tedd Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations and animation shorts HERE.
Volonté Noir (FKA Blvckwill) is the dark electronic, synth-filled recordings of musicians and visual artist Will Gee. He released a new EP called "Omens I" last month. Below is the video for the EP’s title track.
A pulsating, electro-percussive rattle sends shivers up one’s spine on “Inanna,” the new single from coldwave duo Nylon. Featured on their self-titled EP, the track captures an isolated infatuation. With haunting poetry marching forward, the inherent darkness of the instrumentation casts a shadow. One wonders whether the lyrics are intended as a letter or rather directed at oneself in evaluating the roles within a relationship.
New Jersey quartet The Nectars is opening up a space for the rock of 20 years ago to spill like a smashed Capri Sun back into our consciousness. Their songs are about having fun, being free and in love, and offer a sound appropriately reminiscent of those positively punchy, female fronted, power pop bands of the late ’90s/early aughts like No Doubt and Paramore. Singer Jessica Kenny has the presence and vocal prowess to take this band beyond the local circuit (as a matter fact, they are already touring the UK) and songs like "I Want It" (our favorite) and recently released "We Will Run" (streaming below) have the melodic appeal to win over the new generation of rock seekers. After a string of singles accompanied by lo-fi-ish videos, the band is set to release debut album Sci-Fi Television on June 1st.
Jessica Kenny describes the band’s new music video for "We Will Run" as “a love letter to simpler times. A tribute to the New Jersey of our youth." Set in a low rent rehearsal space and peppered with shots of the band just hanging out and riding bikes, the video’s mood is set for the juicy nostalgia the band aims to embody while letting us feel it new again. "We are sci-fi television love" Jessica repeats in the bridge. Somehow I’m reminded of Indiana Jones re-runs on TV, when the internet took so long to load that it wasn’t worth it, when having nothing to do on a Saturday was normal and blissfully boring – and getting a new CD was the best treat there ever was… – Meghan Rose
Everyone Is Talking About You is the debut EP from Gladie. Encapsulating a range of earnest emotion, there’s an inviting, open door that reveals the deeply personal, while hitting universally home. You’ll find grains of hope within grounds of despair, as well as enriching lessons to be learned from mistakes made. Catch the band this Wednesday, May 23 at Everybody Hits with Doll Baby, Bat Boy, and Big Nothing!
Every now and again, a special kind of artist falls onto our radar—one that is able to give nods to music history, while also successfully innovating and pushing boundaries. One such artist is Scott Alexander, whose new project Some Professional Help is ambitious to say the least. Backed by a rotating 16-person band, Alexander leads the eclectic soundscape with his knowledge of orchestral music (if you think that there isn’t enough bassoon in pop music, then you and Alexander may be cut from the same cloth.) The self-titled debut EP is a glittering, baroque take on orchestral pop. With vocals akin to that of Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst and arrangements that whisper influences from Sufjan Stevens, this project shines as a standout singer-songwriter debut. Some Professional Help will be performing in Oakland at Uptown Nightclub on May 24. – Lilly Milman
Stream the full Some Professional Help EP below.
