Shannon Hassett
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There is something special about New York three-piece The Immaculates, and it’s not simply that they’ll be dressed in Sunday’s best when you catch them live. Armed with bass, drum and vocals, when a blistering throwback to classic soul erupts from the stage, you are left with nothing to do but dance. Take “Hey Joe Kelly,” with singer Jay Heiselmann commanding his troops to “play that shit again” over a pumping bass line and some fierce work on the kit. Grab the Vol. 1 EP on vinyl October 1 from Death Class and on digital or cassette from Famous Class and Whoa Whoa respectively October 4 and 8.
The Immaculates - Hey Joe Kelly
You will turn on “33~” expecting it to break from its buzzing intro into a chorus. It never does, however, and such tension is the beauty of New York’s Zs. Mixing digital and real sounds, guitar and sax, kit and sticks into an amorphous instrument all its own, the avant-gardists thrive on the outskirts of various genres — the kind of chaos that asks harnessed free jazz or improvised composition. Either way, there is a poignancy behind each bleep, and the minimalist clang of “33~” leaves you with a sense of completion richer than any bridge will grant you. The track can be found on double 7-inch 33, out November 8 on Northern Spy.
Zs - 33~
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(Photo: Anjia Jalac)
There has been a resurgence of Kate Bush-inspired ladies lately, though few are doing it with the vocal prowess of Zambri. Sisters Cristi Jo and Jessica Zambri take the electro goth charge one step further, using largely their own smoky, synth-sounding vocals to build the intricate crescendos of tracks such as "Heather." Lyrics like "call me Heather or whatever but just for tonight" add a sassy kick to the experimental hiss beneath them. Grab debut EP Glossolalia November 8 on Kanine.
Zambri - Heather
Get More Zambri Music Here
I always think it's a good sign when a band commits to its reinvention. Take Mwahaha for instance, who with a new drummer arose from the ashes of electronic trio Ned. You can hear a dusting of that past in the group's current core of psych, employing all sorts of analog equipment for wide-reaching pop. "Sleep Deep" is a great example of that range, Ross Peacock's new wave-baritone percolating over humming synth. The self-titled LP drops December 6, and watch for a guest spot by fellow Oaklander (and practice space-sharer) Merrill Garbus.
Mwahaha - Sleep Deep
It’s opening with a drumroll, and it’s the tinny, unapologetic voice that threads the song together. It’s something about Athens, and it’s front and center in Tunabunny’s candid approach, producing rock that thrives off its fraying corners. “Bury The Present” is frank in its riffage, with subtle garage influence and a feminine swagger to finish it off. Grab the band’s sophomore LP, Minima Moralia, September 27 on local label Happy Happy Birthday To Me.
Tunabunny - Bury The Present
Ponies, beer, snow and metal—you’d be hard-pressed to sum up Rochester, NY much better than that, folks. Hailing from up north and bestowing us with the benefits of a lot of time indoors, Rational Animals has arrived with a big debut. Bock Rock Parade manages to put a modern dent on hardcore rooted firmly in the past, successfully steering a love of Black Flag into an inventive and riff-filled record. “Guess What? (Crunch)” has enough harmony beneath its armor to hook even the staunchest anti-metaler, so grab the LP now on Brooklyn’s Katorga Works.
Rational Animals - Guess What? (Crunch)
8-bit beatsmiths have been kicking around for a while, but few have found the staying power or creative success of Norway’s Casiokids. Returning with their second album in two years, Anbaringen Over Aaskammen comes stocked with the vocal quirks and recording experimentation that keeps the band ahead of the curve. The record title translates to “the revelation over the mountain,” and you can see this direction in tracks like “Det Haster!” Pop vocals and electro beats soar over a melodic center, crowned of course by the band’s namesake and best-used instrument. Grab the full-length October 11 on Polyvinyl.
Casiokids - Det Haster!
Get More Casiokids Music Here
Pot loving, comic drawing Colleen Green has entered our radar guitar and drum machine in tow. The Oakland noise-popper infuses tracks like “Rabid Love” with a skuzzy coating atop sugar and spice vocals. The slacker skronk front isn’t enough to mask her talent at crafting pop charmers, however, so don't expect to kick back with the latest stoner jam. Grab EP Cujo October 4 on Art Fag, or catch Green on tour supporting the Dum Dum Girls and Crocodiles later this month.
Colleen Green - Rabid Love
