The Suzan is an indie pop band from New York with Japanese roots. Their bouncy pop and fun attitude earned them a tour with party bands Chromeo and MNDR in 2011. We won't say that songs like “Hahaha” and “High and Low” stand out as lyrical masterpieces, but they can surely induce even the most adamant of wallflowers to tap their toes to the driving beat. Our favorite track “Devils” (see awesome video below) has a more serious undertone, with the internal conflict between The Devil and Jesus addressed, but still manages to cause an uncontrollable urge to shake your booty. The Suzan will be performing Thursday, March 29th at The Delancey in NYC. - Christine Cauthen
Ambient and slightly androgynous, the duo Belle Mare released their dreamy debut EP “The Boat of the Fragile Mind” earlier this spring. The EP resonates with somber tones and almost whale-like howls, unraveling soft acoustic guitar, simple piano melodies, and occasional subtle drones. The title track features the quivering vocals of Amelia Bushell, one half of the Belle Mare duo with guitarist Thomas Servidone, painting a dreamscape portrait of longing. Charade (streaming below) gently develops an unexpected blue melody that can lull you into the deepest of sleeps - I've heard of people dreaming of sleeping, in NYC. The duo met at an open mic night in Brooklyn and recorded the album in Servidone’s apartment, but notwithstanding the DIY approach, the record is full of character and the sound mature. With their mix of rich surrealism and an almost gothic aura, these song sounds as if played through an antique phonograph inside a parlor room... located in the deepest of our subconscious. While “The Boat” could easily draw comparisons to other dream-poppers Beach House, Belle Mare’s subtleties and extreme sparsness create a stronger emotional drive and more nostalgic appeal. - Devon Antonetti
