I don’t know if this is right to assume but I have always felt that the beauty of music is that is can transcend all of the boundaries we choose to place around ourselves. Music has the power to push beyond religion and race, it can move across oceans, through wars and be passed down through generations. It is timeless and when done properly one of the most powerful force in the world. This is why when I received an album masterfully composed by Matthew Prins, and filled with traditional Christmas music I didn’t think twice about bringing it to The Deli. Yes there is a religious message in each of these tracks, but if that is not your focus this Holiday season it is my belief that the shear elegance and grace in the compositions that Prins has put together will allow you to give this album a chance. What I found most enjoyable about this album was the diverse arrangements filled with harp, bells, piano, guitar, and more, and they do not really on the organ as most traditional recording do. Prins approaches each song, from “O Come, All Ye Faithful” to “Carol of The Bells”, from such a fresh and intelligent prospective that it will make this album stand out in your collection. - website

The latest album from the electro-emo band New Canyons begins with a single piano painting an almost ominous picture as cold and repetitive strings float over the top and the “intro” begins to build. Only lasting a minute and a half, the intro to “Strife, Struggle, & Fire” subtly prepares the listener for the dark and chilling sounds ahead. However, as “Dressed to Kill” kicks in for the second track the tempo is slightly more upbeat, but the mood remains sullen. New Canyons, through out their album, build complex but enjoyable electronic rhythms that consistently shift, grow and retract, giving the album a fuller sound than I was anticipating. This is much more than bedroom pop, New Canyons have a sound build for stadiums and songs like “Heart Transparency”, “We Could Drive”, and “Life Support” sound as radio ready as anything I’ve heard lately. This is really the perfect collection to match the chill in air with cold pulsing basslines, glitches, and soaring guitar solo. The album was available for free download through the month of September, and is currently available through cd baby. - website

With all that is going in this country and with our economy it brought a smile to my face when I received a cd of love songs. Travis Lee Wiggins is the driving force behind the prolific Essex Channel, and over the last several years he has been storing away his best love songs for what is now known as Love is Proximity. This collection is a testament to staying positive, and it is a state of mind that has netted Wiggins over 43 tracks for inclusion. These tracks will be released over the next six months resulting in four albums worth of love. Musically, Essex Channel captures both a sense of dense orchestration and the intimate sound of bedroom recordings. By using horns, strings, banjo, harmonica, and more, Wiggins keeps every track fresh and moving. The first single from Love is Proximity is called innocent romp called “Skinny Dipping”, and it will soon be a raucous and vivid music video. This album, the first of four, will be released on September 29th through Wiggins own Sweet Goodness Records. - website

Newcomers to the Chicago scene, Marbin combine the ambient feel of subtler electronic music with the controlled freedom of jazz. Dani Rabin and Danny Markovitch got there start in Israel, but have found a new energy and hopefully a new audience here in the city. Through the ten tracks on this self-titled release Marbin explores traditions and find new chains of thought and sound. This is music for reflection and meditation, but it is also the sound of a cool summer evening. It is a refreshing break from the perpetual sounds of indie pop and hip-hop that fills the streets. Rabin and Markovitch have truly made an album that is exciting and relaxing all over the course of forty minutes. Take a minute to view the day through a more reflective and jazz-filled lens. - website

Has the phrase indie-pop been overused yet? Is it offensive to say that a band plays indie-pop? Maybe we default to that label when we can clearly define a sound. In their bio, Soft Speaker uses the word psychedelic to describe the band, but when I hear the synths and harmonies, begin tapping my feet, and can almost instantly hum along, I cry indie-pop! Alright, enough with the titles, Conditions in the latest release from the quintet known as Soft Speaker. Now it may just be the fact that I grew up as the biggest Dinosaur Jr. fan on my block, but I find myself hearing their influence more and more in younger bands, and Soft Speaker is no exception. From the raging guitar solo in the opening seconds of “Mercury Park” to the fuzz and feedback of “Danger Red”, this albums driving force is the complex and inventive guitar play. Yet, the solos are restrained enough to allow the rhythm, the melodies, and even the handclaps to keep the songs moving and for the most part danceable. In just seven songs, Soft Speaker manages to balance raging guitar solos, alt-country ballads, and an electrified remix track. Conditions clearly sets the stage for bigger things in the near future for this eclectic four piece. - website

Tortoise, the five-piece instrumental rock ensemble from Chicago, is at it again with their most recent full-length album entitled, Beacons of Ancestorship. After a long break from producing new material, the band’s new offering makes difficult the art of categorization. If I were forced to pigeonhole such an act into a genre, it would be something like, “experimental-intergalactic-post rock-industrial-hip hop”… or something like that. If you lack the ability to listen to an entire album without getting bored, this may be what you need to cure the ailment. Beacons of Ancestorship opens with “High Class Slim Came Floatin’ In,” which harkens back to an improvisational hip-hop style, much like ropeadope Records’ The Detroit Experiment back in 2003. Tortoise establishes the fact that you have no idea where the next minute will take you, so you might as well sit back and enjoy this musical Choose-Your-Own-Adventure. Another track that stuck out was “Gigantes,” which brings a bit of an Eastern flavor, and keeps a spicy tempo throughout. The closer of the album really caught my attention. “Chateroak Foundation” establishes a slow-going guitar riff and then turns it on its head when the beat comes in. Definitely give that one a listen! All in all, instrumental rock is not entirely my cup of tea. However, I was pleasantly surprised while listening to Tortoise’s Beacons of Ancestorship. The band really puts a spotlight on their versatility and their ability to master a handful of genres to weave them together to an enjoyable hour or so of music. - website – Paul Balsom.

You might think that a band that utilizes Nintendo controllers on stage and in the studio might boarder on gimmicky. However, I Fight Dragons have managed to combine these classic sounds with a near overwhelming sense of pop and rock. When you listen to the bands debut ep, what takes center stage is their unique take on pop music and not just their use of Nintendo gear. Through songs like “The Faster The Treadmill” and “Money” it is the solid foundation of is driving this sextet of superheroes into the spotlight. What I am try to say is that despite the fact that they consider themselves a” nerd-centric NES-influenced dork combo” this band is actually so much more. So while they revel in their NES controllers, Power Pads, and Zapper Guns, you can marvel at their guitars, bass, and drums. Cool is Just a Number is available for free download at IFD’s website.

On The Fear, Nathan Xander takes a bold and reaching step to transform himself from a barroom/coffeehouse singer into a main stage commodity. The rich textures of his voice power through the chords, be it acoustic or electric, and conjure memories of smoke and sawdust. Although he lives and plays in one of the largest cities in the country, the fear is that he won’t be heard, he won’t be known, he won’t loved. As its core, The Fear is root rock, and big chunk of Americana. This album is honest and filled with heart, fear, ad ultimately faith. What will draw new listeners to this collection is that faith, especially during these times. As we all begin to dig deeper, think harder about how we live and how we spend, the decision to purchase an album maybe difficult. Yet, purely independent artists like Xander with stripped down and simple stories should be the first to get our support. Search for the self-released albums and spend what you can. Let them know that you are here for them and that they have nothing to fear. - website.

With a claim to fame as prestigious as winning the 2007 Lollapalooza Battle of the Bands, the Helicopters clearly entered the studio with one goal in mind… leave nothing on the board. While recording their latest album “Sizing Up The Distance”, Jason Caldeira, Brian Fifield, Dave Moran utilized an impressive range of musical styles. From the surprising indie pop of “Emergency” to the slinky electro beat of “Iran” to the folk undertones of “Scraps of Bread” to the near funk and grooves of “Still Silhouettes”, this album covers all the bases and excels in every genre. If forced to compare the variety of sounds found on “Sizing Up The Distance” to other bands I would have to say this is Duran Duran meets Ben Gibbard. The title of the album implies that there is a distance the band is facing, but with each spin of this disc, with each live performance, with each glowing review, the distance between unknown and stardom grows smaller. FlyCasual Records re-releasing this album on April 28th with five digital bonus tracks. So, take another look at Helicopters and enjoy the diversity. - website

For all that I hated about a band like She Wants Revenge it somehow seems refreshing when delivered by Chicago veterans Camera. Perhaps it helps that they have been a mainstay in the local clubs since 2003, but on their newest EP, Fire & Science they channel the darkness of Ian Curtis, but filter it through a contagious pop groove. It’s the gloss and energy of a band like Friendly Fires tempered with a sense of paranoia and near depression. Utilizing the talents of Ryan Aylward, manipulator of low-frequency oscillations; David Sylvian, the voice of opposed reason; and Joseph Scro, pursuer of rhythm both in life and the artificial alike. When they combine their talents the result is a pure eruption of energy, and now that they have begun recording a full-length album is on the horizon. For a band in it’s ninth year of existence the next step has never been closer, and the future has never been brighter. - website

If anyone compares Chicago act Anti-Crew to Linkin Park just because they rap and have guitars, I will personally punch them in the face. Unlike the power pop band, Anti-Crew has talent and doesn’t rely on screaming and minimal DJ skills to scrape by. Foundation is the band’s first album in Chicago and with a whole band and might I say, a little makes a big difference. In its seven tracks the EP creates a fuller, well-rounded sound than Anti-Crew last two albums. The talent of Flare and DJ Eternal that started in Kansas City is only enhanced by the addition of a live band. The track “One Time” cannot be done the old Anti-Crew way. A simple pre-recorded track would not do. The dueling guitar riff in the beginning and the funky bass line make the song the catchy thing that it is. Flare and DJ Eternal’s songwriting seems to have gotten better too, without sacrificing the playfulness that makes Anti-Crew entertaining. “Matt and Jeff’s Bogus Journey” is hilarious, telling the classic story of two guys after one girl, but still has a great drumbeat. And the opener “Sky High ‘08” has a great hip hop sound with an equally great guitar part. If Foundation shows anything it’s that Anti-Crew has learned how to exercise balance within their music, a skill that will only help them in the future. – Amy Dittmeier website