The Deli NYC #55 - Half Waif, NYC MixCon 2018

Records of the Month
Renata Zeiguer
Old Ghost
On first listen, the songs and sounds of
Renata Zeiguer’s debut album Old Ghost
are deceivingly simple. Indie rock influences
clash with her delicate voice in interesting
if not straightforward ways. Yet
there’s an appealing aspect of Old Ghost
that continues to draw the listener in as
Zeiguer paints an image of the world that
is filled with naturally occurring voids
that are at once brutal and beautiful. Her
voice feels equally morose and triumphant
as she explores themes of identity
and loss. Nature also plays a large role in
Zeiguer’s lyrics; cosmic elements of our
world like the moon and the mundane
creatures who inhabit it both haunt and
captivate the singer. These poetic lyrics
burrow themselves in her ethereal voice
and unfold in expansive and cathartic
moments as the production swerves
from angular to harmonious. Old Ghost is
an album that burns softly if heard in the
background but illuminates brightly when
it is lived with. (Tucker Pennington)
Triathalon
Online
In this new age of bedroom pop and DIY
everything, Georgia’s band Triathalon,
who recently resettled in NYC, offers a
sound all its own, blending elements as
varied as soul, pop, jazz, and electro. Attempting
to label their music proves challenging—and
that’s part of their plan. The
band’s third LP, Online, released earlier in
2018, refines their sound through a more
mature and focused (home) production.
A newfound passion for soul seems to
have shuffled the band’s sonic cards,
although leaving the dreamy element
untouched. Single “Hard to Move” is
reminiscent of a lo-fi, synthetic version of
Michael Jackson’s “Blame it on the Boogie,”
while “3” is backed with a thumping
bass verse that cleverly transitions to a
jazz-inspired keyboard interlude. But
“Couch” is the real gem here: based on
a plodding funk loop, it chronicles a moment
of bliss, with a lover, on the author’s
favorite couch. (Lily Crandall)
Amen Dunes
Freedom
There are some albums that feel like spiritual
excursions the moment they start,
transfixing us instantly at the right time
and place. Amen Dune’s fifth record,
Freedom, is one such record. The introduction
informs us that the time is now,
and it belongs to Damon McMahon and
his finely tuned songwriting. Each track
is impeccably produced, precise and imperious,
as synths and bass lines appear
on the horizon before shimmering out of
view. The interplay between each instrument
is like multiple generations of mirages
materializing at once, and McMahon’s
vocals sit in the center commanding attention
with assured confidence in the
stream-of-consciousness lyrics. Freedom
was released wholly realized, yet it’s the
undefinable aspects that assert why it’s
an intoxicating and infinitely rewarding
album. (Tucker Pennington)
8 the deli Summer 2018