Santa Barbara natives and Secretly Canadian signees, Gardens & Villa are riding high on the release of their sophomore album, Dunes. The band brought their dreamy, seaside affinities to a studio in the frozen tundra of Michigan to record with producer, Tim Goldsworthy (Cut Copy, LCD Soundsystem). The results stayed true to the dreamy pop we've come to know from the group, but with more depth and maturity. Where their self-titled debut was youthful, like dipping your toes in the sand as waves crash on the shore - Dunes explores the deep recesses of the open ocean; an uncharted, mysterious and more solitary place to dwell. Currently on tour, Gardens & Villa are coming through LA to play the El Rey tomorrow, March 8 with Jonathan Rado (of Foxygen), and Waterstrider. Peep the video for their second single, "Colony Glen," below, filled with hypnotic beats and moody lighting. - Jacqueline Caruso

We blogged about Foxygen guitarist Jonathan Rado's new upcoming solo album just a few weeks ago - here's a new single that sounds very "Eno-esque" to us, although also a little psychedelic, which is an influence Brian Eno - one of the most brainy human beings to ever exist - would probably abhor. 

We are getting mixed information about where Foxygen is currently based - many blogs were saying they are now an LA band, and the line "You're not in Brooklyn anymore" from one of the band's latest single seemed to confirm that notion, but from this insightful comment to a recent post it sounds like the band is always on the road but keeps coming back to NYC, Rado in particular (his Facebook's location is set to Manhattan). The 23 year old California native - lead guitarist and production guru in the band - just announced a solo album on Woodsis - check out the preview track 'Faces,' streaming below. Rado a couple of weeks ago also released on Bandcamp some kind of unfinished bedroom pop demo which can be heard in its entirety here.

We added this song to The Deli's playlist of Best songs by emerging NYC artists - check it out!