Let's get right to it -- the first song on this album features the line "All this crazy border madness/That makes a country create laws/without looking at the faces of the children." Earnest, we're saying. If that's your jam, allow us to recommend Leti Garza's latest, "Borderland."

Musically, "Borderland"’s Spanish-language tracks hit hardest. Salsa rhythms, smooth pianos and lovely multipart vocal harmonies make these tracks sweet to the head and heart. The pure folk numbers aren't as musically accomplished, but they're more than Poli Sci homework, showing occasional poetic flourishes worthy of the Guthries, Joni and the other influences those tracks wear on their sleeves.

Lyrically, "Borderland" is laser-focused on the plight of asylum seekers at the Mexican border. Their struggles are central to the album, with Garza mostly stepping aside as lyricist to let the suffering of the people speak for itself. Some of the songs may be a bit dry and didactic - the opening track in particular is a challenge - but as a whole Garza's latest is part of a vital dialogue about freedom and moral responsibility. Not every song needs to be danceable. "Borderland" has a message, and it's absolutely worth hearing.

A vital final note -- 100 percent of the proceeds, every last cent Leti Garza makes off this album, goes to Global Response Management, a charity dedicated to delivering emergency support to underserved people in crisis locations. That's an extraordinary gesture that we at The Deli are proud to support. Right on, Leti.

- Matt Salter

“Dancing With Ghosts” is the teaser single from Jesse Beaman’s forthcoming album, “Mira.” The track starts out simply, with soft, reverbed synths and a steady four on the floor beat, building a dark stage for what’s to come. As instruments gradually come in, it feels like your eyes focusing, adjusting in the darkness. Shapes take form: snares roll subtly under bright, whirring pianos.

The track does not transform, it unfolds. The melody stays largely consistent, but it blooms and softens, heaves and contracts in a very organic way. Kinetic yet subtle, the instruments move with such understated synchronicity that — should you not be listening hard enough — you stand to miss the best parts. It is a sleek and seamless piece, ethereal and icy. It is music that feels “cool” without sacrificing self-awareness.

Self-awareness is essential here, as “Dancing With Ghosts” lends itself easily to introspection. It’s electronic but it’s distinctly human. While it opens with hard, precise drums and synths, the end of the song finds the aforementioned bright pianos fluttering, scattered and disembodied over a beat that crashed to a halt measures earlier.

The song is powerful, not only in its watertight production (handled by Interpol’s Brandon Curtis) and its composition, but in its mysterious emotional weight. Though the piece clocks in at less than four minutes, the phases of the song pass like seasons: at times it feels nostalgic and longing, at times vivacious. If Beaman’s music can take so many forms in under four minutes, the inquisitive listener will find themselves excited for what he’ll do in a full-length release.

- Tín Rodriguez

The local talent Primo the Alien cultivates a mysterious, dreamlike universe on her latest single “Sunrise,” along with some help from LA-based musician Shadowrunner, who produced the track and was behind its instrumentation. Her noted influences, such as Whitney Houston, Tina Turner and David Bowie, are all on display here, showcasing her powerful vocals establishing a theatrical, Bowie-esque presence. In addition to channeling some of these iconic artists, Primo and Shadowrunner incorporate modern synthwave sounds to create a nostalgic, dreamy and upbeat atmosphere that is fresh and unique.  

Despite being mainly influenced by older artists, Primo is also inspired by contemporary electronic-oriented artists like The Midnight -- leading to a very natural collaboration process between her and Shadowrunner.  If Primo’s thunderous and distinct vocals were to be isolated, one might not expect it to be paired with Shadowrunner’s electro, synthwave production. Yet they both make it work seamlessly.  “I tend to tailor the delivery, tone and stylistic choices to the song. For this, I was looking for something  sweet, innocent, and pure,” she says. “I think that that matched the production that Shadowrunner  brought.”

The lyrical content is rooted in loneliness and isolation. “I was thinking of the yearning that is when you can’t be with someone. Looking at our current situation with covid and just being apart and away from each other a lot of times is kind of what I was drawing on,” she says.

It’s a song about waiting to be with someone and the pain that comes with that, but there is undoubtedly a hopeful message -- that, even though you may have to wait to be with someone, you’re going to wait for that person no matter the barriers and limitations.

- Quinn Donoghue

Geoff Bradford gives Austin a fresh taste of relaxation and energy with his beautiful and dynamic, new EP “Texas Psychedelic.” The EP comes across as almost a look at musical history as it takes you through acoustic, jazzy and electric tracks, all the while featuring Bradford’s clear and distinctive, Ben Folds-esque vocals. The EP revolves around echoey and ethereal instruments — both physical and electronic — and slow tempos resonate with peace.

The EP is five heavily-varying tracks — Bradford experiments with dynamics, tempo and timbre throughout. Here, Bradford’s personality and creativity is on full display. Though the lyrics and vocals are largely the same, the changes in beat and instrumentation highlight moods ranging from bright and playful to relaxing.

When listening to “Texas Psychedelic” I find myself amazed by just how vibrant every part of the song is. While powerful guitar trills or riffs cascade in the background, there is still a consistent clarity that puts me at ease — at no point do I find myself overwhelmed.

Perfect for the reopening of “the old normal,” tracks truly are buoyant and delicate. It’s what the psychedelic experience is all about and “Texas Psychedelic” is an unorthodox, feel-good album that we very much need. 

- Eric Haney

Austin Meade lays down a feel-good, summer vibe in his latest video “Lying to Myself.” Meade seamlessly encompasses multiple genres and eras of music — think 80’s anthem rock, late 90’s alternative in the Everclear/Silverchair vein and modern Americana artists like Shakey Graves or The Avett Brothers in the vocals. That being said, the groove remains simple throughout the track, and the uplifting mood is accompanied perfectly by a comical video, featuring clown costumes, juggling and pissed off women. 

The guitar tones and straightforward drum beats a la Def Leppard or Whitesnake immediately solidify a stadium rock atmosphere. Yet Meade’s laid-back vocal style delivers a smooth contrast to the instrumental. On top of all of this, Meade adds his unique Americana twang to give the track a modern feel, despite some of the other vintage elements that are occurring. “Lying to Myself” exemplifies Meade’s ability to channel many different influences while maintaining a sound that is fresh and original. 

The silliness on display in the music video seems to only elevate the liveliness of the song. The video tells the story of a guy — presumably recently heartbroken — wandering around, attempting to pick up an attractive female. Throughout his escapade, he gets his foot stomped, a drink poured on his face and his groin area punched. One could simply interpret these events as a man pathetically trying to rebound from a lost love by mindlessly pursuing other women, but a deeper message may be present underneath this obvious analysis — the male actor is experiencing a loneliness that is relatable to anyone who has experienced a painful breakup. Towards the end of the video, the guy is on stage with the band and they’re dressed up in clown costumes, signifying that not taking life too seriously and enjoying things as much as possible are the only ways to move forward sometimes. 

Austin Meade’s “Lying to Myself” showcases his fluid songwriting and crisp vocals, all while reminding us that life is too short to dwell on the past. The Texas based musician possesses a mature sound that is uniquely his own, and we should all be excited to see what his future holds.

- Quinn Donoghue