Featured on the cover of our Fall 2013 issue (and Deli NYC Record of the Month some time before that), NYC's Wilsen excels at the art of mesmerizing through sound. The new single "Magnolia" - the title-track of an upcoming EP scheduled for a May release - is no exception. Check it out below, and read the cover story from last year's issue here.

Wilsen, with an “e,” (a combination of Wilson’s family names, but a band moniker she regrets) specializes in building emotion, using Wilson’s wandering, hypnotic soprano and restrained but intricate layers of guitar, bass and drums. Their hybrid folk melds the dynamic shifts of classical music with modern reverb and vivid lyrics that appeal to the senses as much as they tell stories. It’s a dark-wave-like, deep melancholy, built mostly from acoustic instruments, with a ghost-like effect matching the name of their album, “Sirens.”

See Wilsen play Bowery Ballroom on November 23. Wilsen was on the cover of The Deli NYC's Fall 2013 issue. Listen to her cover of Grime's "Oblivion" belos. Read Bianca Seidman's cover feature on Wilsen here.

Wilsen - featured on the cover of our Fall/CMJ issue 2013 - will perform tonight at Pianos (full schedules here). Led by Tamsin Wilson, this is a truly gifted band that follows in the steps of the intimate ballads powered by poetic lyrics of Leonard Cohen, with an added attention for melody at times reminiscent of Jeff Buckley. Do not miss!

Oy musical people!

The Deli NYC's 36th issue infested the streets of NYC yesterday (Wed 10.09), look for a physical copy in venues/rehearsal studios/music instrument stores, or read it online HERE!

Listen to Wilsen below + see them at The Deli's CMJ shows at Rockwood on 10.16 and Pianos on 10.18 - schedule here.

The Deli's Staff

Much has been made of Wilsen’s unique combination of dream pop and folk, which has been dubbed as “dream folk.” Yet there is a much easier way to describe the NYC-based singer-songwriter: really, really talented. Her debut album, “Sirens,” is eerie, confident, and a fantastic first step for this bright artist.

“Sirens” opens with “House On a Hill,” which is highlighted by some strangely ominous whistling over a melodic guitar line. Wilsen then moves to her folk roots with “Dusk.” Here, her vocals softly shine while even softer instrumentation ornaments the dueling senses of comfort and apprehension.

Throughout the album, Wilsen experiments with different sounds and styles, although her overall sound keeps faith to early Leonard Cohen's sparse, pensive approach. The guitar work on “Lady Jane” has an almost Middle Eastern feel, while the vocals on “Springtime” bounce with a jazzy swagger.

Closing “Sirens” is the ten and a half minute epic, “Anahita” (see the video here). I’ve already sung the praises of this track, yet its breathtaking power cannot be overstated. The moment halfway through the song when the stunning guitar line gives way to aural chaos is one of the best recorded musical instances of the year. - Josh S. Johnson - Listen to "Sirens" on Spotify.