Expanding on a noir electro-pop sound already steeped in eastern influences, VANDANA's latest release Contra re-imagines Indian and Pakistani music from the 70's, 80's and 90s. Lead track “Ahsa” intrigues with a heartbeat synth-bass pulse and foreboding keyboard textures. The artist's deep and resonant vocals soon become the focus, singing in a native language that adds an extra element of mystery. Careful percussive and electronic keyboard elements make their way into the mix completing an overall mystical experience. Follow-up track “Ahsila” makes use of slow-building atmospherics, deep bass synths and light bubbling textures in between seductively enigmatic vocals. Five tracks in all, the record can be heard and acquired at the artists bandcamp. VANDANA will be playing a daytime event Benefit for Kashmir at Baby's All Right on 9/22. - Dave Cromwell

After dropping her debut full-length album “Anti Venus” this past November (preceded by two EPs released in 2009 and 2012), sound architect, vocalist and feminist force Vandana Jain has been focusing on bringing her eastern music influenced, noir electro-pop to a larger fan base through several live appearances, including one at Highline Ballroom earlier this summer. Band members Yusuke Yamamoto and Ryan Casey contribute to forging an intriguing analog sound, driven by Vandana's sophisticated velvety vocals.

The record's opener “Ecstatic” (streaming) is the strongest track, emphasizing distant percussive mechanical clicks and whirrs recreating sci-fi atmospheres reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s “Welcome To The Machine” sci fi experiments. Dark, foreboding (yet warm) analog synth notes pulse and rise from distant ethereal mists. Recorded at Jain’s home studio, inspiration came in part by delving into Henry Miller’s classic novel “Tropic of Cancer,” and its embrace of “the grip of delirium.” “You freak – you make me ecstatic” becomes the central, single line and rather addictive vocal hook.

Other tracks like “Claw” are less instrumentally dense, allowing more space for expressive vocals. With a style reminiscent of Kate Bush’s penultimate work combined with the modern deeper vocal textures of British pop vocalist Sophie Ellis Bextor, Ms. Jain’s voice becomes instantly appealing. While “Mask” (a track about the proverbial camouflage we all put on every day to function) is recurrently stark and minimal in places, the overall effect sounds incredibly big, and Vandana's seductive vocal delivery makes for a delightful headphone listening experience. - Dave Cromwell

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

Fair or not, it's not always easy to make sense of artists. It can often be a dizzying experience for the uninitiated fan to penetrate into their microcosms. So that's why I approached

But the more I visit Jain, the more I come to see the Brooklyn-by-India artist as an extremely emotional, vulnerable artist, speaking to us from the inside out. Hers is a message that has to first be felt on the body, before translating to your mind. At least... That's the way I understand it. Hear her latest record ‘Vandamner’ here, and see Vandana when she plays Studio A at Ella on Thursday, Nov 29th. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets) - Photo by David Shults