[youtube=http://youtu.be/mdUbp_YVmEE]
Where: Los Angeles, California
Why You Need to Listen: LA’s Echo Park neighborhood has a lot of bands living in its hills, but none of them sound anything like NO. The band pits frontman Bradley Hanan Carter’s baritone against mesmerizing drumming and richly textured guitar, bass and keyboard to create complex and atmospheric melodies that mine the same musical vein as Arcade Fire. NO doesn’t just play a song—they build it from the ground up, layer by layer, reaching surprising musical heights before it all crashes down on the listening audience. The band doesn’t have a full-length album out yet, but their EP is available via NO’s bandcamp page.
For Fans of: The National, Arcade Fire
Essential Track: “Stay With Me”