NYC Scene Report – The Fantastic Plastics, Operator Music Band, & more


This week’s NYC Scene Report features the neo new wave of The Fantastic Plastics, experimental pop from Operator Music Band, Spirit Animal becoming “Arm Candy,” and Lowlight’s Endless Bummer.

* Mixing new wave, electronic music, and synth punk, with lyrics that are sci-fi, and Orwellian, inspired, The Fantastic Plastics will have you thinking they’re an ‘80s duo that somehow crash landed in 2019.

The twosome of Miranda Plastic and Tyson Plastic are readying the release of their next album, Malfunction, due out October 4th, the latest single off the album is “Disintegration.”

The duo described the song in a statement, saying, “Lyrically, ‘Disintegration’ tells the story of a lead singer being unknowingly dosed with a psychedelic drug through a kiss from an obsessive fan. He begins disintegrating on stage until he reconnects with her during the afterglow of the post show party.”

The song will be familiar to those who tune in to the duo’s weekly Twitch stream – The Plastic Party – where the band debuts new music, takes requests, and interacts with fans.

Calling a number of places home, the band is originally from Illinois, but relocated to Brooklyn in 2012 before moving back to Illinois in 2017. We’re still going to wrap our arms around them and count them as part of the NYC family, because once you’re an NYC band, you’re always an NYC band!

OK, that last part isn’t really true, but it sure sounds good, doesn’t it? Speaking of things that sound good, click play on “Disintegration,” and get into The Fantastic Plastics.


* If you’re looking for some really cool experimental pop music, look no further than longtime column favorites Operator Music Band. The Brooklyn-based outfit will be releasing their latest album, Duo Duo, on September 20th, via Broken Circles, the latest single off of which is “Mondo.”

“Mondo” mixes electro-pop with spoken word (when it comes to the latter, think less douchey poetry, and more Blondie) in a sonically delicious combination that’s sure to please your ears.

For those wanting to experience Operator Music Band live (hey, I’m someone who wants to experience Operator Music Band live!), they’ll be going on tour October 2nd through the 13th. In the meantime, click play on the video for “Mondo.” I know you’ll like what you hear.


* Brooklyn based alt-pop band Spirit Animal have released a video for their latest single, “Arm Candy,” and while I’m not sure the words to properly describe it have been invented yet, I’m absolutely sure there’s a subreddit somewhere for lipstick wearing bearded erotic popcorn eating. Oh hey, apparently the words to describe it have been invented!

“Arm Candy” is off Spirit Animal’s upcoming album, Reborn Yesterday, which is due out on September 20th, and is a deluxe version of of the band’s full length debut, Born Yesterday, featuring three new tracks, “Arm Candy” being one of them.

So grab yourself some popcorn, and click play on “Arm Candy.” I guarantee you haven’t seen anything quite like it.


* At some point in history someone made the decision to put peanut butter and jelly together. They looked at these two totally different things and thought, “I wonder what would happen if I combined them?” The result turned out to be one of the greatest sandwiches of all-time.

New Jersey-based band Lowlight have done something similar with their music, combining traditional Americana and roots rock with synth-pop and new wave, and much like when peanut butter and jelly were teamed up, the results are nothing short of amazing.

Lowlight will be releasing their upcoming album, American Bummer, on September 13th, the latest single off of which is “Horsefoot.” After just one listen I can’t wait to hear the full project. Click play, and enjoy.


For more of the best of NYC’s indie music scene, come back next Wednesday, and check out the archives for previous columns.

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