It's no secret that Kulululu and Human Ottoman have received much love from the Deli Portland because of the innovation they both flood into their recordings and live performances. We've premiered their songs, nominated them for polls and mentioned their names in show promoting posts, so when it came to the next endeavor Human Ottoman and Kulululu tackled it was sure to catch our attention. This time around, the bands have joined forces to bestow upon all of us a creatively energetic project that's entirely too good not to love.

Welcome Humululuman.

The premise behind this musical marriage sees them covering one of the best songs by each of their respective bands, "YDKWH" by Human Ottoman and "Freak Out" by Kulululu. Recorded at The Map Room Recording Studio by Hasmood (and some editing by Rollstars Productions), the performance videos are filled with all the craziness we typically see from each band live, with splices of entertaining animations that give a humorous element.

The supergroup will be celebrating the release of the audio downloads for these joint efforts at the Fremont Theater on May 12. Abronia will also be gracing the stage and with tickets being only $5, there's no reason not to see this sonic force in person.

Until then, get lost in the chaos that is Humululuman by watching the videos for "YDKWH" and "Freak Out" below.

Deli Portlanders,

It's been a months long road in the process of nominating and voting on who all of you feel are the city's best musicians for the year. After thinking back on all the shows played and albums released from 2016, we've finally got a solid list of Portland's finest. Take a gander at who you all fell for (and just how much you fell for them), while also showing some love to yourselves and the lovely jurors that participated.

Thanks to our jurors: Linneas Boland-Godbey (Next Northwest), Aaron Sharpsteen (Photographer), Tony Prato (Bunk Bar), Duffy Rongiiland (Gnar Tapes), Rob Cullivan (Portland Tribune), Leigh Belacic (PDX Pop Now), Jeni Wren Stottrup (Gritty Birds Podcast), Annie Ostrowski (Riot Act Media), Blake Hickman (Good Cheer Records), Clifford Prince King (Photographer), Mo Troper (Impose Magazine/Portland Mercury), Chad Davis (Musician), Jordan Stamm (Drunk Dial Records), Hunter Skowron (Dazzleships Records), Todd Walberg (Photographer), Yousef Hatlani (Faces on the Radio), Corbin Corbinn (Crush House/Photographer), and Andrew Olson (dr0ne PR).

Let's get down to the nitty gritty of what you all have been waiting for...

Lithics

Lithics exude mystery. From their experimental punk drone to their intentional lack of an internet presence, they're the band you may not have known existed until you saw them accidentally. They've been coasting in Portland's formerly under-appreciated but always DIY post/art punk scene for almost three years now with just two releases under their belt. Their three track, self-titled tape from 2015 gave us a taste, but it was their 2016 release Borrowed Floors that helped propel them into being Portland's best band of the year.

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2. Cat Hoch

This isn't the first success Cat Hoch and her band have experienced with the Deli. She came out on top entirely in 2015, when she was voted the Best Emerging Artist of that year and was the readers' choice for best in shoegaze and psych rock for this year. From opening up for Ride to commanding even bigger stages, Cat Hoch and her talented group of musicians aren't stopping anytime soon.

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3. Abronia

Ambiently soft yet broodingly heavy, Abronia have expanded their lineup to match their beautifully atmospheric and expansive sound. Our overall pick for best in electronic and experimental and perfect for moments of mental reflection (but easy to enjoy in damn near every other scenario), Abronia's dominanation of the experimental side of the poll makes total sense, and we can't wait to hear new releases from them.

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4. Ice Queens (Alt Rock/Metal, 7pts)

5. Fur Coats (Hip Hop/R&B, 6pts)

6. The Toads (Indie Rock/Post-Punk, 6pts)

7. Mr. Wrong (Punk/Garage, 6pts)

8. Shrine of the Serpent (Alt Rock/Metal, 5.5pts)

9. A Volcano (Alt Rock/Metal, 5pts)

10. dolphin midwives (Electronic/Experimental, 5pts)

11. Gold Casio (Electronic/Experimental, 5pts)

12. Chanti Darling (Hip Hop/R&B, 5pts)

13. Lola Buzzkill (Hip Hop/R&B, 5pts)

14. Laura Palmer's Death Parade (Psych/Shoegaze, 5pts)

15. Wave Action (Punk/Garage, 5pts)

16. Donte Thomas (Hip Hop/R&B, 4pts)

17. Little Star (Indie Pop, 4pts)

18. Candace (Psych/Shoegaze, 4pts)

19. Zozma (Psych/Shoegaze, 4pts)

20. On drugs (Punk/Garage, 4pts)

21. James Curry IV (Electronic/Experimental, 3.5pts)

22. Mini Blinds (Indie Pop, 3.5pts)

 We're steadily trudging through our polls for the bands all of you loyal participants in the Portland scene considered the best in music from last year. We tackled the electronic and experimental poll with this last round and we're happy to announce our top winners (though you ALL our in our books!). Congrats to...

Gold Casio for winning the overall poll (which is our local jurors' votes + the readers' poll votes) and Abronia for winning our readers' poll!

Likely the only psychedelic-electronic-disco act around, Gold Casio have been favorites in the local dance scene for a while now to those "in the know." But now, with more singles and shows under their belt, the band's incredibly rhythmic and somewhat flirty musical nature has made its way into the hearts of those outside of the usual dance club dwellers, proving that all that really glitters is Gold...Casio.

Ambiently soft yet broodingly heavy, Abronia have expanded their lineup to match their beautifully atmospheric and expansive sound. Perfect for moments of mental reflection but easy to enjoy in damn near every other scenario, Abronia's dominanation of the experimental side of the poll makes total sense, and we can't wait to hear new releases from them.

Take a peek at our other poll placers and be sure to show them some love as well!

	Amenta Abioto		13%	96 votes
	dolphin midwives		16%	118 votes
	Gold Casio		29%	204 votes
	Abronia		18%	132 votes
	Don Gero		6%	44 votes
	James Curry IV		15%	106 votes

Just in case you haven't heard, country music is alive and well in Portland. We're not talking about that American Idol mess your mother probably listens to. We're talking the dusty steel, brooding Americana that keeps the genre a contender for space on your playlist.

Both Roselit Bone and Jenny Don't & the Spurs can turn even the most stubborn anti-country music fan into an appreciator of that twang. The two just release a split a couple weeks ago and while Jenny Don't & the Spurs have already hit the road for tour, you've still got a couple chances to see Roselit Bone before they leave for theirs in August. 

They've got a show coming up tomorrow at Bunk Bar with Abronia and Tucson's Ohioan. You really can't miss it, since that second chance won't be coming up until right before they hit the dusty trails.

The first of its kind (well, maybe not in the whole world, but here in Oregon at least), the Get Outta Town series is in its infancy, with it's first edition to take place on January 30th. The premise of the Get Outta Town series is to encourage local music lovers to venture away from Portland's usual venues and see a different part of the state. It's an amazing idea, and Get Outta Town #1 will be held at Coyote Woods in Estacada, Oregon. Playing the inaugural bill will be Divers, Woolen Men, Ah God and Abronia, for tickets on a sliding price scale of $5-$10. Proceeds will partially go to the bands and partially go to coverage of any damage that happens to the property.

Just in case you drive down there and get a little too fucked up for the drive back to town, the Get Outta Town launchers are in talks with the local and independent Red Fox Motel for a potential discount for attendees, so stay tuned!

-Cervante Pope