This caught me off guard since I think of Bibio as more of a front runner in the folktronica scene but this is a total rock jam which is begging for RAC remix.  Think Phoenix-esque type indie rock.  This track is taken from his most recent album, “Mind Boken”.  Another stand out track for me on the album is “K is for Kelson”.  Has this Jackson 5 meets Vampire Weekend vibe that is sticky sweet.

Bibio – Take Off Your Shirt

Like a warm cup of java on winter day, Agnes Obel fills up a gloomy day with delicate guitar sounds and her warm voice on “Brother Sparrow”.
You can catch Agnes Obel at SXSW: Saturday March 19, 7:30PMSt David’s Historic Sanctuar

Agnes Obel – Brother Sparrow

Just So – Agnes Obel by [PIAS] Recordings

BIO:

Play “Just So” to anyone in Germany and they’ll tell you it’s the music from the Deutsche Telekom television advertisement. Which it is. The kind of exposure many an artist would die for. Well not literally, obviously. Or the kind of publicity an independent spirit might agonize over, venturing into the commercial arena.

I can’t help feeling that Agnes Obel is not going to have her feathers ruffled by something, in the greater scheme of things, as inconsequential as a song placement in an ad. Yet is not intriguing how a few bars of music can seep into our consciousness and set us off wondering where they came from?

This facebookish world of ours offers us the illusion of getting to know people we don’t really know. Who their friends are and what they like. Agnes Caroline Thaarup Obel likes Alfred Erik Lesley Satie and Sonic Youth. Debussy and Dylan. Hitchcock and PJ Harvey. But what people like is not necessarily the same as what he or she is like. Clues, perhaps, but as fans of Hitchcock well know, not every clue leads you where you think it might.

File this one under, “Better Late Than Never”.  Somehow I just stumbled onto this track and fell deeply in love with it.    Angus & Julia Stone are a brother-sister duo from Sydney, Australia.  This track originally appeared on the duo’s first EP release in 2009 called, Chocolates and Cigarettes.  Would love to do a remix of this track, so if any of you know where I can find the stems, please let me know.

Angus & Julia Stone – Paper Aeroplane

Has a Feist feeling to the track, but infused with a bit more jazz.  One thing is for sure, i’m a sucker for whistling in a track and the cello that shows up mid way through the track sets the mood perfectly.

Kacey Johansing – Oh Brother

I would love to do a remix of this cover.  This is a cover of an Animal Collective track called, “My Girls”.  Taken by Trees is the moniker used by Victoria Bergsman, whom you might recognize as the voice from Peter Bjorn and John’s, “Young Folks”.  The instrumentation on this track reminds me of Vampire Weekend.

Sparrow House is the occasional side-project for Jared Van Fleet (guitarist/keyboardist for Voxtrot).  Like  a brisk, relaxing fall day, Sparrow House is exactly what the doctor ordered.   I’m a sucker for anything that sounds like it could be included in a Wes Anderson soundtrack, in particular The Royal Tenenbaums.  This could have easily fit the scene where Richie Tenenbaum (played by Luke Wilson) attempts to commit suicide.  Don’t let that last sentence throw you off — it’s meant as a compliment.

Sparrow House – When I Am Gone

History lesson of the Day: The Microphones/Mount Eerie

In addition to Mirah, Khaela Maricich was also a one time member of Portland Oregon based band The Microphones (aka Mount Eerie). Kheala now performs under the moniker of, “The Blow” with Jona Bechtolt (aka YACHT).

Khaela Maricich is also a visual artists and her latest musings can be found on her blog here.

The Blow – True Affection

21 year old Santa Fe New Mexico native Zach Condon otherwise known as Beirut release a beautiful album this year entitled, “The Flying Club Cup”, which is named after a “hot air ballon festival in Paris”. This track combines elements such as Eastern Euro and folk sounds with playfulness and heart.

[audio:http://www.audiodrums.com/audio/02_-_Nantes.mp3]

[download]

[myspace]

Parrondo, aka Jose Parrondo primarily known as a Belgian book author of children’s books, released an album in 2004 from which this track is found.  
Parrondo travels in the same vein as Cocorosie, with its whimsical sounds and toy instruments. 

[audio:http://highrize.wordpress.com/files/2007/10/parrondo-01-bolas-bug.mp3]

[download]

Nice Indie Pop from the  northern California pop quintet.  Found these two songs for download from The Morning Benders website here.

Damn it Anna: [audio:http://highrize.wordpress.com/files/2007/10/the-morning-benders-damnit-anna.mp3]

[download]

Grain of Salt:  [audio:http://highrize.wordpress.com/files/2007/10/the-morning-benders-grain-of-salt.mp3]

[download]