Artist: The XX

Hails from: London

Musical style: Pop/Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative

For fans of: Portishead, Mazzy Star, Hot Chip

Artist: Taken By Trees

Hails from: Sweden

Musical Style: Alternative, Pop, Indie

For Fans of: Cat Power, Animal Collective, Peter Bjorn & John

Why you should check her out:

If the name doesn’t sound familiar, the voice certainly will. Taken by Trees vocalist Victoria Bergsman is most well known for her performance on the ubiquitous whistle-happy tune “Young Folks” by Peter, Bjorn and John. However Taken by Trees is Bergman’s show; on this sophomore album she creates a lush and textured sound that blends her melodic Swedish pop with Near East instrumentation.

Background Check:

Victoria Bergsman’s first musical success was with the indie rock group The Concretes, a band that draws as much from the art of The Velvet Underground as it does from the summery pop of Belle & Sebastian. Bergsman left the Concretes in 2006, right on the heels of her appearance in the Peter, Bjorn & John song “Young Folks”. She created her solo moniker, Taken by Trees, and took her distinctive deadpan vocal styling to the studio for her 2007 release Open Field.

Her most recent album, East of Eden, is a slight departure from her usual sound. She traveled to Pakistan to record the album and enlisted local musicians to offer their Eastern influences to the record’s aesthetic. She also called on some of her fellow indie rock friends to help fill out the sound. Animal Collective’s, Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), supplies background vocals for the song “Anna”. And at one point in the album she pays tribute to all of the gentlemen in Animal Collective with a cover of their song “My Girls”, aptly titled for her as “My Boys”.

This is a record that is truly entertaining from start to finish.  Because of its density it will reward the patient listener, however it is also immediately accessible. It is chalk full of infectious melodies, compliments of Sweden; and exotic head nodding rhythms, compliments of Pakistan – the best of both worlds.

Where you can find her in Cyberspace:

Takenbytrees.com

MySpace

Wikipedia

On Tour: 

JamBase

Artist: Blind Pilot

Hails From: Portland, OR

Musical Style: Folk, Indie, Pop

For Fans of: The Shins, Iron and Wine, Fleet Foxes

Why you should check them out:

In the musical melting pot of Portland OR, Blind Pilot have effortlessly and easily blended a mixture of gracious pop and folksy rock to almost overpowering potency. The music is as carefree as it is lovingly crafted, with an essence of heart and a trace of humility. The acoustic styling of Blind Pilot hearken to a time of heartily clad troubadours traveling from town to town, regaling all fortunate enough to be within earshot of their magic.

Background Check:

The partnership of singer-guitarist Israel Nebeker and drummer Ryan Dobrowski, a pairing that traces back to their time in higher learning halls and campus concerts, is a carefully constructed and flawlessly pulled off formation of friendship. As the leading forces behind Portland’s next best folk exploratory committee, Blind Pilot, the two charm and chagrin through good times and bad in the best northwestern traditions. Formed in 2005, the duo first gained notoriety with their self styled bicycle tours. Pedaling from Canada to San Francisco, the two cruised Highway One and stopped at each off the map rest stop to play fro townsfolk and truckers alike. With hand made instrument cases trailing their two wheels, the duo trekked the coast not once, but twice, taking a few musically minded friends along the way.

In 2008, Blind Pilot released a debut record of expansive beauty and formidable strength, Three Rounds and a Sound. The album quickly garnered attention for it’s lush and layered mastery, at once sensuous and sublime. The songs filled until bursting with harmonious hooks and acoustic catharsis, fronted by Nebeker’s pitch perfect vocals and mysteriously poetic lyrics. The record was so huge, in fact, that Blind Pilot had to recruit a full four members to recreate the sound on stage. Now a six member venture, Blind Pilot travels by van, if only to ensure the rest of the country (and the world for that matter) can share in their uniquely touching and compelling folk rock.

Where you can find them in cyberspace:

MySpace

Blind Pilot Website

Wikipedia

On Tour:

JamBase