Who: Moostache from Huntington Beach, CA.

What: Sharing a passion for music since they were young, brothers Patrick, Brian and Sean Wardell decided to get serious about their music, adding friend Scott Zschomler to create the four-piece band I’ve now just heard about in Moostache.  Assuring us that they are more serious than their name might indicate, the band has been getting some good attention in California with good opening slots (Art Brut, Portugal. The Man) and press.  For fans of Modest Mouse, The Walkmen, or Cold War Kids, here’s their unique blend of folk, blues, and rock in the catchy ‘Thrills’.

Song: Thrills.

Who: Oberhofer from Brooklyn.

What:  Yesterday, I had this indescribable dread of coming into work today.  Some things have lately been bogging or getting me down; I was looking for something to swing things in the other direction.  Canada’s hockey gold medals might have helped, now all of the sudden, a bunch of things have gone right today.  Riding this.

With Oberhofer playing in the background.  For fans of that freak-folk sound in the vein of The Dodos, try out Brooklyn one-man Oberhofer.  He’s been lighting up the blogs lately, maybe riding that same wave I feel like I’m on.

Song: Away FRM U. Track a few more of his songs down here.

Who: Wolf In A Spacesuit from Chicago.

What: Put on the song below.  Wait for it to cut out.  Has it come back in yet?  Wow.  Doesn’t that just melt your face?  Love it.

Currently sitting in my iPod as the most interesting song I’ve heard in weeks, check out a taste of Chicago electronic band Wolf In A Spacesuit.  Often compared to MGMT or Of Montreal, Wolf In A Spacesuit have a myriad of different styles and influences in their electronic dance sound.  They’re currently putting out a 7-inch featuring the song below and a track called “I Fee Nthg” on Toronto’s newest independent boutique record label Hi-Scores Recording Library.  Hi-Scores releases primarily  limited edition vinyl and digital downloads worldwide, one coming up for Dinosaur Bones.  The label also has an iPhone app.

Song: Bark Of A Cedar.

Who: Shout Out Louds.

What: Since seeing their video for ‘Fall Hard‘ a little while ago, I’ve been happy to put this band back on my shortlist of great Swedish bands.  In celebration of the February 23 release of their upcoming album, Work on Merge Records, Shout Out Louds have offered up a remix of that song in said video, done by Cambridge, MA’s electronic-pop sensation Passion Pit.  Pop gets blissed out with synths, I dig it.

Song: Fall Hard (Passion Pit remix).

Who: NewIslands from Midlands now London, England.

What :  I got my first taste of this band from reading a blog last year, and after some investigating, I found one of my favorite songs of the year.  ‘Out Of Time’, a track which provides the perfect introduction to NewIslands, features intertwined synth melodies and David Jones’s insistent vocals, sounding somewhere in between bands like Depeche Mode, Animal Collective and The Cure.  That track is also the band’s debut single, out March 15th, 2010. It will be available as a download, with t-shirt option to follow. Included will be remixes from is Tropical, Active Child, and Serious Lover, as welll as excusive track “Crosstown Feel.”

Assuming that you’re the type that can’t wait until then, check out another one of their tracks in ‘Attracted by Lights’ (below).

Song: Attracted by The Lights.  Want more?  That Active Child remix is really growing on me.

Who: Yukon Blonde.

What:  A song from the debut full length of Kelowna-bred, 60’s rock harmony inspired band Yukon Blonde.   Sounding in the vein of  Supertramp, Fleetwood Mac, Crosby/Stills/Nash, and America, these guys are doing justice to a classic sound. Look for them at CMW at the CHARTattack showcase, with w/ label mates Two Hours Traffic. Huge tour on the go, check their myspace for details.

Song: Wind Blows.

Who: Woodhands from Toronto.

What: From the album Remorsecapade comes a more pop/less-bang side of Woodhands.  Featuring the vocals of Maylee Todd (who was recently performing with an otter), this one sounds a little like Hot Chip meets Au Revoir Simone, minimal influenced tech house with pop sentiments.

Song: Dissembler.

WOODHANDS SPRING 2010 TOUR DATES
March 18 – SXSW Paper Bag Records Showcase at Speakeasy
March 20 – SXSW Rolling Stone Party at Peckerheads
March 25 – Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, CO
March 26 – Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO
March 27 – The Conspiracy Room – Kansas City, MO
March 28 – The Frequency – Madison, WI
March 29 – Radio Radio – Indianapolis, IN (Presented by My Old Kentucky Blog)
March 30 – 2720 – St. Louis, MO
April 1 – the Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
April 3 – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
April 17 – The Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO (w/ Lotus)
April 20 – George’s Majestic Lounge – Fayetteville, AR  (w/ Lotus)
April 21 – House of Blues Dallas – Dallas, TX  (w/ Lotus)
April 22 – The Ballroom at Wired Live – Houston, TX (w/ Lotus)
April 23 – Emo’s – Austin, TX (w/ Lotus)
April 24 – Tipitina’s – New Orleans, LA  (w/ Lotus)

From the London based band The Leaf Library, here’s an ISAN remix of the track ‘Losing Places‘.

Hamburg composer Nils Frahm remixes Peter Broderick’s song ‘And Its Alright‘ for the Erased Tapes Collection II compilation on the label of the same name.  Look for Nils to release his debut EP and LP in North America via Erased Tapes (home to Peter Broderick, Ólafur Arnalds).

Who: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

What:  Haven’t heard from this band in quite a while.  Here’s the single from the album with the same name from Psych-rockers Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC).  If you pre-order the album on iTunes, you’ll get the single plus two bonus tracks. Check the road around the end of Feb, they’ll probably be playing somewhere near you.

Song: Beat The Devil’s Tattoo.  Reminds me of Elbow’s ‘Grounds For Divorce’.

Who: Postdata again.

What: I couldn’t help but tip another great song from the self titled, self released debut of Postdata.  Paul Murphy of Wintersleep and his brother recording deeply personal songs in their family home.  Currently on the road in Europe with David Bazan.

Song: In Chemicals.

JUST ANNOUNCED, CANADIAN TOUR DATES.

Postdata Canadian Tour with special guests Brian Borcherdt & Julie Fader

March 7- Halifax, NS @ The Sonic Temple
March 8 – Halifax, NS @ The Sonic Temple
March 12 – Toronto, ON @ The Music Gallery
March 13 – Toronto, ON @ CMW Showcase
March 16 – Ottawa, ON @ The Blacksheep
March 18 – Calgary, AB @ The Republik
March 19 – Edmonton, AB @ Brixx
March 20 – Vancouver, BC @ The Media Club