Daily MPfree: Husky Rescue

A fuzzy, shimmering reworking of a nice tune from the Finnish indie veterans Husky Rescue by Dave Graham. It’s lovely. Enjoy.

Daily MPfree: Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

Ariel Pink’s alt-retro weirdness seems to be breaking on through lately. This is a sample from his new album, released on 4AD – maybe he’ll become the most unexpected pop star of 2010.

Daily MPfree: The Books

The Books are one of the most interesting and thought-provoking bands around. They weave together samples and snatches of spoken word audio history with expansive, droney folk music, strings plucked and bowed, and electronic rhythms and textures. Their new album, The Way Out, is released soon on Temporary Residence.

Daily MPfree: Nina Nastasia

Doomy folk songstress Nina Nastasia always seems to have a new album on the go, but 2010’s Outlaster is her strongest for a while. The lyrics to “You’re a Holy Man” read like a warning. “The thing” is coming, apparently, that might threaten said holy man’s holiness. I’m guessing she doesn’t mean this or this, but who knows, right?

Daily MPfree: Crystal Castles

Grouchy electrogoth kids Crystal Castles‘ first record felt more like a bundle of songs than a coherent album per se. The follow up (nattily entitled Crystal Castles II and hastily released to try and avoid repeating the internet-wide piracy that must have stunted sales of their debut) is similar in structure – slick electronica not so much segues as crashes into filthy electropunk interludes, with all kinds of ravey nonsense and creepy pitch-shifted ambient sections inbetween. Sonic Youth‘s Thurston Moore has added some guitar squiggles to this remix of the album’s first single Celestica, out now.

Daily MPfree: Diskjokke

If Diskjokke was from round here, he’d probably be one of Britain’s most bankable dance music stars by now. But he’s from Oslo and his easy going, soft edged techno is yet to trouble to charts. This track 1987 is from his forthcoming album “En Fin Tid” – maybe with similar artists like Grum on the ascent, the tide will turn sooner rather than later.

Daily MPfree: Horse Feathers

Horse Feathers from Portland, Oregon create pretty adorable country-folk music. This track is from their new album Thistled Spring, out now on Kill Rock Stars. They’ll be touring this September and showing up at End Of The Road Festival if you wanna catch them live.

Daily MPfree: Ariel Pink's FACT Mix

Daily MPfree: Caribou

Odessa by Snipe’s issue #2 cover star Caribou is the first of nine subtly twisted electronic compositions from his new album Swim, out now.

All-girl choir Gaggle announce opera

London’s 24-piece all-girl choir Gaggle have released an extract from their current work-in-progress, an reenactment of an opera called “The Brilliant & The Dark”. With an art sensibility recalling the work of artists Pil & Galia Kollectiv and the theatrical staging of bands like The Knife and Planningtorock, this looks like a very exciting swerve in the choir’s direction.

You can listen to some their recorded works on and browse shows, including a headline date at Bush Hall on June 17th, on their MySpace.