Field Mouse

Two years ago, I played Rachel Browne's selftitled solo debut EP quite often, now she's back with Field Mouse. Field Mouse is the music of Rachel Browne and collaborator Andrew Futral. Their debut album, entitled You Are Here, is a modern collection of melodic, lush pop sensibilities filtered through dreamy reverb, paired with sincere reflective songwriting. Rachel also cites childhood car rides with her mother listening to the Talking Heads and The Clash during her years growing up in New England as musical influences. Starting from the garage as most musicians do, Rachel cut her teeth in several bands since the age of 13 and continued throughout high school and college. She decided to get a formal education in music, attending the music conservatory at Purchase College, where she met and began working with Andrew. It’s been non-stop collaboration since, with musicians such as Toby Goodshank, Arms and Legs, Kyle Gilbride, Apse, Gregory & the Hawk, and Kiss Kiss to name a few. Most recently, Field Mouse have formed a solid lineup including Allison Weiss on bass and Geoff Lewit on drums, and plan to tour in support of You Are Here.

UPDATE: You can even download their album for FREE, just for a tweet: click

@ New York, USA

♫ Indie, Rock, Pop

♥ Good at Me (mp3)

♥  Where You Go (mp3)

▸ MySpace

▸ Official Website
+ Full album stream

Ida Jenshus

There were months, even years that I visited last.fm daily, but with all the recent changes, most of them not for the best in my opinion, it's often if I even visit my profile more than twice a week. What has not changed is last.fm's sometimes brilliant 'artist recommendations'. A very recent example is today's featured Ida Jenshus, which was recommended to me because I listened to Dylan LeBlanc a lot lately. Ida Jenshus, who plays the guitar since she was ten decided at age seventeen that she wanted to be a musician. After winning a talent show at the Norwegian television, Ida soon released her debut album "Colors of the Sun" which featured eleven songs, written over a five year period.She already decided her music style was going to be along the lines of Alison Krauss, Nanci Griffith and Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons when she discovered them as a teenager. The release of her debut brought her many things like playing on country music festivals, community centers, churches and ski jumps all with her band, whoo she loves and who make her touring worthwile. Last month, two years after her succesful debut, Ida released a more personal and intimate sophomore album. "No Guarantees" features clearer country elements but is also heavier and rockier on the other hand. Ida also tried to stay closer to her live sound; not necessarily perfect all the time, but shows more nerve. Ida, for me is a perfect example that talent show winners can also be succesful, by staying true to themselves.

@ Trondheim, Norway

♫ Acoustic, Folk Pop, Country

♥ My Baby's Gone (mp3)

♥ Better Day (mp3)

▸ MySpace

▸ Official Website
+ Spotify 

Beach House

A lot, I actually think most of you already heard from the amazing dream pop duo Beach House, but since they weren't on LMLI yet and the fact that I have been listening to their last album "Teen Dream" quite a lot the last few months and have seen them play in Amsterdam, I had to share them with you. No one should miss out on the music of this  amazing duo. They formed in 2005 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The group consists of Victoria Legrand (vocals, organ) and Alex Scally (guitar, keyboards). Legrand is the niece of french composer Michel Legrand. The group has released three albums: 2006’s “Beach House”, 2008’s “Devotion” and “Teen Dream” in early 2010. Within a year of formation, the group charmed indie music enthusiasts across the blogosphere with their languid songcraft. Two months later, Beach House issued their eponymous debut album for Carpark. In September of 2009 Sub Pop Records announced that Beach House had signed and that a follow up album to 2008’s “Devotion”, “Teen Dream” would be released in early 2010

@ Baltimore, USA

♫ Alternative, Dream Pop

♥ Zebra (mp3)

♥ Norway (mp3)

▸ MySpace

▸ Official Website

+ Spotify

The Woodlands

The Woodlands mailed me two weeks ago, but with all the mail I get every day they unfortunately got a bit lost in the crowd. They would've stayed there if their reminder message, mailed to me yesterday, did not woke me up. With the promising statement that they sounded like some of my folky favorites like Jaymay and Gregory and the Hawk I hurried to their MySpace. After a quick listen I knew I had to feature them, despite my week full of studying for upcoming exams. When first songs of an album sound as good as Woodlands' "Until The Day Dims" you would've done the same. The rest of the album surpassed it's promise with tracks like "Can't We Stay" and "Summerland" the catchiest of the bunch. Hannah's whispering voice combined with subtle guitar and light bells are so beautifully interwoven in the narrative folk songs that they will leave you daydreaming right away.
The Woodlands, a wife and husband indie folk-pop duo, craft songs of lyrical poetry, lush melody and intelligent simplicity. They conjure faraway lands and the longing of lovers with timeless imagery that unearths the shadow of tragedy and the glisten of magical realism. Hannah’s hushed voice conveys both mirth and melancholy, tempered and surrounded by Samuel’s melodic instrumentation. They till the soil of their souls to reap songs and sounds wrapped in a hauntingly sweet hush of wonder. Their 2009 self-released debut album was recorded and produced by Samuel & Hannah in their Portland apartment, true to their intent of capturing intimate songs of simple complexity that sound professionally homemade. The album has been received with both national and international anticipation, and with its release The Woodlands are set to embark as husband, wife and songlings on the voyage forthcoming.

@ Portland, USA
♫ Folk, Indie, Acoustic
♥ Summerland (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Buy