Fifths of Seven - "Echoes from a Wandered Path". Now here's something unexpected... Fifths of Seven are a new group, a collaboration between Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade (on piano and accordion), Beckie Foon of A Silver Mt. Zion and Set Fire to Flames (on cello), and Rachel Levine (of Cakelk) on mandolin. Spry From Bitter Anise Folds has been released on a small french label, Les Disques du soleil et de l'acier. It's a long, long way from the wrecked passion of Wolf Parade, and distant too from SMZ's ravaged hymns. Fifths of Seven devote themselves to the unadorned music of an instrumental trio, the play and interweave of themes, the flutter, rise and glow of a melody. More than anything it recalls Rachel's; deeply atmospheric, carefully pretty, an empty church chapel with dark Goya portraits on the wall. [buy]

Mynah - "Evil Caribbean". Emma sent me this yesterday. I don't really know what to make of it. It's from Preface, the debut EP from New York's Mynah. It's fantastically compelling, running circles in my head, drawing me back and back and back. It's got fast bits and slower bits, mellow ones and noisy ones. It's also, in some ways, actually bad. But the melodrama and fumbles are just the flaws this song needs, the stuff that makes desperation and debauchery feel immediate, attractive. The Killers crossed with Antony & The Johnsons (okay, that's a little absurd. but-!). And if the lyrics make you squirm just turn it up because the next bit's going to have a disco-beat and the crunch of guitars - there's always a new bridge around the corner. I mean, there's even xylophone! [Download the rest!]

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Elsewhere --

Poptext's got the new Charlotte Church single - no, wait, hold on! It's a pop song so great that Poptext left Church's name out of the writeup, lest anyone be inclined to ignore it. The drums smash through everything, everything, horns like demolition balls, and there's even unflinching undistracted solid go-go-go handclaps. I don't know why Abby keeps falling back on an apologist line - this is clearly fantastic, "Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" without the slink, high-flying and Rockette-kicking. Yay!

Stereogum points to a great track by The Sun. I was going to make fun of their being described as "Spoon"-like, but I see a retraction has already been posted. Comments on that post suggest that they might suck as a band, but there's no getting away from "Must Be You"'s chartworthy Shins-meets-Bishop-Allen guitar-lickin' awesome.

I think I should become friends with the Popsheep kids, because their posts are driving me wild with pleasure. Our tastes seem to be well in line; it's rare that a day goes past when they're not teaching me about something keenly wonderful. I had never heard of Sub Pop's Baptist Generals, but the tune they've posted is a dusty, twangy anthem, most reminiscent of the Daniel Johnston-fronted track on Okkervil River's Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See.

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And I'll take the mostly-silence to mean that I needn't tell you about Dungen. Hope you're all enjoying the record as much as me.