Once again I am infected by an extremely catchy tune.

In this case it's the first single, Again & Again, from the new duo, The Bird and the Bee. It's a beautiful trifle of 60's French Pop and Brazilian rhythm wrapped around a jangly Indie Pop center.

There full-length debut is due at the end of this month. You can find further information about them at their MySpace page and on their soon to be relaunched website.

The Bird and the Bee - Again & Again

Sometimes you can hear so much honesty in a singer's voice or a song writer's words that no matter how awkward they are, how unconventional they sound, there is a deep and intense immediate love for them. Daniel Johnston, Jeff Magnum of Neutral Milk Hotel, and Joanna Newsom are all prime examples of this, people who draw us in deeper than the melodies their vocal chords create. Pulled in to these tiny fragile worlds like egg shells, the songs take on a quality so much bigger than the sum of their parts.

Adrian Orange (aka The Thanksgiving) is like this as well, the first moments of his voice strike you with a discomfort that eventually settles into awe. Twisted and awkward ballads push their way around your brain, asking you to decode their puzzles on the way to your heart. Expertly crafted pop songs that take you inside relationships full of teenage love, immediate and destructive.

Working with Phil Elverum has helped guide Adrian's hand well, and on Bitches is Lord you can hear the craftsmanship he's achieved while still being able to look forward to his future releases. There is a lot more to come from this young man.

Adrian Orange - While You Live

I'm Not Shy, was the first single from manufatured girl group, Frank. Created for a Channel 4 comedy/drama called Totally Frank. Oddly, they were dropped by their record label, Polydor, just five weeks after their album was released.

Imagine a brit girl group with hints of the Divinyls and Fergie. Sounds weird, but the song is enjoyable.

Frank - I'm Not Shy

Here's the band's website.

Two wonderful gems from Norway this week:

Susanna and the Magical Orchestra have released a covers record of some 80's standards, as well as some off the wall choices. Susanna's quiet voice is layered over harpsichord to re-invent these songs as dark and brooding Norweigian blues, trapping pop songs in icey cabaret prisons. Finish half a bottle of wine, and then check out her version of AC/DC's It's A Long Way To The Top.

Susanna and the Magical Orchestra - It's A Long Way To The Top

We also have Norwegian Grammy winners the White Birch. I'm thoroughly convinced that anyone who listens to the full of their album will be hooked. Combining Icelandic production values with Kings of Convenience vocal stylings, and wrapping it all up in a pop manner that invokes early Cold Play (when they were relevant), the White Birch have created what I believe to be one of the most perfect indie pop records ever.

White Birch - Seer Believer

Contributor DJ Toast has posted a new pocast. It includes songs by Peter Björn & John, Camera Obscura, The Concretes, Johnny Boy, The Lost Patrol, The Bird and the Bee, Lush, Shout Out Louds, Spearmint, Stereolab, Stars, Lush, Elastica, Throwing Muses, The Ettes, The Long Blondes, The Pipettes, Henri Fabergé and the Adorables.  It clocks in at 57 mins., 41 secs.

Weekend Without Make-Up Mix

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