Mirel Wagner is a curious wonder. Based in Finland but with roots in Ethiopia, Wagner teamed up with Toronto-based cinematographer Grandon and Son to deliver a multi-medium video that blends their eclectic influences and background. The result is a thought-provoking video that perfectly compliments Wagner’s minimalist folk style. Using a mix of film formats including Super 8, a 5D and a 1985 Hitachi VHS, the finished product has a homespun-collage feel and translates the eulogy of a long-lost friend. Fans of Devendra Banhart and Nick Drake should take heed.

via Consequence of Sound

UK trio Sunless ’97 (@sunless97) is set to debut their new double A-side single on June 18 via Not Even Music. With co-production and mixing done by David Wrench (Caribou, Bear In Heaven), the tracks are guaranteed to have a cohesive, quality sound.

The two songs, “Body Weather” and “Azul”, are composed of organic and synthetic instrumentation adorned with harmonic vocals, all woven into a stream of lush pop lucidity. The songs are bright without being too sugary and leave a memorable imprint. After just a few listens, I’m excitedly anticipating what a full length will reveal.

You can stream “Body Weather” now and pick up both tracks on June 18.

Orifice Origami – Reptar // Buy

Sebastian – Reptar // Buy

Georgia four-piece Reptar (@reptarathens) often seem to embody their namesake. While they may not be prehistoric, animated or green, they do evoke a sense of fun with a slight twist of nostalgia thrown in for good measure. The group first made a major name for themselves at 2011′s SXSW festival, where, during their scheduled performances and a few impromptu house party gigs, they introduced the world to their renewable musical energy.

Quick to utilize this sudden burst of notoriety, they released a well-received EP last year and their debut full-length just recently. Whatever you’re take on Body Faucet, there’s no denying the record’s unrelenting ambition and enthusiasm. With an open mind, there’s a good chance it’ll sweep you off your feet and throw you into it’s Carnivale-like atmosphere.

The album’s core foundation consists of pure indie rock fused with 90′s alt rock, but this base isn’t what captures your imagination — the exterior dressing of saxophones, xylophones, afro-pop percussion, sitars and synths is truly what makes the album stand out. These tropical elements aren’t merely used for decoration, but instead are crafted to bring out an additional dimension on each song. By tweaking structures, playfully moulding melodies and adding a little spice to the overall balance, many songs find themselves fleshed out significantly by Reptar’s imagination. While the album has a few issues regarding balance and some tracks such as “Sweet Sippin’ Soda” go a little overboard, the majority of Body Faucet’s colourful spectrum really brings the record to life.

Although the majority of the album could serve as the perfect party soundtrack, there are a few mellow moments which would suit the mood for the ride home as well. While these instances are somewhat few and far between, they certainly stand out — both their stripped down sound and genuine lyrical inflection leave me wanting more. Perhaps Reptar may tap into this particular vein and branch out in the future, but as of right now, their first effort stands tall and ferocious, much like the fictitious dinosaur from which they took their name.

There’s something special about male/female musical duos with a healthy dose of awkward sexual tension. Think about it — Jack and Meg White of the White Stripes, Gotye and Kimbra, Wavves and Best Coast, The XX. They all produce a certain quality that can only come as the a result of waking up together on at least one seedy morning. The band below is no exception.

Best friends, ex-lovers and music makers, Jake Rabinbach and Shannon Esper are the brains and, more importantly, the vocals behind the five-piece, Greenpoint-based The Echo-Friendly (@theechofriendly). Currently, the group has released only one single with Cantora Records titled “Same Mistakes”, a high-drone, infected track featuring the effortless interweaving of the lead singers’ vocals. Soon, though, the band will release their debut, full-length album by the name of Love Panic. Recorded in Memphis, TN, the record highlights the duo’s effortless lyrical ability and talent for crafting lovable pop songs. Love Panic directs listeners through the highs and lows of any young love — the mischief, the emotion, the carelessness and the lust. These themes are then lovingly partnered with the band’s strolling-paced percussion, distorted guitar and 80’s inspired keys.

Some of the best summer singers are releasing this week, with sophomore efforts form both Beach House and Best Coast – so get your bathing suites ready folks. It’s time to lie out in the sun and listen to these smooth jams of summer.

Myth – Beach House // Buy

We fell in love with the relaxed, gauzy sounds of Beach House (@beaccchhoussse) with Teen Dream, and the release of Bloom seems as though it’ll cement them as one of our favorites. The album has been streaming for a while now, and every single song sounds just as amazing as the last. It’s luscious, gigantic music — just how we like it.

Their first album, Crazy for You, was a garage pop gem. The fuzzy guitars and lyrics about boyfriends and weed made for the perfect warm weather jams. Lucky for us, Best Coast (@bestycoastyy) is keeping with the LA infused, endless summer theme for The Only Place, though early listens show Bethany Consentino as little older and a little wiser. The sounds of summer that made them famous are still there — just fewer cats and less weed.

Everyone’s favorite acoustic metal parody band is back — with more acoustic metal! A little light heartedness is always necessary, but Tenacious D (@tenaciousd_) also makes songs that are as catchy as anything, with some great punch lines to boot. Let’s hope Rize of the Fenix offers something as classic as “Fuck Her Gently”.

After playing their first ever New York City show last week, Alt-J (@alt_j), also known as ∆, is poised to take the music world by storm. The band, who recently opened for Wild Beast and We Are Serenades, is readying the release of their debut LP,  ∆n ∆wesome W∆ve, which hits shelves later this month exclusively in the UK. Unfortunately for those of us here in the States, the album won’t be released until this Fall. In the meantime, you can watch “Matilda”, “Fitzpleasure”, and the gorgeous new “Breezeblocks” video via YouTube. Skip this band and you’ll be kicking yourself in a few months when they’re selling out venues in a city near you.

For those you interested in the track listing of the album, here you are:

1. Intro
2. Interlude 1
3. Tessellate
4. Breezeblocks
5. Interlude 2
6. Something Good
7. Dissolve Me
8. Matilda
9. Ms
10. Fitzpleasure
11. Interlude 3
12. Bloodflood
13. Taro

Photo credit: Daniele Teodoro

Two to one. This was more or less the ratio of instruments to musicians on stage at Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday night. Amongst the two women and three men of headlining band Horse Feathers (@krshorsenews) were two violins, a cello, a guitar, a mandolin, a tambourine, a keyboard, a drumset, a banjo, oh, and a saw. Even Matt Bauer (@mattbauermusic), the solo act who opened the night, had both a banjo and a guitar at his disposal.

This litany of instruments, particularly the strings, imbues the melodic folk music of Horse Feathers with an orchestral quality. Poetic, poignant lyrics leak out from lead singer Justin Ringle and stretch across the languishing instrumentation underneath. The swelling violins, more chipper than brooding, instruct the cadence of the songs while guiding the mood towards a nostalgic sort of buoyancy.

The crowd seemed contentedly sedated throughout the night, their quiet attentiveness mirroring the focused composure of the musicians. After being lulled by the delicate banjo of Matt Bauer, the audience found their heartstrings pulled by North Carolina band Mount Moriah (@mountmoriahband). Spritely singer Heather McEntire croons like the country stars of yore, her gently cascading vocals charged with vigor. The band’s songs, even the more upbeat ones, are tinged with heartbreak and a stirring indignation at having those hearts broken. Their sound was more subdued than in previous live performances, but no less alluring.

These opening bands did less to warm up the crowd than to calm them down, which was an appropriate energy to greet the pensive music of Horse Feathers. Ringle, along with Dustin Dybvig on drums and keys, Lauren Vidal on cello, Angie Kuzma on violin and Nathan Crockett on everything else, gave equal attention to songs off of their new album, Cynic’s New Year, and songs from their previous three albums. Themes of nature (“The Drought”), abandonment (“Thistled Spring”) and retribution (“Bird On A Leash”) run through the songs, but the bleak lyrics are consistently balanced by the lustrous melodies.

In the song “Summer of Capricorns”, Ringle sings: “I can’t bear the beat of a different drum, It holds me down it won’t help me none”. Kicking off a national tour with a uniquely serene performance at Bowery Ballroom, Horse Feathers have proven quite the contrary.

Wile it may seem cliché, Spiritualized (@spiritualized) shows are truly spiritual experiences. Not only is the music steeped in that tradition, but for many, seeing J Spaceman on stage is cosmic in and of itself — it certainly was for the kid in the front row I saw sobbing.

The members of Spiritualized aren’t about showmanship: no banter, no dancing around, just music. Granted, the music is why people attend the concerts, and boy did the band deliver on those expectations. While the songs lasted upwards of ten minutes, they never got boring. Jason Spaceman’s lethargic moan perfectly complemented the giant sound that ricocheted off the walls in Terminal 5’s enormous ballroom.

With decades of music to draw from, the band played a little bit of everything, though they mostly stuck to material off their newest album. The transition from quiet drone to loud, climatic explosion remains their norm, and it couldn’t have sounded better.

The packed T5 was enraptured throughout every song, never taking their eyes away from the band. At times, it’s difficult to understand how the veteran space rockers, with their lengthy songs and muted stage activity, can maintain such a hold over the crowd, but they do. Maybe it’s the spiritual aspect — you can’t take your eyes off someone you worship, even if you aren’t quite sure why you worship them.

If you’ve ever dreamed about a festival that combines the best food, drink, and music that New York has to offer, your dreams have finally come true.  The Great GoogaMooga is a brand new food, drink, and music celebration created by Superfly Presents (the folks behind Bonnaroo) that’s being touted as “an amusement park of food & drink”.  It’s promising to be the first real “can’t miss” event of the summer so make it out to Prospect Park this weekend, stuff your face with delicious food, and catch some pretty spectacular bands while you’re at it.

Of course, there’s more going on this week than GoogaMooga.  Quite a lot more.  If you’re able to get out of work on the early site this Wednesday, swing by (le) poisson rouge for The Barr Brothers and Kishi Bashi.  Then you’ll know exactly why we listed it as our #1 show of the week.  See below for more info on shows from Beach House, Ty Segall, Caveman, and more.

Thanks for checking out our suggested New York City indie concerts list!  We won’t list everything that’s going on — just a short collection of great shows happening in our city that you shouldn’t miss this week.  And to make it as easy for you as possible, you can listen to all the bands and sometimes get some free MP3s!

The Barr Brothers, Kishi Bashi @ (le) poison rouge (Tickets)

Joywave, Team Spirit, Young Midnight, Visuals @ Glasslands (Tickets)

Beach House, Zomes @ Bowery Ballroom (Tickets)

Imaginary Cities, HITS, Magic Wands @ Mercury Lounge (Tickets)

The Barr Brothers, Kishi Bashi @ (le) poison rouge (Tickets)

Ty Segall, White Fence, The Strange Boys, The Men @ Webster Hall (Tickets)

Caveman, NewVillager @ Brooklyn Museum (Tickets)

Vacationer, Magic Wands, Body Language (DJ set) @ The Studio at Webster Hall (Tickets)

Maps & Atlases, Zechs Marquise, Sister Crayon, DJ Bearbait @ Glasslands (Tickets)

The Great GoogaMooga: The Roots, Holy Ghost!, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Naomi Shelton & Gospel Queens, Bear Hands, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Unchained (Van Halen Tribute), Fort Lean @ Prospect Park (Tickets)

The Great GoogaMooga: Hall & Oats, Fitz & The Tantrums, Charles Bradley, Escourt, Lez Zeppelin, Peelander-Z, Lucius @ Prospect Park (Tickets)

Earlier this week, we posted our review of Jack White’s debut solo album, Blunderbuss, which received an impressive 9.4 rating. For this weeks #FF, we’re spotlighting his Nashville-based record company Third Man Records (@thirdmanrecords).

If you weren’t aware that Jack White even had a record company…well, he does, and it includes an eclectic mix of artists like The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, Wanda Jackson, Whirlwind Heat, and The Black Belles. Naturally, the Twitter feed for Third Man Records includes updates for all the bands included on the label, but they also post about other noteworthy music news, and retweet an assortment of fun finds.

Check out some of Third Man Records’ recent Tweets and follow them to stay up to date on Jack White (et al.) happenings, including his current tour:

MJ was pretty cool sometimes huh? dangerousminds.net/comments/micha… @DangerMindsBlog

— Third Man Records (@thirdmanrecords) April 13, 2012

Having a Beastie Boys day here at Third Man… lots of love and respect. flickr.com/photos/tonedef…

— Third Man Records (@thirdmanrecords) May 8, 2012

Amazing Beach Boys mix by Turquoise Wisdom going beyond Pet Sounds… SUMMER STARTS NOW & FOREVER!Enjoy and share: soundcloud.com/turquoisewisdo…

— Third Man Records (@thirdmanrecords) May 3, 2012

Thanks to all of Jack White’s fans for making Blunderbuss the #1 album in the US, UK, Canada and Switzerland! It’s a great day for music.

— Third Man Records (@thirdmanrecords) May 2, 2012

Jack White on Colbert last week.. miss it? @coslive has it: consequenceofsound.net/2012/04/video-… #Blunderbuss

— Third Man Records (@thirdmanrecords) April 30, 2012

Jack White on @allsongs on the making of #Blunderbuss… in depth, insightful, and some great quotes. check it: npr.org/2012/04/13/150…

— Third Man Records (@thirdmanrecords) April 17, 2012