Independent Music Discoveries, Issue #20

Another Friday, another fresh round of independent talent! See also back issues in our continuing series, and as always, feel free to recommend your favorite indie artists in the comments.

Captain Polaroid - Alternative / Indie / Pop - Midlands, UK
Captain Polaroid is one of the many fine folks I've encountered because of the Manic Street Preachers forum Forever Delayed. While that band's presence and that of his other influences, including Pavement, McCarthy, R.E.M., and The Wedding Present, can be felt, the Captain is capable of skipping through genres from track-to-track, through the punky "Dust Will Settle on This Lifeless Town", to soft acoustic laments ("Wintertime Ending"), and jangle-poppy goodness ("A Cure For Every Ailment"; all the aforementioned appeared on Other Short Stories and Better Works of Fiction, 2007) It's easy to hear a true enjoyment of the creation of music itself here, from the seamless flow through musical styles to the quirky, lo-fi sound overall. His latest EP Point and Click can be downloaded from Filthy Little Angels, and his works are purchasable over at Big Cartel as well. A must-listen!

Mirror Pal - Other / Ambient / Alternative - Florida, USA
This isn't straight-up shoegaze, despite some curious guitar work and ambient soundscapes, but the same descriptors apply there as here: lush, melodious, ethereal, dreamy. Mirror Pal are a group presenting a soulful sort of rock with unexpected instrumental touches - have a listen to "What About Plan B", and you'll hear what I mean!

Never Dreamed Night Freeze Sandwich - Various Artists/Genres - Various Countries
French label La Bulle Sonore Records has released a various artists compilation entitled Never Dreamed Night Freeze Sandwich, which is indie-electro-pop and immense fun to listen to - check out the medleys of what's included on the album here!: http://www.myspace.com/nightfreezesandwich Nearly all of the artists here were new to me, including Dondolo, Katsen, and Bal Pare. You can buy this lovely road trip (or party!)-worthy compilation at Big Cartel!

Samuel Stewart - Rock - California, USA / England, UK
Son of Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), and producer of his brother Django James and the Midnight Squires' The Giving Tree, Samuel Stewart is set to release his first EP The Beginner. There are bits of his style, theatrical and emotionally-wrought, that remind me of an artist I featured earlier this year, Jordan Galland, as well as Patrick Wolf. Check out EP title track "The Beginner" - Sam is one to watch!