CATEGORY: MP3

From Iceland now to Sweden, we’re using our first new posting day in over a month to promote some beautiful & talented foreign-based female artists.  Here is “Social Skills” from Swedish musician Sparrow who goes by the name Doctors & Dealers.  Most of the music on her new album Confessions of a Drunken Mind is piano-based, occasionally implementing a few bits of electronic accompaniament- more than most of the time, it’s interesting enough to warrant repeated listens.  Her higher pitched, slightly mis-pronounced singing gives away her foreign roots but then again she sounds more American/intelligible than Joni Mitchell so the whole Swedish thing may not actually be noticeable just from listening.

Doctors & Dealers - Social Skills

Buy Doctors & Dealers’ new album “Confessions of a Drunken Mind” on Amazon.com

CATEGORY: Editor's Pick - MP3

Emiliana Torrini’s “Me and Armini” has all the swagger of Lily Allen’s “Smile” without the annoying superfluousness and tabloid attachment.  Also unlike the previously aforementioned track, the steady backing rhythym and Torrini’s confident, calm singing let the rest of “Armini”’s layers reveal themself over multiple satisfying listens rather than blowing its musical wad on the first go round.  Employing a cool, soothing vocal style, the Icelandic singer uses her new album to flip between ambient, acoustic folk songs and more upbeat, almost-radio ready pop songs, similar to Feist’s last record.   The album, also titled Me and Armini, ships out September 9th on Rough Trade Records.

Emiliana Torrini - Me and Armini

Pre-order Emiliana Torrini’s new full length “Me And Armini” on Amazon.com