Your Weekly Download Lowdown

Weary Downloaders Rejoice and Link

I have to admit I was intrigued by the Felice Brothers when they described their sound as how “a barn smells” on their MySpace page. You can’t beat a personal endorsement like that now can you? True Americana at its very root, band members Simone Felice, Ian Felice, James Felice, and Christmas have recorded a wonderful Daytrotter session that you need to download. The perfect soundtrack for lounging on your dusty porch this weekend, cold drink in hand, savouring the last remnants of summer. Think Music From Big Pink updated for the 21st century.

And just as the sun sinks on the horizon you can relish the countrified musings of the Pieta Brown session also on Daytrotter. Ethereal and timeless, these songs are all keepers. The minimal arrangements reveal Pieta’s voice to be a sublime treasure. My highlight? “In My Mind, I Was Talkin' To Loretta”, from her latest album Remember the Sun. Superb.

Lastly two new downloads this week previewing Toronto violin virtuoso, Owen Pallett’s (aka Final Fantasy) two new ep’s coming soon. The first (from Stereogum) a collaboration with Beirut recorded in Quebec last year. The second (from Zoilus) is a preview of a set of covers of songs by Toronto musician Alex Lukashevsky. If you have never heard the music of Owen Pallett before this would be a terrific place to start. For the initiated, something to tide you over until his Heartland project is released.