A sparse and detached glitches-and-acoustics duo from San Francisco, Brael create the kind of atmospheric soundscapes you'd normal associate with genre-pioneers Boards Of Canada. 'Blue Field' is a fine introduction to the creative muse of this brave young duo. www.myspace.com/brael

A graceful and accomplished singer/songwriter from Prince Edward Island, Canada, Catherine MacLellan is one of the bright new stars on the national roots circuit. 'Too Easy' is an exclusive free Mp3 from her sublime new album 'Church Bell Blues' and fully endorses the excitable buzz from the Canadian blogosphere that she's a modern day Joni Mitchell. www.catherinemaclellan.com

A cover of the track from precocious and late American folk favourite Tim Hardin who died at the tender age of 39 in 1980, 'Lady Came From Baltimore' is an exquisite introduction to the world of young London folkster Thee Intolerable Kidd. Find out more details here www.theeintolerablekidd.com

Sounding a little like an Elliot Smith-fronted Jellyfish, Justin Kline is a young Tennessee songwriter wholeheartedly committed to the carefree world of power-pop. Harmonies by the gallon-load, big infectious choruses and that all essential knack of being able to project unadulterated optimism via a simple 3 minute chunk of guitar music. All hail that man we say. www.myspace.com/justinklein

Purveyors or a rich line in folk-inflected post-rock, Baltimore duo Wye Oak sound like a female-fronted Radio Dept sprinkled liberally with a pound of icing sugar. Layer-upon-layer of fuzzy noise-pop unfolds as this free Mp3 - and stand-out track from new album 'If Children' - takes flight from your stereo. Proves at the very least there is more to Baltimore than The Wire. www.wyeoakmusic.com

November 2008