Azure Ray's New One Gives You Music to Dream On

Azure Ray do a dreamy kind of indie pop-rock. It's two female singers with lovely voices. Their new Drawing Down the Moon (Saddle Creek 104) invites you to listen to their 12 originals, all of which have a certain ring to them.

They harmonize well together, almost like a modern day female Everly Brothers in the natural fit of their voices. Don't expect "Wake Up Suzie" though; this music has the "lost-in-a-long dark-tunnel and follow-the-siren-voices" feel to it. "Make Your Heart" has a wall-of-sound fullness to it that reminds me vaguely of things I've liked but it's their own thing, modal, drone-ish.

Azure Ray appeal directly with straightforward songs and mellow arrangements. You want to chill, this will do it.

Here's a link to a free download of their new single:

The Mynabirds: Indie Pop-Rock Warblers

Readers of this blog know that we cast a wide net now and again to cover releases of various sorts. Today we have chance to look at a recent releases by a group called the Mynabirds and their 30-minute CD What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood (Saddle Creek). It's a collection of songs from the pop edge of the indie rock scene. The female vocalist is very good and solidifies the identity of the band. She has a strong set of pipes which she sometimes uses in a kind of richly sotto voce manner--in other words her singing is not full-throated at all points. She can get a breathier sound at times for higher expressive variety. The songs seem good and I would think as they keep on they will get even better.

There is a slight garage tinge to the music, but at the same time a sophistication to the songs to make it an intelligent sort of pop. I like this band and look for development down the line. If you are in the mood for a down-to-earth set of pop tunes, support the indies and check it out.