Death Vessel - Stay Close

While this multinational act's moniker of choice might conjure images of hairy rockers with a sci-fi fixation (well, it does in the mind of this writer) the collective are actually fine purveyors of folk-inflected indie-pop; stick this CD into your iTunes and it'll be neatly classified as 'country', although that does sell its charms a little short. Opener 'Mean Streak' is one of a handful of numbers featuring guest vocals from Espers' Laura and Meg Baird, although the group's lynchpin, Joel Thibodeau, is very much the ringmaster throughout. It is his direction, and guitar work, that guides 'Stay Close' to its comes-too-quickly conclusion. Worry not though, new converts: this recommended album is sure to be just the beginning of a magnificent career.