Braids

It makes sense that Braids wrapped up a tour with L.A. beat auteur Baths this past spring. The Montreal four-piece takes a similar approach, carving buoyant but soothing indie pop out of an even split of electronics and acoustics. The comparisons end there, however—this is a bona fide band whose debut, Native Speaker, displays a strong instrumental dynamic led by the vocal stylings of Raphaelle Standell-Preston, who can’t help but channel the playful twitter of Joanna Newsom. Recently, the band’s debut was longlisted for Canada’s 2011 Polaris Music Prize.

Updated 09/07/2011