Indie Music Filter Volume 5

I couldn't think of a better song to lead kick off this mix. School of Seven Bells are a relatively new three-piece, hailing from the big apple and comprised of Benjamin Curtis (Secret Machines) and the Deheza twins (Alejandra and Claudia of On! Air! Library!). Some describe it as sounding a little like Stereolab or Fujiya & Miyagi with female vocals, here's a taste of the bands signature combo of angelic vocals, shoegazy loops and catchy beats.

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Its November and I can't help thinking about the summer. Perhaps its this song that brings back those memories. Here's a taste of the debut from Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti and his band Little Joy. New York meeting Jamaica halfway.

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Canada's best kept secret or Calgary's best indie-collective? You decide. Listen to Knock, Knock. Everything comes together beautifully at the end.

For fans of Sigur Ros, here's UK dream-pop band Lanterns On The Lake with something ambient and luscious. How about the soundtrack to that moment when you're inbetween being asleep and awake.

If you're not tapping your foot by the end of this song, then there is something wrong with you. Or maybe something wrong with your foot. With Perfect Games, The Broken West have written a perfect poppy tune.

Picking up where the Rapture left off, we've once again got bands like Friendly Fires igniting dancefloors in venues across the world. It was tough to pick just one of their songs for this mix, but Skeleton Boy got me just at the right moment.

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A new word I learned this year was folktronica. I think this is what it sounds like. A bedroom recording artist pumping out clever mini-indie masterpieces. Check out All The Pictures, you'll be glad you did.

Here's Swede-pop in its finest. As mentioned, Marching Band have been riding high this year. And for good reason, Erik and Jacob have written some great songs for a solid record. For You Love is a great example of this (good use of steel drums as well).

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Everyone I've played this song for has loved this track. Here's The Temper Trap with Sweet Disposition, what one might describe as a 'delay-driven melody fest'. Catchy.

My Only Offer actually wasn't my first pick for a Mates Of State song to make this mix. I was originally hooked on Get Better. But, after diving back into the album Re-Arrange Us I found another winner.

Every good mix needs a little bit of psychedelia. What's the recipe for a stand-out song on this mix? Starting with the echoing drums, following with a dropping acoustic guitar progression close to Oasis's Wonderwall, and finishing with catchy 60's-esque vocal harmonies.

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I have a hard time trying to figure out where this song works the best. iTunes commercial? Dancefloor? Doing laundry? You tell me. Its a pretty damn catchy tune though.

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California's The Morning Benders have redone a classic Cardigans song with Lovefool. The vocals actually make me think its Paul Simon sitting in. Beautiful.

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Warning: Do not turn your volume way up if you don't hear the first 15 seconds of this song. The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade is not only the longest songname on this mix, it comes in strong at that point. Dreamy vocals backed by distortion, reverb and heavy bass. Loving The Joy Formidable these days.

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Having done remixes for a slew of big names, RAC seems to be a more and more common name thrown around these days. The Virgins are already on fire. Here, we've got a DJ's remix making a great song greater.

This track snuck on to my mix at the last minute. I wanted to get more people to hear Take Stock, a song Stars could have written if they became more electronic. Or if the Postal Service had included more female vocals.

Thought I'd finish the mix with a softer tune. Proving once again that all you need to grab someone's ears is a beat up guitar, minimal kicks on the bass drum and a killer falsetto is Bon Iver with Skinny Love.