Band of Blogs: Mirel Wagner, Day Joy, I Am Oak & Bright Moments

Every Friday I write a column about internet-related things for Irish Independent’s Day & Night. Every week, I pick out four great music picks from the best of the music blogosphere. Follow Day & Night on Twitter or Facebook. It’s out today in print.

Also this week, see the best of SXSW downloads.

Mirel Wagner

Ethiopian born Finland raised singer songwriter Wagner sounds like she was influenced by mean and moody singers like Nick Cave. This is stark fingerpicking night-time music for dark hearts.

Day Joy

The latest purveyors of North American pastoral folk are this Orlanda duo who make a lovely racket that recalls the best moments of Grizzly Bear, Sufjan, Fleet Foxes et al with resplendent melodies, peaking instrumentation and rolling cadences. In short, gorgeous.

I Am Oak

This Dutch band impressed at Eurosonic in January. Their slow-burning evocative music goes for ’80s sounding keyboards and rich reverbed barely-lit harmonies.

Bright Moments

Kelly Pratt has played with Beirut, Arcade Fire and St. Vincent in the past and you can certainly hear Zach Condon’s influence on his debut album Natives, which is filled with horn-laden alternative pop gems.

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