Introducing Laura Barrett

There are probably a thousand different witty ways one can describe Toronto musician Laura Barrett's music, but I'm sure that they'll only serve to diminish the power of her compositions, so I'm cutting to the chase: Laura Barrett plays the kalimba, an African thumb piano, and uses it to stunning effect as she weaves tales laced with sci-fi references, modern technology and child-like innocence and wonder. If you think Vampire Weekend is genre-bending, then you have to listen to Laura.

She's known as a member of The Hidden Cameras, but Barrett is steadily growing a reputation as an intriguing live act--just her voice and thumbs plucking away at her instrument--whose covered Weird Al Yankovic's "Smells Like Nirvana" (this is the part where geeks and nerds the world over fall in love with her). She's making her way around Southern Ontario in the next few weeks before heading to Austin for SXSW. Check her out if you're planning on being there.

Laura's debut EP, earth Sciences, is out today on Toronto's Paper Bag Records, and should be available at all your fine record retailers (virtual or physical).

Laura Barrett "Robot Ponies"
[Earth Sciences, 2008, Paper Bag]
hype machine : elbo.ws

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From the news of the internet world comes word that Amie Street is releasing the entire catalogs of Beggars Group (XL, Rough Trade, 4AD), Matador Records and Polyvinyl Records digitally, giving fans a chance to set the price per song. Each song starts out free, and then raises in price based on popularity to a nice round $0.98. All songs are DRM-free mp3s. Too bad so many of them are listed as US Only. Does anyone buy from Amie Street regularly? Let me know and I'll consider adding links.