Mistress

Yellow Ostrich's 2011 sophomore effort Mistress is a reflective and melodic mix of indie rock, harmonized folk-rock, and some lo-fi rock. In that sense, the mix of vocal harmonies and echoey guitar sections fits nicely next to such similarly inclined acts as Fleet Foxes and Local Natives. To these ends, tracks like the bluesy "Hate Me Soon" and the driving "Hold On" are catchy, post-punk inflected moments. Elsewhere, the tribal-sounding "Whale," the roiling "Campaign," and the silly titled -- for reasons that will be immediately clear -- but infectious "Hahahaohhoho" bring to mind a mix of indie-Barbershop quartet-meets-the-prog-influenced Brit-pop of Field Music. ~ Matt Collar