Austra

Add Date: May 10 

Artist: Austra 

Album: Feel It Break 

Label: Domino 

Genre: Pop, electronic rock, experimental 

Comments: This is a terrific first record from the Toronto trio Austra. From the promoter: "On Feel It Break, co-founder and lead singer Katie Stelmanis, drummer Maya Postepski and bassist Dorian Wolf have crafted a dark, danceable masterpiece suitable for both ritual incantations and clubs; an album hearkening back to the sleazier side of New Wave but still deeply rooted in Stelmanis' classical and operatic upbringing."

Haunting, beautiful and addictive (especially on lead single and album standout "Lose It"), Feel It Break is one of the best debuts I've heard in quite some time. Especially with Stelmanis' vocals, Austra brings to mind Zola Jesus and Bat for Lashes, and this music will easily appeal to fans of The Knife/Fever Ray, Glasser and even Kate Bush. Highly recommended; start with tracks 2, 4, 1 and 5.