New Music: O+S - "Permanent Scar"

MP3 - "Permanent Scar - O+S

It is a thrilling experience to see a band you have not heard before live and be compelled to buy their cd. That was such the case when we saw O+S Saturday night, following Kid Mud's set at Hotel Utah. O+S began as a collaboration between Azura Ray's Orenda Fink and Remy Zero's Cedric LeMoyne. The two recorded their debut (shipping now from Saddle Creek) with a host of musicians and a gang of found sounds ("Haitian rituals, street noises or whatever," says LeMoyne) turned into loops. Fink's hushed vocals combined with the loops and talented backing players create a sound that at time resembles Lush and Cowboy Junkies (possibly more the live set on the latter). For their tour with Great Northern, O+S has expanded into a full band, creating an exceptional live show that impressed us a great deal. My girlfriend added that it was one of the more attractive bands we've seen in a while.

O+S play the Silverlake Lounge in Los Angeles tonight before heading to South by Southwest. Their debut is available at shows and then in stores March 24.