Le Fils des Trois Mousquetaires - Acoustic / Alt-Folk - Belgium
This is an artist that had come across my profile on MySpace Music- he has three incredible albums, all available for free download on Last.fm: pendant ce temps-là, en 1942, les saucisses de l’amour, and il fera beau l’été passé. Upon asking him of his influences, he said: “I’d say I make a crossing between 60’s and 90’s pop, like the Kinks mixed with Nirvana, or Robert Wyatt with Lou Barlow, or the Zombies with Elliot Smith, or Nick Drake with Frank Black…” Le Fils des Trois Mousquetaires is a unique listening experience, with “invisible” and “black beauty” being particular favourites of mine. Curiously charming, and oddly evocative of the music, is the accompanying art, pictured at right!

The Trees - Indie / Alternative / Psychedelic - UK
Affiliates of the FreeMusic Last.fm group, British band The Trees’ most recent release Things That Make You Happy offers up some excellent, Beatle-esque, psychedelic-tinged rock. “Dirty Money” and their cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sound of Silence” are definite highlights on this album already a pick for my top of 2009.

Zoomonk - Rock / Electro / Experimental - Finland
(Thanks to Zetam for the suggestion!) Influenced by groups like Suicide, the Stooges, and Spacemen 3, Zoomonk is one of the most unique and enjoyable recommendations I’ve received in quite awhile. Milk Drops and Weekend Coctail EP are both available for free stream and download on Last.fm. Track picks: “Black Song” and “Hands Around My Throat”

Mr. Dream -Rock / Alternatve - New York, USA

With a dash of old-school punk and some insanely catchy tunes (particularly recommended: “Knick Knack” and “Fine Lines), three-piece group Mr. Dream conjure a fun, vibrant aesthetic so often missing from modern music.