WeathervanesMom + Pop ***

There's a familiar blur to this first outing from the New York act who cut their teeth busking at subway stations and who operate in the same melodic, folky indie neck of the woods as Postal Service, Grizzly Bear and Local Natives. Such similarities may be down primarily to Judah Dadone's vocals, but it's also in how Freelance Whales use guitars, banjos, gentle synth riffs and twee electronics to keep the songs on track with beautifully realised, slow- motion precision. Ghostingand Generator 2nd Floorbest catch the Whales at play: the former is a gentle, tender wall of ambient sound; the latter sees the band lock into an infectious melody and let it do all the spadework. Though not groundbreaking or innovative, Weathervanesis a curio worth exploring. See freelancewhales.com

Download tracks:Generator 2nd Floor, Ghosting