1. Haruka Nakamura – Twilight : Nakamura is often referred to as a “composer” more than a “musician” . . . which is probably just as well.  This album offers feathery, feeting piano/acoustic guitar pieces accompanied by soft female vocals and a host of clicks, pops, and other lo-fi ambient noise.  The piano compositions (they’re the titles in kanji) are especially haunting.  Most of the tracks also highlight a soft sax accompaniment, but it tends to be really sparse.  Great music for working  / reading / soundtracking your art film.

2.    Devotionals - Devotionals : This is an all instrumental album focused around the acoustic guitarwork of Tyson Vogel (of Two Gallants).  Most of the tracks are contemplative and build toward light crescendos of violin-guitar-percussion.  If you’re a fan of talkdemonic you’ll probably really dig this record.  I’m certainly making it a regular spot in my writing music rotation.

3.  La Farsa – At The Circus : This is the debut effort for the Salt Lake City based genre bending folk-gypsy-pop ensemble.  The music on this album comes across as pretty schizophrenic on first listen. . . but it definitely grows on you.  If you’re into the early stuff from A Hawk and A Hacksaw but always wanted a female lead vocalist who sings a lot more, then this album is probably for you.  The gypsy / Roma influence is there, but much more subtle than in other neo-Roma revival bands/artists. Definitely worth a listen and will garner fans from a lot of different tastes.

4.  Mexican Elvis – John Frum Alaska : This is one of my favorite albums of 2010.  Hailing from “Bavaria/Austria/Switzerland/London” this lo-fi folk outfit makes beautiful songs laced with violin, piano, accordion, and glockenspiel.  There aren’t many loud moments on this album, but that’s ok ’cause it sounds just right to me.  Sometimes sounds like Loney Dear, sometimes sounds like seabear, all the time it is just great folk-pop.  Some of the songs are pretty upbeat and feature electrics; however, most are acoustic gems.  Light and airy!

5.  Cotton Jones – Tall Hours in the Glowstream : I gave this album a shout because it was recorded in Winterville, GA not too far from my old stomping grounds in Athens.  I’m not sure how to characterize this release.  You certainly get an old south kinda feel here. . . a lo-fi Appalachia (but not in a bluegrass kinda way) sound blended with a post WWII Americana kind of doo-wop folksiness.  Vague? Yeah, I know, I just can’t really describe it.  To get an idea, listen to tracks like “Somehow to Keep It Going” or “Sail of the Silver Morning.”  There’s certainly something to this album that is Dylan-esque and upon repeated listens it really, really grows on you.