Sheppard

George, Amy, and Emma Sheppard grew up in Papua New Guinea. This may account for why their heartwarming indie pop resonates with hints of world music-not overtly, but enough to massage the ears of anyone who ever loved Paul Simon's Graceland. Of course, what really sets the group's eponymous 2012 apart from the music of it's peers are the soaring sibling vocal harmonies. As a six-piece ensemble, the Brisbane, Australia-based band specializes in dynamically layering it's sounds. The opening tune, "Let Me Down Easy," exudes both a finessed restraint and a large panoramic sound. "Hold My Tongue" is a much bouncier song that follows with equal amounts of exuberance, this time with George taking on lead singing duties. But check out the breakdown-when it's just the Sheppard siblings singing over handclaps, it's evident that they know and understand the full power of bloodline harmonies. "I'm Not a W*e" is both humorous and empowering as Amy Sheppard warns a would-be suitor that she's not that kind of girl, contrasting a biting sentiment with a bubblegum-flavored pop.