Au

Drawing as many comparisons to Terry Riley and Philip Glass as they do to Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective, Portland, OR's Au are the brainchild of singer/songwriter Luke Wyland, who began the group in 2005 while studying at the Massachusetts College of Art. After relocating, he connected with a rotating cast of Portland instrumentalists, including drummers Mark Kaylor and Dana Vlatka and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Sielaff. The group's 2007 self-titled album -- which wove together bluegrass, contemporary classical, and indie rock influences -- was a favorite with local and online publications, with the Portland Mercury naming it the year's number two Portland album and Stereogum and Pitchfork giving it positive reviews. The group's second album, Verbs, arrived in summer 2008. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi