Birdie

Deborah Wykes and Paul Kelly met while members of Saint Etienne's band, so naturally, the retro influences that brought the pair together are similarly reflected in Birdie. The duo's languid, shuffling pop is both shy and effervescent -- a neat trick which they pull off handily. And while Birdie's sound distinctly nods to Carnaby Street and swinging London, the pair stop short of go-go kitsch. Many of their songs sound like they would easily fit in the 1967 movie To Sir, With Love or the lighthearted American effort Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows (1968). Which is to say, their sound is a complete summation of their pop culture roots.