I first wrote about Brooklyn’s Ivana XL (facebook/twitter) back in 2008 when a hand-scribbled CD-R arrived in the post containing her soft and subtle tones overlaying the off-kilter guitar, and my musical crush developed. Now she’s back with a whole host of new material that’s she’s posted for all and sundry to download for free over on her Bandcamp.

The songs sway following an almost gyps-folk tradition, with an innocence that has allows her to stray away from more traditional song structures when she feels the need. She manages to step with ease between the past and the present, between joy and pain, and even manages to make the chorus of “blood, blood, blood” on Meat soundly sweetly beautiful. And I challenge you not to fall in love with her stripped back rendition of Nobody Does It Better.

IVANA XL – Ex. Oh.
IVANA XL – Gigantic
IVANA XL – Meat
IVANA XL – Pumps
IVANA XL – Nobody Does It Better