This is my article cross-posted from Tiny Mix Tapes.  Since they’re cool about me reposting my articles on my own blog without any exclusivity clauses, you should make like a tree and visit them and click on their ads and shizz.  And speaking of trees, Caribou speaks for them…

For someone who’s named himself after majestic deer and a lush foresty Canadian province, as well as sample and title songs that greatly concern nature, it’s no surprise that Dan Snaith is stoked on saving the Earth.  In addition, as Snaith has a day job as a teacher, it should be no surprise he also likes to give back.

The man best known by Caribou announced last week that he will be donating a vast majority of his $20,000 Polaris Prize money, coin he won for 2007’s {Andorra},  keeping a small portion to fund his forthcoming album.  The money will be given to environmental non-profit Ecojustice, as well as the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

“I have always thought of Canada as an environmentally progressive place… however, recently the Canadian government has acted as a global obstacle to climate action. In a study this year Canada ranked 29th out of 30 industrialized nations for tackling climate change,” Snaith said, remarking on his choice of giving to Ecojustice.  The Stephen Lewis Foundation is a project-based charity helping communities affected by the AIDS epidemic throughout Sub-Sharan Africa.

Heck of a guy, that Snaith.  Hopefully the money given to Ecojustice will be invested in getting real legislative efforts to come to fruition, and not used on another Live Earth (Sorry, Al).

MP3 :::
Caribou – Medium Sized Working Dog (Steady Steady)

Mo’ ’shik, trick. Koushik’s follow up to his hazy, lush, Free-Design-with-beats debut, Out My Window, is now available for download on the cheap. The physical, three-dimensional version comes out September 30. I’ve already expressed my adoration for Koushik’s technicolor dreamscapes, so I won’t bore you with more jive.

Whereas “Lying in the Sun” explores Koushik’s more expansive tendencies, both the title track and “Corner of Your Smile” provide some breathing room with quaint, low-key, almost folkish psychedelia.

MP3 :::
Koushik – Corner of Your Smile
Koushik – Out My Window