Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Afternoon Show host Kevin Cole, is “All or Nothing” by Au Revoir Simone from the 2009 album Still Night, Still Light on Our Secret Record Co.

Au Revoir Simone is another one of those band names that immediately makes you initially think one thing, only to realize they’re something else entirely after listening.  In fact, Au Revoir Simone aren’t French at all; they’re actually an all-female keyboard pop band from New York. The group consists of Erika Forster, Annie Hart, and Heather D’Angelo, who’ve been playing together since 2003. What’s even more surprising is that the band name is actually a silly reference to a character from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. What’s the significance? We don’t know! But it seems they are just fine with people butchering their French band name and we love them for that. And we aren’t alone: these ladies have had some recent success touring with bands like We Are Scientists, Peter Bjorn & John, and Fujiya Miyagi just to name a few, and their music is definitely fun to listen to. Eschewing traditional guitars and drums, Au Revoir Simone create an amazingly full electropop sound with Casios, Rolands, Korgs, et cetera, and their combined voices definitely make up for whatever instruments may be missing. Their new album, Still Night, Still Lights, isn’t necessarily a departure from their previous work, but it maybe just a little more serious than before; their inspiration coming from artist Samuel Palmer, who describes the piece from their album cover as ”a delicious dream”. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Au Revoir Simone is currently on tour and scheduled to play Neumo’s in Seattle on June 16th, and they’ll be live on KEXP at 3PM that same day. In the meantime, you can enjoy additional tracks on their Myspace page and this clip of Au Revoir Simone jamming with Jarvis Cocker at Galerie Chappe in Paris earlier this month:

This week, John Vanderslice finally releases his latest, Romanian Names, which he previewed live on KEXP in Berkeley a few months ago. He’ll be back live on KEXP this Friday, May 22, at 2PM to perform more songs from the album.

Among the most anticipated releases, around this station at least, are Apostle of Hustle, Passion Pit, Jason Lytle (formerly of Grandaddy), Jarvis Cocker, Tori Amos, and White Rabbits. Other strong contenders for your weekly wages, whose previous albums you’re likely to have heard on KEXP, include Au Revoir Simone, The Field, Federico Aubele, Jeffrey Lewis, and a 2-disc collection of rarities from Iron & Wine. If you’re looking for something new, try the self-titled debut from Malaysian-born singer Zee Avi, whose sweet voice recalls Nora Jones and Regina Spektor at times. For other outstanding female voices, try Headless Heroes, which features Alela Diane on vocals, and British songwriter Polly Scattergood, who also debuts with a self-titled release. Check out the rest on Largehearted Boy’s list and preview these fine tracks: