Kevin Bronson on April 29th, 2009

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On its new EP “Seven Days Now,” L.A. septet Xu Xu Fang continues its explorations in ambient shoegaze, the kind of contemplative psychedelia made for shadows, smoke machines and patient listeners. Included: “Your Way,” which was used on “Gossip Girl” this week, and a stoner cover of the Cure’s “Fascination Street.” Not to mention the sounds of horses trotting and airplanes taking off.

||| Download: “Your Way” and “Fascination Street”

||| Live: Xu Xu Fang celebrates the release of “Seven Days Now” with a show Thursday at the Echo featuring Downtown/Union and the Voyeurs.

“What the Body Is Made For,” the second album from the collaboration between L.A. singer-songwriter Lauri Kranz and Jebin Bruni known as Snow & Voices, offers rapt confessionals all dolled up in subtle, dreamy arrangements. Kranz’s voice has earned comparisons to Portishead’s Beth Gibbons, but it’s the storytelling that shines on an album (released in 2008) that got contributions from the likes of Josh Grange, Ric Menck and Joey Waronker.

||| Download: “Astronaut”

||| Live: Snow & Voices perform May 19 at the Hotel Cafe.