The Miracles of Modern Science play consummate major-key space-pop that sounds like something new — no small feat, when half of the promo albums we receive sound like a mix of Arcade Fire, Radiohead, The Strokes, Deathcab for Cutie or any of the other indie luminaries that have broken through to whatever level now constitutes success in the music business.

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Their instrumentation (violin, mandolin, cello, double bass and drums) has a lot to do with this. String sections have been in vogue in rock and post-rock bands for 5-10 years, but I’m hard-pressed to think of another pop band that uses only classical instruments, especially one that dresses up in silver space suit costumes, although comparisons to FinalFantasy and Broken Social Scene are somewhat apt.

None of this would matter if their music didn’t pass muster on its own, but it does. The band describes its sound as "futuristic pop, antebellum balladry and sea shanty singalong" that "sounds like a bluegrass band sent into outer space in a giant disco ball," which isn’t too far off.

The Miracles of Modern Science formed three years ago at Princeton University, and now lives in Brooklyn. Here’s a full stream from their upcoming EP, slated for a late summer release.

The Miracles of Modern Science – "MR2":