A lot of great music exists out there. But NBN can’t devote a slot to every CD that hits shelves, especially for bands most of you have never heard of. So, that’s where we come in. Due to our indie-leanings here at One-Click Wonders, we catch all the music too obscure for the main page, and offer up a quick take on it. Today, we avoid jokes about extinction while talking about Dodos.

One of the trickier aspects of writing a music review comes when comparing an artist with another musical outfit, as the writer can end up downplaying a new band’s originality by harping on influences too much. Take San Francisco-based guitar-and-drums duo Dodos. The most obvious point of reference for their folksy rock songs would be Animal Collective circa 2004, both groups playing stripped down music sounding like two guys sitting around experimenting and having fun. But comparing Dodos to Animal Collective takes away from the group’s sophomore release Visiter, one of the most unique and thrilling releases of 2008 so far.

First, let’s get influences out of the way. Dodos’ sound resembles other “freak” folk acts running rampant in Brooklyn today. Opener “Walking’s” warm fingerpicking recalls Grizzly Bear, creating an intimate song well suited for a snowy night spent indoors. Two songs on Visiter (“Winter” and “Undeclared”) see the duo put on their best Magnetic Fields impersonation complete with Merrit-worthy vocal delivery. And, as mentioned, the Animal Collective comparisons are unavoidable. Visiter explores what would happen if AC stuck with the sticks-and-stones minimalism of Sung Tongs instead of venturing into the realm of Brian Wilson – Meric Long’s strumming sounds familiar to “Winter’s Love” on more than one occasion, and the song “Ashley” even sounds a little like AC song “Loch Raven” done with guitar instead of synthesizer. Not to mention the occasional shouting.

But Visiter doesn’t imitate other popular indie-folk acts, it learns from others and then carves out its own space in the musical world. Dodos’ strength lies in unity, the three primary instruments (guitar, drums and Long’s voice) coming together on every song to form one gorgeous wave of sound. Take the restlessly charging “Jodi” – the drums sound too soft and fast for the varied strumming and vocal delivery, but all three meld perfectly to form a breathless blast of longing folk-pop. The duo don’t shy away from strange combos, and pull them off so flawlessly you start wondering why nobody else thought of them before. “Winter’s” surf drum holds up the 69 Love Songs-worthy verses, while “Paint the Rust” combines Nashville guitar-pickin’ with hard-hitting drumming. Not all of the songs on Visiter sound particularly genre-bending as much as they sound bold, adventurous, most of the songs here exceeding the four-minute mark, yet never failing to lose even a hint of catchiness. No tracks are clunkers (“Park Song’s” slowed down Spoon-ish shuffle makes it stick out, but even it charms), and most shine, especially the twinkling “Red and Purple,” nostalgic “Ashley” and album standout, “Fools.”

Not all band-to-band comparisons imply ripping off – sometimes, such as with Dodos, it serves more to see which other acts they should be talked amongst. Visiter places the West Coast duo in the same company as artists pushing music into thrilling new directions all while still sounding familiar and immensely enjoyable.

Bonus video for “Fools.”