Rolling Stone magazine's senior editor David Fricke, upon discovering the music of Under Byen, promptly declared the extraordinary octet to be "the best band in Denmark."

Noteworthy primarily for Danes, one might argue. But what caused international ears to perk up was the fact that Fricke added to those words of praise the proclamation that Under Byen (Danish for 'Under the City') is "probably the best band in the world."

That was three years ago, in the wake of the band's second album, the title of which translates to It's Me Keeping the Trees Together. It's unlikely that this year's entrancing followup, Samme Stof Som Stof (Same Fabric as Fabric), altered that opinion.

Fricke is not alone. Under Byen's unique blend of pop, classical and experimental tones (instrumentation includes violin, cello, saw and "this and that," all resting beneath vocalist Henriette Sennenvaldt's siren vocals) truly defies description. Think Sigur Ros. Think Bell Orchestre. Think late-era Talk Talk. Think Mogwai. Then think again.

"It's very broad," Nils Groendahl, who doubles as the band's violinist and saw player, says of both music and audience. "That means we play very different places -- from cultural events to punk clubs. And it means we have rock fans, but it's music my parents like."

Groendahl's parents, for the record, are very cool. But again, they're in good company.

Take, for example, Giant Sand frontman Howe Gelb, who has utilized the band's -- and notably Sennenvaldt's -- talents on solo recordings. And who will kindly bring Under Byen to us Sunday.

This visit will come in the midst of Under Byen's first North American tour. And as he speaks over the phone from Denmark, Groendahl is excitedly preparing for his journey, and taking the appropriate pre-flight precautions.

"I must bring my saw," he says. "But it will have to go in the checked luggage. I don't think they'll let me carry it on the plane."

Under Byen will not be the only octet to bring exotic sounds to Capital City this week. Though, to be fair, Beirut is officially not so much an octet as it is a solo act. And its lone full-time member, Zach Condon, hails from only as far away as New York City, via Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Yet, Condon's infectious concoction Gulag Orkestar, an album that mines Eastern European Gypsy influences (encountered during overseas adventures) with post-rock and electronic flavours, is no less exotic for it. A pop-music prodigy and multi-instrumentalist responsible for two wildly diverse albums while in his mid-teens, the now-20-year-old Condon has, with his from-New-York-to-the-Balkans sound, hit on an infectious and surprisingly-accessible sound with this latest identity.

"I kind of learned as I did it," Condon says of the album's old-world cool. "I basically had my mind set after the first song that I wanted to keep doing it like that. But all those instruments I played, I was totally new at."

Fittingly, he claims, his touring Beirut players were similarly unacquainted with their assigned instruments when first recruited for band practice.

"It ranges from drums to accordion to piano, then up through ukulele, trumpet and violin," he says of the lineup. "Most of the people in the band haven't actually played these instruments before, so they have to go through the same thing I did -- which is interesting to watch. But it's been a while now; the group has really become quite cohesive."

And a refreshing change.

"I think people are just so sick of hearing guitar squalls and weak voices that they're starting to look elsewhere for influences," Condon opines. "That makes me happy."

More music more music ... Jim Bryson, Lynn Miles and Oh Susanna, superior songwriters all, join forces for a Songwriters Circle at the Library and Archives Canada auditorium Thursday ... A bird sanctuary benefit brings Casey Comeau, Ana Miura and Amanda Rheaume to Cafe Dekcuf Saturday ... Also Saturday, Edmonton's amazing Cadence Weapon raps and Toronto's quirky Tokyo Police Club rock at Zaphods ... Sunday, Rheostatic Dave Bidini brings songs and stories to the Black Sheep ... The always-great New Pornographers return Monday, for a show at the Capital Music Hall.