Apparently "lured into existence from the depths of a Portland basement," Tiny Little Empire is a young indie-rock quartet with a refreshing sound. The group released their freshman, four-track EP, "Above Ruins," back in May, and the debut single, "It's Working Now" (streaming below), serves as a powerful introduction to their sound. The track opens with intensity (a wistful guitar and keys melody layed over a driving percussion section), rising and falling from there between valleys of hushed verses and mountains of passionate and hauntingly melodic choruses. The rest of the EP ("All That I Want," "Make Me Stay," and "Weather the Storm") carries on in a similar tone, with the bass and the drums driving spirited-yet-somber melodies and vocals. Overall, "Above Ruins" is 21-minutes of polished indie-rock tracks that make quite the first impression. While Tiny Little Empire currently has no scheduled shows, their sophomore EP is reportedly in the works, so be sure to keep an eye out. - Patrick Wolff