Before the era of ubiquitous Internet file sharing, the prospect of these 3 Mice making an album together might have seemed unlikely. But technology has surmounted geography, and Elaine di Falco (Hughscore) and Dave Willey (Hamster Theatre) -- both based in Colorado -- worked long-distance with Switzerland's Cédric Vuille (L'Ensemble Rayé) and Israeli mixologist Udi Koomran to create Send Me a Postcard, an album that sounds like it emerged from a single studio. Given their respective projects melding avant-prog, Euro-folk, world, and classical elements to create music both amiable and challenging, Vuille and Willey are a natural pairing, as becomes clear right from the album's opening track. "Hot Rod Waltz" features Vuille on cuatro and guitar, Willey on accordion and bass, and L'Ensemble Rayé drummer Daniel Spahni. The piece is indeed centered around a waltzy 12/8 verse and chorus -- featuring Vuille's crisp picking and Willey's insistent accordion chords and sky-high melody -- alternating with a 15/8 bridge (the "Hot Rod" part?) during which, on the second go-round, Vuille's power-riffing electric guitar charges in and Willey's ascending line elevates the tune as it returns to the verse. A roaring start, to be sure, and third mouse di Falco hasn't even made her entrance. Her contributions as composer or co-composer add moody ethereality, ringing vibraphone ambience, and sometimes a bit of darkness to the proceedings. On "Invitation," co-written with Willey, her deliberate piano arpeggios mark the harmonic changes over which Vuille's twangy, swooping guitar and Willey's accordion join in mysterious melodies, accompanied by Vuille's clarinets and more Willey accordion in a counterpoint stereo throb.

1		Hot Rod Waltz
2		Invitation
3		Forro Fuega
4		Tse-Tse
5		20 Heart
6		Orkneys
7		Mr. Hamster's Dilemma
8		Celleste
9		Botellas de Botica
10		Experiment
11		Year of my Solstice
12		Skallaloo

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