Braids
"Lemonade"
Playing at: Mercury Lounge (217 E. Houston St., East Village)
Get: Tickets ($10 at door) | Directions

Blame it on blueberry muffins. Braids are an unsigned Montreal-based group who originally formed over baked goods in their Calgary high school cafeteria. The quartet’s hypnotic ambient sounds pulsate with shimmering keyboards, guitars and electronic effects that meld into Raphaelle Standell-Preston’s ethereal and powerful voice. “Lemonade,” from the band’s self-released debut “Native Speaker,” builds from what sounds like running water and random bird sounds, gently adds percolating piano and gradually expanding electronic textures before Lee’s full-throated roar kicks in.