Avalanche City began as the work of one New Zealand musician, Dave Baxter.

The multi-instrumentalist recorded his debut album, Our New Life Above The Ground, by himself in an old community hall just outside Auckland (“With only the cows and the milk trucks as company,” the story goes). Wanting to get his music into as many hands as possible, Baxter released the album for free last year via his website, a download that proved quite popular.

After a track from Our New Life Above The Ground, “Love Love Love,” was used by New Zealand’s TV2 in a promo, things really took off, giving Baxter a #1 song with little radio support. That, of course, quickly changed. Record labels came calling, with Baxter signing to Warner Music New Zealand and expanding Avalanche City to a full band for a live tour.

Four tracks from Our New Life Above The Ground have been packaged as an EP for the U.S., titled for the charming song that started it all, “Love Love Love.” The jaunty folk-pop tune has a fittingly whimsical paper-cut animated music video featuring a pair of penguins, a pirate ship, and a blimp. It’s impossible not to love, love, love it.

Purchase Avalanche City – “Love Love Love” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.