Silvia Ryder is the leader of the long-running Sugarplum Fairies, who added the new Payday Flowers to their discography just last month, and “Malta Smile 55” is a T. Rex-y (especially The Slider) mid-tempo charmer with Ryder’s deadpan but still charismatic vocals and some unexpected George Harrison-style horns. It’d make a good fit for those moments when you’re just about finished feeling down-and-out and things are finally ready to start looking up.

The “Smile” video was produced and directed by the Fever Family (a.k.a. visual artists Rachel and Zooey) based on their interpretation of famed children’s book author Cooper Edens’ If You’re Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow and especially the line: “If you’re afraid of the dark, remember the night rainbow / If there is no happy ending, make one out of cookie dough.”

Sugarplum Fairies’ Payday Flowers was produced by (and features guitar by) Gold Star/CG Roxane‘s Marlon Rabenreither and includes contributions from former Wilco/Uncle Tupelo drummer Ken Coomer, keyboardist Jebin Bruni (Meshell Ndegeocello and tons more), bassist Jeff McElroy (lately of the mighty Howlin’ Rain) and horn-section mastermind Danny T. Levin (who played on Iggy’s Post Pop Depression) and it’s available now direct from the band here!