Named after a poor English translation of a Salvadore Dali painting, Virgin of the Birds is primarily Jon Rooney augmented by the talents of various folks for live shows and selected recording. Virgin of the Birds was created as an outlet for Rooney’s songs outside of Morning Spy, an indie pop/rock band he formed in San Francisco that has enjoyed considerable inconspicuous acclaim since their debut release first surfaced in early 2004. As a collection of pop songs, Mixed Choir treads a line between intimate, lo fi folk and the occasional grandeur of early art rock. These are songs about girls, heresy, defiance and bright, searching guitars among other things. Indie pop is an excitable mistress, best quelled with a cocktail of hazy major-key melodies, unruly e-bow, and arcane balladry.