It's probably safe to describe a band as being on the upswing when its tracks have been selected for use in not one, but two films. It's even safer to describe a band as versatile when one of the films in question is a sweet boy-meets-girl romance (I'll Come Running, which was filmed in Austin and employs the track Man Alive) and another is an upcoming documentary on the subject of transsexuals (Best Kept Secret, which features Providence).

That's not to say that Corto Maltese's playlist is so diverse as to defy description. Critics have consistently compared the two-year-old group to Canadian bands Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade. But the guys in Corto Maltese don't quite agree with the prevailing view. "Wolf Parade I'm not that familiar with," says vocalist/guitarist Ben Maddox. "Arcade Fire I know of—it's a flattering comparison, but I don't see it, and no one in the band really sees it." The occasional comparison to David Bowie may be more accurate; several members are big fans of the glam-rock pioneer.

Besides, Corto Maltese is probably too much of a distinctly Austin band to bear much serious comparison to Canadian indie rock. Four of its five members hail from Texas (Maddox, bassist Wes Turner, guitarists Tyler Thompson and Justin Roberts, and drummer Eric Loftis all knew each other socially in Austin before forming Corto), and the outfit has remained centered in the capital despite its increasing success. The band has barely ventured beyond Manor. Its emphasis on all things local seems to have paid off; aside from the two film scores and a showcase performance at the most recent SXSW, the group recently landed appearances on KVRX's Local Live and 101X's Next Big Thing. Meanwhile, Maltese has become a staple of the increasingly integral venue Mohawk.

Perhaps most impressive is that Maltese has managed to achieve all that without even cutting an album; it only has three singles on iTunes and other distribution networks, and landed their film score selection in large part by virtue of their rented practice space being located behind the home of one of the directors). The group's first EP is still in production; its eventual release may very well push yet another local favorite into well-deserved national prominence.