The Fader

The Fader knows what's up - Black Disco anyone?

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My Guilty Pleasure

Moonlight Dance is what I hope they will be playing when they open a Club Med on the moon - I of course will dressed up like a disco-ball on the dance-floor busting cheesy choreographed moves. This track is ridiculous - a perfectly-crafted dance-pop gem that sounds like it came back from the future of 201988, complete with slap-bass.

Behind the times

Not sure what I was doing in 2008 when Passion Pit were apparently blowing minds on the East Coast (no doubt listening to Techno), but I always say better late than never. Actually, it's kind of exciting being late to the party, because if you arrive at the same time as everyone else, you never really know whether you're just caught up in the moment - a moment that will pass - or feeling something deeper. Anyhow, their whole album is simply raucous: synth-laden poppier-than-thou songs for everyone, topped off with something much more intense than whipped cream and cherries - thoughtful lyrics delivered in a register that I dare not attempt in public by Michael Angelakos. The Reeling is a fantastic example of what's on offer here - go forth and listen.

Don't Know Till You Try...

The Postmarks - sublime. Think orchestral rock à la The Last Shadow Puppets, but with the sweetest of sweet lady vocals, courtesy of Tim Yehezkely (that's right, she's called Tim - but she definitely doesn't look like a dude). On the band's website it says, "When Tim Yehezkely sings, clocks stop, people listen, and ice cream refuses to melt" - whatever that means! Personally, I find myself melting quite rapidly as her voice emerges from the thick, textured sounds of "Memoirs At The End Of World". The song I picked out from the album is not necessarily demonstrative of the vibe of the album, but it's a belter - a driving, hypnotic piece that sends shivers up my spine. In this case, you really don't know until you try...