Hype: How To Find Ourselves

So the World Cup (yeah that's right, I'm smashing this post out on a topical-tip) is now well underway, and inevitably, as thoughts turn to trophies, so too dawns the realisation that chances are - unless you're visiting these parts from Brazil, Spain or possibly Honduras - you'll end the tournament sans trophy.

Fortunately, we've got the sweetly disarming dance of Oxford's Trophy Wife to restore your faith in summer...

The trio of long-time friends are quickly (and currently secretly) amassing a collection of desirably down-tempo disco. Constructing noose-tight rhythms hung from a hundred hooks, the concept is simple: restraint. Their ethos of avoiding any unnecessary embellishment that may detract from the hook might sound bold, and it does - bold and brave and fucking sick.

It's an approach that may best be demonstrated on the wonderful Take This Night - download below yo - all at once somehow oh-so-simple yet oh-so-technical too, but it's Microlite, our personal fave, with it's lush string arrangements, that hints at just how amazing this band could be.

Trophy Wife - Take This Night (YSI)

Hype: The Bliss We've Created

It's a hot and humid sunny summer day, which means ice cold lemonade, deck chairs and... four online playas with a penchant for Tom Tom Club, Go West and "the greatest actor of our generation" Brendan Fraser - obviously.

Manchester-based Slow Motion Shoes clearly have an ironic chip on their shoulder the size of an iceberg, but in this weather that's something of a necessity.

There's only one track floating around in the ethereal plane right now; named after the star of The Mummy, Bedazzled and the frankly seminal George Of The Jungle - the aforementioned Bredan Fraser, a floaty and subtle melancholic slice of chill the fuck out. Perfect.

Slow Motion Shoes - Brendan Fraser (YSI)

Hits The Spot: Hot Topic

Although my ongoing job hunt in London and The Great Escape in Brighton are perfectly valid reasons for a lack of posts this month, I'm still feeling a little guilty and neglectful.

To make up for this and to celebrate the ridiculously good weather that the UK is having right now, I'll share these three suitably summery remixes.

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I met the beautiful Estelle of Parisian trio Showgirls at the beginning of last year, when she kindly asked The Aspirins For My Children to perform at La Fleche D'Or, so it was a pleasant suprise to discover that she's also a performer herself.

Foolin' Around is the catchy as hell first single to be taken from their creatively titled mini-album Mini, released on Bertrand Burgalat's label Tricatel (which you can purchase from 7digital here) and given the disco-lite treatment by Hypnolove.

Showgirls - Foolin' Around (Hypnolove Remix) (YSI)

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The Royal Palms have emerged from a sun-drenched, Miami Vice style Land That Mullets Forgot world of their own in recent weeks. A move that has been met with unrelenting support from Popjustice amongst others, though one that I'm admittedly yet to make my mind up on.

But one thing is for sure, they certainly know where and how to add some of that Don Johnson flavour to spice up even the most addictive of tracks. Case in point being their remix of Eliza Doolittle's Pack Up.

Eliza Doolittle - Pack It (The Royal Palms Remix) RUN DMCA'd

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Last but not least, we posted the Radiant Dragon remix of Revenge Platter and now it's time for the other side of that musical coin.

That's right, Entrepreneurs have now remixed Preseli, taken from Radiant Dragon's hotly anticipated debut album which will be self-released in October through his Cloud Factory imprint. Enjoy.

Radiant Dragon - Preseli (Entrepreneurs' Neuromancer Remix) (YSI)

Hits The Spot: You're Not Like Us, So Let It Go

Photo by Bijoux Altamirano

Some months ago, when our Who's Who for 2010 was but a fresh-faced feature, we played the part of proud middle-man as we introduced heir-apparent to New York's post-punk throne Prince Terrence and his Hussle Club, currently ruling hard over the city's underground court.

Those quick-on-the-click will have no doubt delighted in downloading Loose Tights - which we offered as a highly limited em pee free - and reveled in it's sublime 70's disco groove and dark 80's melodrama. Good news then for you slow pokes, 'cos this king-killing track is back and ready for you to get heavy with below. And for those already in the know; get re-acquainted.

'Let them eat cowbell', and other assorted (wholly inaccurate) historical quotes.

Hussle Club - Loose Tights (YSI)

Hits The Spot: The Stars Are Not Real

I have no doubt that Entrepreneurs are one of the best new remixers on the block (as well as one of our WW2010 tips), but this time roles have been flip-reversed in that it's our beloved Radiant Dragon adding his own ethereal flare to the mix.

In its original form, Revenge Platter is a call to arms; a revolt against modern suburbia and all the oppression and suppression that comes with it.

That is, until RD relocates the setting to an interplanetary industrial hub of production-lines and machinery that's manned by enslaved spirits, whilst simultaneously exchanging Adam's angsty snarling vocal with their ghoulish pleas for release.

And just as if it were written in the stars, debut single Hunting Roger Rabbit is set to be released in late June through Jehan of Shattered Satellite's imprint Stella Mortos, followed by the hotly anticipated debut EP soon after.

Entrepreneurs - Revenge Platter (Radiant Dragon Remix) (YSI)

You can listen to the ghetto-fabulous original via Soundcloud here.

Gig: Not Who, But What

We aren't currently 100% sure that our presence will be made or felt at this year's The Great Escape but we are 98% sure we'll be going to this if we make it:

Not only does it feature some phenomenally great bands and SPR-SW33T DJ sets but it's being put on by some of our genuine BFF's. Plus, there's a chance that we'll be there.

So if you're headed to Brighton in a couple of weeks time, you know what to do. Come say Hi, Honey... or something.

P.S. Check them out on Facebook (here), Tumblr (here) and Twitter (here) for more information and future Hi, Honey events.

Plug: I Will Be Your Beat

Clock Opera - A Piece Of String (Promo)

It had been all too quiet on the Clock Opera front recently, far too quiet for my liking in fact, but all that changed with the unveiling of the superlatives-cannot-do-it-justice remix of Marina & The Diamonds re-release of I Am Not A Robot by our US pen pals Neon Gold on Monday (which can be found here) and released on 679 Recordings (purchase the high quality version here).

If there were any doubts left as to the level of the genius that Guy Connelly et al operate, they are about to be obliterated as Clock Opera are set to release my favourite track, the awe-inducing A Piece Of String through French label Maman Records on 7th June. Pre-order the 7' from Puregroove here.

To coincide with this, there are a number of upcoming live dates including Live At Leeds, Camden Crawl, Standon Calling and Stag And Dagger festivals, details and dates of which can be found on the Myspace.

Hype: Lost A Love Deep Inside

We've been enjoying a run of what can only be described as 'not-actually-that-warm-with-a-faint-chance-of-sun' weather recently, which is clearly more than enough reason to ditch the duffel coat and sensible shoes for string vest and flip-flops, right? Perhaps not.

But whatever the weather, it's always important to team any look with a couple of cheeky new pop songs, and it's at this point London's Sensual Sports step out from the sartorial shadows to lend you a fresh pair of silky-smooth briefs.

Taking their name (kind of) and their musical cue from Sexuality-era Tellier, Thomas Deakon and Vincent Ullens are new to the scene, but bonded by a love of Kitsune compilations are already producing some lovely laidback sounds all their own.

Through a combination of their generosity and our harassment, we have two early-days demos for you to sample; the light and floaty Lost Love and the bright and breezy Japanese Beach Girls. Both ready wear to Sir, natch.

(Edit: Turns out it's actually quite hot in London today, who knew?)

Sensual Sports - Lost Love (YSI)

Sensual Sports - Japanese Beach Girls (YSI)

Who's Who 2010: We Humans

And finally, four months after we began on our quest to find the ten artists we think will shape the sound of 2010 and beyond - we conclude with the inevitably ubiquitous We Humans.

Background information is pretty limited at this point in time so the music is left to do the talking, and from the tracks that I've had the privilege of hearing so far (ranging from huge melodramatic ballads to uplifting summertime jams) We Humans seem all but destined for pop stardom.

Although surfacing only a couple of weeks ago, an industry-wide scramble can't be too far away even at this early stage, then it will surely be only a matter of time before they invade and conquer the mainstream consciousness.

For now; go and get a cold one from the fridge and sit back and relax with this exclusive slice of mellow summer daze.

We Humans - I Don't Care (stream only)

Hype: That Don't Sound Like No Fun At All

Recently, my attention has been drawn across the Atlantic to Brooklyn (courtesy of the lovely Lizzy of Neon Gold), where a hip young gunslinger by the name of Devin Therriault is currently making all kind of waves on the all-ages live circuit.

Like a throwback to the age of Beehives, Jives and newly found sexual freedom; Devin's sound has classic Rock & Roll stamped all over it, and although seemingly a specialist in hugely catchy choruses upon first glance, it's his lyrical intricacies that really set him apart from the crowd.

His energetic and sexually charged live show has already garnered the interest of the NY indies and only yesterday he was sharing the stage with the likes of The Books, Surfer Blood and DJ Rupture at the Culture Shock festival at SUNY Purchase in Brookyln.

For a taste of things to come, here's the anthemic I Don't Think I. (Singing along is not optional, it's obligatory.)

Devin Therriault - I Don't Think I (YSI)

If you're in or around NYC over the next couple of weeks, be sure to check out the myspace for up and coming shows.

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