Listen: Portishead - We Carry On [Stream via MOG]
http://www.portishead.co.uk | http://www.myspace.com/portisheadalbum3

MGMT
This project by Ben Goldwasser and Andrew Van Wyngarden take inspiration from sources as diverse as Joy Division to Muse in their sound which has been described as “electro-psych.” The variation of their tracks is impressive, with ‘Kids’ offering soothing synths and restrained beats that could be from a children’s TV show, whilst Electric Feel is a belter that sounds like Cold War Kids would do if they had heard some porn soundtracks from the 1970s. Their sound spans the electric musical landscape of the past three decades and brings it all together in a modern pop coating.

Listen: MGMT - Electric Feel [MP3 via LeTouch]
http://www.myspace.com/mgmt

The Shoes
This French duo offers and sublime concoction of electro and rock with ‘Knock Out’, their first single, sounding like they have created the soundtrack for Rocky had the original been made in 2008 rather than the poorer sequel that cursed the cinema recently, which was then turned into a dance floor slammer by Tom Deluxx. They recently played cabaret Voltaire and have done remixing duties for Get Cape Wear Cape Fly and turned his laid back feel sound like a pre-clubbing warm up, and Primary 1 whose track, Hold Me Down, they have transformed into the catchiest bit of disco perfection I’ve heard for a while.

Listen: The Shoes - Knock Out [MP3 via Pinglewood]
http://www.myspace.com/theshoesmusik

Primary 1
I couldn’t mention The Shoes’ remix of Primary 1’s track without adding some info on this Londoner who has had been compared to Calvin Harris. The difference lies in the consistent quality of Primary 1’s pure pop disco tunes that would sound good coming from the stereo at any party and is going to get massive once it warms up outside and the summer happiness kicks in to people’s playlists.

Listen: Primary 1 - Love Letter to Metronomy (Heart Rate Rapid) [MP3 via Fucking Dance]
http://www.myspace.com/primary1

Boys Noize
Alex Ridha from Hamburg (aka Boys Noize) cut his teeth remixing everyone from Feist to Bloc Party, but also creates fantastic growling electro tracks of his own. Some of his work can sound a little hectic to some, but that just adds to the excitement his climaxes build. The lairy and aggressive qualities of some tracks aren’t for all occasions and audiences, but when he gets it write like on Feel Good (TV Off) its hard to find better to dance to.

Listen: Boys Noize - Feel Good (TV Off) [MP3 via The Blue Walrus]
http://www.boysnoize.com | http://www.myspace.com/boysnoize

Rogerseventytwo
This 22 year old Dutch producer is starting to spit out remixes of a quality that others are struggling to match at the moment, throwing his talents at those as varied as the Jackson 5 and Yelle making both into dance floor classics. He even managed to turn Daft Punk’s ‘Technologic’ into some aggressive electro from beautiful French elctro-pop of the orginal. You’ll be finding this guy on the b-sides of singles everywhere from now.

Listen: Yelle – Ce Jeu (Rogersevetytwo Remix) [MP3 via Trash Menagerie]
http://www.rogeseventytwo.com | http://www.myspace.com/rogerseventytwo

Noah and the Whale
These guys have been making a name for themselves for creating beautifully crafted folk pop, singing about the traditional ideas of love, loss drinking, zoo visits and James Dean impersonations. Some of their songs may start off as slow ballads, but there is always a happy, clappy delight to follow that you will want to be listening to whenever the sun comes out. They have only released a couple of singles on Young & Lost Club so far, but expect to catch them, possibly with a little help from Laura Marling, at a number of festivals over the summer.

Listen: 5 Years Time [YouTube]
http://www.myspace.com/noahandthewhale

Friends of the Bride
Sounding like they’ve come straight out of the 1960s and looking sharp in snazzy sports coats, these crooners add a modern twist to the sounds that made London swing half a century ago and make you want to find your dancing shoes. Catchy rhythms and crooning vocals that wouldn’t sound out of place in Bugsy Malone are blended together to create songs that will make you want to dig out your dancing shoes. Only a few singles are available to buy via Young & Lost Club and Brainlove, but you want to hear them live for the full experience.

Listen: So, You Think You Can Dance [YouTube]
http://www.myspace.com/friendsofthebride

Broken Records
Glasgow generally gets the credit for the birthplace of great Scottish bands, but Broken Records from Edinburgh are evening that up a bit. Their influences shine through with some elements of Scottish folk, a vocal drawl that is reminiscent of Johnny Cash and a climatic elegance like Sigur Ros which they develop into their own unique style. You can pick up their EP from their MySpace or at their live shows and catch them at the Bongo Club when they come home in April.

Listen: Slow Parade [MP3 via TheBlueWalrus]
http://www.myspace.com/brokenrecordsedinburgh

The Moths
The Moths are getting major label interest and for good reason after winning a RockSellout unsigned competition and doing sessions for XFM. With just a singer, a guitarist and a keyboard player over a drum machine they offer exciting, growling punk pop with influences from ranging from the Buzzcocks to the Killers. So far they have only released a triple A-side (yes that means three awesome tunes for the price of one) on Fandango, and have plenty to download on RCRD.LBL.

Listen: Valentine [MP3 via RCRD.LBL]
http://www.myspace.com/themothsuk

Bag Raiders
If electro is more your thing you need to get hold of the dirty growling beats that is currently coming out of Australia with the Bag Raiders. Think a heavier version of Daft Punk with all that synth dominated elctro goodness and beautifully crafted climaxes that make you want to hit the dancefloor. They have so far just released a fucking awesome 12” EP on Bang Gang that gives you a taste of their full breadth of styles from more poppy danceable disco of Fun Punch to the electro house of Nil By Mouth.

Listen: Nil By Mouth (Knightlife Remix) [MP3 via TheBlueWalrus]
http://www.myspace.com/bagraiders

We Are Terrorists
With all the great electro coming out of France on labels such as Ed Banger and Kitsune it is no surprise that neck of the woods. These guys are from around Lyon and unsigned but create some of the most catchy and danceable yet heavy electro that I’ve heard in a long time. You want this blearing from your speakers and you want it loud.

Listen: Western Spaghetti [MP3 via TheBlueWalrus]
http://www.myspace.com/weareterroristsmusic