Air – Do the Joy
(From Revelaciones Chucaras)
A growling, libidinous twist on the French duo's normally dreamy electro-pop. This may finally silence critics who've accused them of being bland since multi-platinum debut Moon Safari launched chillout. They're still conceivably "dinner-party music", but only if you plan to have sex and/or hurt each other after pudding.
Natalie Storm – Get In
(From The Heatwave)
Part of the TNT (Tifa, Natasha, Timberlee) dancehall collective who (forgive me) whipped up a storm of hype after being championed by Federation Soundsystem DJ Max Glazer last year. The press has gone quiet recently so we must be in the eye of it (groan). Natalie's fantastically poppy latest effort should push them back into the melee. Brace yourselves, mateys! (That's enough – ed)
Chris Weisman and Greg Davis – Crystal Under Brattleboro
(From MySpace via All Songs Considered)
Vermont duo that bookend their take on the BBC's Planet Earth background music with Elliott Smith's leftovers. Soothing stuff, and certainly not soporific.
Sferro – Poly
(From Trash Menagerie)
Flagship single for Eric Sferro's Girlfriend Records imprint, home to other promising house acts like Sweden's Neon Workout and Norway's Pelifics. This is the "new romantic-era of synth" according to the bloggers at Trash Menagerie. Pray to God the hair's better.
Atmosphere – The Ropes
(From HillyDilly)
Hip-hop with plenty of backbone considering their MCs go by the names Ant and Slug. Features a sprightly trumpet line, a thumping soul clap and some timely advice for Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev ("Only had a pistol because you had a pistol"). Their latest EP, Leak At Will, is available for download for "free" from Fifth Element.
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