My Space
Who: Brazilian party trio led by manic frontwoman Marina Vello and discovered by Philly DJ Diplo, who signed them to his Mad Decent record label.
What: Jumped-up "baile" funk, a beat-crazy blend of Baltimore club, crunk and grimy heavy metal guitar samples. Vello narrates (in Portuguese) with shout-along rhymes.
Made for: Hyperactive hipsters in search of a new spazz-out soundtrack. Fans of Diplo and the Hollertronix sound. Mash-up mavens convinced heavy metal riffs sound better with a club remix.
Matthew Dear, "Asa Breed" (Ghostly International)Official site
My Space
Who: One of techno's leading lights foregoes his usual dance-floor fodder to craft proper pop songs and even (dare I say it?) sing them a la RJD2.
What: Moody, contemplative and atmospheric, Dear's songs here invoke obscure '80s underground alterna-rockers like Tones on Tail and the Sound amidst his usual punchy, bottom-heavy productions.
Made for: Anyone that likes dance music you can sing along with. "Alternadults" old enough to remember MTV's "120 Minutes." Open-minded techno-bots. The people that make "Best Singles of the Year" lists, since "Deserter" needs to be on it for 2007.
Von Südenfed, "Tromatic Reflexxions" (Domino)My Space
Who: This unlikely match-up of electronic duo Mouse on Mars with the Fall's singer Mark E. Smith is something of a super-group for serious music geeks.
What: Dense, dirty dance directives highlighted by Smith's nasal, stream of consciousness lyricism. Buzzing bass lines and grungy drum machine beats abound.
Made for: Hardcore Fall aficionados sick of LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy getting all the credit for that singing style. Mouse on Mars fans wishing they used more vocals. Discriminating indie heads in search of dance music they don't feel guilty for liking.
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