With their fourth album In Flagranti seem no longer to dwell in the soft-porn aesthetics of their earlier output, but instead explore the darker side of the nightlife. Just as with the society-girl-turned-terrorist Patty Hearst in the video above something seems to have happened to these two New Yorkers. I don’t know if they listened to too many John Carpenter soundtracks or visited too many dark wave parties, but they decided to depart from their disco roots and instead to ad a very moody edge to their music. With two tracks being longer than nine minutes the results is an epic journey through dark clubs in which shady characters and ecstatic dancers meet.

CD Amazon

After a whole load of singles and EPs Holy Ghost! from New York finally release their self titled debut album. As you would expect from these two it is a quirky Electro-Pop album with catchy synth-melodies and vocals. Most of the tracks have the radio-length of three to four minutes, but with “Say My Name” and “Static On The Wire” you get two epic dance tracks that are twice as long. No big surprises here, but isn’t it great that Holy Ghost! can keep up to the big expectations one had for their first full length? I think so.

CD Amazon

Ever since “A Thing For Me” the British band Metronomy is well known for beautiful and still nicely weird pop-music. With their third album “The English Riviera” they decided to sing themselves into the hearts of even more people and deliver a versatile, tender pop-album. The influences seem to range from 1960s surf-rock to new wave and always spread an unexpectedly warm and sunny feeling. You wouldn’t expect the English Riviera to sound that Balearic.

Amazon CD

Despite the fact that in 2008 “Talking Through Tin Cans” was the best indie/alternative album on iTunes The Morning Benders are not that well known. That’s why it might seem a little bit surprising to see them release a charity-EP for the victims of the earthquake/tsunami in Japan. But since the bands singer was born in Japan this move clearly is a personal affair. The EP features mostly remixes, but also two new songs which range from dreamy pop to groovy dance music.

Download here for a donation of $5 to $100

The second album by french trio Yelle (headed by a singer by the same name) continues just where their first one ended: In the club, dancing. But unlike the earlier effort “Safari Disco Club” also has a more atmospheric sound to offer. The melodies still are sweet, but from time to time dark synthesizers disrupt the optimistic feeling and ad more depth to the mix. The result is a great French pop-album, deeply rooted in 80s pop and never boring.

CD Amazon

With their third album the five Britons who make up Noah & The Whale release their most optimistic and energetic album to date – but all in the confines of indie-folk. The sound is spiced up with synthesizers, strings and choirs, which not only gives the album a rather epic feel, but also allows for great arrangements. Songs starting with a kick-drum and a bass-line don’t stay electronic for long and the other instruments submerge the minimalist elements for opulent refrains – just to disappear again. Or it is done the other way round.

CD Amazon

Denver based four-piece DeVotchKa once again fuses the sounds of Eastern Europe with Mexican and American Folk music into a emotionally dense Pop album. “100 Lovers” is their fifth full length release and it is one of their most grown up achievements. Since they were featured on various soundtracks, scored Burlesque Shows and record their albums in the Arizona desert their sound is a playful mix of seductive and epic influences. Or simply put: Perfect globetrotter-Pop

CD Amazon

After an amazing album like the debut by Hercules & Love Affair it is rather difficult to record an adequate follow up – especially if one of your best vocalists, Antony Hegarty, had no time to sing for you. However, bandleader Andrew Butler focuses on his own production skills and delivers an album way more versatile then the first one was. Be it on the dance floor or in your living room, this skillful mix of House and Disco influences is the right companion for any situation. If you need proof: The band is on tour at the moment.

CD Amazon

This 22 year old young man is considered as one of the biggest hopes not only for British pop-music but also for a subgenre of dub-step called post-step… Ok, his early EP CMYK might bear some resemblance to the music of Skream and Benga, but beyond that the label does not do justice to this versatile musician and his magnificent voice. In my ears he is closer to Antony and the Johnsons and hence a recommendation for anyone in need of some melodramatic songs.

CD Amazon

I have to admit that I have been a little bit surprised when I heard that Iron & Wine was featured on the soundtrack for one of the Twilight movies – his early Singer-Songwriter recordings were well known with connoisseurs, but did not exactly fit the category of Pop music. But it was a wise career move to open up a little bit and ad some Organs, Brass and backing vocals to the newer productions. That’s why his latest album is such a perfect, versatile Pop album, combining the sensitivity of earlier days with a broad, impressive instrumentation.

CD Amazon