By Paul V.

Singled Out

The Gossip -- Listen Up -- Kill Rock Stars

Beth Ditto, The Gossip’s out ‘n proud singer, is an unbelievable talent, able to belt out lightning soul like no other big white mama in the indie rock world. Grab the ATOC roof-burner remix—with bonus Aaliyah B-side cover—and see if your ass ain’t moving.

Basement Jaxx -- Crazy Itch -- Radio XL

After putting out two efforts that focused more on the buzz of indie rock put through an electro filter, this fourth release from Basement Jaxx is a return to form for the eclectic duo. With Crazy Itch Radio, they swing back around to more bubbly, percolating, and experimental house sounds. In fact, this one brims with the fluidity and infectious joie de vivre that engulfed their fab debut. Yet, there’s nothing typical going on here, ‘cuz they never sound typical. This record certainly scratches the itch, swerving from the kaleidoscopic, horny-funked single, “Hush Boy” (featuring “Oh My Gosh” vocalist Vula Malinga), to ramped-up banjo house on the come-hither “Take Me Back To Your House,” to saucy grime territory on the lively Gwen-meets-M.I.A. “Run 4 Cover.” And remember Robyn of ‘90s “Show Me Love” fame? She belts it out on the sassy “Hey U,” which is part Deep Dish, part Jaxx daftness, and includes a bhangra-breakdown middle section. And seriously—dig the Gnarls Barkley hip-soul inspired swing of the jazzadelic “On The Train.” They keep the energy up for the most part, with the exception of the near-chilled “When The Lights Go Down,” and the trip-hopped “Keep Keep On” (and don’t miss the hidden track at the end—it’s hot!). Though the Jaxx might occasionally sidle up to the line between catchy and irritating (the “radio interludes” annoy here), they've outlasted all their peers and keep creating clever dance-pop imbued with a refreshing lack of self-consciousness.

Teddybears -- Soft Machine -- Big Beat

Sweden is a hotbed of amazing new bands lately, and the Teddybears are no exception. With what’s best described as sounding like a cool-ass mixtape, their U.S. debut drops an amalgam of multi-genres and styles, yet somehow flows cohesively and quite infectiously. Hot opener “Different Sound” reminds me of Filter with a squigglier synth sound. Chances are you’ve heard first single “Cobrastyle” in Entourage and a couple of TV commercials. Mad Cobra handles the vocals—“My style is the bomb diddy bomb de dangy dang diggy diggy”—and it sticks to your brain and hips like a fly in a spider’s web. And what a joy to hear Neneh Cherry and Annie, with their candy-apple vocals anchoring the summery, power-pop jangle of “Yours To Keep.” This disc just keeps pumping out oddball hits from there: three dancehall jams, first with Elephant Man on “Are You Feelin’ It” and Daddy Boastin’ mining Chemical Brothers’ territory on both “Ahead Of My Time” and “Little Stereo”; full on electro-disco-funk on “Black Belt”; Krautrock roboticism on “Automatic Lover”; and DFA minimal-style beats on “Riot Going On” (featuring the singer from Soundtrack Of Our Lives). I’m a little bummed about the track featuring Iggy Pop called “Punk Rocker.” The music hums with some 2K new wave, but Iggy’s lyrics feel phoned-in and, well—kind of stupid. Still, this wholly assorted collection of tracks is like an ultimate mash-up just begging for iPod rotation.

Arling & Cameron -- Hi-Fi Underground -- Challenge

Now we trek from Sweden to Holland and investigate this Dutch duo’s latest effort. Arling & Cameron are obsessively pan-eclectic—so post-everything, they're not even a band. After years of toiling in acclaimed obscurity providing mutant soundtracks for hip dancefloors and denizens of the lounge-lizard world, their solid songs have now entered global consciousness via tracks placed on The Sopranos and in their Gap, Audi, & Honda adverts. Hi-Fi Underground is their first album in five years—a van-crash and injuries side-tracked this record. But all is well, and I really love this duo, because they always manage to suck in the sounds of everything from electro pop to vintage soul to ‘60s girl groups to bossa nova to minimal ambience, and spit it all back out with a warm and organic glow. They open the disc with the unlikely party jam, “Shake It,” which almost smells like a gay pride anthem, as perky electronics sparkle to lyrics like “Fight for your right, to party/To be free/To be anyone/To say anything.” It’s hard to not get lost in ear-grinning synth-pop like the hop-skip-shuffle of “Walk That Way,” the Motown by way of the Autobahn in “Words,” the electro-gospel of “You Make It Real,” the whistley “Popcorn (2006),” and the sweet honey-pop of “Games.” Some of the ballads get a bit drowsy, but overall, this is another really fabulous collection of sweet ‘n frisky synthetica that doesn’t forget about melody or musicianship.

Check out DJ Paul V. spinning: “TVOD” Every Wed. at Faultline; Bootie L.A. first Sat. monthly at The Echo; Dragstrip 66 second Sat. monthly at The Echo; MACHINE, third Sat. monthly at Faultline.

Check out his Smash Mix on Indie 103.1 FM every Friday at 5:30pm. Get more info at – www.dragstrip66.com.