If indie dance sounds like an oxymoron and electronic music sounds like the last thing hipsters would be getting down to, think again. The shoe-gazer aesthetic has been updated with a kick back to some of the electro-sensibilities of '80s new wave. Indie dance/electro parties are cropping up all over the country, with Atlanta, New York and San Francisco being party centrals. While the typical indie rock fan may seem a far cry from someone who likes synth-infused dance music or genre-bending mash-ups, all of these cohorts are finding one raucous dance party under one roof: Liberation Dance Party, hosted every Friday at DC9. The genre is also working its way into U.S. living rooms, with commercials featuring bands like Goldfrapp, Gorillaz, R?yksopp and The Postal Service. The following are five essential albums from the genre for all those would-be hipsters itching to put on their dancing shoes.
1. Mylo - "Destroy Rock'N'Roll"
This U.K. producer quit pursuing a doctorate in philosophy to concentrate on his music. Many remixes later, he released this album in 2006. "Drop the Pressure," a dance anthem in its own right, became a huge dance floor burner when a mash-up, called "Dr. Pressure," melded it with Gloria Estefan's "Dr. Beat." This album is a kaleidoscope of sheer, joyous electronica at its best, with everything from disco and house to harder-edged, sparse electro-pop.
2. Annie - "Anniemal"
Norway's answer to Kylie Minogue delivers a nonstop thrill ride of clever dance pop. A sunnier version of Miss Kittin's hit, "Rippin Kittin," Annie's "Chewing Gum" was declared Pop Single Of The Year by NME. With its irresistibly catchy, cheeky, "You think you are chocolate / When you are chewing gum" refrain, it's a fresh tune sure to brighten up even the worst of days. Her ubiquitous club hit, "Heartbeat," is an ingénue, breathless ode to heartbreak and heart-felt bonding. The entire record is highly danceable and entertaining, surely a refreshing, must-have electro gem.
3. MSTRKRFT - "The Looks"
The production duo of Jesse Keeler, formerly of Death From Above 1979, and Al-P seem to have the Midas touch when it comes to remixing. The duo's remix of DFA 1979's "Sexy Results" became one of the classic records in the scene and even coined the phrase "sexy results" for the hipster lexicon. Its remixes of Metric's "Monster Hospital," Wolfmother's "Woman" and Annie's "Heartbeat" also became immediate hits. On this album, a few standouts are "Paris" and "Street Justice," both featuring the trademark hard, sinister, sparse and slightly disjointed MSTRKRFT beats.
4. Gorillaz - "Demon Days"
"Feel Good Inc." was truly the feel-good song of 2006 - irresistibly catchy, it was like aural laughing gas. On the second record, DJ Danger Mouse, the man behind the music of Gnarls Barkley, collaborates with Damon Albarn of Blur and other musicians to create a genre-defying masterpiece for the animated foursome.
5. Goldfrapp - "Super Nature"
A departure from the down-tempo leanings of their previous work, this record finds Alison Goldfrapp in full preening, glitzy, electro-vixen mode. Most of the songs on this record were released as singles, and with good reason. "Fly Me Away" was featured in a Target commercial; "Ooh La La" and "Ride a White Horse" are club stalwarts. One word to describe this record: glamorous. Goldfrapp's playful, dreamy vocals dovetail beautifully with the well-composed beats.
