Hurts and Azari and III

7. Hurts- Happiness

I have been singing praise for Hurts for a long time, and they finally made a record to make my top 10 list. With this release, the duo finally made my dreams come true. Out of the fog of all of the poseur mediocrity of bands that claim to create 80s/dance/synth pop inspired music, Hurts delivers. It is smart, stylish and actually taps into what the original bands were bringing to the table. Brooding, intelligent, sexy and calculated, they are the true heirs to the best of Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Erasure, Scritti Politti, and Spandau Ballet. But Hurts don't stoop to cheap design and obvious covers. They instead gain my respect through well written songs with excellent production. This is good music made by smart people, who get it.




8. Azari & III- EPs

Much like the 80s poseur bands that Hurts put to shame, Azari and III do the same to most acts trying to claim that they are real house music. Even acts that have put out enjoyable and passable house inspired songs in the last 5 years or so, still miss the mark. There is no sense of urgency, no sex, no snap and no mood. Azari and III have all of the above in excess. Listening to "Manic" for the first time made me ecstatic. It was all of the fun and energy and underlying power of real house music. It was the first record since the first Basement Jaxx record to remind me of how amazing good real house music can be.

Delphic

I have a penchant for all things Mancunian, so when I read that the BBC's number one band for 2010, Delphic, I was pretty sure I would be on the bandwagon soon. And I was right. Now I read that my pals at Dangerbird Records here in the US have signed them! So expect this record out in the US sometime this year for all of us to enjoy.

The immediate thoughts that spring to mind when listening to Acolyte are: late era New Order, late 90s Primal Scream with a softer touch, a more feminine and radio friendly Klaxons, Underworld with a penchant for radio more than the dancefloor, an androgynous and cold version of Depeche Mode's artier moments, These New Puritans without the art grant focus.

Reducing Delphic to peer comparisons, though, might make you think that they are just followers, which is not true. What makes their debut such a success is that it is at once reminiscent of past faves, but also sounds fresh. As with much of the stuff I post here, what I really love is that after two listens, you will find yourself humming these songs; it is instantly compelling. This record could easily be four to five singles deep. It is radio ready and could very easily catch fire. If there is any justice in the world, you will hear this music in commercials, movies, and in the real world.