Bang bang to rights

In the 80s, electro-pop was dominated by men. Men with daft hairbonnets and eyeliner as thick as a Twix, but men nonetheless.

Now, in the second era of electro-pop, it is the women's turn. But while the 80s gave us Annie Lennox and Madonna, the new popocracy is closed to men.

Frankmusic? No thanks. Dan Black? A flop. Sam Sparro? One-hit wonder. Hurts? Their single stalled at number 50.

With that in mind, I can't confidently predict big things for new pop duo The Bang Bang Club, but let's take a look anyway.

John and David used to be in a band called The Protocol, but that all fell apart. Now they are The Bang Bang Club, a sweaty synth setup with a soft spot for a sumptuous chorus.

Their debut single, Chemistry, has been all over the blogs this week. It looks and sounds like this:

The Bang Bang Club - Chemistry


Not bad - but I actually prefer the band's other material. This Must Be Love ("I think I love you. I don't want to, but it won't go away") is happy and sad and brilliant all at the same time. Plants And Animals is what it would sound like if Soft Cell had electric babies with Empire Of The Sun.

The duo are still putting the finishing touches to their album so, sadly, you can't hear those tracks yet. But if they can find room alongside the Lady Gagas, La Rouxs and Little Bootses, they are definitely ones to watch.

Their website lives over here.

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