I originally found out about M83 through TheSixtyOne. I confess, I’ve been spending more time on this site then on the 10 or so other music blogs that I regularly browse, but I’ll probably get back to most of these blogs in the next week or two.

M83 is one of those bands that do particularly well in the independent music discovery engines. They cross a variety of styles, and appeal to music fans of most of these styles, including indie rock, electro, new wave, and experimental. They remind me of the band Mew quite a big, especially their song The Zookeeper’s Boy.

Rumours is spelled with a ‘u’ for this track. Depeche Mode is from Essex, England after all.

Current members of Depeche Mode first started playing music together in 1977, but didn’t start adding their trademark synthesizer licks on a record until 1980. They were then approached by a music exec in 1981 after hearing the single ‘Dreaming of Me.’ Depeche Mode released ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ three months later, and they have been releasing hit singles ever since.

Blasephemous Rumours comes from their 1989 release ’101.’

Its hard to pick my favorite Depeche Mode album. I like the more up tempo stuff from the 80s and early 90s, but Ultra has been one of my favorite albums for some time now. One of the most relaxing records I’ve ever listen to.

The Black Kids are an indie pop band from Jacksonville, Florida. Like MGMT and The Scissor Sisters, they have considerably more of a following in the UK than in the US.

They are powered by the brother-sister combination, Reggie and Ali Youngblood.

Though initially performing mostly in and around Jacksonville (is there a music scene there ?! ) , they then started getting serious global attention after their performances at the Athens Popfest Festival in the summer of 2007.

They’re currently touring the world, but will be in San Francisco on 4/20 and 4/21, playing at the Independent.

VHS or Beta, featuring the skinniest man alive, Craig Pfunder, on vocals and guitar, is a new wave, electro, rock band from Louisville, Kentucky.

They opened up for Duran Duran on a leg of their North American tour in 2005.

VHS or Betas has released three albums to date, and this track comes off their first release, Le Funk, which has a considerably stronger dance feel than their later two albums.

Similar Jams:

Ghostland Observatory – Stranger Lover
Poni Hoax – Antibodies

The 70′s called. They want their mustache back.

In all seriousness, these guys are good. They do tons of remixes too. For proof, check out this remix of the Klaxons.

Van She is another Australian band signed to Modular Recordings. They have been described as ‘fresher than Flavor Flav’ , ‘Fresh like Coriander’ , and ‘Fresher than the Fresh Prince.’

I’m going to go out on a limb here and call them ‘Fresher than Fruit by the Foot.’

Similar Jams:

Presets – Girl and the Sea
Cut Copy – Hearts on Fire

Self described as “Like a Robot Making Love to a Tree,” Ghostland Observatory makes sweet love out of layered electronic sounds and distorted power chords. They recorded two albums in a matter of weeks while living in Austin, Texas, and the result was two discs that can be listened to on repeat by any electro or rock fanatic.

Coming off of what is usually considered the second of those two albums Paparazzi Lighting, Stranger Lover is the ultimate motivation song.

Ghostland Observatory is the conception of two personalities – Aaron Behrens on guitar and tight white pants, and Thomas Tucker on keys and vampire suits (he wears these during every show) Don’t let these images get in the way of this tune. If you like this track, try out Digialism’s song Pogo as well.

Zoot Woman was created as an instrumental project for current members Stuart Price and Adam Blake in 1999. Bass and synth player Bee Hatherley since joined the band in 2004.

Stuart Price and Adam Blake also record and remix tracks under the electro alias of Paper Faces. They remix tracks by the Scissor Sisters, Madonna, and yup, you guessed it Zoot Woman.

Stuart Price has also worked with Madonna directly as a producer.

If anyone is going to lead us into this second coming of New Wave, Electro Pop, its these guys (and girl).

Songs Similar to Zoot Woman – Hope in the Mirror

Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better
Cut Copy – Hearts on Fire

I don’t know which remix I like more. This Van She remix of the Klaxons song Gravity’s Rainbow or the GLOVES remix of the Van She song Changes.

This one is a bit more relaxed, but they’re both 6+ minutes of electro new wave party music.

The Klaxons released their first EP on Modular Records, an Australian music distribution label that has released albums by Cut Copy, Van She, The Presets, Chromeo, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and MSTRKRFT. Though connected to the Australian music scene, The Klaxons come from the UK, with roots in Southampton and London. They received initial promotion on BBC Radio 1.

More songs from the Klaxons to be posted soon. In the meantime, enjoy this remix by Van She.

Songs Similar to Klaxons – Gravity’s Rainbow – Van She Remix

Cut Copy – Hearts on Fire
The Presets – Girl and the Sea

Started as a project by frontman Dan Whitford in 2001, Cut Copy has emerged as one of the world’s most loved Melbourne-based bands, touring worldwide with the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Daft Punk, Mylo, and Bloc Party, and playing shows in front of 50K+ people back home in Australia.

This track, off their 2008 release, In Ghost Colours, stays consistent with the general themes of love and hearts, referred to regularly from start to finish on the album.

Before starting Cut Copy, Whitford was a graphic designer, which may explain why Cut Copy is one of the few bands to have a nice looking blog as well as a nice looking widget. I went forward and made my own Cut Copy widget too if anyone is interested.

Two nights ago, I saw them at the Mezzanine in SF, and of the 10+ shows I’ve seen there, Cut Copy got the crowd moving the most. Sure, The Presets warmed up the crowd nicely, but Whitford and co. worked the crowd like seasoned musical vets – performing simple dance moves and urging everyone to get more into it. What I like most about this is that they did it in a tasteful fashion that was neither corny nor cliched.

The lighting was spot on as well. Its no wonder that their top single off this album is titled Lights and Music.

Cut Copy offers both, and converts indie rockers and post punkers into fans of electro and new wave music in the process.

If you like this jam, checkout their music video for Saturday, off their first album.

Pomomofo, pronounced exactly as it’s spelled, is a band from Sydney, Australia that fuses electro, rock, and new wave, with a heavy influence on the latter. If Jerry Bruckheimer ever decides to make Beverly Hills Cop IV, he should make sure that Pomomofo writes the music.

If you see Pomomofo in concert, they may even try to stand up on office chairs (as pictured above), but no guarantees..

Their music video for the song Islands is pretty sweet as well. It pays tribute to everyone’s favorite 90′s video game – NBA Jam. Anyone remember the Bill Clinton cheat code?

Similar Jams:

Music Video for Chromeo – Tenderoni
Van She – Changes – GLOVES Remix