Hot Chip's Joe Goddard is a busy man. Aside from wowing all with one of the tunes of 2011 ( Gabriel) and finishing off the band's next album, Goddard has continued his bear-ish dalliances with London DJ Raf Rundell, bought some furry costumes and whipped up an album of classic, hands-in- the-air, old-fashioned house brilliance. For The 2 Bears, the dancefloor is where all ills, from the economy to the winter blues, simply vanish. Their retro-fit house sounds shimmy, shake and shine with joy, a timely reminder of what house and disco grooves from back in the day are capable of. Be it the marvellously cheesy, sweaty embrace of Bear Hug, the ska-filled chugging of Heart of the Congos, or the anthemic tug and innocent escapism of the title track, The 2 Bears are the ones to follow on the hedonism trail. C'mon, who's for a bear hug? the2bears.co.uk

Download tracks: Bear Hug, Be Strong, Work