New music

Jim Carroll'sfuture sounds

Miike Snow: cool as ice

Miike Snow arrive at New Music headquarters with a CV we rarely see around these parts. Two-thirds of the band are Swedish producers Pontus Winnberg and Kristian Carlsson, who have worked on chart- busting hits for Britney Spears (Toxic), Kylie, Madonna and Sugababes. The third member is Andrew Wyatt, a Yank who has worked with Mark Ronson, Daniel Merriweather, Ebony Bones and The AM.

You’re right – that’s a lot of namedropping. But the three Snowmen weren’t content to just stay in the studio and rack up the hits: they wanted To Do A Timbaland. This happens when hugely successful and well-paid knob-twiddlers fancy some time in the limelight for themselves.

Of course, they get a record deal – what label would say no in the hope of getting a discount on production fees in the future? – but often the subsequent album, as Timbaland certainly showed with Shock Value, is never quite up to scratch.

It’s a relief to report that Miike Snow buck this particular trend with some elan. Their self-titled debut album features both lush pop, the sort which might entice you to get out the cigarette-lighters, and sleek electro house, which usually causes the strobes to go a little woozy. Throughout, Miike Snow keep their cool, pile on the drama where it’s required, and maintain a stately mood of melancholy.

Naturally, they can expect the folks at various US TV programmes to be on the blower seeking to shoehorn tracks such as Salvia and Animal into suitable on-screen scenes. Chances are, too, that they won’t be doing gigs for other pop stars for some time to come.

www.myspace.com/ miikesnow

Sleep Thieves: eyes wide open

Never underestimate the power of a well-written small ad. It was copywriting skills – and a common fondness for tea –­ that brought Dubliners Wayne Fahy, Sorcha Brennan (previously of Butterfly Explosion) and David Murphy together last year. Their aim? To take it to that bridge between swirling indie and shifty electro.

It's been a busy 12 months for the trio. Their first live stepping-out last November was followed by a string of dates with Dark Room Notes, Saint Etienne, Alias Empire, Grand Pocket Orchestra, Midori Hirano, Codes and many more. With every gig there are more people in the room, which is always a sign that things are going right.

Next on the to-do list was a debut release, and their It Was Only a Satellite EP came out last month. Four tracks which ooze well- judged portions of melodic menace, bleepy bliss, indie-pop shade, dashing synths and sweetly pitched vocals, it's a humdinger of a opening statement. 

Sleep Thieves play Whelan's (Upstairs), Dublin on July 24th. www.myspace.com/ wearesleepthieves

Four more

Screaming females

Ripping, fuzzy full frontal punk rock from this New Jersey trio

[ www.screamingfemales.com ]

The Clonious

Austrian producer Paul Movahed specialises in future-proof wonky beats with a touch of jazzy class

[ www.myspcae.com/theclonious ]

Blattant

Tough guitars and tech-electro swing from a London-based trio with a growing French following on the back of their No Headdebut for Kill the DJ Records

[ www.myspace.com/blattantblattant ]

Mount Kimbie

New-school experimental dubbed-out beats for the head and feet from Peckham duo Dominic
Maker and Kai Compos.

[ www.myspace.com/mountkimbie ]