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Rolling in on tubs thumped like they were once Burundi and bruised by Malcolm McClaren’s ‘80s pop tykes Bow Wow Wow, Stricken City re-strike that band’s awkwardly lusty poses into awkwardly romantic ones; frontgirl Rebekah Raa sweet where 14-year-old Annabella Lwin made desperate lunges for your 'candy'. The young London quartet can trace their origins back, way back and before GCSES, to Raa and guitarist Iain Pettifer’s maths lessons. In 2006 Kit Godfrey was brought in to thump those tubs and Mike Hyland joined on bass in August this year. Together they work through "Lost Art", low-end slipping and sliding all over the place beneath guitars that are altogether more elegant, their crunch and willingness to leave things unsaid recalling the pained restraint of Young Marble Giants. The remix is to be treasured – lazily psychedelic with synths that burble like the proverbial brook, Gold Panda sends Raa’s voice to the back of the class, making her swap seats with the bad-boy bass which teacher catches in a loop in an effort to stunt its more erratic tendencies.

Sounds Like: Flying Lotus, Gang Gang Dance, El Guincho

Exclusive Download: Stricken City - Lost Art (Gold Panda Remix)

Stream: Stricken City - Lost Art

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The name Catz N' Dogz goes a long way to describe the crowded techno sound of this young Polish duo. After starting off (and still producing as) 3 Channels, the pair took on the new nom de plume to match the sonic evolution fully explored in their forthcoming debut album, Stars of Zoo. Blending techno sub-genres without sacrificing many of their traits, Catz N' Dogz's dense and constantly unfolding tracks sound a bit like a canine vs feline cage match, leaving dancers sweating as the fur flies. For an example, look no further than "Yes They Still Play Casio": propelled by gulping bongo rolls (courtesy of Mathias Kaden), swaying back and forth to a ticking Casio and Rhodes chords, and broken up by the howls of cats and dogs. Rest assured, Catz N' Dogz are no novelty act, but rather two guys with a slightly novel way of filling the dance floor. Rawr!

Sounds like: Guillaume & the Coutu Dumonts, Mathias Kaden

Download: Catz N' Dogz - Yes They Still Play Casio

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Catz N' Dogz on Myspace

Buy Catz N' Dogz releases

Previously:

Download: Catz N' Dogz Summer Lato Mix