Katsen

Coaxing unfathomable energy from a decidedly lo-fi setup (just voices and a vintage Casiotone), British duo Katsen (roughly German for "cats") created a stir at the end of the 2000s with their charmingly throwback brand of electro-pop. The duo of Donna Grimaldi and Chris Blackburn cite a vast array of influences (mostly from the late '70s and early '80s), and it shows in the complex yet decidedly infectious indie dance music the act produces. The Brighton, England, pair had been making music together for years (they claimed an origin myth at a craft fair) before unveiling their 2009 debut, It Hertz!, and the comfort paid off in a lush record that earned many powerful friends amidst the London scene. Steve Lamacq of BBC One favored the single "Where Nobody Can Find Us" with significant airplay, while Electronically Yours named it Album of the Year. ~ Jason Thurston