Test Icicles: "Scene Damage" demo
Test Icicles: "Catch It"

If I were British I suppose I'd use words like "cheeky" and "take the piss" to describe the three lads in Test Icicles. But I'm not so I won't. These kids scream, pose and snicker like art school class clowns who turbo charge (some may say sabotage) otherwise tuneful dance rock with fitful heavy metal and gabber-influenced blasts of beats. Don't ask me how, but they somehow manage to make it work. These downloads are from the band's MySpace.com page and won't be on the first U.S. single (out in November) or either U.K. single -- all of them released by Domino Recording Company.

Bloc Party: "Blue Light" Engineers 'Anti-Gravity' Mix

Being part of a trend, especially one that is predestinted to be short lived, is never easy, but Bloc Party's Silent Alarm manages to make itself heard amidst the stampede of similarly fashioned bands. It's among 2005's most enjoyable albums. With Silent Alarm Remixed the band leaves its reputation in the hands of others and for the most part doesn't come out any worse. My favorite remix is Engineer's 'Anti-Gravity' Mix of "Blue Light," a gentle interpretation that strips away era and leaves only songcraft.

Kudu: "Bar Star"

Not for lack of effort and want, I have yet to see Kudu perform live. Word on the street is they dazzle. "Bar Star" goes a long way to support that claim. Like Nublu cohorts Brazilian Girls, Kudu take the bridge and tunnel out of Manhattan dance music. How nice to have brains with beats again.