The Sifting Pan

Helping you find those Indie Gems!

Tag Archives: Dance


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First Rate People – [Dark Age] + [Funny Games]

First Rate People - Dark Age + Funny Games

First Rate People are a delightfully massive indie pop group from Canada

First Rate People – Dark Age:

Despite its name, the song Dark Age has absolutely nothing dark about it. While at first It might seem a bit recluse, soon this enticing tune will beckon you inward with a vibrant build up that is well worth the investment. Once the synth kicks in everything just takes off in full fantastical form. Simply put, this song is Indie Pop at its finest my friends. After two minutes of wonderful bursts of energy and passion the song culminates into two minutes of gentle vocals and acoustic sound. Somehow on this gentle exit they still manage to keep my attention with bated breath. 

First Rate People have that certain charm and tenacity it takes to make something of oneself. With poignant lyrics that pull at your heart strings and the artful blending of a variety of genres, its hard not to think these guys (and gals) are going to make something of themselves. Everything about First Rate People is impressive and so is pretty much every track they have released to the public. By the way did I mention they are all available for free at First Rate People’s Last.fm?

Girls’ Night used to be my favorite track by First Rate People but I’m pretty sure now Funny Games has far surpassed it. Try not to be engulfed in the boisterous beats and overwhelming production value it has to offer. The track may be from last year but it’s still as fresh as ever right now and damn it I still have the urge to listen to it all the time.

First Rate People – Funny Games: MP3 Download via Last.fm

Like what you hear? Then show some love for First Rate People over at their Facebook Page

Or listen to First Rate People on Spotify!


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Song of the Day! Moving Units – Until She Says

Moving units are part of the dance-punk revival in LA, California

Why does the name David Bowie come to my mind within the first 5 seconds of listening to Until She Says? I don’t even think that question needs a response because the answer lies somewhere in Moving Units dance-punk and electronic infused indie rock. I would’ve hoped a band that spans nearly a decade of formation would have their own unique sound but taking a few pointers from the dance-rock man himself is never a bad thing. Maybe I haven’t exposed myself  to enough Moving Units for this to be a fair statement and might need to go back a few years to an earlier album to truly get a feel for what this LA outfit has to fully offer.

You can catch Until She Says on Moving Units latest EP Tension War which was self-released back in February of this year.


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Song of the Day! The Ting Tings – Hands


The Ting Tings hold up two hands(x2) from the UK

Ever since The Ting Tings initial success from their debut album We Started Nothing it has been a nonstop journey of touring and promotion across the world. So it was quite liberating for The Ting Tings to find time in their busy schedule last year to record Hands, the first single from their upcoming album. Hands is a great example of how well the band blends the pop we love so much and elements of dance and electronic music to create infectious beats alongside lead singer Katie White’s commanding vocals. Another reason Hands is just that much more awesome is it was mixed by British electro-house artist Calvin Harris, of whom I am very much a fan. It seems this will the trend on the upcoming album that is not set to be released until August 1, 2011. The album will be produced with help from some big names like Jay-Z and Rihanna so who knows the interesting things that will come from these collaborations. If the new album stays the same course as Hands then we’ll be sure to bring our sweatbands and dancing shoes to release party because it’s going to be a hell of a banger!


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Song of the Day! We Are She – Disco Phantom


We Are She bring us lite rock & lite disco from Härnösand, Sweden

The name of this song is such a perfect representation as what it has to offer. There is a very erie phantom-like and subtle start but as it moves along it picks up into a crazy dance scene of the undead. This song’s catchiness likes to gnaw on my brain has though it were an all you can eat buffet for those undead disco dancers. One of the best parts about this song is the fact that the artist We Are She is virtually unknown with around 500 listeners. The only bit of info I could gather is that the band is from Sweden and that they put out an EP just earlier this year called You’re Too Drunk To Be Sweet. I like to think that the subsequent lack of information makes the track just that much more mysterious.


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Song of the Day! Strange Talk – Climbing Walls


Strange Talk are climbing walls in Melbourne, Australia

Indie Synth-pop just holds this special place in my heart so any song that exemplifies the genre sparks my interest. Climbing Walls has that very upbeat electro backbone that supports so well the good time notion the song tries so hard to portray. For some reason I want to draw comparisons to the Klaxons or maybe Penguin Prison, but Strange Talk has enough going on for them we can leave these other artist back home and focus on the unique blend of electronic and pop these guys deliver so well. Strange Talk have been hard at work all 2010 putting together an EP for the public. Well now their work has payed off and just earlier this week the EP saw its release in the band’s home country of Australia. Unfortunately the EP won’t see a US/UK release until April 25th, so until then you can catch most of the Strange Talk EP streaming on soundcloud and/or youtube.