The Virgins, Disconnect 4 and more

The Virgins: first time lucky

I'll bet the four lads in this band couldn't believe their luck when they found "The Virgins" was going a-begging as a name. It was a stroke of luck on a par with the fact that their louche, arch disco-pop seems to be just what the zeitgeist ordered for now. If the world economy is going to hell in a handcart, some dancing may be in order.

The Virgins hail from New York City and individual members had dabbled in film-making, acting and photography before meeting up at a round of fashion week parties. They quickly decided the rock’n’roll game might be one to try out while waiting to embark on various creative masters-of-the-universe-style careers. Reaction to their music so far means any alternative careers may be on the long finger for some time to come.

Atlantic Records swooped in and signed them before the band had even played a live show. When they eventually started gigging (show No 3 saw them supporting Patti Smith at an Agnes B party during Paris Fashion Week), The Virgins attracted all kinds to the front row, from hipster kids and gushing bloggers to A-listers as Chloë Sevigny and Agyness Deyn.

Luckily for all concerned, The Virgins actually have tunes to back up their colourful connections in the rag trade. At times they sound like a rough-around-the-edges Vampire Weekend, and their tracks ( Rich Girls, Fernando Pando) tell the stories of a colourful gallery of metropolitan characters and scenes.

Their splendid debut album is chockablock with finger-popping, splendidly groovy aces, where the band’s straight-ahead poppy inclinations are perfectly offset by some nonchalant, but edgy playing.

It’s the soundtrack for the indie disco at the end of the rainbow. The Virgins sport white blazers and tight trousers, which are just about on the right side of OK. And yeah, that was a spurious fashion reference.

So have Atlantic hit the jackpot here? We think so. The band just have to avoid the inevitable cracks in the pavement and every pop kid will want to be a Virgin.

The Virgins' self-titled debut album is released on April 17th. They play Dublin's Academy on April 25th and Belfast's Speakeasy on April 26th. www.myspace.com/thevirginsnyc

Disconnect 4: buzzing

About 30 seconds into The Rise, the guitars step in and Disconnect 4 whoosh up, up and away. That's all it takes to know why this Galway four-piece have gathered so much traction recently.

The other tunes on their MySpace site are just as tasty – if you're looking for an act that understands the co-relation between classic pop and cutting-edge indie, you've come to the right place.

Others appear to agree. Disconnect 4 enjoy radio support from such new band gurus as BBC Radio One's Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq. They've also recorded a session for 2FM's Dan Hegarty and have a welter of support slots to their credit with Fight Like Apes, New Amusement, Future Kings of Spain and others.

The next step on the ladder is the release of an EP next month, recorded with Martin Dubka, the Cazals' bass-player turned electro-indie producer who has shown he's a dab hand with remixes via Late of the Pier and Pin Me Down.

What Dubka does to Disconnect 4 will be well worth hearing.

www.myspace.com/disconnect4

Three to try

Kevin Blake

www.myspace.com/blakecomplex

The Cork-based Electric Underground DJ's You Are What You HearEP is the go-to release for fresh, engaging minimal electronic grooves. 

Here We Go Magic

www.myspace.com/herewegomagic

Luke Temple swaps singer-songwriter solo life to front a band producing wonderful slo-mo freak-outs and celestial jangles. 

Wounds

www.myspace.com/thewoundsband

Sharp-as-a-tack fierce-rock from the Dublin youngsters, currently recording their debut release in London.