Solar Twins are keyboardist/programmer David Norland and singer Joanna Stevens, both from London but currently based in Hollywood, where they became local club darlings before signing to Maverick. The hook on their debut is a breathy drum'n'bass version of
the Clash's "Rock the Casbah," a version that expertly walks the fine line between tribute and parody. The duo's originals sound something like a cross between
ABBA (minus the harmonies) and
Roni Size. Stevens has a truly lovely voice and she knows how to use it, varying from full-throated romantic belting to whispery insinuation. With his combination of poppy chord changes, stuttering breakbeats, and lush electronic textures, Norland creates an accompaniment that mates the edgy energy of drum and bass with the sumptuous disposability of radio pop. The lyrics overreach sometimes (sample couplet: "I'll run my finger along your open wound/Entice this infection 'til it's fully exhumed"), but never enough to distract from the consistently winning music. ~ Rick Anderson