Have you been obsessing over Darren Hayes‘ new single “Talk Talk Talk” as much as we have at MuuMuse? Good!

The handsome Aussie-born crooner’s dreamy new synth-pop tune, co-crafted by Swedish producer Carl Falk, was released worldwide on June 24. Since then, Hayes has unleashed two major remix packages on July 31, including some truly fabulous offerings by French producer Fred Falke (Listen!) and electro-pop up-and-comer, Penguin Prison. (Listen!)

Along with the song’s digital bundles, Darren has also released a limited edition (1,000 copies) purple 7″ vinyl single, complete with a laser cut cardboard sleeve designed by John Gilsenan. The vinyl includes the album version of “Talk Talk Talk,” as well as a special acoustic version of the song: “Talk Talk Talk (Live in the Attic),” recorded within Darren’s home studio.

To celebrate the release, MuuMuse is proud to be giving away 3 SIGNED limited edition copies of the “Talk Talk Talk” 7″ vinyl single.

To enter to win, follow @MuuMuse and send me a tweet with the following phrase:

All I wanna do is just Talk Talk Talk to @MuuMuse! #TalkTalkTalk2Muu

Three winners will be selected and notified on Wednesday, August 10. Good luck!

“Talk Talk Talk” was released worldwide on June 24. (iTunes)

Yes, yes, YES!

Earlier this morning, pop prince Darren Hayes uploaded a 30-second teaser of his brand new single: “Talk Talk Talk,” due out later this month. And so far? So amazing!

The Carl Falk-produced track is chock full of warm, spaced-out synth pulsations and a slightly melancholy air. (Sad disco!) “Breathe it out / ‘Cause all I wanna do is just talk, talk, talk to you,” Hayes croons during the song’s hypnotic chorus.

I know it’s too soon to say, but I smell a smash already!

“Talk Talk Talk” will be released on June 24. (iTunes UK)

For those of us who have been following Simon Curtis from the very early days of his career, RA is a pretty big deal.

Read more…

Coming off the very potent punch of his last single, “Superhero” — and, as careful readers will note, that song was described as like “being punched in the face… IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE” — everyone’s favorite boy robot, Simon Curtis, has released his new single, “Flesh.”

“Flesh” is dark and glitchy and probably the sexiest thing that he’s ever done, as an artist. (As a person, the sexiest thing Simon Curtis has ever done is exist, because, well, if you had seen him prowl around a dingy nightclub in Brooklyn at 4 a.m. like I did on one very memorable night in April, you’d quickly realize that no one will ever be quite as sexy as Simon.)

The song has shades of Britney’s “Inside Out,” and also evokes the grimy industrial fuck-the-pain-away melancholy of Darren Hayes’ The Tension and the Spark (“I Like the Way,” in particular), before exploding into a thunderous house track just shy of the three-minute mark, a shift which injects the song with a very different kind of energy.

As a sonic experience, it’s much more innovative than “Superhero,” which was fairly straightforward by comparison. “Flesh” takes risks, with the explicit sexuality of its lyrics, with the processed falsetto vocals, with the sheer shameless sleaziness of the production — and Simon’s willingness to take those risks (as assisted by longtime producer Jeff “Jadion” Wells, whose work here is as excellent as it’s ever been) makes the song one of the more exciting things I’ve heard this year. If it’s any indication of what to expect from his forthcoming album RA, then those of us who have been following his career for years will have much to celebrate.

Basically, the song is fucking amazing, and if you haven’t bought it on iTunes yet, please take the opportunity to do so now.

“Flesh” was released on May 31. (iTunes)

Behold: The evolution of the male pop star this way cometh.

Simon Curtis, one of MuuMuse’s major “One to Watch” artists, just pulled off his first ever live performance at The Roxy while opening for A.J. McLean on May 6. The superstar-to-be performed in front of an audience that included Darren Hayes, Adam Lambert, and Frankmusik (the latter two lauded the singer with congratulatory tweets later that night.)

Judging by the clips above, Simon did a damn fine job. Like, really. This is a boy who’s still operating outside the realm of label support (although a record deal seems all but imminent at this point.) I’m so proud! Next step, global domination.

Click here to see the rest of his performances from Wednesday.

The singer will be opening for La Roux in a few months.

After months of tempting and teasing his fans with song clips and lyric bits, Simon Curtis has finally unveiled his debut effort, 8Bit Heart.

8Bit Heart is a hard-hitting collection of cutting-edge pop hooks, catchy electronic noises and storming, dancefloor-ready synthesized beats that come together to celebrate the very essence of modern pop.

With the vocal chops recalling that of a young Darren Hayes and the smooth, slick flow and raw energy of Justin Timberlake, Simon Curtis has what it takes to be what he’s always sought after: the second coming of the modern male pop artist, upgraded and reprogrammed for the 21st century.

The entire album is available to download for free at his newly designed website, including hi-quality artwork from the campaign and full lyric sheets.

Someone sign this boy…and fast!

There’s too many updates today!

Damnit, it’s Friday…cool your jets, music industry!

Ever wondered what happened when MPHO wandered onto the set of Girls Aloud‘s “The Loving Kind” and started playing in Nicola’s box? I imagine the above is sort of what would have happened.

Oh yes: Utterly promising, one to watch for ’09, etc. etc.

While on the subject of MPHO, please consider this sage morsel of Tweet introspection from Mr. Darren Hayes:

“Is it just me or does the name of the artist MPHO sound like an acronym for something Britney said recently about a wardrobe malfunction?”

Just try and look at her name without filling in the words…I defy you.

Miike Snow is the collaborative project formed by Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, and American producer Andrew Wyatt–the former two perhaps better known as Swedish production team, Bloodshy & Avant.

Having sculpted some of the most career defining tracks for Queen B (“Toxic”, “Unusual You”, “Piece Of Me”) as well as countless tracks for more MuuMuse favorites (Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Sugababes, BoA), it’s almost too obvious that this ambitious solo project should follow in step with the excellence we’ve come to expect from the producers.

And yet, it does and doesn’t. If you’re looking to find a compilation of some of the most sizzling electro-pop stompers you’ve never heard, you’re sadly mistaken–they’re not here. Is that a bad thing? No. Because this is still a release from some of the finest musicians in the game, and as a result, this is still a quality piece of work.

Complex drum rhythms, lilted piano melodies, and an afterthought of sprightly synthesizers fill out the contrasting sounds of “Animal” and “Burial,” the lead tracks off of Miike Snow’s eponymous debut. The lyrics here alternate between humility and reprimand, eventually leading to the stinging, contemptuous chorus of “Burial”: “No I, I don’t want to get thrown in your ocean. Don’t try, you know that already we know it…it’s over. At your own burial, don’t forget to cry.” Ouch.

As skilled producers, the members of Miike Snow demonstrate the ability to explore less traveled paths in their music while still manging to reel themselves back to familiar territory within seconds. “Black & Blue” jitters and slides between Prince-like crooning and Darren Hayes‘-like electro-crunchiness, while “A Horse Is Not A Home” dances the line between glam rock (Adam Lambert, take note), alt-electronica, and balladry without ever settling. As with much of the album, it’s simply a sound undefinable.

“Plastic Jungle” is perhaps the poppiest part of the album, playing like a kind of lo-fi parody of Kylie’s mindless mega-smash “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.” Further on, Miike Snow prove that the most exciting producers in Pop can do a much more than a simple verse-chorus-verse-chorus progression: “Sans Soleil” offers cool drips of electronica atop the rooftops of a French chateau, mixing solitary piano riffs with choral coos and glittering bells, while “Silvia” gorgeously unravels to the tune of scattering synthesizers of all shapes and sizes and a vocal performance soaring beyond human proportions.

I didn’t (and still don’t) know quite what to make of Miike Snow. They’re a curious creature, a force as shrouded in mystery as their borrowed mascot–the elusive jackalope. With a release as peculiarly scattered and layered, you’re bound to catch something new with every listen. Different moods and times invite different emotions, and no track seems to sound as it did the time before. At least one thing’s certain about this release–I can’t stop listening.

Miike Snow is currently streaming their entire album at their MySpace.

Click below to preview & purchase Miike Snow’s self-titled debut NOW!