You know, Gotye‘s going to have a hard time forgetting about his ex if he keeps up with this whole international chart domination thing.

Since the last time I last wrote about the Australian crooner’s brilliant “Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra),” (along with the equally brilliant 4FRNT remix, which topped the HypeMachine charts at #1 for that entire weekend), the song’s climbed to #27 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Considering Gotye just snagged the #1 spot from David Guetta on the UK Singles Chart, it seems as though the Making Mirrors man ain’t going anywhere but up, up, up on the US charts as well.

To celebrate the continued success, I present the Bright Light Bright Light remix of “Somebody That I Used To Know.”

Mr. Bright Light–born Rod Thomas–is a burgeoning UK disco-pop talent who I absolutely adore. (If you haven’t already checked out his incredible “Disco Moment” from back in September of 2011, do so now–it’s like a Kleerup-meets-Robyn sad disco fest.)

“Gotye’s one of the nicest and most hard-working artists I’ve met,” Bright Light Bright Light explained to me. “I opened for him a few years back and since then I’ve been keeping an eye on him. When this song came out it was a real “This is it!” moment. It’s got such a classic melody. I wanted to play around and see if it fit with a more late ’80′s/early ’90′s feel. It was such a joy to remix with such great vocals!”

Luckily, it’s a fit–the remix provides some fierce, early ’90′s deep House pulsations that instantly convert the song into a major dance floor filler. If you can almost hear yourself declaring “Strike a pose!” as soon as the beat kicks in, you know it’s a good groove.

Check out Bright Light Bright Light’s take on Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)” below!

Making Mirrors was released on December 6. (iTunes)

Gotye – “Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)”

If 31-year-old Australian singer-songwriter Gotye wasn’t already somebody you used to know, he is now.

Last year, the Belgium-born artist teamed up with delightfully quirky New Zealand songstress Kimbra (who I first Introduuced back in July of 2010) for “Somebody That I Used To Know,” the second single off of his third studio album, Making Mirrors.

Set atop electronic stings, a lone xylophone and a swinging sample of Brazilian guitarist Luiz Bonfá‘s “Seville,” the heartbreaking, peculiarly sparse track sees the duo going back and forth reflecting on what went wrong: “I don’t need your love/But you treat me like a stranger, and it feels so rough,” Gotye croons. Although the song is said to be a culmination of reflections on past relationships, Gotye later admitted that the chorus is about one ex-girlfriend in particular. Wonder who?

To say the song has made an impact down under is an understatement: Originally released back in July of 2011, the song soon climbed to the #1 spot on the Australia ARIA 100 in August, staying atop the chart for a record 8 weeks and tying the record previously set by Savage Garden with their 1997 classic, “Truly, Madly, Deeply.”

Now, having already gone Top 10 in multiple other countries (including #1 in Belgium, Germany, Poland, and New Zealand), the song is now rapidly fighting its way up the charts in America.

As of last week, the song is now resting at #50 on the Billboard Hot 100, up from last week’s #58. And judging by its digital sales (currently at #14 on the iTunes Top 100 Singles in the US)–there’s nowhere to go but further up for Gotye and Kimbra.

To help celebrate and promote the song (let’s get it even higher!), here’s some goodies: First, this very, very good cover by Ingrid Michaelson. Then, have a listen to this newly released remix by pop productions newcomers 4FRNT (official website), which gives the song a searing, explosive punch of Frankmusik-esque electro-jitters and dubstep flourishes.

It’s rock solid!

Making Mirrors was released in the U.S. on December 6. (iTunes)

Meet Catcall.

Née Catherine Kelleher, the Australian chanteuse released her first single, “Swimming Pool,” last year to rave reviews. “Swimming Pool” is an uncanny slice of Italo disco-referencing indie dance in the vein of Sally Shapiro or the Golden Filter; the track was helmed by GLOVES, the producer who has remixed fellow down-under acts like Bag Raiders, Van She, and Kimbra.

Now, Catcall’s ratcheted up the pop on her new single, “Satellites,” a pounding piece of ‘80s nostalgia with a melodically potent chorus that invites comparisons to Ladyhawke and I Blame Coco. “Maybe we are satellites/Maybe we are meteors,” she sings over layers of melancholy guitars and resonant drums.

I first heard a clip of “Satellites” during an episode of 90210 way back in May (yes, I watch 90210; yes, I know it’s an execrable show; no, I don’t care), but it’s only just being released now — and it was well worth the wait. “Satellites” has the same kind of reflective, downbeat energy as a Xenomania ballad, with a luminous spaced-out quality that’s both referential and futuristic. Basically, it’s synth-spangled gorgeousness that’s already one of my favorite tracks this year — and it bodes extraordinarily well for her debut album, The Warmest Place, due out at the top of 2012 via Ivy League.

Take a listen below:

Catcall – Satellites by rosequartzblog

“Satellites” was released on October 14. (iTunes)

Meet Oh Land, the most intriguing alt/folk/indie/electro/however-the-fuck-you’d-like-to-label-this artist you’re going to hear about this year.

Oh Land, born Nanna Øland Fabricius, grew up “with an opera singer for a mother, a theater organist for a father and Björk‘s Homogenic on constant rotation” according to her MySpace. Points abound already, no?

Following the homeland success of her 2008 debut album, Fauna, the gorgeous (see above; admire cheek bones) ballerina-turned-musician made a move to Brooklyn in 2010 to take her ambitions to the next level.

Combining the quirky indie darling delivery of acts like Émilie Simon and Kimbra, the aching wanderlust of Bat For Lashes and Feist, the enchanted oddity of such legends as Kate Bush and Björk, and the gadget giddiness of Imogen Heap, Oh Land’s music sparkles with colorful influences from all over the musical spectrum, refusing to take root into just one sound.

On October 19, Oh Land will be releasing her debut major label EP. For your entertainment, MuuMuse is proud to be able to share two tracks from the set: “Sun Of A Gun,” and the “Sun Of A Gun (Ian Pooley Remix),” which breathes some pulsating new life into the original thanks to a gool ol’ disco bass line. You know how we do here at the MuuMuse.

“Sun Of A Gun”

“Sun Of A Gun” (Ian Pooley Main Mix)

Now keep watch and PAY ATTENTION: This girl’s going to be big.

To hear more from Oh Land, check out her official website. The Oh Land EP will be released from Epic Records on October 19. (iTunes)

Hey, remember when I introduuced you to Kimbra and her debut single, “Settle Down”? Of course you do!

Now the quirky delight has been mixed, courtesy of up-and-coming Neon Gold electro-pop artist, Penguin Prison.

The mix strips the original of its hand claps, tambourines and all the extra bells and whistles in between, instead layering Kimbra’s silly mouth sounds across some nice, smooth synthesizers and skittish electronic beat. How modern!

Please enjoy a free, legal download of both Kimbra’s debut single, “Settle Down,” and the Penguin Prison remix of the song for your listening pleasure.

DL: Kimbra – Settle Down
DL: Kimbra – Settle Down (Penguin Prison Remix)

Working with Kylie is like working with every artist I have ever wanted to and continues to be as exciting and fresh every time we do something new.

As promised, here comes part two of my interview with the sensational producer, remixer, songwriter and musical director (amongst other titles!), Mr. Steve Anderson.

Go ahead and read on to learn about Anderson’s unreleased electro-ballad with Britney (“Grow”) and much, much more Kylie gossip (Unreleased tracks! Scrapped setlist ideas!), as well as Anderson’s thoughts on remixing, the music industry today (including a killer list of artists to watch), and his latest project: Launching his latest chanteuse Elouise into the seemingly impenetrable territory that is North America.

Click “Read More…” to read the full second half of the interview.

Missed part one? Or just want to brush up on last week’s installment? Click here to see the first half!

Read More…

This is Kimbra, a 20-year-old singer from New Zealand. According to my calculations, this makes Kimbra a kiwi.

“Settle Down” is the debut single from the debut album of Kimbra, Vows. It is about commitment (“Won’t you settle down with me?” “Won’t you have a child with me?”), sung with plenty of hand claps and plenty of silly mouth sounds.

Combine 70% of the look and 30% of the sound of St. Vincent, a bit of Regina Spektor, and the quirk-pop of Róisín Murphy‘s first album, and there you have it–the Kimbra sound. Sort of.

Most impressive of all is the gorgeous accompanying video, which you can watch above.

While there are many, many things to love here–the mannequin man, the glamorous ’60′s plastic sheen a la Mad Men–it is, without a doubt, the jaunty choreographed dance with the twins straight out of The Shining performed in front of the shelves of burning dolls that really seals the deal for me here.

Like all good things, it’s a little weird. Basically, here’s hoping she goes the way of Róisín–first banging out some weird, organic tracks, and then diving headfirst into unapologetic, next level disco.

I expect good things.