Breathe in, breathe out.

Once upon a time, in a faraway land called Londontown, there lived (lives, but now in L.A.) an enchanting Jewish pop princess named Rachel Stevens recorded one of the best electro-pop records of the 21st century in 2005: Come And Get It.

“Nothing In Common” is one of the earliest known recordings from Stevens’ Come And Get It sessions with British purveyor of all things Pop Perfection, Richard X (Sugababes, Annie). As is widely known in popular Stevens lore, the song has never seen the light of day.

Until today, that is.

“Nothing In Common” is a stunning, chilly electro ballad that finds the former S Club 7 crooner lamenting a relationship limping on its last legs: “So we play to the crowd every time we step out / We sit at opposite ends of the table,” she sadly masquerades.

Apart from the gorgeous sad disco production throughout, the subtle Pet Shop Boys-esque tribal beats that bang before the blink-and-you-miss-it bridge (Stevens’ distant howl of “Who are we fooling?”) are a particularly brilliant touch.

Although it’s clear that the song was never mixed to final form, “Nothing In Common” would have made for a perfect addition to the already flawless tracklisting of Stevens’ second studio album.

And now, MuuMuse presents: “Nothing In Common.”

Nothing In Common (Demo) by muumuse

And now, I DIE.

Come And Get It was released in 2005. (iTunes)

This is Champagne Riot, an electro-pop Danish duo made up of members Caspar Bock and Anders Reuter.

Now, I know what you’re all thinking: “But Bradley darling, isn’t all music created in Scandinavian pop perfection by default?” Yes, my dearest Muuser…you’re quite right, and Champagne Riot is certainly no exception.

Both of the group’s members come “from an alternative music background….however they would not hesitate for a moment in describing the works of producers Max Martin and Stock, Aitken, Waterman as pure and genuine art forms.” Under the “Influences” section of their MySpace, the group lists plainly: “Hedonism, nihilism and Abba.” So many bonus points already, no?

On September 27, the duo will be unleashing their debut double A-side single, “Heart Stab / A Friend Of A Friend,” which you can stream in full below.

“Heart Stab.”

“A Friend Of A Friend.”

Both songs, although filled to the brim with twinkling electronica production and ear-worm melodies, ache with an inherent sadness on top of a sugary disco beat. It’s almost like listening to The Beach Boys if produced by Kleerup or Röyksopp–plenty of riffs, and plenty of tears.

“Feels like a heart stab whenever you are near / The sweet taste of sugar, the sweet taste of fear.”

For fans of Hurts, the Pet Shop Boys, and all things Scandinavian pop.

Click here to visit the band’s official website, which includes a slight (but spot-on) rant about Lady Gaga.

The Pet Shop Boys have just tweeted the following:

And there you have it.

My best blog buddies–from Hard Candy Music to Sheena Beaston to The Chemistry is Dead have already spouted on about the singer for months. I just happen to be coming to the party fashionably late. What else is new?

This is Florrie. You may not recognize her, but if you’re a MuuMuse reader, you’ve no doubt already heard her in action.

As the 21-year-old house drummer for production team Xenomania, Florrie’s had the honor of performing in tracks for likes of the Pet Shop Boys, Girls Aloud, and Kylie Minogue. Need proof of her skillz? Here’s a clip of her being generally amazing at the drums.

Currently, the singer/songwriter/drumming sensation has been busy carving out her own niche as a solo entertainer. In collaboration with italo-pop production superstar Fred Falke (a MuuMuse approved mega-favorite), Florrie has churned out a number of high quality solo tracks, including “Call 911,” “Panic Attack,” and most recently, “Fascinate Me.”

As with what we’ve come to expect from Xenomania, Florrie’s songs are characterized by hooky pop melodies, crunchy riffs, and complex lyricism.

With a frantic, breathy delivery similar to Norwegian electro superstar Annie, the singer tackles skittish electronic beats and rapid-fire riffed verses that simply beg to be replayed time and time again. There’s a lot being offered in each one of her songs, making Florrie one of the more intriguing pop acts lobbying for the public’s attention this year.

As the singer does not yet have a proper label deal (WHY?!), Florrie’s been releasing these brilliant Xeno-disco numbers for free on her official website, which you can snag right here.

Additionally, Florrie’s first CD release can now be found on Kitsuné x Ponystep, the latest compilation CD by uber-trendy French record label, Kitsuné, which includes “Call 911 (Beataucue Remix – JBAG Edit).”

With any luck, this is but the tip of an iceberg of chilly Italo-disco cuts simply begging to be released from this promising newcomer.

I cant wait to hear what comes next!

The Killers‘ frontman, Brandon Flowers, is about to unleash the first single from his upcoming solo effort, Flamingo. It is called “Crossfire,” and will be released to radio today, June 21 (with the album to follow in September).

While a little too U2 and a little less Pet Shop Boys than I’d like to hear from Mr. Flowers, “Crossfire” is just moody and brooding enough to whet my appetite.

“We’re caught in the crossfire of Heaven and Hell, and we’re searching for shelter,” Flowers cries out during the anthemic, arena-ready chorus, only to be immediately followed by the best parts of the song, the repeated angelic coos of “Lay your body down, lay your body down.” Mmm…

There is also talk of devils and fire, and who doesn’t like religious imagery in their songs these days?

All in all, an intriguing start to a solo campaign. I’m ready for more, please!

To hear “Crossfire,” click here to visit Brandon Flowers’ official website.

Meet Jessie Malakouti.

Having already established herself as a Xenomania songwriter, opened on tour for The Saturdays, and sung back-up on the Pet Shop Boys‘ latest record, Yes, it’s hard to say that Malakouti requires an “Introduucing” post. It’s her latest musical endeavor, Jessie and the Toy Boys, however, that merits the formal welcoming.

As evidenced in the snippets posted on her newly created website, Jessie’s got a knack for sugar coated, ’80′s-inspired electro pop confections; her voice and sound lying somewhere in between the likes of Gwen Stefani (2004 onward), Linda Sundblad, Kylie Minogue, and Heidi Montag. (The last comparison may sound like an insult, but trust–it’s not.)

Featured tracks including “Push It” and “Hitman” are instant pop stormers, while “Like You Better,” her dizzying electro-fluff take on the classic chorus from Romeo Void‘s “Never Say Never,” bubbles over with glitchy delight, a la Stefani’s “Crash.”

Most noteworthy of all the clips however is “Eyes Closed,” a shimmering mid-tempo in which Jessie laments the fact that her lover’s refusal to lock eyes during the deed: “You fuck me with your eyes closed,” Jessie woefully sings during the choruses, hovering above a slightly sad, twinkling melody.

Now that, dear Muusers, is exactly the kind of over-the-top pop I love to pieces.

Thanks to Muuser Alex for introduucing me to Jessie’s new music!

Okay, I get it now.

Just in case anyone wasn’t in the know quite yet, Hurts is an up-and-coming English dark disco duo (composed of Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson) who’ve been the subject of much praise over the past few weeks/months in the blogosphere. (See XO, see PopJustice.)

After seeing a tweet from Sony Records announcing the limited sale of their signed debut single, I decided to finally give a proper listen to the song, entitled “Better Than Love.” (I wasn’t kidding about being a sucker for anything ‘signed’ or ‘limited edition’–I’m such a collector’s edition nerd.)

While it’s never a good idea to get too wrapped up in anticipation or hype, what I’m hearing is a mixture of the damning electronica chills of Violator-era Depeche Mode and moments of clever lyricism a la the Pet Shop Boys. And as for the video’s visuals? I’m convinced this is a merely a behind-the-scenes clip of a Louis Vuitton spread set to sound.

Their whole campaign is simplistic, moody, and wildly pretentious (I don’t believe color–I’m sorry, colour–exists in their vocabulary), but I kind of adore everything about it.

Now go ahead and cry your eyes out at the discotheque.

“Better Than Love” will be released on May 24. For more, click here to visit their official website.

I like when ideas sound as good on paper as they do on my speakers. This is one of those times.

Brandon Flowers, lead singer of The Killers and noted Pet Shop Boys enthusiast, is working on his debut solo album, entitled Flamingo. Today, the singer uploaded a snippet of his work onto his official website here.

What we’re hearing is much more electronica focused than his work with The Killers (yay!), more pensive and ambient (yay!), and entirely worthy of high expectations.

I cannot wait to hear what’s next.