Having previously worked with Ellie Goulding, Marina & The Diamonds, Sky Ferreira, the White Tie Affair, and their latest protegees, Samuel and Alex Winston, NYC production duo The Knocks have just debuted their first single: “Blackout,” a hands-in-the-air party track.

Sung by one half of the duo (Mr. Jpatt), the song is nothing short of a rave happy celebration, combining shouty vocals with an indie-dance groove a la Passion Pit and The Black Kids.

DL: The Knocks – Blackout

Seriously, is there anything named “Blackout” that isn’t a smashing success?

The single will be released on iTunes on May 4, featuring remixes by Chiddy Bang, Samuel, Fear Of Tigers, Yes Giantess, and more. You can expect one of those remixes to premiere excluusively on MuuMuse in the coming weeks.

One post, two talents to watch for in 2009! Hot off the last post about the sensational up-and-comer, Wallpaper. comes news from Fingers On The Pulse that the electro rocker’s remix of Passion Pit‘s “Sleepyhead” has won the site’s remix competition, proving victorious as the best mix of the bunch!

Infusing a supple amount of driving synth and shimmering horns, Wallpaper.’s Dio Head over to the band’s MySpace to listen to their other two tracks, “Better Things” and “I’ve Got Your Number” now.Remix sprinkles a healthy helping of shining stomp atop the track, propelling “Sleepyhead” to a higher level.

Now, let’s talk of this supposed Pit of Passion. Though the Cambridge based group is still working on the creation of their debut album, the band’s established sound is entirely promising, sounding as if The Black Kids were having a sampling session with Styrofoam while the Scissor Sisters were playing on in the background. The group is now rapidly gaining in the underground popularity department, so I’d suggest for all you indie boys and girls out there to grab on before you’re not allowed to like them anymore!

DL: Passion Pit – Sleepyhead (Wallpaper. Dio Remix)

Head over to the band’s MySpace to listen to their other two tracks, “Better Things” and “I’ve Got Your Number” now. Oh, and while you’re still still here, make sure you refer back to this post to grab “Evrytm We Do It (RAC Maury Remix).” I haven’t stopped listening since!

Why, look! Towards the sky! It’s a bird! No, it’s a plane! No! It’s Swedish indie-pop darling Lykke Li riding off the coattails of contemporary Robyn‘s international success!

DL: Lykke Li – I’m Good, I’m Gone (Metronomy Remix)
DL: Lykke Li – I’m Good, I’m Gone (Black Kids Remix)

I kid…a little. I’m not that into her music to be quite honest. Nevertheless, grab these mixes while they’re still sizzling a hole in cyberspace. The Black Kids mix is more dramatic, and the Metronomy Remix is extraterrestrial in ways. Do as you will!

Alright, here’s the current obsession of the fortnight. My friends and I have been awkwardly skip-dancing to this one for the past few weeks. It’s by the Black Kids, a bunch of indie lads and lassies from the mystery-laden lands of Florida, USA. The band name is a nod to a song by a band named Hefner, but that leads me too far from my fluffy-pop territory.

They’re currently touring with Kate Nash (excellent) and Cut Copy (double excellent), and seem to be picking up a whole lot of steam lately. Kate did a cover herself last year, but the result turned out to be one the rare occasions where the British accent deeply failed me (“I’m nawt gonna teach him how to dunce, dunce dunce.”) It wasn’t pretty.

I guess you could call them a group to watch in 2008, but that sort of takes the whole surprise element out of their ascent to popularity. I hate it when groups are given that presumed “big” status. Anywho, go ahead and give it a listen, share it with your trendier friends, and start up the impromptu dance parties.

DL: The Black Kids – I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance