It’s looking like 2008 is going to be another big year for dance music. We haven’t seen the successor to Justice yet (sorry Hot Chip), but I’ve a feeling that we’ll have plenty to go around by the time the year is over.

One of the artists joining the fray is Hercules and Love Affair out of, where else, Brooklyn. I had to do a little digging to find much information on the group; It seems their publicity machine hasn’t quite kicked in yet.

DFA records, who will be releasing this debut album in March, seems to be drifting away from the dance-rock that made the label and into this slicker, shinier dance-pop. Here we have a track that borrows liberally from disco but does well enough to sound 2008. It’s nice to hear a song based around horns, strings, and a solid rhythm section again. Coming soon to a dance-floor near you.

Hercules and Love Affair – Hercules Theme

(Click here to download this track directly from the label and also sign up for the Hercules and Love Affair mailing list)

DJ Andy Butler, the man behind Hercules and Love Affair, said that it was a vocal track he recorded four years ago by Antony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons) that was the main impetus to record an album. He had the vocal take laying around and Antony prodded Andy into eventually building a song around it.

Hercules and Love Affair – Blind

“Blind”, with it’s weird early-90’s dance vibe, is set to be released as the first single off of the debut. There’s something compelling about this song that I can’t quite put my finger on. Perhaps it’s the Bryan Ferry impression?

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb8S51M2GAc]

Not sure what’s going on in this video. All I can gather is that the chick from Dear Catastrophe Waitress walks through the set of “Caligula” in order to hang out with Luke Steele from The Sleepy Jackson. Maybe.

There is an extensive article about DJ Andy Butler over at Dusted Magazine. Definitely worth checking out if you want more background info on Hercules and Love Affair.

Well, they have a total of one tour date up. Is it a tour if it’s only one show? I guess not. More like a visit, perhaps.

SAT 2/23 – Berghain/Panorama Bar – Berlin, Germany