Introducing: Passion Pit

Name: Passion Pit
From: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Story: One man's Valentine wins the hearts of millions
Sound: Yelping electro party-pop

Whatever you make of the virtues of being touted "this year's MGMT," that's what's been tagged on Passion Pit in the build-up to their debut album, the May 26-due Manners. The musical comparisons aren't particular persuasive, there minor similarities in each's "electro-indie" shtick, even if Passion Pit share none of the latter's fondness for gonzo psychedelia. What this "next" tag really means is: Passion Pit will be one of '09's breakout bands, just as MGMT was the head of the breakout class of '08. At this stage, it's all just froth-and-bubble, but the potential for these Next Big Things is big. In all likelihood, you are going to be hearing a lot about Passion Pit, and, quite possibly, a lot of Passion Pit.

The band were born in the bedroom of one Michael Angelakos, an Emerson College student who decided to record a set of songs as a Valentine's Day gift for his girl. Soon, the disc was being burnt for friends and alumni, and, lo, Angelakos's funny little Valentine had become a fully-fledged project. The recordings became Chunk of Change, Passion Pit's debut 2008 EP, and Angelakos roped in a horde of helping-hands to make up the live band. Passion Pit's budding rep was on the grow.

Passion Pit win over audiences via their enthusiasm and exuberance, qualities wholly embodied by Angelakos's vocals. Though certainly not blessed with perfect pitch, Angelakos is a keen crooner, knocking out nasally, high-pitched, post-Wayne-Coyne-ish wails with such excitement he sounds near cartoonish. The jams he yelps over are grown from kitsch keytone, warped Avalanches-styled samples, and brightly-lit pop-hooks; all candy-colored swirls of broadly-fused electro wonderment.

Of course, if Passion Pit are to be this year's MGMT, they'll need a couple of hit singles. And, though Manners sounds like it cost a mint to make, we'll have to see whether "The Reeling" and "Sleepyhead" can match "Electric Feel" and "Time to Pretend" before the crown can truly be passed down.

• Compare Prices: Passion Pit, Manners
• Listen: Passion Pit Audio Player

Passion Pit Play Places:
May 1: Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso London Colling Festival
May 4: Berlin, Germany - Knaak Club
May 6: Brussels, Belgium - Botanique
May 7: Dublin, Ireland - Academy
May 11: Manchester, England - Manchester Moho
May 12: Sheffield, England - Leadmill
May 13: London, England - Heaven
May 14: Southampton, England - Southampton Orange Rooms
May 15: Brighton, England - Great Escape Festival
May 16: Bristol, England - O2 Academy
May 23: George, WA - Sasquatch! Music Festival
May 24: Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
May 26: San Francisco, CA - Bombo's 365 Club
May 28: Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
May 29: Los Angeles, CA - The Echoplex
May 30: Anaheim, CA - The Glass House
June 2: Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
June 3: Austin, TX - Emo's
June 4: Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
June 5: Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
June 6: Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn
June 8: Norfolk, VA - The National
June 9: Washington, DC - Black Cat
June 11: Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo
June 13: Covington, KY - The Mad Hatter
June 14: Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
June 17: Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place
June 18: Cambridge, MA - Paradise
June 19: New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
June 20: New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
July 4: Malsaucy, France - Eurockéennes
July 18: Southwold, England - Latitude Festival
September 11: Isle of Wight, England - Bestival
October 2: Austin, TX - Austin City Limits