Jeff Thompson and Brandon Queen collaborate together as Strangeheart, making music that might show up on your combination Empire of the Sun/Daft Punk Pandora station. It’s slick pop production with a funk pulse that makes you wish Discos never died. While watching their latest video for “How to Feel Right,” at times I half expected the bass player to break out into “Get Lucky,” or the costumed characters to creep into frame together doing the “Thriller” dance moves. But it’s this familiarity to the layers of their music that makes it so easy to be charmed by. The moment in the song that had me hitting repeat is the last line of the chorus, when the intervals become hauntingly dissonant, and you realize these two are not playing copycat. They have real chops and an affinity for catchiness, a most powerful combination. As the video comes to its climax, the mask marauders seem to threaten Strangeheart’s funky dance party, but the duo prove their powers of pop are greater, and stop the bad guys from shutting down their good time. Strangeheart play their video release party tomorrow night, Nov. 7 at Fonogenic Studios. – Jacqueline Caruso
