Hands

Victoria Hesketh is the Green Gartside of the millennial generation. Just as Scritti Politti's mastermind abruptly ditched his band's original post-punk clatter in favor of the pure-pop gloss of Cupid and Psyche 85, the young singer, songwriter and keyboardist broke up her underground buzz band Dead Disco after just a few singles to reinvent herself as Little Boots, a pint-size blonde pixie with a rack of vintage synthesizers and a knack for recreating the glory of early '80s synth pop in a thoroughly modern context. Even though she's devoted enough to the style that none other than the Human League's Philip Oakey shows up on the duet "Symmetry," Hands never resorts to outright mimicry of Hesketh's early '80s influences. (Well, with one odd exception: the title song, a hidden bonus track, is so thoroughly an homage to early Kate Bush that it almost sounds like parody.) The album spawned two big UK hits, the sassy stomper "New In Town" and the utterly glorious dancefloor anthem "Remedy" (2009's best single, Lady Gaga be damned), but nearly every track sounds ready for the top of the pops, blending surprisingly intelligent lyrics with substantial melodic smarts and massive electropop hooks.