Futurecop!

When you first hear this duo — if you're old enough to remember this — you might think someone took the music that HBO used to introduce movies in the 1980s, increased the BPMs, filled out the low end and added lyrics to the results. As it turns out, that's not far off the mark: Manzur Iqbal and Peter Carroll, both born in the early '80s, grew up with great electronic music and hip-hop in their native Manchester and London, respectively. This project updates that synth-pop sound from the Reagan era and infuses it with modern developments, technology and techniques not available to early pioneers of the art form. Just like the wholesome, low-budget movies that partially influence Futurecop!, there's a notable exuberance, imagination and honesty to the music that's instantly likable.