Chromeo

Electro-funk duo Chromeo formed in Montreal in the early 21st century, a project of former hip-hop producers Dave 1 and P-Thugg (news flash: not their given names). Dave handled guitars and vocals; P was the talkbox-wielding synth specialist. From the beginning, Chromeo made it clear that the name of their well-dressed game would be artful detachment, earnest songwriting, retro breakdowns, and gleaming plastic beats -- not serious intent or aggressive musical regime change. The "Destination Overdrive" single appeared in late 2003, complete with the tingling B-side "Needy Girl" (a ringer for Yaz's "Situation") and a DFA remix; the She's in Control LP dropped from Vice in early February 2004. Chromeo issued two mixes, 2005's Un Joli Mix Pour Toi and 2006's Ce Soir on Danse!, while gigging and working on their second album. Fancy Footwork arrived in the summer 2007, boasting a slicker sound and poppier songwriting (courtesy of Cassius' Philippe Zdar on mixing duties), plus an avalanche of remixes. As fans awaited another album, Chromeo released DJ-Kicks in 2009. They finally returned in August 2010 with Business Casual, released by Atlantic Records in the U.S. The singles "Over Your Shoulder" and "Sexy Socialite" were released in 2013, and both landed on the following year's White Women, an album that featured Solange, Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig, and, in affirmation of their indebtedness to early-'80s R&B, vocalist Tawatha Agee (of Mtume). The duo's highest Billboard debut, it narrowly missed the Top Ten. The pair returned in 2017 with the single "Juice." ~ Johnny Loftus