Their two early albums (2003′s HILOTRONS and 2006′s Bella Simone) earned them a very devoted following across the country and beyond, despite limited touring and distribution. In 2008, the band unleashed Happymatic, a step up both in production and songwriting, but no less sweaty.

Frantic melodies fuelled by driving keys/synths, steady-tight drums, trebly/tremlo’d guitars and rump-roasting bottom ends are the HILOTRONS’ specialty. Though they’ve been compared to Talking Heads, Devo and Talk Talk, what HILOTRONS do have in common with these bands is an ability to bottle the good elements of a number of musical traditions (in the HILOS’ case: funk/soul, new wave, Asian pop) and uncork something fresh and exciting.