So, who the hell are they?
New York transvestite trio Jo Jo Americo (production, vocals), Paul E Alexander (production, vocals) and Nashom (production/electronics). Infamous in the Big Apple as nightlife and fashion leaders, the Ones are making a splash in Europe with their 1980s, Kraftwerk-influenced New York house.
New single Superstar casts an eye over celebrity culture from the viewpoint of three modern-day Warhol superstars. In the words (nearly) of Monty Python's immortal Lumberjack Song, the Ones wear women's clothing, and have been known to hang around in bars.
Appearance
New York, art-trash, chameleon-like night creatures, variously sighted as tattooed electronic cybertrons, Abbaesque lap dancers, and Village People-type scantily clad he-men.
Good God. Must we fling this filth at our pop kids?
Would you rather them get into satanic nu-metal, or Will Young?
Good point. OK, tell us about them if you must.
Our boys have quite a history. Nashom is a widely cast movie star (often using the pseudonym Mona Foot) who appeared alongside De Niro in the film Flawless. JoJo is a respected painter, DJ and stylist. Meanwhile, Paul E has sung on records by house pioneer David Morales, and as MC of notorious drag club Jackie 60 got to work with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Arthur Baker and David Byrne.
Hmmm. Just how does that combination end up in a dance act?
Working in a boutique, of cours -! Greenwich Village's Patricia Field, owned by the stylist from Sex and the City. When they met there, Nashom was working on the Flawless soundtrack and the others helped out - the theme song was a hit across Europe in 2001. The trio have spent the 18 months since touring and hanging out with NYC trendies including Debbie Harry and David La Chappelle, but are now ready for the big push for their second single.
It's a hard life.
Actually, Superstar celebrates the glam lifestyle while subtly poking fun at it, suggesting that, beneath the sequins and spotlights, they're just like us.
Just like us? So when did you last wear high heels? Thursday.
Buy if
You love house music with quaint, Kraftwerky vocoders and a bitchy sense of fun.
Don't buy if
You are thoroughly appalled.
So where can I hear this stuff?
Superstar is released by Positiva on Monday.