If you don’t think too hard about it, I suppose the best example of a Freezepop prototype would be Bis, that cute little Scottish band that liked to play with keyboards. Certainly you could describe Freezepop the same way, except they’re not Scottish.

But there’s more to the band that won Best U.S. Band at the American Synthpop Awards two years running. No, I didn’t know they handed out awards to synthpop bands either, but they sound like nice people. Speaking of nice people, Freezepop seem like the cutest bunch of sequencer-lovin’ 80s-style fashionistas you’re ever likely to meet.

Synthpop is something of an acquired taste; if you don’t enjoy the plastic sound of whip drum effects, you may want to steer clear. But you have to give props to a band that has largely relied on a tiny Yamaha QY70 sequencer and a vocoder for all their intricate pop songs. And if you’ve ever heard or seen Freezepop live, you know how much fun they are. But don’t take my word for it. Take Jem’s.