Here's a sneaky little secret: it's 1983 again, and Sneaky Sound System is the new face of electro-candypunk.

Of the many cultural subvibes swirling around, none is more obvious than "emo", the look found mostly among young urban males that requires low black converse chuck taylors, skinny jeans, forward hair, and often some form of sailor striped jersey. Accessorized with jazz-loving girls in red lipstick and puffy skirts, this successor to bling has all but taken over the global urban street circuit. The look crept from the depths of Hedi Slimane and Marc Jacobs to encompass the planet, and with it comes an outlook on life (emotional), a return to electro punk music and much more. We could comment more on emo and will later, but for the moment, let's evaluate the hottest band of the emo moment: Sneaky Sound System.

Currently kicking up the charts in Australia, its quite possible this is THE moment for the Sydney based electroclash and dance punk group, which means they are finally beginning to break out of OZ, led by their album released last fall: the self titled Sneaky Sound System.

Sneaky is made up of the lovely Miss Connie, (Connie Mitchell) on vocals, MC Double D (Daimon Downey) and Black Angus (Angus McDonald), who produces, with a few other band doods. Their recording label and studio in Bondi Beach, called the Whack House, produced their first two albums, and they did well enough to earn the group a cult following in Australia. The latest album has generated two hits: UFO and You're Hot, both of which are catchy and fun, with a touch of irony.

Thanks to MySpace and a recent tour through a series of global hubs, Sneaky doesn't look so sneaky anymore - especially after opening for Jamiroquai, the Scissor Sisters and Robbie Williams in recent months.

The only trouble with sneaky is that it all sounds a bit similar, a banging keyboard of synths that sucks you in, like gummy worms into the mouth of a fat kid. Its a form of music for the anti-intellectual, which is exactly why its so popular.

No matter, this is the band to beat, even if it takes a few spins to fall in love. Once you do, try not to be upset when you wake up in the morning all sick to your stomach humming about UFOs.