Kansas City, Missouri act Ssion (pronounced “shun”) have been one of the blogtown’s hottest commodity and it’s about time we got in the trade. The product is part new wave/no-wave, part indie rock, part synth-pop, part Italo-disco and throughly—delightfully—eccentric throughout. I remember someone calling it “sleaze-pop”, and that term in my mind.

We are fully indoctrinated into frontman Cody Critcheloe’s cult of personality. I came to Ssion through the tune ‘Street Jizz’, a upbeat ditty that’s probably about what you think it is. Join the cult.

MP3: Ssion - Street Jizz

Then came ‘Clowns’. Perhaps their most conventional pop-rock track they’ve produced thus far, ‘Clowns’ leaves a lot of room for remixing. The pairing with Portland’s Glass Candy has created something major. Already written up on StereoGum & BigStereo (among others), this remix is a playlist mainstay and major favorite.

MP3: Ssion - Clown (Glass Candy Remix) [recommended]

The ‘Clowns’ single drops February 12th on Sleazetone showcasing the Glass Candy remix, as well as mixes by Philly’s MOVES!! and a pair from Chicago boys Chrissy Murderbot & DJ C. Sadly one of my favorite remixes of the tune didn’t make the cut. It comes from fellow KC resident Tactic.

MP3: Ssion - Clown (MOVES!! Remix)

MP3: Ssion - Clown (Tactic Remix)

Ssion’s sophmore album ‘Fool’s Gold’ found it’s way into our inbox last week and it’s extremely solid and more mature and polished than from their previous record, 2003’s ‘Opportunity Bless My Soul’ (see Discogs). ‘Fool’s Gold’ shares the February 12th release date with the single. The album cut that’s appealing to me and my vote for single #2 is ‘A Wolves Eye’. My current dancing in the bedroom anthem.

MP3: Ssion - A Wolves Eye

Visit Ssion on MySpace or their official site, Ssion.com.