Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes -- the Australian electro-house duo better know as the Presets -- have been controlling dance floors since forming in 2003. The pair take their aggressive four on the floor sound to the stage, performing live across the Globe with the likes of Daft Punk and countless others. Their sophomore album, 'Apocalypso,' reached No. 1 in their homeland, while the band is currently out with fellow mates from Down Under, Cut Copy.

More than a decade-and-a-half ago, Ollie Teeba and Jake Wherry bonded over their obsession for soul and rare groove, which sparked what we now know as the Herbaliser. Their self-described "James Brown meets James Bond" sound is constantly evolving and filling dancefloors of those in the know.

On their latest album, 'Same as it Never Was,' the Herbaliser hit their stride with the addition of young soulstress Jessica Darling tending to vocal duties (not unlike those of Sharon Jones). In a single-driven market the Herbaliser's vision to create an album that felt cohesive, while including a variety of influences and sounds that the band is known for. "When we're making a hip-hop record, we don't feel the need to have everything be at the same tempo, or have rhymes on every track," Teeba tells Spinner.

Grammy-nominated DJ and producer Kaskade, a Chicago native whose real name is Ryan Raddon, got his start in Utah while in college, and later, doing A&R in San Francisco for OM Records. Since then, Kaskade has been bridging the gap between Chicago house and dirty electro, while walking the thin line between commercial success (Kaskade has worked with a slew of vocalists on original productions and remixes including Seal and Justin Timberlake) and club cred. His DJ sets never let the crowd down, and his productions maintain the rave-esque ethics of yesteryear. Needless to say, he draws upon a variety of influences.

"I have always been a big fan of Robert Smith, but lately I have really been feeling what Brandon Flowers from the Killers is doing," Raddon tells Spinner.

Detroit's Todd Osborn -- aka Osborne -- has been called house music's MacGyver, creating innovative tunes on just about anything he can string together, including homemade computers and custom software. His sounds range from smooth ambient techno to bangin' tech-house, and Euro-disco influenced four on the floor bangers. Osborne recently rounded-up a collection of floor-filling 12"s and launched them on one shiny disc, marking his debut self-titled LP.

Needless to say, Osborne plays by his own rules and holds no regard for reviews. "The worst review I had was a paper here in Detroit by some dude who thinks Benny Benassi and Feddi le Pew are the second coming," he tells Spinner. "But most people seem to enjoy [my music]."

Alice Glass and Ethan Kath -- a duo from Toronto better known as Crystal Castles -- are multi-instrumentalists cooking up a unique take on electronic music combining bouncy beats with live instruments. Elements of Aphex Twin shine through their tweaked video-game rhythms mixed with riot grrrl influences have stirred up quite a buzz on the pair's self-titled album. And what's more, the couple have been tapped to open for Nine Inch Nails on select dates of Trent Reznor and Co's summer trek.

Having formed in 2005, Crystal Castles made noise with timely remixes of artists ranging from the Klaxons to Bloc Party. But they won't take on whatever comes their way. "Sometimes, there's a fraction of a sound I will use to create a new melody with," Kath tells Spinner. "I actually have not accepted a remix request in over a year."

Carl Craig is a name synomous with '90s techno and beyond, paving the way for the likes of Matthew Dear and Derek Plaslaiko. Moreoever, the Detroit kingpin's armed with almost as many aliases as floor-filling club tracks -- Paperclip People, 69 and Psyche among them. His exclusive Planet E label has showcased artists ranging from Moodyman to Kevin Saunderson, in addition to his own diverse productions, which often encompass a jazz element while maintaining his signature dark robotic house beat.

With a prestigious Fabric mix under his belt, Craig's most recent venture is a double-disc called 'Sessions,' comprised of only his productions and remixes. "I have to feel like listening to the track over and over and not get tired of listening, for it to have classic potential," Craig tells Spinner. "All of my favorite music always has that quality."

Julian Grefe -- a former staple of the Philadelphia punk scene -- has taken his DIY ethos and used it for good. That good is his own sound -- a unique twist on Detroit techno buoyed by the aggression of punk.

Grefe serves as the DJ in the four-piece band Pink Skull. "Most of our music is made on outboard synths and samplers, not to mention the band itself," Grefe explains to Spinner. "We do have a few moogs at our disposal -- Jupiter 6, Juno 106, Farfisa, SP 1200 -- plus drums, percussion, guitars and bass. Our little family of DJs -- Dave P, Mike Z, Sparkles, Greg Foreman, Ian and myself -- are responsible for creating the 'indie dance party ' here in Philadelphia. People are totally open minded and supportive of tons of events. Philly's a pretty sick party town."

Brooklyn turntable wiz Ursula 1000 -- aka Alex Gimeno -- is earmarked as one of ESL's elite, known for his ability to drop a breakbeat set while maintaining the funk that brought the kids to the dance floor in the first place. Gimeno is a New York native who relocated to Miami at a young age, thus opening him up to exotica, world music, bossa nova and merengue influence, which ultimately became his differentiating musical factors in an overcrowded New York DJ market. Ursula can be found rockin' New York's most infamous spots on any night of the week, but has always managed to release five studio LPs.

"I grew up listening to everything from rock to big band to disco and funk," Gimeno tells Spinner. "[My sound] is just adventures in fun and cheeky retro and future sounds."

A fixture in Detroit's ever-notable minimal scene, Derek Plaslaiko represents a new generation, building on the foundation laid by Carl Craig and Jeff Mills. After gaining notoriety with a residency at Detroit's legendary Motor club, Plaslaiko relocated to New York with his cutting edge selections, which maintain the aesthetics that shaped the early days of D.C. hardcore and uphold them in the techno community. Simply put, if you're going to hear Plaslaiko play, prepare to hear something new, every time.

Bryan Hollon, aka Boom Bip, has taken on a new adventure in sound called Neon Neon, along with partner in crime Gruff Rhys of the Super Furry Animals. The duo's debut album, 'Stainless Style,' is an eclectic mix of nu-wave beats, Euro-disco, tweaked-out techno rhythms and smooth downtempo inspired by the story of failed maverick auto executive John DeLorean. Guests on the record range from Baltimore bad-boy rapper Spank Rock to Pharcyde exile Fat Lip.