There’s something to be said about finding an artist before they hit it big. Case in point: from London, new duo Jungle, whose online resume is about as mysteriously non-existent as they come. But not for long. Since dropping their track “Platoon” a few months back, the band has been lauded by most of the U.K.’s music-judging elite. (Nick Lowe, we’re looking at you.) The pair makes its stateside debut this month with the U.S.-only Jungle EP, a four-track sampler that’s as excitement inducing as it is infectious. Lead track “The Heat” is a funked-out R&B number that grooves in the same vein as Prince, falsetto vocals and all. Later, “Drops” takes D’Angelo’s brazen sexiness and backs it up with a trippy mix of low-end and synth sparkle. Still, what makes Jungle a gem of a find is all in the balance. The intricate layers of beats and samples scream high art, while the vocals and vibe teeter on the brink of slow-jam schmaltz. Wound together, though, it’s a guaranteed recipe for impending success.

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