Champions League

Hometown: Paris
Lineup: Ben Chollet and Maxime Maybon
For fans of: Air France, CHVRCHES, Wild Nothing, Daft Punk
Key track: ’Paris Is Our Playground’
See them live: Ben and Maxime will make their live debut in September
Connect: Facebook | SoundCloud | Twitter

‘Champions League puts a massive pressure on players. But real players like the pressure.’ So goes the mission statement of Parisian duo – and seemingly fervent footy fans - Ben Chollet and Maxime Maybon aka Champions League.

And if their first splendorous cut, ‘Paris Is Our Playground’ is anything to go by, the humidity surrounding these two hirsute Frenchmen will hit dangerously sweaty levels by the time their album drops next year. Daft Punk-ish disco guitar lines, CHVRCHES-style kitschy beats and wavy synths waltz hand in hand with a laid-back lilting vocal, reminiscent of Wild Nothing’s Jack Tatum.

With an acute command over fresh, fragrant riffs and hazy verses nailed down, the duo experiment with thick hand claps and cawing seabird samples, allowing the beat to recharge in the midsection before rippling housey pianos and rubbery bass take hold once more.

Released today (20 June) as a digital download via French boutique indie, 25 Years & Running,’Paris Is Our Playground’ will also be reworked by CFCF and Alexander Palmestål (Iberia). We’ve no doubt Champions League will become a staple of indie-club DJ sets throughout the summer months and beyond.