Gareth’s got a thing or two in common with Art Brut’s Eddie Argos: both have a flair for making their curious observations sound like they just came off the top of their heads, and both know how to diss the hipsters while still playing along with them. But there’s something more animated, more nerdish about the Campesinos! frontperson. As much as I love me some Art Brut, Mister Argos doesn’t strike me as the life of a party I’d want to hang around for too long - too much irony, I’d reckon. Gareth seems poised and ready to toss a few barbs at the indie “scene”- even at the risk of it backfiring upon himself, and the band is more than willing to join in. Much like their neighbors Super Furry Animals, Gareth and his mates bring such an unabashed playfulness to the music that it’s difficult to even make considerations for irony. Maybe Los Campesinos! are like Art Brut if Art Brut shared some genes with another punctuation-happy band devoted to bright-eyed, twirling fits of whimsy, the Go! Team.

Or Broken Social Scene, for that matter. Interestingly enough, Los Campesinos!’s debut EP, Sticking Fingers Into Sockets (Wichita/Arts & Crafts), was produced by David Newfeld, chief architect for the Canadian collective’s instantly recognizable sonic blueprint of just barely contained euphoria. Come to think of it, there are moments throughout the disc’s 16 all-too-brief minutes that invoke the delicious frenzy of BSS epics “Almost Crimes” or “It’s All Gonna Break.” No dead ringers, mind you, but they’re there, the similarities.

Apparently the collaboration went so well that the Welsh seven-piece decided to carry it further. They’ve been stationed up in Canada for much of this year, putting together their first album, which is tentatively due out later this fall. In the meantime, the EP should keep your belly full with sugar-rush delights such as the tough-to-top “You! Me! Dancing” (which, by the way, is also available as a gorgeously packaged 7-inch, on delirious clown-red vinyl, even!) and the follow-up single “We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives.” This second go at world domination sadly doesn’t offer as much in the xylophone-whistleability department, but oh, the lyrics: “There’s red stains all over the place / they’re not blood they’re Cherry-Ade / we throw parties/you throw knives,” raves Aleksandra Campesino! (the entire band uses this last name - the Ramones of giddy-pop, perhaps?) in the chorus, before Gareth launches into a hilarious stream-of-consciousness ramble about a costume party. And therein lies the genius of Los Campesinos!: they take lyrical absurdities and spin ‘em into fist-pumping sloganeering. Ka-pow! Speaking of cartoon sounds, check out the video, a companion piece of sorts to the “You! Me! Dancing!” clip. Jeez, they sure like the color red:

Want more, you say? Los Campesinos!’ next single, “The International Tweexcore Underground," will be released in Britain on Oct. 22, with hopefully an American release following shortly thereafter. The song is a celebration of twee-ness, as well as not-twee-ness. Or something. Apparently, according to their press releases, the band wanted to do something, which acknowledged their more gentle cardigan-wearing side while still demonstrating their sheer blinding rock power. I think. Whatever. Watch the video and decide for yourself. Oh: and be sure to catch the shout-outs (or are they snaps?) to Calvin Johnson, Amanda Fletcher (ah, Heavenly, how I miss you!), Ian MacKaye, and Henry Rollins.

And how’s this for fair warning: Los Campesinos! will be playing the Great American Music Hall on Wed., Nov. 28. Tickets are already on sale, in fact, so really there’s no excuse, is there?