An unlikely scheme in a Brighton pub birthed one of the most memorable British pop acts of recent years. Making their Toronto debut at CMW, The Pipettes are the brainchild of Monster Bobby, a guitarist whose dream it was to concoct a modern-day equivalent to The Shangri-Las, The Ronettes and other great girl groups of the ’60s. Another inspiration for Monster Bobby and group co-founder Julia Clark-Lowes was The Manual, a primer written by prankster duo The KLF on how to create a pop hit. Fellow regulars at a Brighton pub, The Basketmakers were drafted to help implement this vision, along with the three Pipettes—Rebecca Stephens, Rose Dougall and Gwenno Saunders (who replaced Clark-Lowes in 2005). Their first album, We Are the Pipettes (2006), is a hugely charming collection of tunes that mix up retro pop virtues with a contemporary indie knowingness. As befits the tradition of The Shangri-Las, boy troubles are a favourite topic in such songs as “It Hurts to See You Dance so Well” and “Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me,” all delivered in a spirit of fun. What with The Pipettes’ choreographed dance routines and polka-dot dresses, that spirit will be infectious.—Jason Anderson