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CMU Approved
Approved: Sleigh Bells
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 27 May 2010
The questions everyone seemed to be asking at The Great Escape and Liverpool Sound City earlier this month were either, “Have you seen Sleigh Bells?” or “Are you seeing Sleigh Bells later?” I don’t think I heard any band’s name more. And these seem to have been questions that echoed around the CMJ Music Marathon last October and SxSW in March, too. So, I’ll save you the discomfort and just ask the obvious response on your behalf: “Who?”
Formed in 2008 by Derek Miller, former guitarist in hardcore band Poison The Well, and one member of short-lived teen-pop group RubyBlue, Alexis Krauss, Sleigh Bells make industrial pop music. Not dissimilar in a number of ways to experimental hip hop duo Dälek, Miller creates tracks with everything pushed into the red. Distorted hip hop beats underpin piercing, scratchy guitars, biting synths and heavy, heavy basslines. Krauss’ vocals then spring out clean and sweet-sounding from this angry concoction.
The results, as can be heard on the duo’s debut album, ‘Treats’, are incredibly striking, and the blast of noise it delivers is thrilling. Whether that initial thrill will stand the test of time remains to be seen, but it’s well worth finding out. The album is out in digital form this week, with physical versions following next month.
www.myspace.com/sleighbellsmusic