MP3 switched to shuffle mode; like most people I really don’t know what the hell is going to happen to my eardrums in this scenario. The type of acoustics liable to come from my little jukebox is a bit like a game of roulette, with an AK 47 that fires out not bullets but occasional ill sounding jangle that can quickly deaden an already bothersome tube journey.
Nevertheless, I lean back into the psychedelic patterned seat on this crammed and badly fragranced Northern line journey. Not so intelligent read in hand I begin to read about a guy who once married a tiger, whilst hoping my music player is in a good mood today. However the resonance that is being blown into my ears is far more gratifying than expected, and can only be described as a bottle of energy which has been shaken vigorously and unleashed onto my MP3 and is now passionately clutching at my auditory stimuli. Enthralled by this pleasant noise I am forced to whip out the entire mini sound system to find out who the culprits of this clatter is. Looking down I make out the name Sleigh Bells, the track is called A/B Machines.
Sleigh Bells, whose name conjures up images of snow and a fat man dressed in red, consists of 2 band members Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss. It turns out that they led pretty normal lives up until last year when M.I.A plucked them out and got them to sign to her label. Alexis Krass, who was a school teacher in Brooklyn leads the band with vocals that can go from uncompromising indie chick to hip hop goddess in a single beat. Derek was a member of a hardcore band Poison the Well, before becoming the guitarist, song writer and producer of Sleigh Bells. It seems the band’s rough, rock, indie and electronic vibrant mash has managed to impress so many people that even supersonic DJ/ Producer Diplo wants a piece of them. This year, not only will all of their tracks be re-mastered and co released by M.I.A, but the duo also have a heavy duty US tour with Major Lazer and are signed up to pretty much every major festival of the summer. However if you are desperate to see them before all of this kicks off, they are doing three intimate gigs in London this month.
23rd March- Madame Jo Jo’s
25th March- Notting Hill Arts Club
26th March-Koko
http://www.myspace.com/sleighbellsmusic
Words by Dannique Blake
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